I think my heart just exploded, but in a good way.
As if getting to see Ty Burrell in Muppets Most Wanted wasn't awesome enough, we also get to see him give interviews ABOUT Muppets Most Wanted. The following is the first such interview I've encountered, in which he also talks about some other stuff, including Modern Family (although the interview occurred before the current season started, so he doesn't really have anything significant to say about it):
I LOVE the fact that he mentioned Fozzie as a favorite Muppet, because I think that Fozzie and Phil Dunphy have a lot in common. Each has delusions ... not so much of grandeur (although Phil can go that route), but of competence. They also each tend towards "so-unfunny-it's-funny" style of schtick.1
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I think Ty Burrell is going to go together with the Muppets like chocolate and peanut butter. Generally speaking, I think the secret to his success is that he's fearless in his self-deprecation: you put him in a silly situation and he not only commits to it 100%, but he finds a way to make it funnier by poking fun at himself. Obviously, he's not the only performer to use self-deprecation as a comedic tool, but I think he's more aware than most of the comedic potential in perceived shortcomings or disadvantages, and is more skilled than most at bringing out that potential.
Modern Family itself is rather muppety in its approach in that, when it's at its best, it strikes just the right balance between the hilarious and the heartwarming. Needless to say, Ty Burrell is really good at that as well, on set as well as off.
That makes me wonder whether or not Modern Family will acknowledge Muppets Most Wanted in some way, and if so, how? Most likely, it would be a mention similar to the one they did before, or several related mentions in the same vein. If they were really ambitious, and/or if the Corporate Overlords demanded it, they might try an appearance by the Muppets on the show itself, but to be honest, I don't know how well that would work. The Muppets and Modern Family are similar in comedic style and tone, but I'm disinclined to think that the two conceits (i.e. "the Muppets are real creatures, not puppets" versus "Modern Family is a real-life documentary") would mesh well together. In theory, it sounds like a really cool idea, and maybe there's a way that--as a collective effort of funny, talented, good-hearted, well-intentioned people--they could make it work well, but I suspect that it would be like trying to bring together the positive poles of two magnets.
______________________________
1
CLAIRE [reading from "Phil's-osophy"]:"Marry someone who looks sexy while disappointed..." [shoots Phil a look]
PHIL [smiles knowingly at the camera]: See?
Click to viewI LOVE the fact that he mentioned Fozzie as a favorite Muppet, because I think that Fozzie and Phil Dunphy have a lot in common. Each has delusions ... not so much of grandeur (although Phil can go that route), but of competence. They also each tend towards "so-unfunny-it's-funny" style of schtick.1
I've said it before and I'll say it again: I think Ty Burrell is going to go together with the Muppets like chocolate and peanut butter. Generally speaking, I think the secret to his success is that he's fearless in his self-deprecation: you put him in a silly situation and he not only commits to it 100%, but he finds a way to make it funnier by poking fun at himself. Obviously, he's not the only performer to use self-deprecation as a comedic tool, but I think he's more aware than most of the comedic potential in perceived shortcomings or disadvantages, and is more skilled than most at bringing out that potential.
Modern Family itself is rather muppety in its approach in that, when it's at its best, it strikes just the right balance between the hilarious and the heartwarming. Needless to say, Ty Burrell is really good at that as well, on set as well as off.
That makes me wonder whether or not Modern Family will acknowledge Muppets Most Wanted in some way, and if so, how? Most likely, it would be a mention similar to the one they did before, or several related mentions in the same vein. If they were really ambitious, and/or if the Corporate Overlords demanded it, they might try an appearance by the Muppets on the show itself, but to be honest, I don't know how well that would work. The Muppets and Modern Family are similar in comedic style and tone, but I'm disinclined to think that the two conceits (i.e. "the Muppets are real creatures, not puppets" versus "Modern Family is a real-life documentary") would mesh well together. In theory, it sounds like a really cool idea, and maybe there's a way that--as a collective effort of funny, talented, good-hearted, well-intentioned people--they could make it work well, but I suspect that it would be like trying to bring together the positive poles of two magnets.
______________________________
1
CLAIRE [reading from "Phil's-osophy"]:"Marry someone who looks sexy while disappointed..." [shoots Phil a look]
PHIL [smiles knowingly at the camera]: See?