"Unplugged" | |
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Modern Family episode | |
Manny (Rico Rodriguez) and Jay (Ed O'Neill) trying to figure out what Gloria (Sofia Vergara) did with the neighbors' dog
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Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 5 |
Directed by | Michael Spiller |
Written by | Steven Levitan |
Production code | 2ARG06 |
Original air date | October 20, 2010 |
Guest appearance(s) | |
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"Unplugged" is the fifth episode of the second season of the ABC sitcom, Modern Family, and the 29th episode of the series overall. The episode originally aired October 20, 2010. It was written by series co-creator Steven Levitan and directed by Michael Spiller.
The episode follows Phil, Claire and the kids trying to improve their communication skills by giving up their electronic devices. Gloria is getting obsessed over a neighbor's barking dog while Mitchell and Cameron try to find a preschool for Lily.
"Unplugged" received a mix of critical acclaim and negative reviews. The episode also received controversy in Peru because of a line of dialogue of Vergara's character in which she relates Peruvians with violence. According to the Nielsen Media Research the episode received a 4.7 rating/13% share in the 18-49 demographic going down a tick from the previous episode, "Strangers on a Treadmill"
After getting tired of the over use of electronic gadgets at the table, Claire (Julie Bowen) and Phil (Ty Burrell) declare that no one is allowed to use electronics except the TV for a week. However, Phil turns it into a contest much to Claire's annoyance, and offers prizes: A car for Haley (Sarah Hyland), a new computer for Alex (Ariel Winter) and a chicken pot pie for Luke (Nolan Gould). Alex and Luke quickly give up leaving Phil, Claire and Haley in the contest.
Claire soon gets tired of calling to check on reservations to go see Phil's family and uses the computer before getting caught. Not long after, Claire and Phil catch Haley talking on the phone which prompts Phil to use the computer right away. However, Haley reveals to them she was only talking to a fake phone that she carved out of a bar of soap and colored black. As she celebrates that she is getting a new car, she is informed that her parents were bluffing.
The Pritchetts get annoyed by a neighbor's dog and go next door to see if he will shut the dog up. The neighbor says that the dog belongs to his soon-to-be-ex-wife, and that she will not be coming back for it. He also demands that they shut their parrot up (he had mistaken Gloria's high pitched voice with the squawking of a parrot).