MODERN FAMILY RECAP: SLEEPER

This week’s episode had its fair share of laughs. Modern Family consistently brings the funny and I love it. Let’s get to it!

We begin with Jay and Mitch at the mall. Mitch sat down at a piano and pretended to play (the piano was playing music by itself). Jay told him how great his playing was. Mitch couldn’t believe that his father thought he could play the piano that well because he never took a lesson. He felt like Jay didn’t really know him.

Phil was supposed to stay home and wait for the repairman to fix the washer and dryer while Claire ran errands. He snuck out to buy a record of Carly Simon’s “Nobody Does It Better” because it was the song he lost his virginity to. Sometimes he fantasizes about it and listens to the song (awkward!). When he got back, the repairman had left a note on the door and he knew he was in big trouble with Claire.

Claire stopped by Mitch and Cam’s. She complimented Lily’s dress but then snapped at Cam for never dressing Lily in Alex or Haley’s hand me downs she gave them. She accused Cam of being a snob. Cam was bothered by her comment and stepped outside for some fresh air.

Mitchell told Claire about the piano incident at the mall with Jay, and Claire immediately said she was sure he played beautifully. This frustrated him even more and he felt like no one in his family knew him at all.

Cam came up with a plan to stage a Christmas photo with Lily wearing a pair of hand me down pajamas to make it look like she wore them a long time ago. He put up the tree and had fake presents and stockings hung (except there wasn’t one for Mitchell so that continued his frustration of being ignored). He thought of everything. Well almost. When he showed the picture to Claire she apologized at first but then noticed a magazine from last month on the coffee table and that Lily’s tooth was missing. Nice try Cam but Claire knew it was fake.

Jay has been sneaking around with Stella (the dog) because he wants to put her in a dog show. He didn’t want anyone in the family to know because it seemed a little soft. It’s cute how much he loves that dog.

Alex had an assignment where she had to study a disease for school. Originally she got mononucleosis but she wanted something cool so she chose narcolepsy. She paid attention to Phil and noticed that he had some symptoms. He was feeling guilty about the record store and lying about the repairman not showing up and kept falling asleep and strange times (like while driving). Alex analyzed her father and told him he had to come clean to Claire.

Gloria wanted to take a new family picture with baby Joe. She told everyone in the family to wear a black t-shirt and jeans for the photo. She wanted Joe to have a little color (since she was sending the picture to her Columbian relatives) and sat him outside for just a few minutes and the bottom of his face was as red as a tomato! She didn’t want Joe to look like a lobster in the picture so Manny said he would fix it.

Everyone arrived for the photo and they were getting in place. Jay was rushing everyone because he wanted to finish before five when the dog show started. Everyone was in place for the photo and they were about to take the picture when Mitch stepped in and couldn’t believe no one noticed he wasn’t in the picture. He definitely felt invisible in the family. He went in the kitchen and Jay went after him. They had a nice father-son moment. Jay told Mitch that if it seems like they don’t focus on him it’s because they are all focused on their own stupid problems and he is the calm one. Then Jay told Mitch that he inspired him to step outside his comfort zone. Jay admitted that he had been taking Stella and training her and wanted to put her in a dog show. Mitch encouraged him to do it. The whole family went to support Jay and Stella in the dog show. When they got back, Jay and Stella both had medals. Manny fixed baby Joe’s sunburn by painting the Columbian flag on his face. Gloria loved it! They took the family photo and it was great!

Highlight of the episode – Stella skateboarding back and forth in the kitchen. That dog is so cute!

Modern Family airs Wednesdays at 9/8 on ABC.