
Told from the perspective of an unseen documentary filmmaker, the series offers an honest, often-hilarious perspective of family life. Parents Phil and Claire yearn for an honest, open relationship with their three kids. But a daughter who is trying to grow up too fast, another who is too smart for her own good, and a rambunctious young son make it challenging. Claire's dad, Jay, and his Latina wife, Gloria, are raising two sons together, but people sometimes believe Jay to be Gloria's father. Jay's gay son, Mitchell, and his partner, Cameron, have adopted a little Asian girl, completing one big -- straight, gay, multicultural, traditional -- happy family.
Manny talks the family into taking the train to attend Dede's wedding; Claire and Mitchell work on a toast; Phil and Cam are excited to spot their favorite author on the train.
Claire struggles to find the right time to fire an employee; Phil thinks he caught Luke with a girl; Alex moves back in, seemingly undetected; Jay refuses to believe it might be difficult to re-enter the workforce.
The Dunphys travel to New York, while Mitch, Cam and Lily visit the Midwest, and Jay, Gloria, Manny and Joe go to Mexico; the family gets together for Father's Day.
Luke and Manny compete to be senior class president; Phil insists on introducing Haley to a marketing guru to help her business; Cam makes a rash decision when he finds out his star football player plans to move away.