What I’m Watching: Modern Family

Modern Family: Season 1, Episode 14 “Moon Landing” (B+)

This show has done a great job thus far of not letting its semi-parade of celebrity guest stars get in the way of its quality. While it’s always nice to see the lovely Minnie Driver, however, couldn’t they have given her something to do other than make Claire display a whole range of emotions in one conversation? Julie Bowen is great at playing the straight man (woman), and seeing her get all riled up because she thinks someone is judging her is very entertaining. Putting Jay and Cameron together in one room is always a stellar idea, and it never gets old to see Cameron so unfazed by all the outrageous things he says and does while Jay becomes so easily uncomfortable as a result of the same events. Jay’s attempts to express his fabricated comfort the situation did not work out well for him at all, but that was hardly a surprise. Another novel interaction between three other characters made for a lot of fun. Incorporating Mitchell’s career into the show is good, and the way he deals with both Manny’s fear of upsetting his mother by confessing about her poor driving and Gloria’s eccentric flair for getting easily upset and insisting that everyone else is a bad driver was quite funny. Phil didn’t go far in this episode, but the mere wearing of that mustache is hilarious enough; he doesn’t have to do much else. And who knew that Dylan would become such a fixture in this show? That fight between them played out pretty ridiculously.