WARNING: Minor spoilers follow for WandaVision Episode 7, "Breaking the Fourth Wall," now streaming on Disney+.
Since its premiere earlier this year, Marvel Studios' first Disney+ original series WandaVision has referenced numerous classic sitcoms from different eras in American history. The most recent episode, "Breaking the Fourth Wall," tackles sitcoms of the 2000s, most notably ABC's Modern Family. Following the episode's premiere, Julie Bowen -- who starred as Claire Dunphy throughout Modern Family's entire decade-long run and even directed two episodes -- took to social media to express just how much of an honor the reference was to her.
"One year to the day since we wrapped Modern Family, and tonight we were part of WandaVision," Bowen wrote on Instagram. "They've paid homage to I Love Lucy, Bewitched and The Brady Bunch among others... To see our show as a 'classic' through the eyes of an incredibly innovative Marvel show left me speechless... from the breaking of the fourth wall to the fabric on the couch... wow. What a great way to celebrate a bittersweet anniversary."
Modern Family initially premiered on ABC in September of 2009. The show ran for a total of 250 episode across 11 seasons, airing its finale in April of 2020. As Bowen mentions, it is only the latest show to be referenced by Marvel's sitcom-inspired, reality-bending Disney+ series. In addition to Modern Family, I Love Lucy, Bewitched and The Brady Bunch, WandaVision has also referenced the likes of The Honeymooners, I Dream of Jeannie, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Full House and Malcolm in the Middle, among many others.
Written by Jac Schaeffer and directed by Matt Shakman, WandaVision stars Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch, Paul Bettany as Vision, Randall Park as Agent Jimmy Woo, Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis, Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau and Kathryn Hahn as Agnes. New episodes air Fridays on Disney+.
Source: Instagram\itsjuliebowen