[Photo: ABC]
NPR did an interview of onscreen partners Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet or Mitchell and Cam in the newest, craziest comedy show "Modern Family". You will find out here how well Eric plays his role as gay because he is a very straight guy. Many seem to get disappointed or some can't believe that he's not queer. Below is the interview, read on.
On creating chemistry as a couple
Stonestreet: I just think chemistry comes from an openness of a performer, and Jesse is an actor that’s willing to put himself out there, and I consider myself sort of the same way, and I really feel that’s where chemistry comes from, is a sense of vulnerability for each other. It works for our relationship on the show, but it works for us as actors.
On giving Cameron a higher voice than he has naturally
Stonestreet: I feel like Cameron — and I don’t like it when actors talk about stuff like this, but — I feel like Cameron is a comfortable, comforting, nurturing sort of person that just … his idea and his intention is to soothe. And Cameron’s voice comes from that quality that I want him to have. … And it comes from my mom. I’ve said in lots of interviews that my mom gestures a lot, and the whole thing started with just watching her and observing and mimicking her and how she reacts in situations.
On the puzzling nature of viewer perceptions
Stonestreet: The best example I can give about this — and Jesse was standing right there, so he can be my witness — a gentleman came up to me at a party, and he literally said this to me: “OH MY GAWD, YOU ARE TEEEW MUCH.” And I said, “What?” And he said, “SERIOUSLY, A KIMONO? I MEAN, A KI-MO-NO? PUHHH-LEEZE. YOU ARE TEEEW MUCH. AND YOU’RE STRAAAIGHT?” And I go, “Yeah, I am.” And he goes, “Oh, please you can’t tell me you’re not questioning soooomething, come on!” He walks away, and I’m like, “Jesse, I am so glad he delivered me the message that I am too much.”
On retaining couplehood
Ferguson: I think sometimes, since we aren’t a real couple in real life, as some people don’t realize, we forget that there is moments of tenderness and affection, and we try and find places to fuse that as much as possible. And there’s some great moments of that in the Valentine’s Day episode.
On stereotypes
Ferguson: We’re not traditional gay characters as seen on TV in recent history. We have different body types, and I think that’s also, in itself, unique.
Stonestreet: I felt like that going in, as far as my physicality goes, was — it added jokes to the character. That was sort of my pitch as far as why I should get the audition in the beginning. “Put a well-built dude in there and you’re cliche and you can be stereotypical and mean. Put me there and you open a world of jokes.”
This may typecast him in his future roles but nobody does it like Eric Stonestreet. Do you agree with me?
(Source: Modern Family ABC)
