Ed O'Neill Doesn't Care About the Modern Family Kissing Controversy
When Modern Family got called out by a Facebook group for failing to show any physical affection between the show's gay couple, Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), the producers issued a half-hearted and joking explanation -- they used "chillax" at one point -- and probably assumed the whole affair was behind them. Except not when series star Ed O'Neill is on the prowl.
The Modern Family patriarch was pressed by PopEater for his thoughts on the issue and his feelings sound just as curmudgeonly as his on-screen alter-ego usually does.
PopEater: What do you think of the protests over Cameron and Mitchell's muted displays of affection?
O'Neill: Oh, that's so stupid. Who cares? When I hear that, it's half amusing, half annoying. First of all, they're the most conservative family of the three. Mitchell is a lawyer, and Cameron is a stay-at-home mom with a baby ... It's much, much better to allow people to use their imaginations when they want to, in that regard. Otherwise, it turns into a sort of pornography. If people want to be titillated or shocked or, "Oh, wow, they're actually kissing," I mean, who cares? The format is, they live together. We assume they have sex. I don't think we need to see it beginning or ending. Who cares? To me, it's boring. Gloria and I haven't done any making out in the first 24 shows ... When people start to make out or kiss or French kiss or caress in a sexual manner, the story stops. Where do you go with that? It's like, "Okay, now, let's see... five seconds, ten seconds, 15 seconds, gee, they're still making out, my goodness, they're actually kissing." Who cares? The story stops.
But wait, does he care? Unclear. O'Neill he does bring up a good point about the fact that he hasn't gotten to suck face with Sofia Vergara -- and that Cameron and Mitchell are conservative in nature -- but it seems a bit dangerous to suggest that showing two people kiss on TV is "pornography," especially when referring to a homosexual couple.
Anyway, the Modern Family producers have said they would address this matter in the fall. And hopefully it won't be with just a throwaway line about how Mitchell doesn't like kissing on camera.
Ed O'Neill Finds 'Modern Family' Gay Kiss Controversy 'Half Amusing, Half Annoying' [PopEater]
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Cut the guy some slack. He didn't say, "Gay people make it look like pornography." He merely used a descriptive term to talk about ANY sexual interaction between two people on-camera (regardless of sex.)
Maybe a bad word choice? - Okay, maybe. But read it out loud and then follow the description he uses:
"Gloria and I haven’t done any making out in the first 24 shows…When people start to make out or kiss or French kiss or caress in a sexual manner, the story stops. Where do you go with that? It’s like, “Okay, now, let’s see…five seconds, ten seconds, 15 seconds, gee, they’re still making out, my goodness, they’re actually kissing.” Who cares? The story stops."
He didn't mean to say that "gays kissing" is any worse than "straights kissing." He lumped them all in together.
If people get on a soap box about O'Neill's statement, that's going to be for propaganda/agenda purposes.
It's a comedy, not a serious drama.
The show is awesome, the affestion for the gay couple is the same level as Ed's character... does anyone have a problem with his physical affection level???
If you want more affection, more kissing, more touching of any sort, then watch cable channel shows.... otherwise, use your imagination about what goes on behind closed doors!
Ridiculous. There's so much crap on TV that to make something out of nothing for the best show on network television seems a little churlish. I don't recall that Will and Jack had many make out sessions and I think Will and Vince kissed maybe once or twice. As a homo, I've noticed that the most difficult audience for any shows with gay characters is a gay audience.
I don't see why simple kissing has to be the domain of cable tv or serious dramas. Network TV is still wimpy when it comes to gay couples so I don't blame people for thinking that there may be a double standard for the gay couple because generally there still is.
this is the biggest problem happening on earth?
Yes, Tabata. Because that's what Movieline reports on: the biggest problems happening on Earth.
Actually, it is refreshing to see ANY TV with characters that do not kiss, sleep around, or in their underwear. Keep it innocent and funny please. P.S. If you can't find a storyline for African Americans, please have more African Americans as extras (coaches, doctors, lawyers, ice cream retail store managers, car salesmen, etc.), surely you can do better in that area.
couldn't care less.
it's a minor thing for me, but remember we've already seen C&M in bed together, even if it was waking up due to "strange noises" over the baby monitor. (the tired, old, "same wavelength as the neighbor's monitor" gag.)
We've gotten to see Jay and Gloria doing the "reading in bed" bit, and I don't recall seeing Phil and (Julie's character) in bed together AT ALL.
Seriously, Julie is a total MILF!
Talk about making a big deal about nothing.Seinfeld had a bathroom,but we never saw him bathing. Does that mean he stunk and his friends were afraid to tell him? At least we saw Kramer bathing (and preparing a salad!).
I don't know about anyone else, including O'Neill, but I'd be pretty cheesed off if I weren't allowed to kiss Sofia Vergara onscreen, or anywhere for that matter.
but it seems a bit dangerous to suggest that showing two people kiss on TV is “pornography,” especially when referring to a homosexual couple.
I'd agree with you if you could reasonably think that's what O'Neil was saying. For heaven's sake, 'Modern Family' is a prime time network sitcom, and NOBODY dry-humps or tries to suck out each other's tonsils in that kind of show. Do they?
If you want more affection, more kissing, more touching of any sort, then watch cable channel shows. Otherwise, use your imagination about what goes on behind closed doors!
Ha, O'Neil is getting old. Who cares about that, he says - remember "Married with Children". That show dripped sex!
this is retarded. he's right. its a comedy show. unless there's a gag at the end of the kiss, why show it. yes, in the screencap above maybe they should be kissing. but thats it. i'm sure that was the actors interpretting what they felt the characters would do in that moment. no way the script says these two kiss these two DO NOT.
There's so much crap on TV that to make something out of nothing for the best show on network television seems a little churlish. I don't recall that Will and Jack had many make out sessions and I think Will and Vince kissed maybe once or twice.