Wednesday, January 20, 2010
I COME FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A LOT OF PROSTITUTES: If "Fizbo" represents the potential apex for Modern Family, tonight's "Fifteen Percent" is just one step below -- a well-structured mixing of the families with some nice comic high points, new insights into some of the father-child relationships (Jay-Mitchell, Phil-Haley), a nice guest turn from Chazz Palminteri and another happy ending that didn't feel forced or saccharine. Even when you can see some of the turns from a mile away (Cameron and Manny's "date," Mitchell's gaydar), the execution is just so solid that you don't mind. What a great addition to television this year.
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had to hit the dvr "jump back" a few times to catch jokes cause we were laughing. Phil is fast becoming a cultural icon- a Homer Simpsons for the '10s.
ReplyDeleteFunny, but the show's at its best when it lets the characters combine in interesting/surprising ways--Cameron/Jay, Claire/Manny, etc.--again, Phil/Claire had a completely insular storyline. Also annoying is the "disappearing character" problem--Phil and Claire's kids seem to appear/disappear somewhat at random. But how can I resist a show where a character asks the GPS for directions to "hell" and it responds with "finding directions to Mexican food," and which provides us with gratuitous Maxim-level cheesecake of Julie Bowen?
ReplyDeleteNot to threadjack- but did anyone else listen to the Sepinwall/Fienstein podcast-- it was very good/funny. Not quite on the Tony Kornheiser level but it definitely has potential to be close
ReplyDeleteAlso LOVED the line "only you would know the difference between a chinese and viatnamese baby"
Look at that - two things flaming.
ReplyDeleteJTF's delivery was spot on.
My husband and I were hysterical over Claire and Phil's technology issues, which were so familiar to us and so well done. I loved how they were both portrayed as being totally right and totally wrong - Claire is awful at technology, but Phil also brings in really complicated equipment and expects her to get it. The "teaching Hayley to do it" scenes were hilarious.
ReplyDeleteAlso loved the flaming flowers, and thought that the Jay/Mitchell issue (Mitchell still being hurt at how Jay handled his coming out; Jay wanting to make up for his past behavior with his friend) was handled really well, and managed to be both moving and funny.