Game Changer (Modern Family)

"Game Changer"
Modern Family episode
Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) trying to help Claire (Julie Bowen) to buy an iPad for Phil (Ty Burrell)
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 19
Directed by	Kevin Sullivan
Story by	Vanessa McCarthy Joe Lawson
Teleplay by	Joe Lawson Alex Herschlag
Production code	1ARG21
Original air date	March 31, 2010
Guest appearance(s)
Jason Antoon (apple customer)
Season 1 episodes
2009–2010 "Pilot" "The Bicycle Thief" "Come Fly With Me" "The Incident" "Coal Digger" "Run for Your Wife" "En Garde" "Great Expecations" "Fizbo" "Undeck the Halls" "Up All Night" "Not in My House" "Fifteen Percent" "Moon Landing" "My Funky Valentine" "Fears" "Truth Be Told" "Starry Night" "Game Changer" "Benched" "Travels with Scout" "Airport 2010" "Hawaii" "Family Portrait"   Season 2 →
Episode chronology
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"Game Changer" is the nineteenth episode of the first season of Modern Family and the nineteenth episode of the series overall. It premiered on ABC on March 31, 2010. The episode's teleplay was written by Joe Lawson & Alex Herschlag from a story by Vanessa McCarthy & Joe Lawson. It was directed by Kevin Sullivan.

In the episode, it is Phil's birthday and Claire wants to buy him an Apple iPad, excited about buying him a good gift for the first time but she meets some difficulties till she manages to get one. Meanwhile, Mitchell wants to toughen up and Cameron hears a neighbor's marital difficulties over the baby monitor. Cameron tries to help his neighbors not to get a divorce and is pleased when he successes. Jay faces off with Manny and Gloria over chess.

"Game Changer" received positive reviews but was criticized for excessively promoting the iPad. The episode received an 18-49 Nielsen Rating of 3.8/7.

It is April 3 and Phil's (Ty Burrell) birthday coincides with the launch of the new Apple iPad. Being an early adopter and a technophile, Phil wants to wake up early to get in line for the product at the local Apple store. Claire (Julie Bowen) wants him to have a relaxing birthday so she takes it upon herself to wake up early and go buy the product. She does wake up early, but quickly falls back to sleep on the couch; it is not until the family wakes up and is making breakfast that she manages to sneak out of the house to get in line. However, the local store has sold out by the time she gets there, so she returns empty-handed. After being confronted by Phil, she makes it her mission to get one for the rest of the day. Phil decides to go to the batting cages to cool off and mistakenly believes a child's birthday party is for him - only adding to his unhappiness, so he eats a 'Game changer', (a pancake with bacon and golden syrup) to cheer himself up.