Won't You Be Our Neighbor
| "Won't You Be Our Neighbor" | |
|---|---|
| Modern Family episode | |
| Episode no. |
Season 6 Episode 5 |
| Directed by | Gail Mancuso |
| Written by |
Paul Corrigan Brad Walsh |
| Production code | 6ATM04 |
| Original air date | October 22, 2014 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
| |
| Season 6 episodes | |
| Episode chronology | |
"Won't You Be Our Neighbor" is the fifth episode of the sixth season of the American sitcom Modern Family, and the series' 125th episode overall. It originally aired on October 22, 2014. The episode was written by Paul Corrigan & Brad Walsh and directed by Gail Mancuso.
In the episode, Phil and Claire's neighbor Jerry moves out and asks Phil's help to sell his house. Claire is excited with the idea of choosing their new neighbors but when a couple she does not like makes a better offer than the couple she likes, she and the whole family have to accept and learn to live with their new, annoying to them, neighbors. Jay makes a new invention for socks and wants to sell it till the moment Manny's new girlfriend, who is also the granddaughter of his rival, comes to the house and sees it. Jay is sure that the girl will tell her grandfather about it and demands Manny to stop seeing her. Gloria though is determined to make the two men talk and solve their differences as adults. Cameron and Mitchell find out that there is an opening in another class on Lily's school where the teacher is more fun than the one Lily has now and they want Lily to take it. They go to the school and do everything to achieve it without even asking Lily if she wants to move to the other class.
"Won't You Be Our Neighbor" received positive reviews from the critics.
Plot
Jay (Ed O'Neill) makes a new invention for socks and plans to sell it but everything seems to fall apart for him when Manny's (Rico Rodriguez) new girlfriend, Sophie (Cheyn Cole), comes home and sees it. As it is revealed, Sophie is the granddaughter of Jay's longtime enemy and owner of the "Closets, Closets, Closets, Closets" company, Earl (Jon Polito). Jay is convinced that she will tell her grandfather about his invention and Earl will steal his idea. Jay demands from Manny to stop seeing Sophie but Gloria (Sofía Vergara) is determined to make the two men make up and she arranges a dinner for them to talk and solve their differences.
Meanwhile, the neighbor of the Dunphys family, Jerry (Matt Besser), moves out after his divorce and asks Phil (Ty Burrell) to sell his house. Claire (Julie Bowen) is happy with the idea that they can choose their new neighbors and they do everything to impress a new couple, George (Ben Lawson) and Lisa (Fiona Gubelmann). The couple is ready to buy it when another couple, Ronnie (Steve Zahn) and Amber (Andrea Anders), comes and makes a better offer. Claire does not like them at all and asks Phil to not tell Jerry about the better offer and even though Phil agrees to do it, he can not lie to Jerry and tells him the truth. Ronnie and Amber buy the house and they move in, while the Dunphy family watches.
Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) find out that there is an opening in Ms. Sparrow's class and they want for Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) to take it, since they believe that Lily is stressed out by her teacher, Mrs Plank (Tyne Daly). Ms. Sparrow's class is more fun and kids are happy there. Without asking Lily, they meet Mrs Plank and they manage to move Lily to Mrs Sparrow's class but they soon find out that Lily does not want to change teacher because she loves Mrs Plank and she actually learns new and important things there. Cameron and Mitchell are forced to go back to Mrs Plank and beg her to take Lily back.
Reception
Ratings
In its original American broadcast, "Won't You Be Our Neighbor" was watched by 10.16; up by 0.45 from the previous episode.[1]
Reviews
"Won't You Be Our Neighbor" received positive reviews.
Joshua Alston from The A.V. Club gave the episode an A- rating saying that the episode was solid despite the families being in separated stories. "[Won't You Be Our Neighbor]continues the streak of energized episodes written by the elite team that is to Modern Family as the retention team is to the average cable provider. They’re the consummate pros who convince you to stay even when you’re so tempted to bail."[2]
Leigh Raines of TV Fanatic rated the episode with 4/5.[3]
Fourthmic gave a good review to the episode saying that it was generally quite funny. "It isn’t often that the series keeps each family in their own silo as was the case on “Won’t You Be Our Neighbor”, but it was a fun change. The result was basically three short stories that featured the characters managing a relationship with an outsider. The three scenarios were different and each featured flubs and successes."[4]
References
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (October 23, 2014). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'The Middle', 'The Goldbergs', 'Modern Family', & 'Criminal Minds' Adjusted Up; 'black-ish' Adjusted Down + Final World Series Numbers". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
- ↑ Alston, Joshua (October 11, 1014). "Modern Family: "Won't You Be Our Neighbor"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
- ↑ Raines, Leigh (October 23, 2014). "Modern Family Season 6 Episode 5 Review: Won't You Be Our Neighbor". TV Fanatic. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
- ↑ "Modern Family: Won't You Be Our Neighbor". Fourthmic. October 23, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
