| "Two Monkeys and a Panda" | |||
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| Modern Family episode | |||
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 17 |
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| Directed by | Beth McCarthy-Miller | ||
| Written by | Carol Leifer | ||
| Production code | 2ARG15 | ||
| Original air date | March 2, 2011[1] | ||
| Season 2 episodes | |||
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| Episode chronology | |||
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| List of Modern Family episodes | |||
"Two Monkeys and a Panda" is the seventeenth episode of the American comedy television series, Modern Family's second season.
Contents |
Claire runs herself ragged trying to fix the relationship between Haley and Alex, after Haley tries to keep Alex from wearing one of her sweaters, and therefore has no time for or interest in Phil's plan to use a gift certificate for a spa before its next-day expiration. Alex accidentally tears the sweater on a loose door-frame nail, so Claire is left to drive to numerous clothing stores and find a replacement while Phil enjoys facial and pedicure treatments while having a nice chat with the local housewives. However, his ideas for helping Claire annoy both her and his fellow spa-goers, and they tell him that Claire doesn't need even careful, reasonable advice of the brand Phil produces when she's in crisis mode; she needs him to be empathetic towards her. When the matching sweater Claire tracked down turns out to have a stray anti-shoplifting diepack, Haley and Alex renew their row and Claire is devastated, but Phil is non-specifically kind to her and Claire looks very relieved and happy by her husband's support.
Meanwhile, Gloria is horrified by Jay's morbid plans to purchase two side-by-side crypts in preparation of their death. Amongst other things, it's a reminder that Jay is much older than her, and when they visit the mausoleum neither of them are happy when a creepy older couple who also have co-crypts want to chat up their "future neighbors". When Jay has a talk with Manny about how much their lives changed upon meeting him, he changes his mind on the crypts and has a few plan: he'll be cremated and have his ashes put in a can that'll sit on the house mantle forever, thus thwarting some "future schmuck" who would be interested in newly widowed Gloria.
Cameron decides he wants to write a book that celebrates the fact that Lily is adopted, but soon learns something new about Lily's last name.[1] Specifically, she has Mitchell's last name as her last name and Cameron's last name as her middle name. Cam is angry about this until Mitchell admits he was worried about them staying together, and apologizes with promises to give their daughter a hyphenated name of co-equals. Mitchell does admit that their house is in his name alone, as well.
"Two Monkeys and a Panda" was written by a freelance writer, Carol Leifer who had previously written for Seinfeld.[1] The episode was also directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller, her first credit for the series as well.[1] The episode was filmed on December 13,[2] and December 14, 2010.[3] Miller was originally slated to direct an episode that would be filmed in October, but had to choose a later episode in order to direct the 30 Rock episode, "Live Show".[4]
In its original American broadcast, "Two Monkeys and a Panda" was viewed by an estimated 10.110 million households and received a 4.1 rating/11% share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49.[5] This means that it was seen by 4.1% of all 18–49 years olds, and 11% of all 18–49 year olds watching television at the time of the broadcast. This made it the season's lowest rated episode, tying with "Regrets Only".[5][6] "Two Monkeys and a Panda" was the third most-watched scripted show for the week of broadcast among adults aged 18–49, and the twenty-third most-watched show among all viewers.[7]
"Two Monkeys and a Panda" received positive reviews from critics with many comparing it, positively, to the first season. TV Squad writer Joel Keller praised the episode's emotional side comparing it to the first season of the series writing that the second season "had been lacking a little bit" of this.[8] Keller also praised the performance of Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet calling their storyline "real, dramatic, and a little raw, especially for this show.".[8] Rachael Maddux of New York said that despite the episode's lack of humor, "we got back in some much-needed fleshing out of important relationships.".[9] Todd VanDerWerff named it "the best episode the show has produced in 2011, so far".[10]
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