Modern Family, May 8, 2013 -- "My Hero"

So, what did everyone think of last night’s episode?

Kind of weak. The situation was too forced, not much comedy IMHO. That would be in comparison to this show itself, compared to most other shows it’s still pretty good.

This is the first episode where Lily actually SMILED. And acted cute.

Having seen a lot of college brochures, I thought the funniest line was about the multiethnic students at the lunch table and how “the kid in the wheelchair is cracking them all up”.

I really liked how easily Claire jumped right back into her old job. I’m pretty sure I could rock some of my old jobs the same way. Also really enjoyed having everyone on roller skates for most of the episode. Added some fun extra physical comedy.

Love the show, but…

They need to do an episode where they show that & why Mitchell loves Cam. He comes across as a histrionic needy silly queen whose antics constantly exasperate the already bitchy Mitchell. Phil and Claire/Gloria and Jay have funny moments and eccentricities and even some not-so-likeable characteristics as well but you don’t ever wonder what they see each other or doubt their attraction. While Cam’s neurotic queeny schtick makes for funny moments, you’re not really sure why Mitchell is attracted to him at all, let alone wants to spend a life/financially support (before he returned to teaching)/raise a child with him.
One of the early episodes showed Mitchell’s reaction as Cam went from sound asleep to on-his-feet-baseball-bat-in-hand-ready-for-battle in about two seconds flat when he thought there was an intruder in Lily’s room. We need to see some more of that Cam.

I love Cam. If I had to choose between him and Mitch for a partner/roommate/friend, I’d definitely pick Cam. Mitch is stiff, insecure, uptight, and boring. Yeah, Cam is histrionic, dramatic, sensitive…but I like that, because he’s also strong, loving, loyal, and a LOT sexier than Mitch.

Another plus for Cam, Fizzbo is part of the package, and as we all know, when necessary, Fizzbo can be something of a badass.

Oh yeah, Fizzbo’s great!

That’s pretty much what I was thinking. The show used to be laugh-out-loud funny to me, but it’s more chuckle quietly funny now.

I like Manny aggressively striking everyone off of his list (and the final bit - “C minus - this wasn’t the assignment”). I also liked Jay having a nice father-in-law moment with Cam. The Alex and Haley bits were very nice, too - having a bunch of sisters, I can relate to fighting like bitter enemies, then becoming friends as you mature.

I would like to see more of why Cam and Mitchell are together, too. We see plenty of the longterm couple sniping; now let’s see some longterm couple “why I fell in love with you” moments.

It seemed like they avoided showing Cam on roller skates much. Is it that Eric Stonestreet can’t ride them or can’t do so well?

I imagine it must be one of those. In the story universe, Cam was apparently a jock in high school - I remember Mitchell talking about gays getting picked last in PE, and Cam saying something like “speak for yourself, I could throw a dodgeball through a wall”.

Could be but it could also have just been a way to keep him off the rink while Teddy soaked up all of the family’s attention.

They have been downplaying this aspect of Cam, don’t know why. One great scene in an early episode (maybe the pilot) had Mitchell getting bullied by some guy at a gas station and Cam gets out of the car, in his clown suit, and threatens the guy for hassling his boyfriend. I figured they play that aspect of Cam more often. I find it odd that with each episode they make him more and more of a gay stereotype.

“…dodgeball through a sheet of plywood”.

I love that Claire was doling out mini pizzas & Kool-Aid like a machine, including swiping the tips out of the jar, like she had never left. I can picture her doing that and still managing to do whatever was necessary to get her name on the wall of the men’s room. She must have been quite the package back in the day.

And I teared up a bit when she was listening to Jay talk to Cam.

Oh, shut up.

I think it was introduced as a way for Cam to bond with Jay (and consequently make Phil try even harder to get his father-in-law’s approval.)

Well, Phil was the fourth great disappointment.

I loved the gas station scene! I need to watch it again…

My wife says there are times when Phil reminds her of me. I’m a bit offended.

I’d be HUGELY offended.
(Insert Phil Dunfey clever word association joke here)