Modern Family Review: Finding Fizbo (Season 8 Episode 15)

Fizbo returns! Well, kind of. Modern Family Season 8 Episode 15 “Finding Fizbo” heads in the right direction, accomplishing a funny episode but still failing at making conversations or plots feel meaningful.

Just a few episodes ago, we found out that Mitchell had accidentally given away Cam’s beloved clown costume. Fizbo has made many appearances on Modern Family, so even though the costume was gone, we knew Fizbo wasn’t dead.

Modern Family decides to capitalize on the creepy clown sightings in cities throughout the world and has the fake Fizbo get in on it. Cam’s outrage and shock is pretty funny. What’s also funny is Lily’s line about being out of town when Mitchell threw away the costume.

Lily has not been on Modern Family enough lately and is pretty much missing from a chunk of this episode, too. And what happened to Dwight, the football player, who was living with them?

Bringing back Fizbo for another episode is not exactly innovative, but the plot works. It’s fun to see Mitch and Cam with their bowling league and interacting with other characters.

Plus, the Britney Spares is a pretty amazing team title.

Watching Mitch and Cam chase down the fake Fizbo is a treat, although the reveal is a bit of a letdown. It’s the first time we’ve seen Louise, so her reason of just being annoyed by Cam is lame. It is nice to see Dot-Marie Jones in the part, though.

It would have been funnier if it had been Martin because at least we know that he and Cam have beef. Plus, he’s a bit off. So, Modern Family had to throw in a red herring to make things more interesting?

While Cam and Mitch are bowling (who’s watching Lily by the way?), Claire, Alex, Haley, and Gloria are reading through Manny’s awful play.

Modern Family seriously needs to do something about Manny. Give him something to do. A job, perhaps?  He is so condescending as he tells the women in his life about his play, and he barely tries to disguise them as characters.

As annoying as Manny is, there are parts of this B-plot that are enjoyable.

Alex keeps sneaking off to the kitchen with her phone and Haley follows her, knowing that there must be a guy involved. The two sisters have a pretty sweet conversation and share a hug.

Why can’t we see more of Alex and Haley together? They’ll always have sibling rivalry, but both of them are grown up enough to have real conversations, and when they do–they’re touching and mature.

It comes out of left field that Alex and Ben are dating, but it’s not the worst storyline Modern Family has come up with. Hey, at least Alex gets some serious screen time and time that matters.

There is another good moment between Gloria and Claire, where Gloria tells Claire she loves her. Claire, who acknowledges that she can be emotionally detached, says that she loves Gloria too.

Actually, this quick scene would have worked on the previous episode, “Heavy is the Head.” It would have made Gloria’s need to give Claire a birthday gift she enjoyed more meaningful if she had told Claire how she loves her.

Luke is missing again on this episode and it would have been funny if Manny had included him in his play, maybe giving him the role of the dumb butler or something. Luke and Manny can be funny together, so if Luke had been there, Manny’s obnoxiousness may have been toned down.

Or, Luke could have joined in on the tamest bachelor party ever–his grandfather, Frank’s.

Phil hosts a bachelor party with Jay, Frank, and his new brother, Ray. Phil had always wanted a brother, and now that Frank is marrying Lorraine, he gets one.

Ray is a jerk, but it’s fun to see Phil and Ray fight. It’s also refreshing for Jay and Phil to be in a room together and not have Phil try to win his approval.

Later, the heart-to-heart between Phil and Frank doesn’t have the effect it’s meant to because we have pretty much seen the same scene just a few episodes back when we find out that Frank is marrying Lorraine.

Phil and Frank are always great together, but their conversation just scratches the surface and doesn’t evoke any real emotion.

Overall, there are some bright spots in “Finding Fizbo,” but there are also bits that fall short of their potential because they’re rushed or in a recycled storyline.

Quick Bits:

• Seeing Phil and Frank tap their feet to the old girls singing is hilarious.
• Claire’s wine glass is always huge and always full.
• “Close your door, ma’am. We’re in pursuit.”
• The bowling league names make me giggle.

What did you think of this episode of Modern Family? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Modern Family airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on ABC.

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