BWW Recap: Misunderstandings (and Hilarious Guest Stars) Abound on This Week's MODERN FAMILY

Claire and Phil are traveling back from a camping trip with Phil's ex-cheerleading buddies (love those guys!!); while Phil's enjoyed himself, Claire's had an awful weekend, and jumps at the chance to upgrade to first-class - and separate herself from her husband - on the flight back. A funny premise made funnier when we see how this plot will be presented, with consistent back-and-forth from Claire's glamorous in-flight experience (a "beautiful stranger" offers her two chardonnays and a hot towel) to Phil's less-than-stellar one (he gets hit with a bag that falls from an overhead compartment on the way to his seat).

Now, my first thought is that this plot is stolen directly from SEINFELD's "The Airport." But, my next thought is that it turned out to be freakin' funny on that show - and one of my favorite all-time episodes - so you probably really can't fail giving the contrast to slapstick geniuses Phil and Claire. And yes, yes, yes! It takes another turn. Phil turns out to be sitting next to amateur magician Edward Legrand (guest star Penn Jillette) and a masseuse, while Claire's "beautiful stranger" turns out to be a drunk, racist bi-otch. This plot is hilarious and it's true Claire and Phil at their best, with Phil trying to disrupt Claire from seeing what's really going on when she goes back to try and switch seats with him. I appreciate that they kept the back-and-forth going for an extra segment (yay!) and brought it all together with a sweet husband-and-wife moment. These writers are killing it with the wraparounds! Again, it shows you the series is really about the heartwarming fuzzy moments as much as it is the fall-out-of-your-chair LOL ones. Well done!

Cam & Mitch are throwing a baby shower for Sal, who we last saw leave the altar at their wedding at the end of last season because she was... well, pregnant. Glad the continuity's there, and we get to follow it through. Also, so glad that Pepper's back. There was some speculation earlier that Nathan Lane because of his theatrical duties with IT'S ONLY A PLAY (which he was fabulous in, btw!) and at BAM with THE ICEMAN COMETH, but glad it's worked out. As a side note, I've recently been watching old clips of THE ADDAMS FAMILY as well... he's just so freakin' funny and I love watching him in anything he does! (Case in point: the Blackhawks joke). And it's good that we have Lane hear to keep us laughing, 'cause things aren't looking too good for Cam and Mitch, who are now stuck babysitting Sal's little one, when she *accidentally* drives off without him. And then, the two get into an argument with Pepper and Ronaldo as to who should raise the child now that Sal is gone. Of course, through a series of misunderstandings, a la Mitchell's plot in S5's "Spring-A-Ding-Fling," and a few good Nathan Lane one-liners, various truths are revealed, and Sal must face the fact that she needs to mature. She's a mother now... and it's time. Luckily, she's got Mitch and Cam there with her every step of the way. #warmandfuzzy

In the Pritchett/Delgado household, Gloria persuades Jay to teach Manny how to fight, after revealing - to Jay, not Manny - that she thinks her son is weak. A good idea, and yes, it's funny (just watch the moment when Manny confronts the bully), but the real genius lies in the fact that the plot is really not about Manny fighting; it's about Gloria admitting to Manny that she thinks he's weak, and not succumbing to the idea that he's a perfect little boy. In keeping with the growth and maturing, I would have liked to have seen Gloria discuss and resolve this idea with Jay and Manny by the end of the episode, but the plot twist (again, I won't spoil it here) did make me laugh and was a clever touch. A little forced, but clever. I do hope they get back to that Manny/Gloria coddling issue, though, and actually address it rather than continue to have Jay make jokes about it. Given the fact that they're in the sixth season, it's time. But no worries. It was still a good story for these guys tonight.

Finally, the Dunphy kids get an extra subplot, wherein the girls help Luke to break up with his former girlfriend. I really like that the writers are honoring the growth of these characters, not just by giving them plot lines that deal with more adult topics, but - because the kids are older - giving them their own standalone plot lines in general, and not having them tied to a scenario where their parents are at the forefront, as was the case with earlier seasons. The fact that Luke goes straight to his sisters and they talk about girl advice, instead of his mom, provides a nice, refreshing twist to the series and the characters. The actors are older, the characters are older... why not honor that? And then, to have the girls give legit advice instead of silly sibling things (see S2, "You get the lipstick, I'll get the bra and tennis balls")... it's just nice to have the characters and storylines mature as the actors do. It makes sense.

As for the plot itself, it's predictable. I could tell that's where it was going. And then, I was okay that that was where it was going, but it was cut too short. Just another victim of multiple-plots-in-an-episode-syndrome, and this one was the plot on the chopping block tonight.

Overall, a strong result... though I can't help but think if it would be that strong without the mélange of multiple guest stars this week. Oh, well. It's nice to have a few guests over to the house once in a while... even if they do come in droves. It's just for one week... and it was a hell of a week at that!

SOME FAVORITE QUOTES

- Cam: (re: Sal) She's been a little hard to pin down lately, but we knew she'd never miss the chance to shower with a bunch of men.

- Jay: (after Gloria checks Manny's fever by kissing him) You know, we have a thermometer.

Gloria: Do you have to be so white all the time?

- Gloria: It's bad for a boy to know that his mother thinks he's weak. It's a lifetime of paying women to spank him until he cries.

- Jay: (teaching Manny to fight) I'm only doing it for the lasagna. And the extra food he's been bringing home on Sundays. Makes Mondays easier, you know?

Gloria: My God. You're the Garfield.

- Alex: (re: Rose, to Luke) You need to stand up and face her.

Luke: In person?

Haley: What are we, 30? Send her a text.

- Alex: (re: Rose, to Luke) First, tell her she's awesome.

Haley: And pretty.

Luke: If she was awesome and pretty, I wouldn't be dumping her.

- Mitch: (re: Sal leaving) That's weird. Her car's gone.

Cam: What?

Pepper: Let's not jump to conclusions. In this neighborhood, her car could've been stolen.

- Edward: Phil, what age were you when you first kissed a girl?

Phil: 12, cousin; 14, non-cousin.

- Claire: (to Edward, on her seat neighbor) Stick it, Kreskin! I am sitting next to a cheese-eating racist!

- Mitch: Sal, we love you and we're always here for you, whatever you need.

Pepper: (re: he and Ronaldo) Except we'll be in Capri all of July.

STRAY OBSERVATIONS

- Instead of Edward Legrand, why not just have Penn Jillette play himself? Oh well. No big deal. Just a thought....

Episode MVP: Broadway's own Nathan Lane. Need I say more?

Photo Credit: Twitter / ABC

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