The current Season 8 of the American mockumentary “Modern Family” on ABC has broken new grounds in television when it featured on its second episode that aired on September 28 openly transgender eight-year-old child actor Jackson Millarker in a guest-starring role, reports the International Business Times.
Jackson Millarker played the role of Tom, a transgender friend of Lily, played by Aubrey Anderson-Emmons.
He was invited over for a playdate by Lily’s parents, Cam Tucker, played by Eric Stonestreet, and Mitchell, played by Jesse Tyler Ferguson, during the second episode of “Modern Family” Season 8 entitled “A Stereotypical Day.”
While the Pritchett-Tucker couple has always claimed that they are the most open, non-judgmental, and supportive parents, they realized during the episode that their daughter was not after they overheard her insulting Tom.
They eventually used the situation to teach Lily a lesson about acceptance and appreciating the differences of people and their sexuality, notes The Hollywood Reporter.
Cam and the Mitchell want their child to be someone who accepts all types of people the way they do.
The era of transgenders on modern TV
Ryan Case, the director of “Modern Family” shared on her Instagram account before the second episode of “Modern Family” Season 8 was aired on September 28 a photo of herself with Jackson Millarker.
She described the young transgender as a wonderful person and is also one of the many reasons why she loves being part of the show.
Millarker is the latest openly transgender actor who is starting to be featured on TV today. There is also Laverne Cox from the American comedy-drama TV series on Netflix, “Orange is the New Black,” and she will also be starring soon in the upcoming CBS drama, “Doubt.”
The American musical drama TV series “Nashville” on CMT shall also be introducing transgender actress Jen Richards in a recurring role.
There is also Elliot Fletcher, who will soon be starring in the TV series “Faking It” on MTV. He previously appeared in “The Fosters.”
And then there is teen Jazz Jennings, who currently has her own show on TLC, “I Am Jazz.”
Starting off on a high note
Season 8 of “Modern Family” started off on a high note on September 21 as the families of Pritchett, Dunphy, and Tucker were together for the first time as they celebrated Father’s Day.
The celebration took place after the three families’ respective vacations in New York, Mexico, and the Midwest. Subsequently, the families returned to their normal lives once again.
Prior to the Season 8 premiere of “Modern Family,” it has already been reported that veteran comedy actor Martin Short and Nathan Fillion of “Castle” shall be the guest of the TV series for its Halloween and New Year’s Eve episodes, respectively.
Martin Short will appear in one episode where he shall be working with Phil Dunphy, played by Ty Burrell.
It was executive producer Steve Levitan who disclosed the episode featuring Martin Short when he revealed that Martin shall be playing a guy who does promotional items and works with Phil to do all of his calendars, pencils, water bottles, mugs and all of that. Short will be the sort of local king of promotional merchandise.
Levitan went on to say that Nathan Fillion, on the other hand, shall be playing the role of a local TV weatherman, who gets involved with the Dunphy family.
The showrunner also revealed that Mitch Pritchett and Cam Tucker shall be taking in one of Cam’s football players for a while and will be staying with them for a while.
He said that the additional person into their little world would certainly provide a lot of hilarious possibilities for the storyline of the two.
Levitan also assured fans that Season 8 of “Modern Family” will have more hilarious scenes and warm gatherings that the family often brings through diversity and culture.
During the Season 7 finale of “Modern Family,” Haley Dunphy, played by Sarah Hyland, broke up with her boyfriend Andy, played by Adam Patrick DeVine, to allow him to pursue his dream job elsewhere.
While Andy was the first man she ever loved, Haley truly loved him because she wanted him to be successful. It will be a question of whether she will get over him in Season 8 or whether they would start a long-distance relationship between them.
But fans are certainly not hoping that Haley will move backward and run to the arms of her former high school boyfriend Dylan, played by Reid Ewing.
Meanwhile, Claire Dunphy, played by Julie Bowen, and Jay Pritchett, played by Ed O’Neill, will have to come to the realization that there is a need to balance the powers at the office especially considering that Claire is now in charge.
It can be recalled that Jay left his business to his daughter when he retired in Season 7. He was so bored at home that he asked to help out around the office.