Modern Family is going all out for a Season 9 renewal. Season 8 wrapped production last night, closing with a finale that is not viewed as a potential series finale, and no alternate ending was filmed in the event that ABC does not renew, Deadline reports.
The publication notes that ABC and producing studio 20th Century Fox TV have reached a partial deal for Season 9, in what is expected to be a drawn-out process, though the mooted double-season pickup is off the table for now:
I hear the studio initially sought a two-season renewal but the network was more interested in a one-year pickup, so the multi-year order is likely off the table, at least for now. I hear ABC and 20th have reached an agreement in principle, outlying what the license-fee structure should look like predicated on making new salary agreements with the actors. That obviously is a very big contingency, so unless the studio can close the actors at pay levels reasonable for both sides, all other points ABC and 20th TV had agreed upon would be rendered moot. I hear the two sides have put closing the license deal on hold until new deals with the actors are made.
Early signs are that the process will be difficult. I hear the framework ABC has agreed upon is roughly in line with the license fee the network shells out for the current eighth season of Modern Family, which pays its core sextet of actors about $350,000 an episode (plus a little piece of the series’ back end).
Stay tuned as we continue to monitor the renew/cancel status of Modern Family Season 9…
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