Why a Mitch and Cam Modern Family spin-off wouldn’t have worked

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Why a Mitch and Cam Modern Family spin-off wouldn’t have worked

As a gamer who has spent countless hours binge-watching sitcoms and analyzing their intricacies, I must say, the idea of a spin-off for Modern Family, specifically focusing on Mitchell and Cam, is an interesting one. However, after reflecting on the successes and failures of past spin-offs, I find myself leaning towards skepticism.

It’s hard to believe that “Modern Family” has been around for 15 years! This hilarious show started airing in September 2009 and continued for 11 seasons until April 2020. It’s undoubtedly one of the greatest sitcoms ever made, and we fans would always be up for more. Maybe a reunion episode or even a special event? However, I don’t think a spin-off is the best choice.

During an interview with Graham Bensinger on In Depth, Eric Stonestreet (who plays Cameron Tucker) hinted at the possibility of a spin-off series focusing on Mitchell and Cam’s lives in Missouri after Cam took up coaching. Their daughter Lily and new son, Rexford would have been part of this story too. Unfortunately, the concept advanced only as far as writing a pilot script before ABC decided not to move forward with it.

Stonestreet feels that the sequel series would have been an undeniable success, but he’s disheartened because the network chose not to pursue the concept further. To be honest, I share his affection for Mitch and Cam from Modern Family, but I don’t believe a spin-off featuring them would have thrived for the following reasons.

There are numerous instances where sequels or offshoots of existing shows emerge, some of which have become quite popular. For instance, “Frasier,” a spin-off from the show “Cheers,” achieved significant success in 1993. Interestingly, there’s now a revival featuring Kelsey Grammer reprising his role as the lead character, with season 2 currently airing new episodes on Paramount+. Unfortunately, not every series or franchise experiences such good fortune.

Why a Mitch and Cam Modern Family spin-off wouldn’t have worked

As a dedicated gamer, let me share my thoughts on a classic TV show spin-off – “Joey,” derived from the legendary sitcom “Friends.” Now, if you ask around, folks will tell you that “Friends” is undoubtedly one of the most iconic sitcoms ever made, and it’s not hard to see why. Back in its day, the viewership was insane! So when they decided to create a sequel series featuring Joey Tribbiani, one of the main characters, I thought, “This has got to be a winner!” But alas, it wasn’t destined to succeed, and unfortunately, it turned out to be a major disappointment.

In essence, Matt LeBlanc transitioning from being part of an ensemble cast in a series, to essentially carrying the show alone, might have been a significant factor behind the show “Joey” not succeeding as well. This is because viewers were accustomed to seeing him with an ensemble, playing that particular character. In other words, the shift could have contributed significantly to the show’s struggles.

It seems to me that if there was ever a spin-off featuring Mitch and Cam from Modern Family, it would have been delightful to watch them continue their journey. However, I believe the series might not have sustained on its own due to Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet being part of an ensemble cast.

Absolutely, each set of couples/families often had distinct storylines, yet there was a unifying Pritchett/Dunphy/Tucker vibe that made the show heartwarming. Often, they’d intersect during or at the end of episodes. Changing the formula after such a long time might lead to another “Joey”-like situation, which I believe neither the characters nor the shows of “Friends” and “Modern Family” should experience. What are your thoughts on this?

All 11 seasons of Modern Family are streaming on Peacock and Hulu.

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2024-09-25 17:53