Primetime Rehashed: Modern Family “Travels with Scout”

Photo from boston.com

By Alex Brooks
Staff Writer, Bear Wrestler

Welcome to the first edition of Primetime Rehashed!

The first show receiving a recap/review will be last night’s Modern Family, titled “Travels with Scout”. The shows three separate, yet related families start the episode with three main plotlines as per the usual. The return of Fred Willard as Phil’s dad shakes up the Dunphy household when he brings the family the gift of a dog and Haley’s boyfriend Dylan makes the decision to bring on Cameron as his band’s new drummer. Also, Jay’s bad decision to take Manny to a horror movie winds up scarring him beyond all recognition.

The comedic genius of the show really spikes around the middle of the episode when we find out that the dog begins to grow on Claire, Phil’s dad is hiding something, and that Cameron is an excellent drummer. Cameron, unfortunately, takes the gig too seriously and goes on for at least a 30 minute drum solo when Dylan’s song ends. So, when the band’s former drummer returns Cameron is forced to face reality and return back to his boring life with Mitchell.

Jay hires the killer from the horror movie to come talk to Manny and hopefully break him from his state of constant fear. The actor rings the Pritchett’s broken doorbell and no one come to the door, so he heads to the window where he sees Manny. The actor knocks on the window with his fake machete and accidentally scars the poor kid’s mind even more than before.

Back to the Dunphy household, Phil and the family are saying good-bye to his Dad (Fred Willard) and he finally works up the courage to ask him what was wrong with him. He tells Phil that he has fallen in love with someone, and that someone is Scout the dog. Reluctantly, Claire hands the dog back over to Frank and he heads back out on the open road while the credits get ready to roll.

This episode was refreshingly full of new surprises from a show that had seemingly already explored most of its roots. Fred Willard’s compliments Ty Burrell very well and they were dynamic in every scene they had together. Julie Bowen continues her quest to join the likes of Patricia Heaton and Courtney Thorne-Smith as one of comedy television’s top moms. The episode’s top moment is when Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) realizes that he is the odd man out in the band and once again his storyline pulls the show from the land of the mediocre to the comedy hall of fame.

Quotes of the Night:

” I was waiting for her to be in the right mood. Actually I did get one right mood a couple nights ago, but I cashed it in for something else.” – Phil Dunphy ( Burrell)
” I get them online, I’ll send you a link” “Oh, well I cook my own sausages so I’ll send you a link” - Cameron Tucker and Frank Dunphy (Stonestreet and Willard)
” What because I’m gay I’m just going to want to play showtunes?” ” No, because you’re old” ” Wow, that hurt more Dylan” – Cameron Tucker and Dylan (Stonestreet and Ewing)
” This is Neal” ” Ok, I’ll always remember him as the stranger holding my baby” - Cameron Tucker and Mitchell Pritchett (Stonestreet and Ferguson)
” Thanks for poking through the armor.” ” You’re poking through the armor down there” “What!” ” Just kidding” - Frank Dunphy and Phil Dunphy (Willard and Burrell)