Modern Family fans may, or may not, have noticed that Eric Stonestreet's alter ego, Fizbo the clown, made a comeback during Chappell Roan's western circus-themed performance at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday.
Roan treated Grammy attendees to the greatest show on earth with her rousing performance of "Pink Pony Club" perched atop the titular steed with dancing rodeo clowns in tow.
Here's a performance clip of the dazzling spectacle.
Stonestreet made a throwback joke tied to his Modern Family character Cam Tucker's clown persona, Fizbo.
"Lotta people asking. Yes, Fizbo WAS in @chappellroan’s Grammy performance of Pink Pony Club," wrote the 53-year-old Emmy winner.
He added:
"I was in the way way way way back. Off the stage. At home. In my chair."
"But the make up was most definitely on point and Fizbo approved! #Farmbo."
According to the actor, being a clown was a childhood aspiration.
In February 2020, Stonestreet shared a note X (formerly Twitter) that read:
“From as far back as I can remember, all I ever wanted was to be a clown in the circus."
“My dad named me Fizbo, my grandma made all my clown suits, and my parents allowed me to be the kid that raised pigs, played drums, took karate, [played] football, AND put makeup and wigs on from time to time.”
He was allowed to manifest Fizbo on Modern Family when Cam brought the beloved Bozo to life in the first season's ninth episode, which aired on November 25, 2009.
You can see Fizbo's introduction here.
- YouTubeyoutu.be
Stonestreet continued in the note:
“All of that led me to the moment in 2009 when two writers, Brad Walsh and Paul Corrigan, wrote a draft of 'Modern Family' called ‘Fizbo’ and you were introduced to Fizbo the a—kicking clown that will twist you like a balloon animal.”
@ericstonestreet/Instagram
At the time of posting, the popular ABC sitcom was heading into its 11th and final season, involving an episode where the cast went to Paris, where Fizbo would give his last appearance on the show.
Stonestreet continued in the vintage note:
“Tomorrow, you’ll see Fizbo one last time. Think Grandma Louise would be proud that her little clown made it all the way from Kansas City KS to the streets of Paris, France.”
He included photos of his family and him in a clown costume.
@ericstonestreet/Instagram
@ericstonestreet/Instagram
He concluded the bittersweet note with:
“When you met Fizbo 11 years ago, Cam said, ‘Hello old friend.’ Tomorrow, I get to say, goodbye old friend."
"Thank you Modern Family for allowing me to fulfill my dream of being a clown in the biggest circus of them all. Hollywood," he said.
The actor included a shot of himself as Fizbo in Paris during the production of the episode.
@ericstonestreet/Instagram
Grammy audiences may have missed Fizbo on the Grammys stage at Crypto.com Arena in LA, but one can't deny he was likely there in spirit clowning around at the Pink Pony Club.
Fans were here for the two worlds colliding.
They also deemed Fizbo the original "Midwest Princess," a reference to Roan's 2023 critically-acclaimed debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.
@ericstonestreet/Instagram
@ericstonestreet/Instagram
@ericstonestreet/Instagram
@ericstonestreet/Instagram
@ericstonestreet/Instagram
@ericstonestreet/Instagram
@ericstonestreet/Instagram
@ericstonestreet/Instagram
@ericstonestreet/Instagram
@ericstonestreet/Instagram
Shortly after Roan's high-energy performance channeling a rodeo queen, the singer/songwriter took home a Grammy for Best New Artist.
Roan, who has been a vocal advocate for mental health, was seen interacting civilly with photographers on the Grammys red carpet ahead of the awards ceremony, which was in stark contrast to her being rudely addressed at the VMAs last year.
The fiery standoff between her and the paparazzi at the VMAs followed her calling out fans for "predatory behavior" in an empowering statement on Instagram about setting boundaries.
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AMC