Top 10 Cam & Mitchell Moments on Modern Family

“Modern Family” hit the ground running with its brilliant and hilarious pilot. In one of the earliest scenes of the show, a woman walking past Cam and Mitchell on an airplane notices the “baby with those cream puffs.” An already irritated Mitchell believes she is being derogatory towards him and Cam and proceeds to make an impassioned speech to the airplane passengers. Luckily, Cam manages to stop him in his tracks by pointing out the cream puffs that Lily is holding. And with this, we knew that Cam and Mitch would be our favorite characters.

This entire episode is wonderful, but two moments stand out - the bizarre Punkin Chunkin story itself and the touching way in which it’s utilized in the story. Cam states that he once launched a pumpkin across an entire football field, and despite his insistence, neither Mitchell nor the other Pritchetts believe the story. They go to a nearby field and test Cam’s story, resulting in one of the most touching and philosophical endings in the show’s history. It’s a beautiful message about dreamers, realists, and the ways in which those two factions often coexist and aid each other’s belief systems.

We all knew that a simple trip to Hawaii would be anything but simple. And considering Mitch and Cam had a baby, we knew it would have something to do with her. While in the hotel, Cam and Mitch accidentally leave Lily in the elevator. Cue one of the couple’s famous freakouts. They proceed to scream and run through the hotel, and while Mitch realistically asks for help, Cam tells no one in particular to “seal off the island!” Luckily, Gloria is there to save the day. We love Mitch and Cam’s freakouts, and Eric Stonestreet is at his absolute best when being hysterical.

Sooner or later, everyone has to say goodbye to a house. Whether it’s your childhood home or the place you’ve been living in for years, the bittersweet feelings always come when you are forced to move on. “Modern Family” perfectly portrays those bittersweet feelings when Cam and Mitch say goodbye to their house. It’s sad to see them move out, especially after spending eleven years with the characters and the location, but Cam’s optimism and walk down memory lane serve to alleviate the more dour feelings. It’s sad, it’s funny, and it’s cute. In short, it’s the perfect send-off.

Season eight’s Five Minutes is a wild ride of an episode, and it sees Cam and Mitchell taking sleeping pills to get through a plane ride to Turks & Caicos. Unfortunately, a mechanical emergency forces them back into the airport. Cue them attempting to catch a connecting flight from Dallas...while loopy on powerful sleeping pills. The results are simply fantastic. They forget their own daughter’s name (calling her Linda and Lucy), write things on Mitch’s arm “Memento” style, and steal a metal detector from the Dallas airport. We’re not condoning drug use by any means, but we need more stoned Cam and Mitch. It’s really good stuff.

Cam and Mitch naturally freak out while picking up their adopted son from the hospital. Lily points this out and states that they always follow a routine when anxious - Cam gets hysterical, Mitch worries too much, and they proceed to turn on each other. However, this petty bickering is put aside when they actually see their son in person, which is a powerful testament to the connective nature of family. This is a bit of a meta “Modern Family” moment, as the writers acknowledge that they are following a general outline. But there’s nothing wrong with a bit of meta every now and again. Especially when it’s this cute.

Cam’s clown character Fizbo is a fan favorite. And when he’s the subject behind moments like this, it’s not hard to see why. Mitch is lightly bumped by another man’s vehicle at the gas station, which provokes an altercation. Wanting to defend his boyfriend, Cam gets out of the car (while dressed as a clown, mind you), verbally berates the driver, and forces him to apologize. It’s bizarre to see the usually more effeminate Cam turn threatening alpha male, and it’s enough for Mitch to see both Fizbo, and his partner, in a new light. But then the clown whips out that ridiculous clock and all the tension and badassery are hilariously deflated...

If they’re not trapping Lily inside a hotel elevator, they’re accidentally locking her inside the car. And yes, Cam gets just as hysterical. Perhaps even more so. Immediately after discussing their fantastic parental qualities, Cam and Mitch proceed to lock Lily in the car. Cam goes ballistic and vows to break the window open while Mitch grows increasingly concerned about the judgmental stares they’re receiving. It’s one of the show’s most iconic moments thanks to Eric Stonestreet’s funny performance, some brilliant lines and jokes, and the unexpected but hilariously realistic ending to the ordeal.

When you think of Cam’s “extra-ness,” you undoubtedly think of the famous “Lion King” baby reveal. Immediately after Mitch defends Cam and says that he isn’t very dramatic to his family, the lights dim and “The Circle of Life” begins playing over the speakers. In comes Cam carrying Lily and reenacting the beginning of “The Lion King” by thrusting the baby into a literal spotlight. It’s a hilarious showcase of Cam’s theatrical and dramatic tendencies (despite what Mitch may think), and the comedic timing on display highlights what made “Modern Family” such a joy to experience.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Mitch Dodges a Kiss
“The Kiss”

Shout
“Truth Be Told”

Cam’s Descent Into Madness
“Phil on Wire”

“Casablanca”
“Come Fly with Me”

Bumping Lily’s Head
“Run for Your Wife”

As funny as “Modern Family” was, it was also incredibly touching and sweet. Case in point - Mitch and Cam’s wedding. Despite a chaotic lead-up, the wedding itself is perfect. The marriage sequence hits all the right emotional notes, starting with Jay offering to walk Mitch down the aisle. The sweetness continues from there, including Phil officiating the marriage, the I dos, the kiss, and Claire’s beautiful voiceover speech. It’s a perfect representation of “Modern Family’s” penchant for sweetness, and it is by far the best moment involving our old pals Cam and Mitchell.