‘Modern Family’ Season 4 Brings Shelley Long Back Into The Mix

Okay, so the 'Modern Family' season 4 salary talks are over, right?  The adults are all happy with their six-figure-per-episode payday, and the kids are nice and set for college with weekly salaries more than we humble TV writers clear in a year?  Good, we can get back to casting!  As 'Modern Family' gears up for its biggest season yet (literally, in Gloria's case), at least one famous face is returning to the series.  That's right, Dede Pritchett, Shelley Long herself will be back to cause an even bigger scene, but will things end up civil by the end?

TVGuide reports that one-time 'Cheers' star (and former Mrs. Brady) Shelley Long will return for the fourth season of ABC's monster-hit 'Modern Family,' reprising her role as Dede Pritchett, mother to Julie Bowen's Claire Dunphy and Jesse Tyler Ferguson's Mitchell Pritchett.  The details of the former Mrs. Pritchett's return have not yet been released, but its likely Gloria (Sofia Vergara)'s pregnancy will cause even more tension between Dede and her former husband Jay.

"We have a very funny story for her," executive producer Steve Levitan says of the character's return And as for the inevitable friction between Jay and Dede in the wake of Gloria's pregnancy, Levitan promises, "You will not be disappointed."

Meanwhile, as we’ve mentioned before, Mitchell and Cam will have their own headaches to deal with, as ‘Reno 911!’ and ‘Bridesmaids’ star Wendi McLendon-Covey will appear beginning with the season’s third episode, portraying one-half of a lesbian couple whose son gets into a fight with Lily on the girl’s day of kindergarten.  McLendon-Covey’s partner will be played by former ‘Saturday Night Live‘ star Michaela Watkins.

What say you?  Are you excited to have Shelley Long back for 'Modern Family' season 4?  What new tensions will arise between her Jay, and what will Gloria have to say?  Give us your take in the comments below, won't you?