What I’m Watching: Modern Family

Modern Family: Season 1, Episode 17 “Truth Be Told” (B+)

Once again this show demonstrates that it’s able to use guest actors in a way that doesn’t wreak of stunt casting and doesn’t overshadow the principal cast. In fact, appearances like that of Judy Greer as Phil’s ex-girlfriend hoping for an indiscreet rendezvous with the married man just serve to make the main performers work harder and deliver even more incredibly. Phil’s reaction, coupled with Claire’s jealousy-turned-friendliness, was what made that plotline work extraordinarily well. I loved Haley’s comment of “Ew, Dad, I couldn’t picture you with any woman” and the way that Claire took it. Seeing Mitchell at work was a nice treat, especially as freaked out way too much when he thought his boss overheard his snappy comment. Mitchell’s resignation was a marvelous scene, first defiantly handing his badge and his coffee cup over to his boss before requesting both back because he needed them to operate the elevator and complete his look, respectively. Jay’s desire to inspire confidence in his son was clearly misguided from the start, but the murder cover-up was hilarious. The way Manny said “Jay, I’ve been waiting for you” was terrific, as were the references back to a similar fiasco involving Jay and Mitchell a number of years earlier. Gloria’s frustrated reaction to the whole thing was amazing as well. She’s someone who usually steals scenes and often takes center stage in many of the plotlines, but she’s just as effective when she’s serving as a background buffer between her overly mature son and her overly childish husband.