‘Modern Family’ Co-Creator Inks New Deal With 20th TV

Modern Family co-creator Christopher Lloyd is returning to the Emmy-winning comedy series.

Following prolonged negotiations, the co-showrunner has inked a new deal with studio 20th Century Fox TV, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Sources tell THR that Lloyd’s deal is different from the rich four-year deal co-creator/co-showrunner Steve Levitan inked earlier this year.

The deal comes after Lloyd missed more than a week of work on season six of the ABC comedy, remaining at home amid a contract standoff with the studio behind the series.

PHOTOS: ‘Modern Family’ Stars Pick Their Favorite Episodes

“Chris is an incredibly gifted writer who — along with Steve — has created not just a hit series but one that is already considered a classic,” 20th TV CEO and chairman Gary Newman said. “It’s a testament to their dedication and commitment that six seasons in, both he and Steve are still running the series and the quality of the episodes remains at an all-time high. On a personal note, my relationship with Chris goes back a long time and I have great respect and admiration for him. I couldn’t be happier that he is staying ‘in the family’ — both literally and figuratively.”

Lloyd and Levitan met on Wings and signed a joint deal with the studio in 2006. They re-upped separately in 2010 amid creative differences — a year after Modern Family hit big. The duo alternate overseeing episodes, with Levitan taking on odd-numbered ones and Lloyd taking on the even ones in the 24-episode seasons.

In a 2012 THR cover story, Lloyd said the clash stemmed from his and Levitan’s opposing views on why Modern Family worked so well. “We had different ideas about what the things were that were making the show click,” he told THR. “That can lead to differences of opinion, and it was not going to be practical for us to argue every point of every episode. … [The arrangement that we’ve worked out] will lead to situations where you go, ‘Well, that’s not how I would have done that,’ but it is a much more practical way than to have both of us sort of swing away on every problem.”

Lloyd is repped by ICM Partners.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
Twitter: @Snoodit