Modern Family season 8 filming wraps; the latest on season 9 renewal efforts

Modern Family season 8 filming is now complete. However, at the same time there is no immediate word on the show’s season 9 future.

According to Deadline, there is a steady stream of talks between ABC and studio 20th Century Fox TV regarding licensing and other key factors in the event that the show comes back. However, there is one key factor that remains, and it’s a huge one: Paying the show’s rather large cast.

The site notes that at present, the show’s main six cast members (Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ed O’Neill, and Sofia Vergara) all make around $350,000 an episode. They are seeking substantial raises to keep the show going. However, how much we will see the studio or the network budget remains to be seen. We’re sure that they’ll get more money — they deserve a big piece of the pie — but let’s not pretend that this is Big Bang Theory territory we’re talking about here. The CBS sitcom has higher ratings, and is also a bigger player in syndication. These are two of the ways that the show earns most of its money thanks to ad revenue.

The good news for now is that ABC and the studio have nothing but time. There is most likely not a hurry to rush the show into a renewal, knowing that there is a little bit of time in between now and when the show would start season 9 filming. They can announce the renewal now, and then negotiate hard over the summer to make sure something gets done.

One thing that does feel fairly clear, at least at the moment, is that the show’s producers seem to think that there will be another season on the air. There was no alternate ending planned in the event that this is a series finale, and everyone is expecting the show to come back in some shape or form. TV is a business, but there is still good faith and passion involved.

Do you think that a deal will eventually get done for the show? Let us know in the comments!