THE
“Modern Family”
Man
By Mark Williams, Phi ‘76 In the recent presidential election, both incumbent and challenger worked hard to make sure the electorate knew they disagreed on just about everything. Everything except their favorite television show, “Modern Family.” The cynic in me (channeling my inner Jay Pritchett) said, “Of course it is.” How much trouble can you get into with one of the most popular sitcoms on TV today. Alessandra Stanley observed in The New York Times: “…both are wooing the same middle-of-the road voters who are still uncertain which way they will go in November. For the campaigns, at least, watching the white, middle-class suburban characters on “Modern Family” is a way to mingle with the undecided.” When I first heard the premise for “Modern Family” it didn’t
18 | THE DIAMOND OF PSI UPSILON
sound like a show I wanted to watch. It was probably the idea of yet another goofball dad and one more geezer with a trophy wife. I may be unduly sensitive about dads as I am one (and a geezer). I ignored the show until Jim Cornacchia, Pi ‘86 (Syracuse) emailed a picture from the 2010 Emmys of Sofia Vergara being hugged by a guy Jim identified as Danny Zuker, Pi ‘86. Over the years I had come to know Jim, Mat Ross Pi ‘86 and Mark DiPasquale Pi ‘88 as terrific alumni leaders of the Pi chapter. I never suspected that any of them had Hollywood connections. It turns out this group of brothers has just that in Danny Zuker. Danny is one of the executive producers of “Modern Family.” His IMDB entry also lists writer or producer credits for “Grace Under Fire,” “Just Shoot Me!,” “Roseanne,” and “The Arsenio Hall Show.” Danny grew up in Livingston, NJ and would go into New York
