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Matt LeBlanc might be best-known for playing ditzy dreamboat Joey on Friends and successful Showtime comedy Episodes, but the funnyman recently revealed that he almost went down a different path – one that would have seen him lead the Dunphys on hit ABC comedy Modern Family.
Speaking with USA Today, LeBlanc discussed how close he almost came to playing the role made famous by Ty Burrell. After Friends spin-off Joey met the chopping block, the Modern Family script arrived in LeBlanc’s lap with an offer to play the part. “I remember reading it thinking, this is a really good script,” LeBlanc recalls. “I’m not the guy for this. I’d be doing the project an injustice to take this. I know what I can do, I know what I can’t do. Plus, I’m having too much fun laying on the couch.”
Producers had reportedly already been set on Burrell for the ABC comedy, but bigwigs originally wanted a better-known name to fill the role. Modern Family seemingly benefited from LeBlanc’s rejection and Burrell’s casting, as the ABC comedy has been reliably showered with awards and starts its ninth season next month (with a 10th guaranteed).
LeBlanc did enjoy his time laying on the couch back in 2009, but not for long – by 2011, Episodes was in full swing and earning a reputation as one of Showtime’s best comedies. Now entering its fifth and final season, the series has accrued a number of awards and nominations, and even a Golden Globe win for LeBlanc back in 2012. Despite his absence from Modern Family, LeBlanc has managed to keep in touch (and have a bit of fun with) the cast. When the cast sued 20th Century Fox in 2012 over a salary dispute, Jesse Tyler Ferguson came to LeBlanc for advice, as LeBlanc had gone through something similar when the Friends cast united to fight for salary increases. “You have to walk out, or they won’t take you seriously,” LeBlanc recalls telling Ferguson. “If you stick together, you have power.”
True to form, however, LeBlanc couldn’t resist a good joke, and texted Ferguson when the Modern Family cast collectively played hooky from set. LeBlanc laughs: “Hey, I killed it as Mitch today at the table read, thanks for the opportunity!”
Episodes airs on Showtime Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
