The iconic ending of " Family Portrait " was a technical feat:
: Sofia Vergara later joked that the set felt like a "war zone" because the crew was laughing so hard they could barely hold their equipment steady while the cast slipped in the mud. [S1E24] Cattle Calls & Scary Walls
: The final chaotic mud-fight scene was filmed in just one take . The iconic ending of " Family Portrait "
Watch the cast and crew bring the chaos of the family portrait to life in this behind-the-scenes look: : The mud-stained photo taken at the end
: Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell) earned a Primetime Emmy nomination specifically for his performance in this episode, largely due to his physical comedy battle with a stray pigeon.
: The mud-stained photo taken at the end of the episode isn't just a prop; it remains hanging on the walls of the characters' homes for the next 11 seasons and is the very last image shown in the series finale.
: NBA players Pau Gasol and Luke Walton were originally scheduled to appear alongside Kobe, but their scenes were ultimately cut from the final broadcast.