Mother Tucker (Modern Family)
Encyclopedia
"Mother Tucker" is the ninth episode of the second season
of the sitcom, Modern Family
and the 33rd overall. It originally aired on November 24, 2010 on the ABC
. The episode was written by Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh and was directed by Michael Spiller
.
In the episode, Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson
) tries to tell Cameron (Eric Stonestreet
) how he feels uncomfortable with his mom, Barb Tucker (Celia Weston
). Meanwhile, Haley (Sarah Hyland
) breaks up with Dylan (Reid Ewing
) much to Phil's dismay. Jay (Ed O'Neill
) has a little stomach ache gets exacerbated when he and Manny (Rico Rodriguez) look it up on the internet.
"Mother Tucker" received mixed reviews from critics with Joel Keller of TV Squad calling it "among the weakest of the season, if not the weakest". According to the Nielsen Media Research
, the episode received a significant drop from the previous episode due to it airing the night before Thanksgiving
.
) taking tutoring lessons with a smart boy named David (Thomas Kasp). Claire (Julie Bowen
) and Alex (Ariel Winter
) soon leave the house before Claire realizes she left her shopping list. When she arrives back in the house she finds Haley making out with David. Haley decides it's time to break up with Dylan (Reid Ewing
), which she does through a text message, a decision everyone agrees with except for Phil (Ty Burrell
). Phil decides that Dylan might need someone to lean on so he and Dylan decide to get Phil a guitar and drink at a juice bar. Haley initially thinks he's on a date with a girl (because of Phill's sweat jacket, which is very feminine) and wants him back. Unfortunately, Dylan says he needs some time "dating Dylan", making both her and Phil sad.
At the Pritchett house, Jay (Ed O'Neill
) is having a stomachache. Manny constantly asks Jay about the symptoms and fills them in into a medical website. Jay worries he might have a serious problem. However, Gloria (Sofía Vergara
) initially dismisses it because in Colombia she could not rush to the hospital for every little thing and assumes that Jay is just exaggerating. Jay goes to the hospital and is diagnosed with acute appendicitis
. He requires emergency surgery, causing Gloria to panic since she has come close to killing her husband (for the second time as she puts it).
Meanwhile, Barb Tucker (Celia Weston
) arrives to the Tucker-Pritchett house. This makes Cameron (Eric Stonestreet
) happy and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson
) uncomfortable, due to Barb's inappropriate touching on Mitchell. Following Claire's advice, Mitchell tries to prove to Cameron that his mother is more than handsy but everytime he is looking the other way and when finally realizing about the situation is when Mitchel is sticking his fanny for Barb to touch. Mitchell eventually confronts Cameron about his mother's inappropriate touching, not realizing that she is behind him. This hurts Barb's feeling before she finally realizes she has touched him inappropriately and apologizes, unfortunately this happens while Mitchell is in the bathtub.
". The episode was directed by Michael Spiller
who had previously directed seven previous episodes of the season.
The episode guest stars Celia Weston
as Cameron's mother, Barb Tucker. On September 7, 2010, William Keck of TV Guide
reported that Celia Weston
would play Cameron's mother. Celia stated that her character "is totally accepting of Cameron and Mitchell." Eric Stonestreet
, who plays Cameron Tucker, also described Barb as "somebody who made him (Cameron) the person he is". Celia had previously worked with casting director Jeff Greenberg and creators Christopher Lloyd
and Steven Levitan
on Frasier
in 2004.
. Despite the low rating, the episode became the highest rated series of the night it aired. The episode also became the tenth highest rated series of the week it aired in the 18-49 demographic.
Joel Keller of TV Squad called the episode "among the weakest of the season, if not the weakest". He felt that while the Dunphy's had the "best (plot) of the night" he also felt "it was also uneven". Todd VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club
rated the episode with a B+. He felt that while it "wasn't the strongest episode of this show ever, but it was solid across the board, with more than enough laughs to buoy it along". He also said it "continued season two's streak of improvements" Rachael Maddux of New York
stated in her review that "After two great episodes in a row following a wonky start, Modern Family looks like it finally might be returning to its first-season form."
Modern Family (season 2)
The second season of the comedy television series, Modern Family premiered September 22, 2010 and ended on May 25, 2011 on the American Broadcasting Company in the United States. The series is produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Lloyd-Levitan Productions with creators...
of the sitcom, Modern Family
Modern Family
Modern Family is an American television comedy series created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, which debuted on ABC on September 23, 2009. Lloyd and Levitan serve as showrunner and executive producers, under their Levitan-Lloyd Productions label...
and the 33rd overall. It originally aired on November 24, 2010 on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. The episode was written by Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh and was directed by Michael Spiller
Michael Spiller
Michael Alan Spiller is an American cinematographer and television director.Spiller has directed on numerous series and has also served as a cinematographer prior to directing and worked frequently with Hal Hartley. He was a regular director on the HBO series, Sex and the City where he also served...
.
In the episode, Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Jesse Tyler Ferguson is an American actor who portrays Mitchell Pritchett on the ABC sitcom Modern Family. Previously he played the role of Richie Velch in the CBS sitcom The Class. He is openly gay.-Life and career:...
) tries to tell Cameron (Eric Stonestreet
Eric Stonestreet
Eric Stonestreet is an American actor, known for his starring role as Cameron Tucker on the ABC comedy Modern Family. Stonestreet has received critical acclaim for his performance in Modern Family and won the 2010 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his...
) how he feels uncomfortable with his mom, Barb Tucker (Celia Weston
Celia Weston
Celia Weston is an American actress of stage, film and television, and a character actress. Professionally, she may be best known for her role as Jolene Hunnicutt on Alice.-Life and career:...
). Meanwhile, Haley (Sarah Hyland
Sarah Hyland
Sarah Jane Hyland is an American actress, currently starring as Haley Dunphy on the ABC comedy Modern Family.-Life and career:...
) breaks up with Dylan (Reid Ewing
Reid Ewing
Reid Ewing is an American actor best known for his recurring guest role as Dylan on the ABC comedy Modern Family.-Life and career:...
) much to Phil's dismay. Jay (Ed O'Neill
Ed O'Neill
Edward Phillip "Ed" O'Neill, Jr. is an American actor. He is best known for his role as the main character, Al Bundy, on the Fox Network sitcom Married... with Children, for which he was nominated for two Golden Globes...
) has a little stomach ache gets exacerbated when he and Manny (Rico Rodriguez) look it up on the internet.
"Mother Tucker" received mixed reviews from critics with Joel Keller of TV Squad calling it "among the weakest of the season, if not the weakest". According to the Nielsen Media Research
Nielsen Media Research
Nielsen Media Research is an American firm that measures media audiences, including television, radio, theatre films and newspapers...
, the episode received a significant drop from the previous episode due to it airing the night before Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
.
Plot
The episode begins with Haley (Sarah HylandSarah Hyland
Sarah Jane Hyland is an American actress, currently starring as Haley Dunphy on the ABC comedy Modern Family.-Life and career:...
) taking tutoring lessons with a smart boy named David (Thomas Kasp). Claire (Julie Bowen
Julie Bowen
Julie Bowen is an American film and television actress. She played Carol Vessey on Ed and Denise Bauer on Boston Legal. She is best known for playing Claire Dunphy on the sitcom Modern Family, for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2011...
) and Alex (Ariel Winter
Ariel Winter
Ariel Winter Workman , known in television shows and films as Ariel Winter, is an American teen actress and singer. Winter is best known for her current role as Alex Dunphy in the TV series Modern Family, for which she has won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series, along...
) soon leave the house before Claire realizes she left her shopping list. When she arrives back in the house she finds Haley making out with David. Haley decides it's time to break up with Dylan (Reid Ewing
Reid Ewing
Reid Ewing is an American actor best known for his recurring guest role as Dylan on the ABC comedy Modern Family.-Life and career:...
), which she does through a text message, a decision everyone agrees with except for Phil (Ty Burrell
Ty Burrell
- External links :*...
). Phil decides that Dylan might need someone to lean on so he and Dylan decide to get Phil a guitar and drink at a juice bar. Haley initially thinks he's on a date with a girl (because of Phill's sweat jacket, which is very feminine) and wants him back. Unfortunately, Dylan says he needs some time "dating Dylan", making both her and Phil sad.
At the Pritchett house, Jay (Ed O'Neill
Ed O'Neill
Edward Phillip "Ed" O'Neill, Jr. is an American actor. He is best known for his role as the main character, Al Bundy, on the Fox Network sitcom Married... with Children, for which he was nominated for two Golden Globes...
) is having a stomachache. Manny constantly asks Jay about the symptoms and fills them in into a medical website. Jay worries he might have a serious problem. However, Gloria (Sofía Vergara
Sofía Vergara
Sofía Margarita Vergara Vergara is a Colombian actress, comedian, television hostess and model.Vergara had been widely known for co-hosting two TV shows for Univisión in the late 1990s. Her TV career opened up for her a window of exposure to North American audiences prior to her first notable...
) initially dismisses it because in Colombia she could not rush to the hospital for every little thing and assumes that Jay is just exaggerating. Jay goes to the hospital and is diagnosed with acute appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
. He requires emergency surgery, causing Gloria to panic since she has come close to killing her husband (for the second time as she puts it).
Meanwhile, Barb Tucker (Celia Weston
Celia Weston
Celia Weston is an American actress of stage, film and television, and a character actress. Professionally, she may be best known for her role as Jolene Hunnicutt on Alice.-Life and career:...
) arrives to the Tucker-Pritchett house. This makes Cameron (Eric Stonestreet
Eric Stonestreet
Eric Stonestreet is an American actor, known for his starring role as Cameron Tucker on the ABC comedy Modern Family. Stonestreet has received critical acclaim for his performance in Modern Family and won the 2010 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his...
) happy and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Jesse Tyler Ferguson is an American actor who portrays Mitchell Pritchett on the ABC sitcom Modern Family. Previously he played the role of Richie Velch in the CBS sitcom The Class. He is openly gay.-Life and career:...
) uncomfortable, due to Barb's inappropriate touching on Mitchell. Following Claire's advice, Mitchell tries to prove to Cameron that his mother is more than handsy but everytime he is looking the other way and when finally realizing about the situation is when Mitchel is sticking his fanny for Barb to touch. Mitchell eventually confronts Cameron about his mother's inappropriate touching, not realizing that she is behind him. This hurts Barb's feeling before she finally realizes she has touched him inappropriately and apologizes, unfortunately this happens while Mitchell is in the bathtub.
Production
The episode was written by Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh, their second writing credit for the season after "EarthquakeEarthquake (Modern Family)
"Earthquake" is the third episode of the second season of the American Broadcasting Company American sitcom, Modern Family and the 27th episode overall. The episode originally aired October 6, 2010. The episode was written by Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh and directed by Michael Spiller...
". The episode was directed by Michael Spiller
Michael Spiller
Michael Alan Spiller is an American cinematographer and television director.Spiller has directed on numerous series and has also served as a cinematographer prior to directing and worked frequently with Hal Hartley. He was a regular director on the HBO series, Sex and the City where he also served...
who had previously directed seven previous episodes of the season.
The episode guest stars Celia Weston
Celia Weston
Celia Weston is an American actress of stage, film and television, and a character actress. Professionally, she may be best known for her role as Jolene Hunnicutt on Alice.-Life and career:...
as Cameron's mother, Barb Tucker. On September 7, 2010, William Keck of TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
reported that Celia Weston
Celia Weston
Celia Weston is an American actress of stage, film and television, and a character actress. Professionally, she may be best known for her role as Jolene Hunnicutt on Alice.-Life and career:...
would play Cameron's mother. Celia stated that her character "is totally accepting of Cameron and Mitchell." Eric Stonestreet
Eric Stonestreet
Eric Stonestreet is an American actor, known for his starring role as Cameron Tucker on the ABC comedy Modern Family. Stonestreet has received critical acclaim for his performance in Modern Family and won the 2010 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his...
, who plays Cameron Tucker, also described Barb as "somebody who made him (Cameron) the person he is". Celia had previously worked with casting director Jeff Greenberg and creators Christopher Lloyd
Christopher Lloyd (screenwriter)
Christopher Lloyd is an American TV screenwriter and producer of Wings, Frasier, Out of Practice, Back to You, and Modern Family...
and Steven Levitan
Steven Levitan
Steven E. Levitan is an American director, screenwriter and producer of television comedies. He has created such TV series as Just Shoot Me!, Stark Raving Mad, Stacked, Back to You, and Modern Family....
on Frasier
Frasier
Frasier is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for eleven seasons, from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee in association with Grammnet and Paramount Network Television.A spin-off of Cheers, Frasier stars...
in 2004.
Reception
In its original American broadcast, "Mother Tucker" was viewed by an estimated 10.53 million viewers and received a 3.7 rating/12% share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49 becoming the lowest rated episode of the season. The episode received a significant due to it airing Thanksgiving EveThanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
. Despite the low rating, the episode became the highest rated series of the night it aired. The episode also became the tenth highest rated series of the week it aired in the 18-49 demographic.
Joel Keller of TV Squad called the episode "among the weakest of the season, if not the weakest". He felt that while the Dunphy's had the "best (plot) of the night" he also felt "it was also uneven". Todd VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
rated the episode with a B+. He felt that while it "wasn't the strongest episode of this show ever, but it was solid across the board, with more than enough laughs to buoy it along". He also said it "continued season two's streak of improvements" Rachael Maddux of New York
New York (magazine)
New York is a weekly magazine principally concerned with the life, culture, politics, and style of New York City. Founded by Milton Glaser and Clay Felker in 1968 as a competitor to The New Yorker, it was brasher and less polite than that magazine, and established itself as a cradle of New...
stated in her review that "After two great episodes in a row following a wonky start, Modern Family looks like it finally might be returning to its first-season form."
External links
- "Mother Tucker" at ABC.com