Modern Family: Fifteen Percent (2010)
Season 1, Episode 13
8/10
Get Shorty!
30 January 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Claire makes a statement to the effect that people change, which sets the pace for this episode. She enters Haley's room wearing some sexy under clothes and she does not realize her daughter has been chatting on line with Dylan, who sees her that way. Claire is oblivious, but she is awakened by Dylan who can see her well on his computer.

Cam runs into Jay talking to a group of his neighborhood friends. Jay introduces him as "a friend of my son's" and not as the partner of Mitchell. Cam tells Mitch about the encounter and how Jay introduced him to his cronies. Mitchell takes offense. He decides to straighten out the situation by confronting Jay and his friends, who are still talking as Mitch arrives. Shorty, part of the gang, is impressed by the jacket Mitch is wearing. He asks whether it is suede, or ultra suede and paws the garment, which makes Mitchell leery of the man. Later, he confesses to Jay he suspects Shorty is gay.

Manny and Gloria are expecting his date, Whitney, to arrive. The two have met on line and today is the first time they will see one another. They are taken aback when a dowdy woman, much older than Manny arrives. Whitney is mortified, to say the least. Gloria comes to her rescue trying to build her self esteem. In fact, she decides to do a make over for Whitney, who is receptive to the idea, while Manny watches the transformation.

Jay and Shorty are seen in a golf course. Jay is looking differently to his old friend, who has dressed in pastel colors. Jay cannot contain himself and asks bluntly whether Shorty is gay. Shorty is completely taken aback by the question. He denies he is gay, but makes a confession to Jay that he owes twenty thousand dollars and was hoping to ask him for a loan to repay the debt. Jay, feeling bad because of his blunder, agrees to give him a check, but Scotty prefers cash.

Meanwhile at the Dunphys, Claire is so upset about the fancy remote control Phil got for the house. She just cannot do anything with it. Claire ends up smashing the thing, but Phil, ever so patient, promises he will buy a replacement of the same model. What's more, he will teach one of the kids, Haley is the one chosen. If she can learn, so can Claire!

Jason Winer directed the episode written by one of the creators of "Modern Family" Steve Levitan. There are three main issued raised by the Mr. Levitan: Claire's inability to understand new technology, Shorty's possibility of being in the closet and the internet dating of Manny with a stranger. The only thing which the creators insist is in giving Manny a glibness that does not fit the young boy of his age. One cannot even buy the idea of an eleven year old being a Lothario, or pretending to be, in spite of what the character has been made out to be. Of course, it is one's humble opinion, which is probably not shared by many viewers. Other than that, "Modern Family" is one of the best sitcoms on television setting the pace for what American families have become, a more accepting audience.
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