Ty Burrell was told he wasn't funny after auditioning for Modern Family

Ty Burrell initially struggled with his audition for Modern Family, with ABC executives criticizing his performance as "not amusing."

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Despite skepticism from some executives, series co-creators Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan believed Burrell was the perfect fit for Phil Dunphy.

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Burrell got a second chance through a screen test and an informal audition in Steve Levitan's backyard with Sarah Hyland, where he could improvise.

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The backyard footage ultimately convinced ABC executives, with former VP of Casting Claudia Lyon describing it as "witnessing magic unfold."

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Former Head of Comedy Samie Falvery stated that the tape was one of the funniest things she had ever seen and challenged anyone not to laugh at it.

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Burrell credited director Jason Winer and the show's creators for helping him relax and bring the character to life after his earlier failed auditions.

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