The beloved Dunphy clan has returned home once more. Nearly three years after fans bid farewell to the hit sitcom Modern Family, its stars reunited for a special project that highlighted both the unbreakable bonds of family and the power of inclusive communication.
Stepping back into the characters they inhabited for 11 seasons, Eric Stonestreet, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson effortlessly slipped into their roles as Cam, Claire, Phil, and Mitchell for a new WhatsApp commercial filmed on the familiar set of the Dunphy house. The instantly familiar dynamic between the characters was alive as ever, from Phil’s lovable antics to Mitchell’s classic one-liners. But this time, the purpose was to address a timely issue through the lens of this iconic TV family: bringing people together across technological divides using accessible, private messaging.
The Dunphy household was bustling with activity as Phil, Claire, Cam and Mitchell reunited for a new project. Stepping back into their beloved roles, the cast wasted no time slipping back into their characters’ personalities and dynamics.
Phil was excitedly showing off a cute photo that Hayley had sent to the family’s group chat. “Let me see!” Mitchell said, entering the room. But when Phil told him to check the group chat, Claire and Cam grew quiet. Phil realized his mistake – Mitchell had been left out of the chat.
“You started a family chat without me?” Mitchell asked, hurt. “Shame!” Just then, Cam jumped in to smooth things over. “It’s not you, it’s just your old phone. The pictures were always blurry and it kept liking things weird.”
Overhearing from outside, a painter had an idea. He suggested they switch to WhatsApp, a private messaging app where they could all easily share without issues.
The scene shifted to Cam and Mitchell settling in for the night. As Mitchell scrolled through the fun photos and messages Claire had posted to the new WhatsApp group, old feelings of being excluded still lingered.
“This is fun,” Mitchell said, “I still can’t believe you cut me out of the chat!” But Cam reassured him, placing a hand over his heart. “We may have cut you from the phone, but never from here.”
Reuniting once more brought the magic and memories flooding back for the cast. Slipping seamlessly back into their roles showed just how deeply they’ve come to know and understand these beloved characters over the years. And reminding audiences of the family’s unbreakable bond proved the perfect way to promote inclusion and connection through WhatsApp.
