by Michael Lyons
Our families may not exactly be like the three families featured on Modern Family...but there are a heck of a lot of similarities. We can always find something relatable in everything the Pritchett's do in each episode, which is why the sitcom was so popular and lasted for 11 seasons.
This is especially true of the Thanksgiving episodes of Modern Family, and with the holiday just around the corner, here is a review of the sitcom's Turkey Day escapades.
"Punkin Chunkin," Season 3, Episode 9
In this episode, as the Dunphys prepare for the holiday, Phil (Ty Burrell) starts to dream about what he could have done after a visit from a former neighbor (guest Josh Gad), who is now a millionaire. He feels Claire (Julie Bowen) stifles his dreams. Jay (Ed O'Neill) is critical of Manny's (Rico Rodriguez) centerpiece he has made for the Thanksgiving table, and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) doubts Cameron's (Eric Stonestreet) "punkin chunkin" story, from high school, where he and friends slingshot a pumpkin across a football field.
It all culminates in a battle between the "dreamers" and the "realists," with the families leaving the Thanksgiving table for their own pumpkin chunkin' competition.
As Modern Family always did, this episode balances sharp, fast-paced humor (Phil's "headscratcher" invention is a classic) with a warm message - this time about how both support of dreams and a grounding in reality are needed in a balance of support in all families.
"Three Turkeys," Season 6, Episode 8
Phil takes over cooking duties for Thanksgiving, which makes Claire nervous, so she cooks and hides a "backup turkey."
Phil and Luke (Nolan Gold) accidentally cut the power to the Dunphy house, forcing them to move dinner to Jay and Gloria's. However, Jay and Gloria (Sofia Vergara) are hiding from the family after a canceled trip. It all culminates in a screwball conclusion with misunderstandings and multiple turkeys.
There's also sharp dialogue during all of this chaos, like Jay declaring, "The Kennedys didn't get together as much as this family.”
"Phil's Sexy, Sexy House," Season 7, Episode 7
An episode that's a prime example of what this sitcom did best (bring multiple, intertwining stories together) features the entire family, on Thanksgiving, separately sneaking into a high-tech house Phil is prepping to sell. This leads to a lot of hiding, back-and-forthing, and eventually everyone finding out and clashing in the house at the same time.
"Thanksgiving Jamboree," Season 8, Episode 7
Haley (Sarah Hyland) decides to spend the holiday with her boyfriend, Rainer (Nathan Fillion), which frustrates Phil; Jay attempts to manage stress and his high blood pressure while dealing with a lawyer from his and Dede's past; and Gloria tries to get Joe (Jeremy Maguire) to the little animals in the petting zoo.
As if all of this wasn't enough, this is all set against Cam's country farm-themed Thanksgiving dinner.
"Winner Winner Turkey Dinner," Season 9, Episode 7
The family gathers for Thanksgiving, and Jay gives a toast praising each of their recent successes, which they have been exaggerating, forcing them to try to hide the truth. While we take glee in the humor around each of their struggles, the episode, like all of them, ends on a sweet, emotional note of familial understanding.
"The Last Thanksgiving," Season 11, Episode 7
And, talk about emotional, there’s this Thanksgiving episode from the final season. Haley tries to cook Thanksgiving dinner to thank her parents for all they've done. Cameron and Mitchell's friends mistakenly think they've broken up after a misunderstanding. Jay invites Phil and Dylan (Reid Wing) to fly a model plane, which leads to a hysterical, slapstick conclusion.
This final episode ends on a solid, family-bonding note, and watching during the last season was a bittersweet experience knowing that you'd never get to visit with Modern Family during the holidays again.
Each episode is relatable, and all of them make for the perfect sitcom binge buffet to celebrate Thanksgiving
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