Why Matt LeBlanc Turned Down Playing Phil on 'Modern Family'

"Friends" alum Matt LeBlanc could've gone from "How you doin'?" to "Why The Face?" Instead, he turned down the role of "cool dad" Phil Dunphy in "Modern Family" -- and from here it definitely seems like the right call.

LeBlanc just revealed to USA Today that he was offered the lead in ABC's hit comedy in 2009, during a break in his career after the flop of the "Friends" spinoff "Joey":

"I remember reading it thinking, this is a really good script, (but) 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."

According to the USA Today article, LeBlanc not only thought the role of Phil was a bad fit for him, he figured it was written with someone else in mind. And it was, since the producers really wanted to cast Ty Burrell, but the ABC Powers That Be were initially hesitant, probably hoping for a bigger name like LeBlanc. Now it's hard to imagine anyone by Ty Burrell in that role, for which he's won two Emmys (so far).

"Modern Family" will launch its ninth season on September 27. Meanwhile, the final season of LeBlanc's Showtime comedy "Episodes" just premiered on August 20.

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