Ty Burrell to Lead ABC Comedy ‘Forgive and Forget’

Ty Burrell is returning to ABC.

The two-time Emmy-winning Modern Family star has been tapped to star in Forgive and Forget, a multicamera comedy that has been ordered to pilot at the Disney-owned broadcast network.

From writer Eugene Garcia-Cross (The Santa Clauses, Peacock’s Punky Brewster), Forgive and Forget revolves around Hank (Burrell), the perennial life of the party, who, after an unexpected diagnosis, reconnects with his responsible adult son Ben in hopes of making new memories together. 

Garcia-Cross, a 2018 graduate of NBC’s Writers on the Verge program, will also exec produce alongside Robin Shorr (Diary of a Future President, The Carmichael Show, Galavant, The Middle), who will serve as showrunner on the potential series. Burrell will also executive produce via his Desert Whale Productions banner. Forgive and Forget is produced by Disney’s 20th Television, the same studio that delivered mega-hit Modern Family.

Burrell starred in all 11 seasons of ABC/20th’s Modern Family as Phil Dunphy. The role earned him eight straight Emmy nominations and two wins. The actor’s credits also include a voice gig in Fox’s Duncanville and features Finding Dory, Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Dawn of the Dead, The Incredible Hulk, Fur and Muppets Most Wanted.

This is ABC’s second pilot order of the truncated season and joins Tim Allen vehicle Shifting Gears at the network. Overall, there are only five total pilots in the works so far this season as only ABC and NBC are producing pilots this year. As a result of production delays created by the dual strikes last year, most new shows that were ordered for the 2023-24 broadcast season have been pushed to the 2024-25 cycle.

ABC has drama High Potential already in line for next season and the network has holes to fill with the conclusions of both The Good Doctor and Station 19, with the rest of its scripted roster awaiting word on their futures. ABC’s comedy slate includes Abbott Elementary, the only show ABC has renewed for 2024-25 so far, as well as Not Dead Yet and aging veteran The Conners.

Garcia-Cross is repped by IAG, 3 Arts and attorney Joe Weiner. Shorr, who co-hosts the Los Feliz: The Podcast and will launch a new pod with Girls alum Jenni Konner later this year, is with Verve, 3 Arts and attorney Bruce Gellman. Burrell is with CAA and Stone Genow.