“None of these people are famous.” Ed O'Neill didn't believe in the success of Modern Family, from the beginning he thought the TV series was doomed
The Modern Family star was concerned after first meeting other actors that the TV series would not be a success.
A simple recipe for success is to assemble a star-studded cast to appear in a film or series. Familiar names attract fans, which makes it easier for new productions to take off – especially those that don't rely on popular IPs.
A more difficult challenge faces productions that rely on lesser-known names. If a movie or TV series is successful, it has a chance to promote its actors and make them stars, but it has to make a name for itself first, and here the task is more difficult when you have neither IP nor stars. And that's why there was some trepidation in Ed O'Neill when he first showed up for table read for Modern Family and had a chance to see who he would be working with in the TV show.
As he looked around the room, he realized that he didn't know anyone of the people gathered there, which immediately raised his fear that Modern Family was doomed.
I sat down, and I looked around, and I waved and thought, “I don’t know anybody here. None of these people are famous.”
When he was asked on Ellen DeGeneres' show if he then thought it would be his show as a veteran comedian, O Neill replied: “No, I thought it was going to be a no-show.”
The Married with Children star's fears did not come true. Modern Family was very successful and actually helped the careers of the actors who starred in the TV series. This is one example that when a production has a good idea for itself, an interesting script and is well acted, it can do very well despite the lack of a stellar cast and IP .
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