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Modern Family’s ‘modern’ kiss

If you were concerned over Modern Family's lack of a same-sex smooch, it's coming and apparently was planned all along.

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Given there has been some online discussion about the lack of a same sex kiss on Modern Family between Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) I guess this story better get logged….

Personally, the absence of any smooch hasn’t particularly bothered me given the tone of the show. I’m so busy laughing at the characters that I haven’t had time to notice.

America has been getting worked up about it.

Showrunner Steve Levitan says the kiss is happening soon and it was planned all along.

“We’ve had an episode planned for a long time that dealt with that subject of [Cameron and Mitchell’s kiss],” Levitan says.

“So it almost bothers us that there was a little bit of controversy about it. Because we don’t want to appear that we’re answering that criticism. But sure enough, we’re dealing with public displays of affection, and the power of a kiss. Seems simple, but intriguing—I hope.”

“I think it’s great that people care so much,” Stonestreet says. “I always am confused why they don’t worry about shows that don’t have any gay characters on them. They should put some focus on them as well, but we’ll give the audience exactly what they need.”

“I mean, Ed and Sofia also never kiss,” Ferguson points out, “but they seem to care more ‘cause we are the gay couple. But we’re all proceeding and progressing and moving forward, there’ll be lots of everything.”

Here in Australia I’d like to think we’ve come a long way since TEN edited out a peck between Homer Simpson and his assistant Karl (Harvey Fierstein) in 1990’s “Simpson and Delilah.” Now that was one worth getting worked up about.

Source: EOnline

24 Responses

  2. I don’t understand why people in America (and some here) are getting so worked up about this issue. You don’t need to see two people love each other through public displays of affection, I think the writers have dealt with Cam and Mitchell’s relationship beautifully, and you believe they’re a couple without the need to see them physically show it. And like Ferguson points out, you never see Ed and Gloria kiss, so why is it such a big deal? It’s a fantastic show and should keep doing what it’s doing, and ignoring the critics. At least they have diversity on the show, and they’re being subtle about it. I see no need to flaunt it, especially in a sitcom.

  3. Never really crossed my mind either I love Modern Family but this is just a non-issue that said if they kiss bring it on I don’t really care either way but I hadn’t noticed the lack of a kiss,.

  4. For the record, they have noted the characters aren’t big on public displays of affection. Whether you buy that or not is up to you. In early Will and Grace, Will Truman was kept pretty saccharine for years attributed to a break up with a BF, which was a pretty neat device of easing the audience in gently. But that was during the era of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell so somewhat understandable. I don’t have any specific issue with the absence of a smooch here, but that’s just me…

  5. David’s choice of pic in this thread highlights the tiptoe around this, what should be a non issue – but is not. Why should the pair on the left of the picture kiss openly, and the pair on the right just hug?? As a gay man, I notice the difference and object to it, regardless of how funny the characters are. That said, to the producers and writers – don’t make it such a big deal – let them just interact as everybody else does! It’s 2010, not 1960.

  6. Kissing is a primary cause of bacterial and viral transfer and should be banned in real life as well as on TV. In fact, any form of physical contact has huge medical implications and should be frowned upon. If goverments enforced a physical contact ban not only would lives be saved but within nine months there would not be an overpopulation problem either. So there.
    ps – David, I’m scandalised that you should promote inter-species kissing and what amounts to anime bestiality with your reference to Bugs and Elmer.
    A little self control please!

  8. @steve. How arrogant. I’m what is considered a “homophobe”, (Even though i believe there is no such thing. It’s just one of the boring labels, drama queens like to put on everyone.) In today’s society. And i watch the show. I like the gay characters myself. I find them funny. (sometimes)And they have probably done more good for the gay cause than any other gay movement in the past 20 years.

  10. It’s funny that you mention the Simpson and Delilah episode. Several years ago (in early 2000s), Ten promoted that particular episode by showcasing the kiss between Homer and Karl, but once the actual episode had aired, the kiss was cut (as Ten ended up airing the censored cut of the episode that had aired way back in 1991/92). There’s absolutely no reason why this episode should retain that cut as it didn’t challenge G guidelines back in 1991, and it certainly doesn’t challenge them 20 years later.

  11. lol, Mac, I’m pretty sure in their case the child wasn’t ‘acquired’ in that way. Mind you, having never seen the show, I don’t know the story around that.

  13. i’ve been watching Modern Family since the first episode and to be honest it never even crossed my mind that the guys hadn’t had a smooch. It’s not like Melrose Place or Number 96 where there were gay guys living in a building where sex was happening in every other apartment except theirs.

  16. I did notice the lack of physical contact between the two gay characters, and as our host said was also enjoying the comedy and how brilliant they are. If they have created these characters, i feel we need to see more of their connection – Ed O’neill is affectionate with Sofia Vergara; Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell have had their moments, but Eric and Jesse have not. The courage of the creators should push it just a little bit further – great great show!

  19. I never really noticed the lack of any kissing either. I don’t recall any of the couples on the show being particularly physical, but I haven’t watched every episode.

    The “kiss” strikes me as something which would be better served just happening in an ordinary episode as opposed to having a “special episode” dedicated towards the two of them locking lips. Two men kissing shouldn’t be presented as some kind of ground-breaking event. It’s almost as tasteless as when hot female characters suddenly decide to explore their lesbian lustings during “sweeps week” in the US (and then conveniently forget about any such feelings until the next ratings grab).

  20. It’s great that they’re actually gonna show a kiss, but it’s a shame it has to be a big deal and make it an announcement. I’d rather they just naturally kiss each other goodbye or something, and not a word mentioned. That way it might become more common, and therefore less of an issue. The fact that it always has to be announced, oooh gay kiss coming up is sad. Like Home & Away, Neighbours. The example of Dance Acadmey was a perfect example of how it can be doen with no fuss. Torchwood also is a great example.

  21. I like to think it was my outraged letter to the Green Guide back in 1990 that drew attention to the Homer/Karl kiss (which is still missing in repeats); but it was only in the pictured scene from ‘Modern Family’ I noticed the differences in physical affection between couples but I put it down to that being true of all couples.

  23. I cannot believe that this is even still an issue.

    Just do it and to hell with all the close minded fools. Stop bowing down to them and maybe they will get the message that their opinions are unwarranted and pathetic.

    Sunday’s ep was hilarious – how did Cam make that nut go in and out of his mouth! too, too funny.

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