MODERN FAMILY Recap: ‘Princess Party’

Is it just me, or have there been a lot of birthdays on MODERN FAMILY lately? It seems like just the other day we were celebrating Manny’s birthday and mini-crisis over getting older and now here we are celebrating Lily’s birthday and Cameron’s mini-crisis over not being able to be Fizbo at the party!

Speaking of Fizbo, as I mentioned last week, I only started watching MODERN FAMILY this year, so I didn’t get to experience him the first time around. But I can see why Cam wanted to bring him back. I loved him trying to convince Mitchell that Fizbo could be a court jester at Lily’s princess-themed party in his terrible British accent. Here’s hoping we’ll see more Fizbo, maybe at yet another birthday party.

Another character from last season made an appearance last night – Claire and Mitchell’s overbearing, passive-aggressive mother DeDe, played by Shelley Long. Their bickering reminded me of what I think a friend of mine and her mother will be like when they get older…though I think my friend will be more of a DeDe and her mother will be more of a Claire – wine and all. I don’t think they’ll be bringing ex-boyfriends over for dinner unannounced like DeDe did, though!

Matt Dillon played Claire’s ex-boyfriend Robbie, who is now a limo driver and not actually very bright — Claire sure knows how to pick ‘em — although he wasn’t actually given lot to do. Boy, MODERN FAMILY is running through the guest stars this season, aren’t they? James Marsden, Rachael Harris, Mary Lynn Rajskub and now Matt Dillon. They’re turning into GLEE! But unlike GLEE, MODERN FAMILY actually knows how to use their guest stars – sparingly but hilariously.

While the whole family gathered at Cam and Mitchell’s house for the birthday party, they all tried to figure out who DeDe was there to screw, metaphorically speaking (after Claire and Phil caught her making out with Robbie, they thought maybe she was there to screw him…physically). It turns out she wasn’t there for Claire, Mitchell or Jay but actually Gloria, whom she hilariously tackled to the ground and Phil tried to save.

Poor Gloria. First Jay makes fun of her bear voice in the recordable book she bought for Lily’s present and then she takes a Xanax and washes it down with a shot of tequila because she was nervous about his ex-wife being around. And it turns out she had every reason to be.

Out-of-it Gloria was hilarious! Sofia Vergara played it perfectly. Hopefully they’ll have another reason for her to be loopy again because that got some of the biggest laughs of night from me.

There were some other great, subtle moments in this episode. I loved Alex’s perfectly timed cello music as DeDe arrived at their house and Manny sipping espresso and insisting on a timeless cashmere throw for Lily instead of a book. And I absolutely loved Robbie’s earring – I thought it was the perfect touch for the character.

Now for some favorite lines!

• Haley – “Dad, gross, your hand smells like cheese!”
Phil – “I didn’t want to dirty a knife.”

• Mitchell – “Cam, Monica can’t come to Lily’s birthday party this weekend. Her mom’s going to be in Chicago.”
Cameron – “Oh, that’s fantastic! What part is she playing?”

• Mitchell, when Cameron asks him what clown shoes he should wear as Fizbo – “Gun to my head, I’d say pull the trigger.”

• Mitchell – “Well if the shoe fits…”
Cameron – “They don’t; they’re comically large.”

• Gloria, when Jay can’t read the recordable book for Lily – “Do you want me to hold it and stand in the driveway?”

• Mitchell, after finding out DeDe made out with Robbie – “Nomygod!” (I may be stealing this, by the way.)

• Jay, after finding out about DeDe and Robbie, with Gloria standing right next to him – “What the hell is she doing? He’s half her age!”

• Mitchell – “I was wrong – every kid wants a clown for a dad.”
Cameron – “Ooh, you just made a little girl very happy!”
Mitchell – “Yes, well, I can see that.”

• Gloria – “I’m going to miss Alex’s graduation, all of Haley’s weddings…”

Did y’all enjoy last night’s episode? Favorite moments; favorite lines? Comment away!