In the Modern Family episode ‘Ringmaster Keifth,’ while Phil (Ty Burrell) is surprised to learn that his father Frank (Fred Willard) is dating his childhood babysitter (Faith Prince), Cam (Eric Stonestreet) struggles to prepare a New Year’s Day dinner for the family. Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) tries to help Cam by cashing in a concierge gift certificate. The concierge who arrives — in a handsome tuxedo — is Cam’s ex Keifth, played by Kelsey Grammer. Keifth was a former circus ringmaster who broke Cam’s heart years ago.
When asked why Keifth left the circus, Grammer steals the scene with his booming voice and theatrical gestures when he delivers the line: “People today don’t have the patience for the more elegant pleasures of yesteryear – men putting their heads in lions’ mouths, unfortunate little people being shot from cannons” (Grammer smiles and pretends to watch one being shot across the sky). Modern Family airs Wednesdays at 9pm on ABC.
[Fun note: Modern Family executive producer Christopher Lloyd was a writer for Frasier from 1993 to 2004.]
