Modern Family Stars Hold Out for More Money

Modern Family has itself a contract fight: Five stars of the hit comedy on ABC have banded together and are suing to void their contracts. The suit filed by Sofia Vergara, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Julie Bowen, and Ty Burrell argues that their contracts with 20th Century Fox Television violate a California law prohibiting such pacts from extending more than seven years. Essentially, they want the contracts voided so they can renegotiate bigger paychecks ahead of season No. 4, notes E! Online. The dispute is holding up readings for the new season.

"Modern Family has been a breakout critical and financial success," the lawsuit states. "That success, however, has been built upon a collection of illegal contracts." (More Modern Family stories.)