Thanksgiving with the Pritchett-Dunphy clan is always an eventful affair on ABC’s hit show Modern Family The season 9 holiday episode titled “Winner Winner Turkey Dinner” is no exception, delivering plenty of dysfunctional family antics Let’s look back at this fun-filled 2017 Thanksgiving special.
Overview of the Episode
The episode begins with Jay Pritchett giving a toast praising the family’s recent accomplishments. However, each family member harbors a secret failure they are trying to hide.
Desperate to avoid embarrassment Phil Dunphy becomes obsessed with mastering a magic trick to prove he is not the family failure. As the truth comes out about each relative’s lie hilarious tensions ensue leading to a climactic dinner.
Written by Bill Wrubel and directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller, “Winner Winner Turkey Dinner” first aired on November 15, 2017 as the seventh episode of season nine. It earned positive marks from critics as a humorously chaotic holiday installment.
Recapping the Madness
The episode opens with the family gathered around the Thanksgiving table as Jay gives a pompous toast. He proudly congratulates Claire for winning a race, Luke and Manny for launching an app, Cam for coaching a winning football team, and Mitch for scaring off a burglar.
However, each accomplishment is fabricated. As they try maintaining their lies, Mitch knocks himself unconscious practicing nunchucks, Cam steals game plans, Luke and Manny’s app IceTown fails, Claire cheats in a race by grabbing a bike, and Joe is expelled from school.
Amidst the subterfuge, increasingly neurotic Phil is obsessed with mastering a magic trick involving goldfish in water glasses. He is determined to gain respect and avoid his usual role as the family loser. As he continues struggling hilariously with the trick, the truth about the others emerges.
At the climactic turkey dinner, Phil stages an elaborate magic performance for the family involving fire and dancing girls. But just as he is about to pull off the fish trick, he botches it and falls into the tank of water.
When Phil reveals he pranked them and already mastered the trick earlier, the family enthusiastically applauds him. He proudly takes a bow, having finally earned their admiration.
Why Fans Love this Thanksgiving Episode
This episode is a fan favorite for delivering endless absurdity as the dysfunctional Pritchett-Dunphy family tries covering up their self-created messes.
Seeing uptight Claire cheating and rule-follower Mitchell knock himself unconscious adds to the ridiculous tone. Cameron’s spirited but unethical football coaching techniques are also hilarious.
Phil’s escalating desperation and failure with the magic trick perfectly embodies his role as the family’s lovable misfit. Viewers enjoy watching his gleeful triumph in finally fooling the family and winning their respect.
The escalating web of lies combined with hilarious attempts to conceal them makes “Winner Winner Turkey Dinner” a quintessential and uproarious Modern Family Thanksgiving episode.
Notable Guest Stars
Memorable guest stars appearing in this episode include:
- Teri Gamble as the principal expelling Joe
- Lesley Braun as the rival coach whose plays Cam stole
- Joseph Callari reprising his role as the flirtatious Congressman Morris
Standout Quotes
The episode is packed with funny one-liners, including:
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“If that burglar is still in the house, I need him to write me a note because I don’t remember anything that happened.” – Mitchell
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“I’d say grace but I’m not in the mood to thank God for this food.” – Phil
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“How am I the only one that ends up looking like an idiot? I’m the fun parent who drives a cool car and says hip things.” – Phil
Why “Winner Winner Turkey Dinner” Shines
This Thanksgiving episode encapsulates the show’s strength at bringing the comedy through relatable family dysfunction. As secrets spiral and tensions mount hysterically, the absurdity heightens leading to a heartwarming resolution with Phil’s overdue triumph.
The stellar ensemble cast clicks perfectly to deliver a hilarious holiday highlighted by Phil’s neurotic magic quest and the escalating ruse. For a reliably entertaining Thanksgiving-themed installment, “Winner Winner Turkey Dinner” is a Modern Family standout.
Episode Description[]
It is Thanksgiving. Jay praised the whole family for their recent success, but Phil felt left out because he practiced a magic show with Haley that didn’t go very well.
But secrets come out when Jay got Joe fired from kindergarten, Manny and Luke wanted to be popular with an Inseam app, Claire accidentally cheated in a race, Gloria used a pedometer in the wrong way, and Cameron stole his opponent’s game plan.
On the other hand, Mitch pretended to get rid of a thief, but he really chose to practice martial arts and hit himself with nunchakus.
Phil practices the tour in front of the family but it fails and he almost drowns. until he reveals that he tricked them and gets some applauses.
Trivia[]
- Mitch calls Cam by his full name in this episode.
- Beth McCarthy-Miller will no longer be in charge of this episode.