'Modern Family' - 'Earthquake': Who could possibly hate brunch?
Nathan Lane guests on a very funny episode
Nathan Lane stopped by "Modern Family" last night.
A quick review of last night's "Modern Family" coming up just as soon as I play Good Cop/Mom...
Though I am contractually obligated in these reviews to mention my preference for episodes featuring the three families together and/or mixed up, every now and then the show will give us a wholly satisfying, very funny episode with the three groups in isolation. "Earthquake" was one of those episodes. A simple, effective, very funny outing.
Of the three plots, I laughed the most at Cam/Mitchell, which pushed Cam's more theatrical qualities to the extreme (the blacksmith/chimney sweep joke, "Seder-Day Night Fever"), featured a guest appearance by Nathan Lane where his natural hamminess was an asset (of course Cam would have dated a guy like this at some point), and featured an incredibly old-fashioned silly name punchline - "No, you're not a joke! You're Pepper Saltzman!" - that still made me laugh at ton.
But in a way, the group whose story I enjoyed most was the one that I usually find to be the weak link in episodes like this: the Dunphys. Because Phil is often too stupid and/or too much of a Michael Scott rip-off, because Claire works best as a straight woman (and is setting up a character in Phil I only sometimes find funny), and because they tend to be the most predictable plots, more often than not I consider Dunphys a necessary evil to let me get back to Cam, Gloria and the others. But fair is fair, and this was a good one, because it didn't set into any kind of predictable one-on-one rhythm. Claire's annoyed with Phil at the same time she's trying to discipline Hayley, Hayley is mad at her mom and Alex at once, Phil is trying to stall Claire's bathroom escape while also working on Luke and Alex's silence, etc. And the payoff, with Phil having to drive Alex to the Museum of Tolerance, was very adroitly set up.
What did everybody else think?
News From Our Partners
-
Box Office: 'Star Trek Into Darkness' Misses $100M Domestic Mark on Opening Weekend
Beyonce Pregnant Again? Sources Confirm 'Epic' Star Is Carrying Baby No. 2
'Hangover 3' Red Band Trailer: Take a Walk Down a NSFW Memory Lane (VIDEO)
-
'Anchorman 2' Trailer Had Us At 'Hello': Watch Now!
Fiery 'Star Trek Into Darkness' Scene Hurt The Most: Ouch!
How Far Will 'Star Trek Into Darkness' Boldly Go At Box Office?
-
What to Watch Tonight: The Season Finales of Rectify and Hawaii Five-0 and the Series Premieres of The Goodwin Games and Motive
Hey TV.com, Should I Watch The Goodwin Games?
FTW vs. WTF: The TV Week in Review (May 19)
-
Inventory: “Illusion, Michael. A trick is something a whore does for money”: 20 inept magicians in pop culture
For Our Consideration: The crowd-funding conundrum: The line between bringing fans closer and taking advantage
Cannes Film Festival: Cannes 2013, Day Four: The Coen brothers return to the festival with a folk-rock flashback
-
Nicki Minaj Gives Lil Wayne a Lap Dance During 'High School' at 2013 Billboard Music Awards [Video]
David Guetta, Akon + Ne-Yo 'Play Hard' at 2013 Billboard Music Awards [Video]
Prince Closes 2013 Billboard Music Awards With Rare Performance Medley
-
WATCH: SNL Spoofs San Francisco's Bacon Bacon Controversy
Mike Hogan: The Wedding From Hell
WATCH: 'SNL' Takes On IRS Scandal
-
'Mad Men' Review: "The Crash"
'Game of Thrones' Review: "Second Sons"
'Star Wars Episode 7′ — Jonathan Rhys Meyers to Join the Cast?
-
The Telefile - The Most Heinous Person on Reality TV This Week
The Telefile - Modern Family: The Best Lines of the Night
The Telefile - Fall TV 2013: What's On When
Get Instant Alerts on What's Alan Watching
Latest Posts
-
A police procedural that doesn't bother with whodunnit, but doesn't replace it with anything interestingMonday, May 20, 2013
-
The paperback is being re-released tomorrowMonday, May 20, 2013
-
Don and Stan get a special shot, the agency loses a leader and Sally meets her 'Grandma Ida'Monday, May 20, 2013
-
The Lannisters throw a wedding, Daenerys faces a new army, and Stannis meets GendrySunday, May 19, 2013
Comments
Option 1
Comment instantly as a guest GuestOption 2
Option 3
Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupRazorback
October 7, 2010 at 9:35AM EST Reply to CommentYou missed the best line of the episode:
"You're playing pretty fast and loose with my soul!"
jenfullmoon No, no, the mob wife comments!
October 7, 2010 at 2:38PM ESTerinpayton Both of those comments had me rolling, but especially the parts with Mitchell getting into it and tossing the frog. But seriously...I think there's a little mob wife in each of us...there are always things we want someone else to handle because we just don't have the stones!
October 7, 2010 at 8:19PM ESTLoved loved loved it, and laughed through most of it!
conrad
October 7, 2010 at 9:35AM EST Reply to Commentmanny never ceases to impress. that kid is great.
and i loved how luke ran into the wall because he was scared that 'the cabinet didn't move' during the earthquake.
Patti
October 7, 2010 at 9:38AM EST Reply to CommentBest line was "I couldn't find any straws, so you'll have to drink it like a cat".
Dan Jardine
October 7, 2010 at 9:41AM EST Reply to Comment"Do you know what menstruation is? Because I do!" was damned funny too.
One of their better outtings, and that is saying a helluva lot for this very funny show.
Nick
October 7, 2010 at 9:47AM EST Reply to CommentThis was their funniest in a long time for me and that's despite feeling like the Jay-Manny stuff was mostly a miss. Lots of great lines and I loved the Dunphy thread here.
velocityknown
October 7, 2010 at 9:49AM EST Reply to CommentLoving this season.
I prefer my time with the Dunphy's though, they could be their own show. Actually each family could be their own show, that's how great they are.
I laughed so hard when Cam used the situation of lying about Mitchell's feelings to destroy his frog statue. And Cam's mouthing of "I was at sea".
Now I'm just waiting for Community to match this awesomeness tonight.
James
October 7, 2010 at 9:54AM EST Reply to CommentI really enjoyed the episode and this was the least annoyed every been by Nathan Lane. Good job!
However, I would've thought that by this point we would be past the lame emotional voice-overs that sum everything up at the end. But I guess that is just a part of the format now.
October 7, 2010 at 10:12AM EST Reply to CommentFunniest episode of the new season. I was dying at all the Cam/Mitchell/Pepper scenes. "Say it...mob wife." And you have to love a little kid - Manny - who dresses for church like he's going to a nite club. That kid is priceless.
conrad loved the mob wife bit. my wife had to cop to that last night when we were watching as she never likes to ask for anything or make [very legitimate] complaints in restaurants.
October 7, 2010 at 10:25AM ESTChuck
October 7, 2010 at 10:14AM EST Reply to CommentDid Manny had a Cigar on his hand while caddying for Jay? of course he did! funniest image of the episode
Omagus No, he was holding Jay's cigar (which, while wearing a Kangol, was an awesome sight gag). But he was eating a candy bar at the same time.
October 7, 2010 at 10:23AM ESTBryan
October 7, 2010 at 10:17AM EST Reply to CommentHilarious - One big issue though. Gloria didn't shake or stir anything the entire episode - WTH!? - Couldn't we have at least gotten a close-up during the earthquake? (although it was Sunday and she was in her church clothes so maybe it wasn't appropriate)
chex
October 7, 2010 at 10:18AM EST Reply to CommentI thought it was good until that lame voiceover summary ending. That annoyed me during the second half of last season and I hate that it's back again because it really takes away a lot of my enthusiasm for the show from the first 20 minutes. Also the writers stole from Friends again.
Lovelovelove Luke though. That kid really nails his lines and physical comedy. Cam/Mitchell are gold too. Whereas Phil and Gloria are getting a bit too stereotypical this season.
isaacl I didn't mind the voiceover ending, as it was only slightly sentimental, with a decidedly non-sappy punchline at the end.
October 7, 2010 at 11:39PM ESTLJA
October 7, 2010 at 11:18AM EST Reply to CommentRock solid episode. Lots of belly laughs. Is it my imagination, or has Mitch upped the comedy this season? He seems a little more sarcastic and funnier this year.
velocityknown I actually thought Cam had been upping it a bit this year. Good work on both their parts.
October 7, 2010 at 11:31AM EST
October 7, 2010 at 1:14PM EST Reply to CommentI don't understand how you like Phil the least, or find him unfunny.
Everything Ty Burrell does on this show is hilarious, and he's far from a Michael Scott rip-off.
Time to peer below the surface and the shallow, Alan. :-)
Shitegeist Whilst I agree that Phil is hilarious I think it's fairly obvious that he's more than a reasonable facsimile of Michael Scott.
October 7, 2010 at 3:03PM ESTThey have the same man-child ways, lack of self awareness and penchant for mangling the English language.
Phil Dunphy is what Michael Scott would have been if he'd had a happier childhood and gotten married.
velocityknown There are similarities but when it comes down to it, Phil is smarter, more people-savvy, not offensive, and you can understand how he has a grounded wife.
October 7, 2010 at 6:04PM ESTLike I said earlier, I love the Dunphy's and I don't really consider there to be a family in the show that I think is the weakest, they all have their moments of strength and moments of weakness.
jon88
October 7, 2010 at 2:02PM EST Reply to CommentAlmost no talking heads or breaking of fourth wall = *much* better show. (And Jay's punch line to the mockumentarian was eminently cuttable.)
Ace
October 7, 2010 at 3:11PM EST Reply to CommentPretty sure that "mob wife" is going to be a joke in our house for a long time. I always make my husband do the things like canceling plans (and ordering Chinese...don't judge me) that I hate to do.
Josh
October 7, 2010 at 5:36PM EST Reply to Commentyou can double that 4 weeks and make it 10!!!
Rhoda
October 7, 2010 at 5:51PM EST Reply to CommentReally: I love the Dunphys. They're my favorite part of the show other than Cam and Manny in whatever they want to do. The plumber was the only part that rang false; Claire wouldn't be that open to an outsider. But otherwise; great episode and I loved the parenting through the door.
Kevin
October 8, 2010 at 8:59AM EST Reply to CommentSmall nitpick. How the hell do you get a plumber to come over on Sunday? And Haley has a Sunday morning party to go to?
Ballroom Pink
October 8, 2010 at 1:14PM EST Reply to CommentHasn't Nathan Lane played a character named Pepper before? I want to say he did in Frankie & Johnny.
Two themes this week in TV comedies this week: religion and Law & Order.
Gridlock
October 8, 2010 at 7:08PM EST Reply to CommentThe plumber's look straight at Phil as Claire says "Here's the problem", priceless.
November 13, 2010 at 5:28AM EST Reply to CommentManny was hilarious at some parts too. You didn't mention him, Alan. I find the little - I want to look like grown up people - Manny very funny almost at every episode!