The title of episodes in several other long-running series, including Dallas and The West Wing .

: Stella acts as the "safe" outlet through which Jay can finally access his repressed emotions. The Long Goodbye: Literary and Cinematic Noir

The title " The Long Goodbye " (Season 7, Episode 8) most commonly refers to a pivotal, emotionally charged episode of the sitcom .

In Modern Family , "The Long Goodbye" serves as a masterclass in subverting the show's usual comedic rhythm to deliver a gut-punch of character development. The narrative centers on a health scare for Stella, Jay's French Bulldog. While the rest of the family reacts with typical sitcom zaniness—Gloria’s jealousy and Phil’s over-the-top empathy—Jay remains stoic.

The "long goodbye" of the title is not just about a pet; it is about the decades-long emotional distance Jay has maintained from his late father. When the dam finally breaks, the episode transitions from a story about a dog to a profound look at how men of Jay’s generation were taught to bury grief. The episode argues that: