Let’s talk about the time Adam Devine tried to shake things up with a little improvisation on "Modern Family," and how it left Sofia Vergara completely baffled. You see, Sofia may be known for her quick-witted responses in real life, but when it comes to acting, she likes to stick to the script—and Adam learned that lesson the hard way during his time on the show. In a recent interview with People, the 40-year-old actor opened up about joining the beloved sitcom during its fifth season and how his attempt at improvising during a scene with Sofia didn’t exactly go as planned.
It all started when Adam was approached by none other than "Modern Family" co-creator and co-producer Steve Levitan. During an interview with People on October 9, Adam revealed that Steve had encouraged him to bring some fresh energy to the show. "He was like, 'We want you to be the breath of fresh air. You’re coming in season 5. Maybe you can improv a little and keep people on their toes,'" Adam recalled. Sounds like a fun challenge, right? But as it turns out, not everyone on set was ready for that kind of spontaneity.
When the cameras started rolling for Adam’s first scene with Sofia, things quickly took a turn. Instead of playing along with Adam’s improvised lines, Sofia froze. "I remember she just had this blank expression and looked over to the producer village where all the producers sit, and she just goes, 'What?'" Adam recounted with a laugh. It seems Sofia was thoroughly confused by what was happening because, well, it wasn’t in the script.
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Once the director called "cut," things got even more interesting. Adam said that Steve pulled him aside and basically told him to forget about the whole improv thing. "Stick to the script," Steve advised, retracting his earlier encouragement. It’s clear that while Adam may have thought he was adding a little spice to the show, the "Modern Family" team preferred to keep things tightly scripted.
Respecting the Craft of Sitcom Acting
Despite the initial hiccup, Adam has nothing but respect for sitcom acting and acknowledges that it’s a unique form of entertainment. "It’s kind of a different beast and super fun to do," he admitted. Clearly, there’s a lot that goes into making a sitcom like "Modern Family" work, and sometimes sticking to the script is just part of the process.
What Happened After 'Modern Family'?
Now that the 11-season series has wrapped up, fans are curious about what the cast has been up to since the show ended in 2020. According to an exclusive source, there’s been some tension between Sofia and Julie Bowen. It seems that Sofia hasn’t been particularly helpful in supporting Julie’s post-"Modern Family" career. "It’s definitely been frustrating for Julie to see Sofia put her keen instincts to work in the years since 'Modern Family' ended," the insider revealed. "Julie has never been able to generate that same kind of heat for herself, because it’s hard for her to think years and years in advance the way Sofia can."
Sofia’s Post-'Modern Family' Success
Meanwhile, Sofia has been busy building on her success. Shortly after saying goodbye to her role as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, she landed a coveted spot on the judging panel for "America’s Got Talent" season 15. And that’s not all—Sofia also took on the role of Griselda, the former Colombian queenpin, in the 2024 Netflix series. This role marked a historic moment for Sofia, as she became the first Latina to be nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at the 2024 Emmys.
"Wow. Griselda was my first dramatic role ever, and it took us 15 years to bring her to life," Sofia told E! News in July after receiving her fifth Emmy nomination. "I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who was a part of this series. I could have never done this without my director Andres Baiz, my costar Alberto Guerra, Eric Newman, and the full creative team, my partner and producer Luis Balaguer, Ted Sarandos, Bela Bajaria, and their team at Netflix, and all the amazing cast and crew. I never dreamed that after 'Modern Family' I would be able to work on something as special as 'Griselda.'" Despite Sofia’s incredible success, the award ultimately went to Jodie Foster for her role as Liz Danvers in "True Detective: Night Country."
