This column follows the ABC show “Modern Family,” which airs at 9 PDT on Wednesdays. Check here regularly for a synopsis and commentary on each episode.
Author’s note: “Modern Family” is rated TV-PG, so I recommend that each viewer discern for him or herself whether or not the show is appropriate to watch. For young audiences, parents should determine if the show is acceptable.
Phil On Wire (Ep. 3)
In order to eat healthier, Cam throws away all of the junk food in the house and is determined to successfully partake in a juice diet. Mitchell decides to support Cam in his decision by also taking part in the diet.
For awhile Luke has a dream of being able walk on a tight rope. As he is telling Phil about it, his father also realizes that walking the tight rope is a dream of his as well. As a father and son bonding moment, they both decide they will learn how to walk the tight rope.
Alex takes a test and is put into advanced math, which is the same class her sister is in. Haley complains about how her sister will bring her popularity down. Alex also makes fun of Haley by commenting on the fact that she is still in second-year math while she is a senior.
The girls keep complaining about each other when Claire finally has enough and decides to call the school to change their schedules. However, before Claire can call, Alex and Haley work out a deal where Alex will let Haley cheat of her tests and Haley will let Alex sit at the popular table. The girls convince their mom to not call the school and change their schedules.
Gloria becomes frustrated with Jay’s dog since he allows her to sleep in the bed, but not Manny. The dog keeps chewing up all of her things, but doesn’t seem to bother any of Jay’s stuff, which frustrates her even further. Later on in the episode, Gloria is caught by Manny and Jay trying to feed the dog one of Jay’s shoes so that Jay would understand her frustration.
When dropping the girls off at school, Claire becomes enemies with the drop-off officer, who seems to always be looking for a fight. Later on, while Claire is waiting for the girls to come out of school, she gets a phone call from the principal explaining that Haley and Alex were caught cheating in class and would be out late. While she is on the phone, the officer gives her a ticket for being in the drop-off zone too long, which causes Claire to get out of the car and tell her off.
When they get home, Phil tells them that he purchased wire walking shoes, which just appear to be jazz shoes. He is convinced anyways that they are for the intended purpose and goes outside with Luke to try them. He can’t master the art, but Luke gets an idea to help his father. Luke thinks that maybe once the rope is higher off the ground, it will be easier since Phil will know he can’t fall; Phil is ecstatic about the idea.
Mitchell is worried about Cam, who is undergoing many different extreme stages throughout the diet. Later, while Cam and Mitchell are attending a function at Mitchell’s boss’ house, Mitchell finally breaks down and tells Cam that he can’t diet anymore. Cam reassures him that he doesn’t have to, and points out that the only reason he did it was for Mitchell, and vice versa. They end up telling each other that they accept the other just the way they are.
Before the show ends, Claire reveals the message of the episode. She says that it is good to do things for the people we love, even though it may not always be easy.
I thought this episode was very good, but not as funny as I thought it would be compared to last week. However, the overall theme was good. It may not always be easy to do things for others over your own preference, but at the end of the day it will all be worth it.
My favorite part was when Cam and Mitchell are at the function at Mitchell’s boss’ house and Mitchell gets extremely emotional due to having no food. He ends up running into the ocean looking for an otter — which is what the function was about — in his suit, with Cam chasing after him.
I definitely look forward to next week’s episode, though I hope that there are more funny parts compared to this week’s.
For previous week’s commentary on Ep. 1 and 2, read ‘Modern Family’ Season Three, Part 1.
