A MODERN FAREWELL
ABC, 8:00 p.m. ET
SPECIAL: Jason Lynch of Adweek, measuring the impact and legacy of ABC’s Modern Family sitcom, noted something I’d forgotten: That at the 2009 ABC upfront presentation in New York revealing its fall TV schedule to advertisers, the network did something that hasn’t occurred since. ABC was so proud of Modern Family that it showed the entire series pilot to that very important audience. Modern Family deserved it, and after 11 seasons and 22 Emmys, tonight it says goodbye. (Those Emmys include five in a row for Outstanding Comedy Series, tying the record set by another brilliant TV comedy, NBC’s Frasier.) Before showing tonight’s Modern Family finale, ABC presents this one-hour tribute – and one of the aspects I hope it treats prominently is the show’s significant contribution to America’s embrace of gay rights. Sometimes TV entertainment can move the national consciousness significantly, and this was just such a case.