‘Modern Family’ Facebook fans want Cam and Mitchell to seal their love with a kiss

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In last week’s airport-centered episode of ‘Modern Family,’ there was one scene that still has tongues wagging. As Mitchell and Phil made it back in the nick of time to catch the family’s flight to Hawaii, their overjoyed spouses greeted them very differently: Phil and Claire, as usual, shared a loving embrace and kiss, and Mitchell and Cameron shared a similar embrace, sans kiss.

This seeming lack of intimacy has sparked fans and some critics to ask when the two will seal their love with a kiss, something ABC depicts often on other shows. A Facebook page has even popped up urging the network to ‘let Cam and Mitchell kiss.’ The page, which boasts nearly 5,000 members, states, ‘ABC isn’t afraid of gay characters, so why won’t they let them show some love?’ After getting Betty White to host ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Facebook really is the go-to place to demand change, huh?

Actually, longtime readers of our coverage of the hit show may remember my first Show Tracker recap, in which I wrote, ‘I know it’s only a few episodes in, but I have a beef with the show, and it comes to my boys Cameron and Mitchell. I love how ABC continues to show gay couples on their prime-time shows ... but ... Cameron and Mitchell look like BFFs and not lovers. Have they even kissed? Wait, have they even hugged? They aren’t like Jay and Gloria, from whom you can at least get the hint that they are madly in love, or Claire and Phil, who have a natural chemistry.’

In response to my statement, a reader disagreed with my assessment. Wendy wrote, ‘I have to disagree about Cameron and Mitchell’s relationship. They appear to have reached the same level of ‘married comfort’ as Phil and Claire have. You know, I LIKE that ABC is portraying the relationship as being ‘normal,’ that love is love and it all takes you to pretty much the same places in life. Perhaps, as often happens with heterosexual couples, they’ll explore their loss of ‘romance’ later on in the show.’

Early in the season I had the opportunity to speak with Eric Stonestreet, who plays the oh-so-lovable Cameron with side-splitting perfection. Keeping my mild criticisms in mind, I asked about the future of the character, and he had this to say:

‘I like that they take Cameron and Mitchell in a way that wasn’t stereotypical. We’re a comedy, we’re making a comedy, and stereotypes are going to make their way in. But I think what is great is that Jesse (Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who plays Mitchell) and I are very conscious of spinning those roles on their head. I just love the idea of creating a well-rounded, versatile character.’

Lots of hugs between the two — and adorable moments later — it didn’t take long for me to agree with our readers. Cameron and Mitchell have a more relaxed relationship, and you can tell they are in love, no doubt about that. Jay and Gloria aren’t overtly affectionate, and with three kids you’d expect Phil and Claire to still have some passion. On ABC’s hit ‘Brothers & Sisters,’ Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Scotty (Luke Macfarlane) have more than their fair share of steamy moments and maintain the same integrity as any couple. Even the guys in ‘Desperate Housewives’ have more intimate moments.

Are the backlash and comparisons to other shows unfair? Especially considering no other network features as many gay characters in their prime-time shows as does ABC?

After Elton, a blog covering gay men in entertainment and the media, wrote about the online controversy and got a statement from ABC:

‘Cameron and Mitchell are a loving, grounded, committed, and demonstrably affectionate couple and have been from the beginning of the series. It happens that we have an episode in the works that addresses Mitchell’s slight discomfort with public displays of affection. It will air in the fall and until then, as Phil Dunphy would say, everyone please chillax.’
We here at Show Tracker long for a few ‘awww’ precious moments of affection between our favorite couple, though we don’t want to see necking in amusement park lines or the cheesy ‘hands in your beau’s back pocket’ walk at malls. It’s not cute, and we don’t think Mitchell would go for that.

— Gerrick D. Kennedy

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