Travels with Scout
Encyclopedia
"Travels with Scout" is the twenty-first episode of Modern Family
. The episode originally aired April 28, 2010 on American Broadcasting Company
(ABC). The episode was written by Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh and directed by Seth Gordon
. In the episode "Travels with Scout", Claire (Julie Bowen
) is suspicious when Phil's father (Fred Willard
) shows up for an expected visit. Manny (Rico Rodriguez) is traumatized by a horror movie. Cam fills the void in Dylan's band for a drummer.
The episode also makes references to 21 Jump Street
. "Travels with Scout" was viewed by slightly more than 10 million viewers and was the highest rated episode of the series for two weeks. It received positive reviews from critics.
) at work Frank (Fred Willard
) comes to his house to visit with his RV and a dog named Scout without telling Claire (Julie Bowen
) that the dog is for them. Claire as expected is angry at this as she expects the family not to help with the dog and she will do all the work. While taking the trash out Claire overhears Frank crying in his RV. Claire tells Phil, but Phil doesn't believe this. Claire finally convinces Phil to ask his father what's wrong, though when he gets ready to ask, Phil instead avoids it with another question. Claire continues to be bothered by the dog, though it becomes clear she begins bonding with it. Finally, Phil asks Frank what's wrong and Frank tells Phil he fell in love, making Phil think his parents are divorcing. Then he says he fell in love with a he...Scout. Phil tells him he can take Scout home and Claire, who ends up being the most upset that Scout is leaving, gives Scout her bra. Frank then leaves with Luke chasing the RV like a dog.
In the Delgado-Pritchett family plot, Jay (Ed O'Neill
) meets Mitch's old acting friend who is starring in a new movie Maple Drive. Jay, not knowing it's a horror movie, takes Manny to the movie (just like his father did when he took Jay to the track). Manny (Rico Rodriguez II
) is completely frightened by the movie. While Jay is fixing the broken doorbell (which repeatedly rings), Manny thinks it's a demon and gets his sword. Jay promises Gloria his fear will only last a while, although he realizes they have to do something when Manny begins sleeping in their bed. He asks Cameron's old friend to come to show how Manny likable he is and not be scared anymore. When the actor arrives, he knocks on the window since the doorbell doesn't work. Manny sees him, and when the actor sees him he says "Are you Manny? I'm here for you." Due to the lighting on his face, Manny becomes especially frightened of him and rushes upstairs, much to Jay's disbelief.
In the Pritchett and Tucker family plot Cameron comes to meet the dog and Frank. Dylan has bad news that the drummer of his band is moving to Portland
because his parents are getting back together. Cameron hears this and tells them he used to play drums before they got Lily. Cameron's audition is initially bad, but tells them he "was holding the sticks in the wrong hands" and when he put them in the other hand, he proves to be a very capable drummer. When Mitchell finds out, he is annoyed since they are going to a party the same day and asks him to cancel the concert. Cameron says no since he always stays with Lily so Mitchell decides to go to the concert then the party. Mitchell ends up staying at the concert, admitting Cameron was amazing, although Cameron enters a drum solo that is far too long. Afterwards, the old drummer returns since his parents separated again. Cameron thinks he's going to stay but realizes that he is the one that's going to leave.
. The episode also features the second guest appearance of Fred Willard
on Modern Family
after "Undeck the Halls
". Fred Willard previously worked with Christopher Lloyd
, Steven Levitan
(creators of Modern Family), and Ty Burrell
on Back to You
and had worked with Ed O'Neill
on Married...with Children.
. Cameron calls the old drummer Ringo Starr
, a reference that Pete Best
, the original Beatles drummer, was replaced by Ringo.
The name of the episode is a reference to the nonfiction book, Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck in which Steinbeck travels across the country in an RV with his dog, Charley.
In its original American broadcast, "Travels with Scout" was viewed by an estimated 10.008 million households and received an 18–49 demographic of 4.2 and a share of 11% making it the second highest rated episode of the series after "Hawaii
" and tying with "Pilot
", "Fifteen Percent
" and "My Funky Valentine
". The episode came second in its time slot after American Idol
. The show ranked 6th in the 18–49 weekly ratings, becoming second highest rated show on ABC
after Dancing with the Stars
and was the highest rated scripted show on ABC as well. The show also ranked 19th in total viewers, making it the 10th most viewed show on ABC.
Robert Canning of IGN
gave the episode an 8.5, saying it was "Great" and "Overall, "Like any sitcom, the jokes get funnier the more you know about, and like, the characters. Our experiences with Luke made him running after his grandfather's RV like an excited puppy, with Phil yelling, "No, Luke, stay! Luke! Stay!" all the more funny. So the more we see of Frank, the better.". Margret Lyons of Entertainment Weekly
gave the episode a lukewarm review as well writing "The thing about a just okay episode of Modern Family is that it’s still pretty damn good, so it’s hard to rag on. But I know how great this show is when it’s firing on all cylinders, and “Travels With Scout” just didn’t." although she praised Fred Willard
and Ty Burrell
's performance saying "Even though this won’t go down as one of Modern Family‘s best episodes, there’s no denying the fact that Fred Willard and Ty Burrell are the best cast father/son duo in living memory. Part of it is looks, but most of it is mannerisms and vocal cadences. Donna Bowman of A.V. Club gave the episode a B- saying "Let's be clear, this is a sloppy outing for Modern Family. It's an episode that feels plunked down out of order, not advancing any story lines in particular, and nothing in particular happening.". Jason Hughes of TV Squad said "I didn't fully grasp just how perfect Fred Willard is for the role of Phil's father until I saw them slinging jokes back and forth in this episode.".
Alan Sepinwall of The Star-Ledger
gave the episode a positive review, saying "very funny overall" although said that Fred Willard was too good for the role of Phil's dad. Fred Willard is now currently nominated for "Guest Star We Wish Stayed Around Longer" at the TV.com
Now Awards for his playing Frank Dunphy. As well as receiving positive reviews from critics Fred Willard
has been nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
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...
. The episode originally aired April 28, 2010 on American Broadcasting Company
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...
(ABC). The episode was written by Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh and directed by Seth Gordon
Seth Gordon
Seth Gordon is an American film director, producer, and film editor. He has produced and directed both film and TV for various film and television studios, including PBS, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the United Nations 1% For Development Fund...
. In the episode "Travels with Scout", 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...
) is suspicious when Phil's father (Fred Willard
Fred Willard
Fred Willard is an American actor, comedian, and voice over actor, best known for his improvisational comedy skills. He is known for his roles in the Christopher Guest mockumentary films This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration as well as...
) shows up for an expected visit. Manny (Rico Rodriguez) is traumatized by a horror movie. Cam fills the void in Dylan's band for a drummer.
The episode also makes references to 21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street is an American police procedural crime drama television series that aired on the Fox Network from April 12, 1987, to April 27, 1991, with a total of 103 episodes. The series focused on a squad of youthful-looking undercover police officers investigating crimes in high schools,...
. "Travels with Scout" was viewed by slightly more than 10 million viewers and was the highest rated episode of the series for two weeks. It received positive reviews from critics.
Plot
In the Dunphy family, while Phil's (Ty BurrellTy Burrell
- External links :*...
) at work Frank (Fred Willard
Fred Willard
Fred Willard is an American actor, comedian, and voice over actor, best known for his improvisational comedy skills. He is known for his roles in the Christopher Guest mockumentary films This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration as well as...
) comes to his house to visit with his RV and a dog named Scout without telling 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...
) that the dog is for them. Claire as expected is angry at this as she expects the family not to help with the dog and she will do all the work. While taking the trash out Claire overhears Frank crying in his RV. Claire tells Phil, but Phil doesn't believe this. Claire finally convinces Phil to ask his father what's wrong, though when he gets ready to ask, Phil instead avoids it with another question. Claire continues to be bothered by the dog, though it becomes clear she begins bonding with it. Finally, Phil asks Frank what's wrong and Frank tells Phil he fell in love, making Phil think his parents are divorcing. Then he says he fell in love with a he...Scout. Phil tells him he can take Scout home and Claire, who ends up being the most upset that Scout is leaving, gives Scout her bra. Frank then leaves with Luke chasing the RV like a dog.
In the Delgado-Pritchett family plot, 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...
) meets Mitch's old acting friend who is starring in a new movie Maple Drive. Jay, not knowing it's a horror movie, takes Manny to the movie (just like his father did when he took Jay to the track). Manny (Rico Rodriguez II
Rico Rodriguez II
Rico Rodriguez is an American actor.Rodriguez currently plays the role of Manny Delgado on the ABC sitcom Modern Family. He is the younger brother of actress Raini Rodriguez.-Acting career:...
) is completely frightened by the movie. While Jay is fixing the broken doorbell (which repeatedly rings), Manny thinks it's a demon and gets his sword. Jay promises Gloria his fear will only last a while, although he realizes they have to do something when Manny begins sleeping in their bed. He asks Cameron's old friend to come to show how Manny likable he is and not be scared anymore. When the actor arrives, he knocks on the window since the doorbell doesn't work. Manny sees him, and when the actor sees him he says "Are you Manny? I'm here for you." Due to the lighting on his face, Manny becomes especially frightened of him and rushes upstairs, much to Jay's disbelief.
In the Pritchett and Tucker family plot Cameron comes to meet the dog and Frank. Dylan has bad news that the drummer of his band is moving to Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
because his parents are getting back together. Cameron hears this and tells them he used to play drums before they got Lily. Cameron's audition is initially bad, but tells them he "was holding the sticks in the wrong hands" and when he put them in the other hand, he proves to be a very capable drummer. When Mitchell finds out, he is annoyed since they are going to a party the same day and asks him to cancel the concert. Cameron says no since he always stays with Lily so Mitchell decides to go to the concert then the party. Mitchell ends up staying at the concert, admitting Cameron was amazing, although Cameron enters a drum solo that is far too long. Afterwards, the old drummer returns since his parents separated again. Cameron thinks he's going to stay but realizes that he is the one that's going to leave.
Production
The episode was written by Paul Corrigan and Brad Walsh and directed by Seth GordonSeth Gordon
Seth Gordon is an American film director, producer, and film editor. He has produced and directed both film and TV for various film and television studios, including PBS, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the United Nations 1% For Development Fund...
. The episode also features the second guest appearance of Fred Willard
Fred Willard
Fred Willard is an American actor, comedian, and voice over actor, best known for his improvisational comedy skills. He is known for his roles in the Christopher Guest mockumentary films This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration as well as...
on 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...
after "Undeck the Halls
Undeck the Halls
"Undeck the Halls" is the tenth episode of the ABC series Modern Family. It premiered on ABC in the United States on December 9, 2009. In the episode, Claire and Phil threaten to take away Christmas when the kids get in trouble; Cameron and Mitchell take Lily to get her first picture with...
". Fred Willard previously worked with 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...
, 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....
(creators of Modern Family), and Ty Burrell
Ty Burrell
- External links :*...
on Back to You
Back to You
Back to You is an American situation comedy series, which aired on Fox from September 19, 2007 to May 14, 2008. The creators and executive producers were Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, and the director was James Burrows. The series starred Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton as squabbling...
and had worked with 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...
on Married...with Children.
Cultural references
Mitchell calls Dylan's band 21 Jump Street21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street is an American police procedural crime drama television series that aired on the Fox Network from April 12, 1987, to April 27, 1991, with a total of 103 episodes. The series focused on a squad of youthful-looking undercover police officers investigating crimes in high schools,...
. Cameron calls the old drummer Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
, a reference that Pete Best
Pete Best
Pete Best is a British musician, best known as the original drummer in The Beatles. He was born in the city of Madras, British India...
, the original Beatles drummer, was replaced by Ringo.
The name of the episode is a reference to the nonfiction book, Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck in which Steinbeck travels across the country in an RV with his dog, Charley.
Reception
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
" and tying with "Pilot
Pilot (Modern Family)
The pilot episode of the television series Modern Family, written by Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd and directed by Jason Winer, premiered on ABC in the United States on September 23, 2009. The pilot introduces viewers to three sets of people who make up a single family...
", "Fifteen Percent
Fifteen Percent
"Fifteen Percent" is the thirteenth episode of the first season of the ABC sitcom Modern Family.Mitchell plants the seed in Jay's head that he thinks one of Jay's old buddies, "Shorty" , might be secretly gay. Jay doesn't believe it for a second except for all the questionable signs he now keeps...
" and "My Funky Valentine
My Funky Valentine
"My Funky Valentine" is the fifteenth episode of first season of Modern Family. It premiered on ABC on February 10, 2010.-Plot:Phil and Claire are arranging their Valentine's date at their usual restaurant, but after being shocked by Dylan's present for Haley, they decide to instead spending the...
". The episode came second in its time slot after American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. The show ranked 6th in the 18–49 weekly ratings, becoming second highest rated show on 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...
after Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
and was the highest rated scripted show on ABC as well. The show also ranked 19th in total viewers, making it the 10th most viewed show on ABC.
Robert Canning of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the episode an 8.5, saying it was "Great" and "Overall, "Like any sitcom, the jokes get funnier the more you know about, and like, the characters. Our experiences with Luke made him running after his grandfather's RV like an excited puppy, with Phil yelling, "No, Luke, stay! Luke! Stay!" all the more funny. So the more we see of Frank, the better.". Margret Lyons of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
gave the episode a lukewarm review as well writing "The thing about a just okay episode of Modern Family is that it’s still pretty damn good, so it’s hard to rag on. But I know how great this show is when it’s firing on all cylinders, and “Travels With Scout” just didn’t." although she praised Fred Willard
Fred Willard
Fred Willard is an American actor, comedian, and voice over actor, best known for his improvisational comedy skills. He is known for his roles in the Christopher Guest mockumentary films This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration as well as...
and Ty Burrell
Ty Burrell
- External links :*...
's performance saying "Even though this won’t go down as one of Modern Family‘s best episodes, there’s no denying the fact that Fred Willard and Ty Burrell are the best cast father/son duo in living memory. Part of it is looks, but most of it is mannerisms and vocal cadences. Donna Bowman of A.V. Club gave the episode a B- saying "Let's be clear, this is a sloppy outing for Modern Family. It's an episode that feels plunked down out of order, not advancing any story lines in particular, and nothing in particular happening.". Jason Hughes of TV Squad said "I didn't fully grasp just how perfect Fred Willard is for the role of Phil's father until I saw them slinging jokes back and forth in this episode.".
Alan Sepinwall of The Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger is the largest circulated newspaper in the U.S. state of New Jersey and is based in Newark. It is a sister paper to The Jersey Journal of Jersey City, The Times of Trenton and the Staten Island Advance, all of which are owned by Advance Publications.The Newark Star-Ledgers daily...
gave the episode a positive review, saying "very funny overall" although said that Fred Willard was too good for the role of Phil's dad. Fred Willard is now currently nominated for "Guest Star We Wish Stayed Around Longer" at the TV.com
TV.com
TV.com is a website owned by CBS Interactive. The site covers television and focuses on English-language shows made or broadcast in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Japan...
Now Awards for his playing Frank Dunphy. As well as receiving positive reviews from critics Fred Willard
Fred Willard
Fred Willard is an American actor, comedian, and voice over actor, best known for his improvisational comedy skills. He is known for his roles in the Christopher Guest mockumentary films This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration as well as...
has been nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
External links
- "Travels with Scout" at ABC.com