What I’m Watching: Modern Family

Modern Family: Season 3, Episode 11 “Lifetime Supply” (B+)

It’s always a pleasure to have this show back, and this half-hour served as a great winter premiere. The funniest and most original of the plotlines was surely Phil’s. His panicked reaction to receiving a call from the doctor after being told that he would call if there was something wrong was superb, and it was hilarious the whole time despite the fact that the doctor was obviously calling with a real estate-related question. Having him run out of his lifetime supply of razors that very same day was quite amusing as well, as was the whole bit featuring him getting the pie question wrong and being rewarded that strange and apparently insufficient prize. Benjamin Bratt’s return appearance as Javier was fantastic not because of his interaction with Manny but his episode-ending meeting with the rest of the family, prompting confusion from Claire and considerable staring from both Cameron and Mitchell. It also gave Jay a nice chance to say something sweet about Manny, which happens more often than not these days. Mitchell’s trophy prompted some very childish behavior from both men, and it was terrific that Mitchell realized just how petty he was being when the very similar Alex agreed with everything he said. His accidental disgusted destruction of all of Cameron’s trophies was a fantastic misunderstood situation, and Eric Stonestreet does few things better than feign extraordinary offense at every possible opportunity. However brief it was, Gloria helping Alex with her Spanish was very entertaining.