Welcome to a new Sitcom Tuesday! This week, I’m continuing my look at Modern Family (2009-2020, ABC), which is currently available on DVD/Blu-Ray and streaming!
Modern Family stars ED O’NEILL as Jay, SOFIA VERGARA as Gloria, JULIE BOWEN as Claire, TY BURRELL as Phil, JESSE TYLER FERGUSON as Mitch, ERIC STONESTREET as Cam, SARAH HYLAND as Haley, ARIEL WINTER as Alex, NOLAN GOULD as Luke, RICO RODRIGUEZ as Manny, and AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS as Lily.
With Jay and Gloria walking Mitch down the aisle in Season Five’s finale, the most individualized dynamics within Modern Family’s situation were climaxed, signaled by this definitive display of mutual acceptance. So, even though no year after the first has actually excelled at generating regular conflicts from these “non-traditional” constructs, the end of Five was implying a formal shift. Indeed, what follows is more non-series-specific sitcommery, and even more generic ideas. However, Six is still a fine year, largely due to seasoned scribes and well-defined characters. They’re still able to guarantee consistency with regard to laughs and story. What’s more, there’s a real effort this year — more than usual — to come up with fresh narrative notions. The most notable is an entry that boldly uses the “screenlife” gimmick. We’ll get into it below, but it’s notable because it also reveals a half-attempt to pivot the “Modern” in Modern Family away from those unique relationships and onto the broader notion of technology and its foundational presence in these characters’ lives. I personally don’t buy it as a crucial aspect of the series’ identity — not only because I don’t think it’s been a constant or key through-line, but also because it’s not something that defines the characters, like those family constructs do. That is, it’s not an attribute that can be applied via the leads, only through select ideas. That said, I appreciate any “newness” in the series at this point, and Seven will prove just how much more creatively interesting Six is by comparison. In fact, I maintain that this year of Modern Family boasts a very respectable quality for its age, as it still doesn’t deliver many “bad” offerings. There’s lots of mediocre, sure — by this show’s standards, and certainly by mine in the context of the genre. But few bad. Thus, Modern Family continues to impress. Well, for now, anyway…
01) Episode 121: “The Long Honeymoon” (Aired: 09/24/14)
Cam tries to preserve the honeymoon phase, while Alex spoils the Dunphys’ happy summer.
Written by Danny Zuker | Directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller
Season Six gathers its bearings with an entry that’s also reflective of the year’s decent quality. Not only is there continuity from Mitch and Cam’s wedding in a subplot about their “honeymoon phase,” but the premiere’s other stories are also capably individualized to each household. While Jay and Gloria have tension that stems from the gap in their ages — a premised difference that’s therefore unique to them and the series — the Dunphy family finds that their joyful summer is spoiled by the return of smarty-pants Alex, who brings down the mood. It’s an amusing exploration of their characters in relation. So, this is a fine launch to the season — less flashy than most below, but optimistic as a sign of this year’s standing.
02) Episode 128: “Three Turkeys” (Aired: 11/19/14)
After agreeing to let Phil cook the Thanksgiving turkey, Claire secretly prepares a backup.
Written by Jeffrey Richman | Directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller
Six’s Thanksgiving offering is another candidate for the best in this subcategory. In addition to being a holiday show whose obvious thematic trappings also help tie together a variety of narrative threads, it also decides to indulge a bit of farce. That is, various people lie to each other and run around trying to cover up their lies, leading to a natural climax. It’s all sparked by Phil’s insistence that he cook the turkey this year, while Claire secretly decides to make her own backup bird because she doesn’t trust him. When the power goes out (because of these rival turkeys), the Dunphys relocate to Jay and Gloria’s — who have lied about going out of town, hoping to instead enjoy a small, quiet meal at home with just them and the baby. Hence, there are three turkeys — and a large extended family with various cross-objectives all related to the holiday. A great, easy-to-like take on this always sitcom-friendly subject.
03) Episode 131: “The Day We Almost Died” (Aired: 01/07/15)
The Dunphys and Manny are all affected by a near-death experience on the road.
Written by Danny Zuker | Directed by James Bagadonas
“The Day We Almost Died” boasts a unique narrative and thematic unifier — a near-death experience that almost claims the Dunphys and Manny when they’re nearly side-swiped by another car. This event inspires a variety of individual character reactions, all tailored to their distinct depictions. While Phil decides to be more assertive and aggressive in seizing the day — much to the surprise of Cam, who’s initially turned on before being repulsed — Claire goes the opposite route and decides to cede control, not worrying about things that don’t matter. And as Manny is traumatized by the close call, Luke creates a bucket list, and Alex tries to appreciate Haley and their relationship more than she had prior. It’s all sensical, based on what we know of them, and it stems from a story beat that’s smartly applied for this focus on character.
04) Episode 134: “Valentine’s Day 4: Twisted Sister” (Aired: 02/11/15)
Claire worries that Phil prefers her romantic alter ego, while Gloria’s sister visits.
Written by Jeffrey Richman | Directed by Fred Savage
This year, Modern Family delivers its fourth Valentine’s Day — another recurring holiday that provides narrative cohesion for subplots via shared subject matter. Here, Claire and Phil’s sexy alter egos — Julianna and Clive — also return. None of these sequels surpass their debut, where the notion itself was at its freshest, resulting in the biggest laughs. But this is one of the better attempts, for there’s an amusing twist on the idea, as Claire decides to spoil the whole routine when she comes to believe that Phil prefers Julianna. Meanwhile, even though it’s clichéd, the visit from Gloria’s sister (Stephanie Beatriz) and the accordant misunderstanding with Jay plays to their different cultures, which is premised. (And the Mitch/Cam subplot with guest Roger Bart as a recently married pal who’s just split from his husband is funny as well.)
05) Episode 136: “Connection Lost” (Aired: 02/25/15)
Claire attempts to use all the technology at her disposal to track down Haley after a fight.
Written by Steven Levitan & Megan Ganz | Directed by Steven Levitan
My choice for this year’s Most Valuable Episode (MVE), “Connection Lost” is the most critically saluted sample of the series, breaking from the show’s usual form to indulge a cool gimmick: “screenlife.” That is, this entire half hour consists of Claire’s activity on her laptop screen, as she has conversations, looks things up, and even shops. It’s a clever idea — not totally original, but certainly bold enough to stand out on this series, which doesn’t usually deviate in formula. And it flatters the genre at large, as media-about-media has increasingly become a synthesis of our cultural landscape, where screens dominate. Indeed, despite being so obviously a stunt — particularly for a series like Modern Family (it’s no Community!) — the fact that it’s so representative of its era by offering idea-based, self-aware meta-commentary grants this installment an elevated cleverness and well, a sense, of modernity. To wit, I’ve seen interviews where the creators posited this entry’s focus on technology — as a tool for communication — as a deliberate, explicit projection of the series’ identity… You know, one of the things that makes it “modern,” particularly in terms of the Dunphys. Now, I commend that effort — especially at this point, where there’s no longer any regular conflict as a result of the other family dynamics that once more literally premised the show as “modern.” However, I don’t buy that “tech” can be retrofitted to the entirety of the run as foundational, or even to the Dunphys alone. Again, it doesn’t help define who they are or how the show distinguishes itself and them; at best, it’s a recurring topic that can be applied, as here, for narrative gimmickry. So, I’m not sold on any attempt to formally root “Connection Lost” inside the show’s premised conceits. But I do really enjoy this as a funny and unique segment from a show that’s typically not so creatively inspired. In that regard, this is Modern Family at the height of its ingenuity — and because it also manages to use this unusual framing to explore the characters and their relationships as a guiding interest, it genuinely deserves to be spotlighted as a series classic.
06) Episode 137: “Closet? You’ll Love It!” (Aired: 03/04/15)
Gloria is menaced by a drone, while Claire and Jay argue over a business commercial.
Written by Elaine Ko | Directed by Ryan Case
Although this isn’t Six’s finest, it’s the best example of the season, as every subplot suggests something about this year. For instance, there’s a story about Phil, with help from Luke and Manny, trying to take down a drone that’s been spying on a poolside Gloria. It’s another instance of the show leaning into the idea that the Dunphys are “modern” because they deal with technology. This is, again, notable but not great, for it’s merely circumstantial and not actually character-defining. And yet, it’s reflective of this season and its objectives. Also, Claire and Jay get an A-story about their business, which plays to conflict in their relationship — a tentpole of the extended family setup, often accentuated in this era because they work together. Meanwhile, there’s some sappy rom-com stuff with Haley and her love interest of the year, Adam Devine’s Andy, and a comedic subplot for Mitch and Cam that goes for easy laughs at Lily’s expense, with little value by way of their characters. But that’s exactly the kind of material their house is getting this season, especially now that they no longer have any premise-backed tension.
07) Episode 140: “Knock ‘Em Down” (Aired: 04/22/15)
Jay agrees to substitute on Cam’s bowling team, not knowing it’s an all-gay league.
Written by Rick Wiener & Kenny Schwartz | Directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller
With a memorable logline about Jay joining Cam’s bowling team, this offering is already setting itself up for success, as Cam’s flamboyance is also inherently contrasted by his athletic interests — something he doesn’t share with Mitch but does with Jay. In the past, the show has explored the simultaneous frustration and joy that Cam and Jay’s bonding has brought to Mitch, but in this essentially post-premise era, a Jay/Cam story doesn’t seek that as a dramatic basis. Instead, it can just be about the fun of the farce and the way it plays with character dynamics — as the bowlers believe Jay to be gay (a condition of him substituting as a player), which he them must corroborate for Cam’s sake. It’s easy for laughs but conceptually well-suited to Modern Family.
08) Episode 142: “Patriot Games” (Aired: 05/06/15)
Alex must compete for a gym grade with a rival in order to be valedictorian.
Written by Vali Chandrasekaran | Directed by Alisa Statman
This underrated outing has several good ideas. Its A-story emphasizes Alex’s well-known intelligence and competitiveness, as the show gears up for her graduation with a few surprises. And it smartly involves Cam, the gym teacher at her high school. Meanwhile, the whole subplot about Gloria’s ex Javier (Benjamin Bratt) trying to prevent her from becoming an American citizen is the kind of notion that only exists because of her premised attributes as Jay’s Columbian-born second wife, making it a perfect idea for this series, taking advantage of established continuity. Additionally, there’s a Cam and Mitch story that calls attention to their sexual orientation but is explicit about how casual the show now treats that fact. It’s winkingly aware, and again, well-suited for the series based on the unique parts of its premised design.
09) Episode 143: “Crying Out Loud” (Aired: 05/13/15)
Phil convinces his kids to all skip school for a day, while Claire considers leaving Jay’s company.
Written by Megan Ganz & Stephen Lloyd & Chuck Tatham | Directed by Ryan Case
There’s a pathos to this entry that helps unite all the stories, clarifying them around familial bonds that justify this touchy-feely weight. As Claire looks for a specific response from her father when she considers leaving the company, the show gets to play with their not always warm emotional bond, which has nevertheless strengthened since they began working together. And it’s welcome narrative fodder, reinforcing one of the core relationships upholding the entire extended family framework. Also, I appreciate the subplot about Mitch and Cam worrying that Lily is unemotional and apathetic due to her parents, and especially Cam, being so emotional. It directly plays on their established depictions and it’s thus character-driven comedy. However, the real highlight of the half hour for me is the bonding with Phil and his kids when they all skip school — there’s a joyful bit of physical comedy between Phil and Luke that stands out, along with some sweet moments between Alex and Haley. Just a solid sample.
10) Episode 144: “American Skyper” (Aired: 05/20/15)
Phil Skypes in on a mobile robot when he’s out of town for Alex’s graduation party.
Written by Elaine Ko | Directed by Steven Levitan
Season Six’s finale seems like an attempt to re-assert the emphasis on tech that “Connection Lost” hoped to suggest was a major part of Modern Family’s identity, particularly when it comes to communication. That really comes through here with Phil, who can’t attend Alex’s graduation party and instead appears as a Skyped-in face on a mobile robot that moves around the house. It’s a gimmick — not unique to Modern Family, actually — and still doesn’t make the case for this being a true wrinkle within the show’s situation, i.e. its projection of self. But it feels appropriate for this season given the aforementioned classic, and the general post-premise place that this year finds itself after Five’s wedding. So, frankly, it does play as a fair representation of Six and its ideas, even if it might not hold the same value beyond this year’s specific contours…
Other notable episodes that merit mention include: “The Cold,” which uses a contagious cold as a narrative through line, “Queer Eyes, Full Hearts,” one of the best Haley shows from this era, evidencing her self-awareness and growth, “Haley’s 21st Birthday,” another solid Haley show that clarifies most of its ideas around her birthday event, “Rash Decisions,” which has a handful of laudable subplots, including a great one where Alex adopts part of Haley’s personality for a college interview, and “Grill, Interrupted,” an event-centered outing that gets the characters together for a handful of amusing ideas, which intertwine as a result of the proximity. I’ll also take this space to cite “Fight Or Flight,” simply for all its guest work.
*** The MVE Award for the Best Episode from Season Six of Modern Family goes to…
“Connection Lost”
Come back next week for Season Seven! And stay tuned tomorrow for a new Wildcard!