Follow TV Tropes

Following

History Headscratchers / ModernFamily

Go To

OR

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

** How many 13 year old boys would even be interested in musical theatre? Cam likely has very limited choices to begin with. And what Manny lacks in talent he makes up in passion and commitment. Luke and Marcus might be talented but like most 13 year old boys they are not reliable.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

*** It was actually when Haley was twelve years old, which makes sense.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

** Memories tend to blur over time. Gloria has been living in USA for a very long time. Manny is not fluent in Spanish. So at least since Manny was born or was very, very young.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** Maybe Phil proposed the day she called him. If the Duran Duran concert were sometime in early March, then the timing works out fine for her to get drunk on St. Patrick's Day and not yet have realized that she might be pregnant. Presumably she took the test two days later, called him that morning, and knowing Phil he rushed to arrange something.

to:

** Maybe Phil proposed the day she called him. If the Duran Duran concert were sometime in late February or early March, then the timing works out fine for her to get drunk on St. Patrick's Day and not yet have realized that she might be pregnant. Presumably she took the test two days later, called him that morning, and knowing Phil he rushed to arrange something.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

** Maybe Phil proposed the day she called him. If the Duran Duran concert were sometime in early March, then the timing works out fine for her to get drunk on St. Patrick's Day and not yet have realized that she might be pregnant. Presumably she took the test two days later, called him that morning, and knowing Phil he rushed to arrange something.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

*** Given how their responsibilities are split, Claire probably handles pretty much all of the bills and money management for the household. Money never really seems to be a big issue even before Claire is back at work and it would be pretty in character for Phil to just trust her to handle it and not look closely enough to notice that her "yoga" classes were unusually expensive.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

[[/folder]]

[[folder: The Play]]
* Nobody seems to bat an eye that Cam's second and third choices to play the lead in the school play in "A Slight at the Opera" are his nephew and stepbrother-in-law, respectively. Why does nobody question it? Although the show doesn't bring it up, surely someone must've thought it seemed awfully nepotistic to give his own relatives the lead. While Luke's casting can simply be handwaved as him just being that good, Nobody questioned it when he let Manny do it, despite clearly not being all that great at singing to begin with.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

** she looked like she was having fun with it.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Typo & clarifying awkward wording, the info remaiins the same


* Was the boyfriend that Alex had that everyone that was gay even gay? I don't think it was ever really stated. Everyone assumed it because of the way he acted and he seemed upset when she accused him. Did I miss something? Was this ever expanded on?

to:

* Was the Alex’s boyfriend that Alex had that everyone that thought was gay gay, even gay? I don't think it was ever really stated. Everyone assumed it because of the way he acted and he seemed upset when she accused him. Did I miss something? Was this ever expanded on?
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

** It ends up being a narrative device and not an actual documentary.

Changed: 409

Removed: 408

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* It's mentioned a few times, and a bit of a running joke, that Claire and Phil got pregnant with Haley before marriage, got engaged and had a shotgun wedding before she was born, it's mentioned in the trip they had to Hawaii and in "Message Received", the kids hear the voice message Claire left Phil when she told him she was pregnant, where she says "don't worry, you don't have to marry me or anything" which implies that they weren't engaged when they got pregnant.
But, in "Suddenly, Last Summer" Phil asks Claire if she remembers when he proposed to her, and she says that she remembers that she was on day two of a St Patricks day hangover. But why, if she knew she was pregnant when he proposed, would she be drinking? Throughout the show, it seems so important by the hints that Haley was conceived before Claire and Phil even got engaged, and this just ruins it a bit.

to:

* It's mentioned a few times, and a bit of a running joke, that Claire and Phil got pregnant with Haley before marriage, got engaged and had a shotgun wedding before she was born, it's mentioned in the trip they had to Hawaii and in "Message Received", the kids hear the voice message Claire left Phil when she told him she was pregnant, where she says "don't worry, you don't have to marry me or anything" which implies that they weren't engaged when they got pregnant.
pregnant. But, in "Suddenly, Last Summer" Phil asks Claire if she remembers when he proposed to her, and she says that she remembers that she was on day two of a St Patricks day hangover. But why, if she knew she was pregnant when he proposed, would she be drinking? Throughout the show, it seems so important by the hints that Haley was conceived before Claire and Phil even got engaged, and this just ruins it a bit.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


It's mentioned a few times, and a bit of a running joke, that Claire and Phil got pregnant with Haley before marriage, got engaged and had a shotgun wedding before she was born, it's mentioned in the trip they had to Hawaii and in "Message Received", the kids hear the voice message Claire left Phil when she told him she was pregnant, where she says "don't worry, you don't have to marry me or anything" which implies that they weren't engaged when they got pregnant.

to:

* It's mentioned a few times, and a bit of a running joke, that Claire and Phil got pregnant with Haley before marriage, got engaged and had a shotgun wedding before she was born, it's mentioned in the trip they had to Hawaii and in "Message Received", the kids hear the voice message Claire left Phil when she told him she was pregnant, where she says "don't worry, you don't have to marry me or anything" which implies that they weren't engaged when they got pregnant.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


[[folder: When did Claire and Phil get engaged?]]
It's mentioned a few times, and a bit of a running gag, that Claire and Phil got pregnant with Haley before marriage and got engaged and had a shotgun wedding before she was born, it's mentioned in the trip they had to Hawaii and in "Message Received", the kids hear the voice message Claire left Phil when she told him she was pregnant, where she says "don't worry, you don't have to marry me or anything" which implies that they weren't engaged when they got pregnant.

to:

[[folder: When did Phil and Claire and Phil get engaged?]]
It's mentioned a few times, and a bit of a running gag, joke, that Claire and Phil got pregnant with Haley before marriage and marriage, got engaged and had a shotgun wedding before she was born, it's mentioned in the trip they had to Hawaii and in "Message Received", the kids hear the voice message Claire left Phil when she told him she was pregnant, where she says "don't worry, you don't have to marry me or anything" which implies that they weren't engaged when they got pregnant.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

[[/folder]]

[[folder: When did Claire and Phil get engaged?]]
It's mentioned a few times, and a bit of a running gag, that Claire and Phil got pregnant with Haley before marriage and got engaged and had a shotgun wedding before she was born, it's mentioned in the trip they had to Hawaii and in "Message Received", the kids hear the voice message Claire left Phil when she told him she was pregnant, where she says "don't worry, you don't have to marry me or anything" which implies that they weren't engaged when they got pregnant.
But, in "Suddenly, Last Summer" Phil asks Claire if she remembers when he proposed to her, and she says that she remembers that she was on day two of a St Patricks day hangover. But why, if she knew she was pregnant when he proposed, would she be drinking? Throughout the show, it seems so important by the hints that Haley was conceived before Claire and Phil even got engaged, and this just ruins it a bit.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

[[folder: Durkas]]

* it's possible that I was the only one who paid attention to this, but in 'My funky valentine' we meet Ted Durkas, a mean bully at the school Luke and Manny goes to, and in this episode they say his name is Ted. But, in a season 4 episode 'Open house of horrors', Durkas is under the impression that Manny pulled the fire alarm, and respects him for it, to which Manny says 'thank you mr. Durkas' and Durkas responds that he doesn't have to call him that anymore. Later when Manny calls for him, he calls him Conrad. Did he change names, or was it just a mistake on the writers' part? It has always confused me.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

** There are lots of reasons a house might not have enough bedrooms. Maybe they moved in before Luke was born--maybe Phil has nowhere else to put an office, and is reluctant to give up the room. It's not at all cheap/easy to move house, especially to one with more than three bedrooms.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None





to:

\n\n** RuleOfFunny is mostly in effect here. That being said, Mitch and Cam don't currently own the apartment above and there's no guarentee it's available. As far as staying with Jay? I can't see him being wild about 6 people moving in for a night that turns into a week, given how he reacts when having Mitch/Cam/Lily around.

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Haley's 'tips']]

* In the episode 'Regrets Only', Haley is supposedly working as a waitress and making money in tips. She's made a deal with Phil and Claire that they'll match what she makes to go towards a car. We find out Haley's just been flashing the same 60ish bucks every day to move things along quicker. Obviously Haley isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, as per the show's status quo, but she surely must realise how this will backfire sooner or later.

Changed: 236

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

** At one point the story takes place in a diner and it's never mentioned that her sister was there. My guess is they put that in there for the laughs later when he's trying to make nice with Gloria's family and ends up making it worse.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

** because the misunderstanding came from the fact he thought she was angry at him kissing Gloria. The snubbed phonecall was just a necessary plot device to cause the mixup
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

** Cam and Mitch also have a moment where they remember how bitchy Haley was an eight year old despite Cam being with Mitchal for five years before the start of the series, and hence shouldn't have known Haley at age eight.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Dunphy Bedrooms]]

*The Dunphys appear well-off. Their house is large and well-decorated, Claire is a housewife, they travel regularly, and they own expensive computers and phones. Why do they live in a house without enough bedrooms, so that Hailey and Alex have to share a room? Why does Phil have home office, but their adult daughters are still sharing one bedroom?
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* In "Marco Polo," the Dunphys check into a motel while their house is being treated for mold. Phil has the idea that if the family stays together, they'll bond as a family. He then lies and says the hotel is fully booked, which is how all five Dunphys end up crowded in one hotel room. Claire subsequently learns that the motel is in fact half-empty. There would be clues long before that--for instance, a half-empty parking lot or the absence of other guests. And if it were truly full, wouldn't someone suggest another hotel? Also, if they want a family bonding experience, there are family members living nearby they can stay with. Mitch and Cam have an apartment upstairs. They can put the Dunphys up there.
** Rule of Funny for the first part. As to why Mitch/Cam couldn't let them use their upstairs apartment, it's possible they had lodgers at the time.

to:

* In "Marco Polo," the Dunphys check into a motel while their house is being treated for mold. Phil has the idea that if the family stays together, they'll bond as a family. He then lies and says the hotel is fully booked, which is how all five Dunphys end up crowded in one hotel room. Claire subsequently learns that the motel is in fact half-empty. There would be clues long before that--for instance, a half-empty parking lot or the absence of other guests. And if it were truly full, wouldn't someone suggest another hotel? Also, if they want a family bonding experience, there are family members living nearby they can stay with. Jay and Gloria, for instance. Better yet, Mitch and Cam have an apartment upstairs.upstairs that it seems is usually unoccupied. They can put the Dunphys up there. \n** Rule of Funny for the first part. As to why Mitch/Cam couldn't let them use their upstairs apartment, it's possible they had lodgers at the time.\n


Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

** Phil's actor improvised stumbling, and the line and it became a running gag. Judging from the look of things it's a loose piece.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None




to:

\n** It may have been about jumping to conclusions. They make up at the end of the episode but I don't think we see him again.





to:

** Gloria rarely backpedals even after being proved wrong - as seen when her 'cousin' that she defended was stealing from Jay, she did not admit that but still got rid of him so she could hold it over Jay.




to:

** Rule of Funny for the first part. As to why Mitch/Cam couldn't let them use their upstairs apartment, it's possible they had lodgers at the time.

Top