"White Christmas" is the ninth episode and mid-season finale from Season 7 of Modern Family, it aired on December 9, 2015.
Plot Summary[]
In an effort to have the picture-perfect white Christmas she’s always dreamed of, Gloria rents a cabin in the mountains for the whole family to celebrate the holiday. Unfortunately, when they arrive, there are some unexpected factors like the weather and an eccentric random guest, who is already staying in the cabin. Meanwhile, the family are also preoccupied with their own agendas Mitch and Cam determined to make up for their bad caroling performance from last year. Haley and Andy can't keep their hands off each other, and Jay has a huge announcement to make that catches Claire off guard.
Episode Description[]
For Christmas, Gloria rents a cabin in the mountain since it will be her first Christmas as an American citizen.
Unfortunately, there are some issues when they arrive as the weather is too hot, and a woman whose family has rented the cabin, was apparently forgotten. Alex learns that this woman, Fig Wilson, is actually a great scientist and resolves to have better behavior in order not to end her life alone and grumpy, something that everyone else mistakes as sarcasm.
Andy is also invited and he and Haley are caught post-coitus by the whole family. Phil tells him to act like a man and choose between Haley and Beth. Andy goes to break up with Beth, but before he can she confesses that she's been cheating on him with two other guys. They break up and she leaves, allowing Haley and Andy to finally get together.
Luke and Manny terrorize Lily but their plan fails. Luke accidentally locks himself in the closet while the family leaves the cabin.
Jay makes a big announcement - he wants to concentrate on raising Joe so has decided to retire. He then names his successor... Chuck Finney. Claire is obviously furious, not knowing it's a test by Jay as he doesn't want her to take over the company out of a sense of family duty; if she gets upset and fights for it, he'll know it's what she wants. Claire does indeed fight for it, but offends Jay by calling the company boring. Eventually Gloria reveals the truth, and Jay hands over the reins officially by giving Claire new business cards declaring her the CEO.
Mitchell and Cameron want to make up after the last year's family Christmas when they were unable to sing because Mitchell was drunk. They repeat and repeat themselves but are constantly interrupted. They're then forced to abandon the idea when Alex and Fig steal their song. Snow finally falls off the floor outside, or so they think, as Fin reveals that it's actually ashes from a nearby deadly forest fire.
Main Cast[]
(The characters striked out do not appear in this episode)
- Jay Pritchett
- Gloria Pritchett
- Manny Delgado
- Joe Pritchett
- Claire Dunphy
- Phil Dunphy
- Haley Dunphy
- Alex Dunphy
- Luke Dunphy
- Mitchell Pritchett
- Cameron Tucker
- Lily Tucker-Pritchett
Guest Starring[]
- Adam DeVine as Andy Bailey
- Andrea Martin as Fig
- Laura Ashley Samuels as Beth
Trivia[]
- This is the last episode to air in 2015.
- This episode is aired before 9 and Previous, but it comes after 9 and Previous episode number wise. (Source)
- Andy's 18th appearance
- This episode broadcasted exactly six years after Undeck the Halls.
- Andy and Beth call off their engagement in this episode offically ending their relationship.
- This episode contains a minor continuity error as the flashback to the previous Christmas shows Haley with her current shorter hairstyle.
Continuity[]
- This is the fourth episode to revolve around Christmas.
References[]
- Cam and Mitch get nicknamed Screeches and Herb (Peaches & Herb), Simon and Godawful (Simon & Garfunkel), Nickelback, the Crapenters (Carpenters).
- Phil says his coat makes him look like Kris Kristofferson.
- The scene where Lily cycles a trike around the cabin is a reference to The Shining.
- In the episode Phil gifts Andy A golden blazer similar to the Blazers in Happy Gilmore. Julie Bowen (Claire) played Adam Sandler's love interest in Happy Gilmore.