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The massively successful Modern Family is arguably the unexpected heir-apparent to Will & Grace, at least when it comes to bring gay characters into the living rooms of Americans in such a funny way that the audience seemingly looks beyond their sexual orientation.
One of the show's stars, Ty Burrell spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about how Modern Family is changing the hearts and minds with a "banality" that happens to be "revolutionary."
More after the jump.
Burrell told THR, "I have family members that I don’t necessarily need to name, that felt one way [about gay rights] five years ago and feel a different way now. And I do really think that has something to do -- not just our show, just our general, of seeing, day in and day out, gay people living the same lives as everybody else. And I think that, sort of weirdly enough, that banality, is revolutionary."
"Just seeing [their characters] Mitch and Cam dealing with the kid trying to sleep, trying to figure out how to dress them for Halloween, fighting about who’s the breadwinner," he explains. "Everything is, other than a few small things, is essentially the same."
"I know several conservative people that were saying one thing five years ago, and are now changing their tone," he explained. "Some super conservative people I know are not necessarily prepared to advocate for gay marriage, but I hear them defending gay people. I mean, literally, if something is said about gay people, I have heard those very same people who would have been on that other side of the argument, saying like, ‘Well, you know, it’s not easy for them. They’re trying their best.’ Even if it’s still a little patronizing, it’s changed its tone."
What do you think, Instincters? Are shows like Modern Family causing a shift in the way the gay community is perceived by many Americans?
We've got Ann Romney famously claiming the program as her favorite show, but there's still a disconnect between loving a television program and embracing the LGBT community as full and equal citizens (as evidenced by her husband, Mitt's policies).
Do shows like Modern Family (and Will & Grace before it) have an actual impact?
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