Paris is the thirteenth episode from Season 11 of Modern Family. It aired on February 12, 2020.
Summary[]
Over the last 11 seasons, the Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker clan has traveled the globe, making hilarious memories wherever they went – from Hawaii, Australia, Wyoming and Disneyland to Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and New York.
In one last family trip, they head to Paris so Jay can accept a lifetime achievement award for his work in the closet industry. However, his old nemesis, Earl Chambers, finds a way to haunt him. Meanwhile, Claire has a secret rendezvous in one of the most romantic cities in the world, and Cam's lifelong dream of performing as Fizbo on the streets of Paris is about to become a reality [1]
Plot[]
Manny and the parents go to Paris for various reasons. Phil says that he can't go because of his business, but in reality, he lied to Claire in order to surprise her with Claude Bixby (Clive's relative cousin). While waiting for her at the café, he meets Guy a french man who actually had an affair with Claire several years ago. But if at first, he sees him as a potential rival, he then changes his mind when he learns that Guy is actually a magician just like him. Therefore, the two befriend and Phil visits le musée des magiciens and le musée des automates thanks to him. A painter draws their picture and Phil keeps it, promising to give it back to Guy in a couple of years.
Meanwhile, Jay is ready to receive an award but at the last minute, Gloria and Manny learn that Earl Chambers will be honored. They take Jay to the museum in order to prevent him from knowing the truth but speak so loud that Jay actually learns it.
As for Cameron, he pretends to be exhausted so he can perform as Fizbo in the streets but discovers that there actually a french clown whose name is Fizbeau who calls him an impostor. Cam conceides his defeat as he discovers a book about european clowns. Mitchell, on the other way, tries to dress up like a french man but reverts back when he goes to the restaurant and refuses to eat a pidgeon.
Claire consoles Jay who finally gives a speech during Family Dinner on the Eiffel Tower's roof. Claire recognizes one of the waiter as Jean-Luc, a former boyfriend. The episode ends with some waves from the cast in black and white sequences.
Main Cast[]
(The characters struck out do not appear in this episode)
- Jay Pritchett
- Gloria Pritchett
- Manny Delgado
Joe Pritchett- Claire Dunphy
- Phil Dunphy
Haley DunphyAlex DunphyLuke Dunphy- Mitchell Pritchett
- Cameron Tucker
Lily Tucker-PritchettDylan Marshall
Guest Starring[]
- Arnaud Binard as Guy
- Jean-Francois Pages as Bernard Busse
- Jean-Pierre Pivolot as Fizbeau
- Max Geller as Waiter
- Jorge Thompson as Parisian Hipster
- Catherine Artigala as Fizbeau's fan
- Estelle Galarme as Parisian Woman
- Guillaume Bursztyn as Painter
- Benoît de Gauléjac as Parisian 1
- Calvynn Wild as Parisian 2
- Vincent Furic as Parisian 3
- Jean-Raoul Lacote as Jean-Luc
- Axel Fernandez as Business Man
Trivia[]
- This is the only episode to have French actors.
- Haley, Alex, Luke, Lily, Joe, and Dylan do not appear in this episode. Although Nolan and Ariel briefly appear as the extras in the Notre Dame scene, Joe is mentioned by Jay.
- With this, this marks the fourth episode in a row not to feature Dylan since Reid joined the main cast.
- Part of this episode was filmed in the proximity of Notre Dame and Tour Eiffel. There were also sequences in Musée Des Automates.
- The credits were slightly changed into French music with accordions.
- Even if Jon Polito was replaced by Robert Costanzo in Halloween 4: The Revenge of Rod Skyhook, his portrait still appears in this episode.
- This is the third vacation episode to take place outside the United States, the first two being Australia and A Tale of Three Cities.
- Although Jay makes a toast to his family and thanks them for being there for him, half of them do not appear in the episode. That said, there is at least one person from each generation missing. These are:
Continuity[]
- This episode is the fifth and final episode to have a location in the title, after Hawaii, Disneyland, Las Vegas, and Australia.
- The seventh and final episode to revolve around Valentine's Day after My Funky Valentine, Bixby's Back, Heart Broken, Valentine's Day 4: Twisted Sister, Do You Believe in Magic and Written in the Stars, though The Storm also featured a small part plot around this day.
- After Valentine's Day 4: Twisted Sister, this is the second episode in which Manny is the only kid to appear and the third after The Escape in which Haley was the only present kid.
- One of the few episodes in which Mitch and Cam kiss one another after The Kiss, The Wedding (Part 1), The Wedding (Part 2) and I Don't Know How She Does It.
- The second episode to feature black and white credits after ISpy.
- This is the eleventh and final episode in which the family (partially) travel after Hawaii, Dude Ranch, Disneyland, Goodnight Gracie, ClosetCon '13, Las Vegas, Australia, Double Click, A Tale of Three Cities and Lake Life.
- Express Yourself also featured a plot with Claire and Phil wanting to visit Paris, though they do not seem to remember that they traveled to France in this episode.
References[]
Cultural references[]
- Phil and Guy go to Musée des magiciens and Musée des Automates. In real life, the Musée de la Magie (Museum of Magic) and Musée des Automates are real museums, both located at 11 rue Saint-Paul.
- Mitch says that he wanted to go to Paris ever since he saw the movie 'An American in Paris'. Manny says that it is since he saw 'Amélie'.
- Claire calls Mitch and Cam 'The Gay Paree' when she sees them kissing.
- Jay references the 2019 burning of Notre-Dame.
- Phil brought a woman to Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland on the same day.
- Cam's Fizbo video is released on the YouTube-resembling site "Viral Judge."
- Cam compared Clowns of Europe to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
- Jay and Gloria visit Napoleon's tomb at Les Invalides.
- The bench that Phil and Guy sit on is located on Place Jacques Bainville.
- The restaurant at the end is L'Oiseau Blanc, located on Avenue Kléber.
Reviews[]
- The A.V. Club gave it "C+"