"Punkin Chunkin" | |
---|---|
Modern Family episode | |
![]() Cam (Eric Stonestreet) trying to prove his story is true while the whole family's watching. | |
Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 9 |
Directed by | Michael Spiller |
Written by | Ben Karlin |
Production code | 3ARG05 |
Original air date | November 23, 2011 |
Guest appearance | |
| |
"Punkin Chunkin" is the ninth episode of the third season of the American sitcom Modern Family , and the series' 57th episode overall. It aired on November 23, 2011. The episode was written by Ben Karlin and directed by Michael Spiller.
In the episode, a former kid neighbor of the Dunphys, who never attended college but is now a billionaire, visits, which creates tension in the family since Haley now claims that going to college isn't the only way to follow your dreams, while Phil blames Claire for holding him back from his dreams. Jay tries to give Manny constructive criticism but Gloria does not understand why they should tell Manny negative things. Mitchell questions the authenticity of Cameron's stories and challenges him to prove that his stories are true.
"Punkin Chunkin" received mixed reviews from critics.
As Thanksgiving approaches, the Dunphys receive a visit from their former kid neighbor Kenneth (Josh Gad) who idolized Phil (Ty Burrell). Kenneth tells the family that he dropped out of college and is now a billionaire because of an investment company he started with a friend, something that he owes to Phil since he was the one who was always telling him to follow his heart and told himself to 'think like Phil' when making decisions. Haley (Sarah Hyland) takes the opportunity to say that it is not so bad not to go to college and follow your dreams instead, which upsets Claire (Julie Bowen). Phil starts to wonder why he isn't as successful as Kenneth and believes that Claire pouring scorn onto his various ideas is what held him back. Haley and Alex go out for a drive, but Alex distracts Haley and she accidentally runs the car into a stone trash can. The two then do everything they can to keep Claire from noticing until she goes to the store (guessing that she'll assume someone hit her car in the lot).
Meanwhile, at the Pritchett-Delgado home, Jay (Ed O'Neill) tries to give Manny (Rico Rodriguez) a little constructive criticism in regards to a messy-looking centerpiece he made, but Gloria (Sofía Vergara) stops him because she does not want to hurt Manny's feelings. Jay tries to explain that it is not bad to tell Manny that he is not perfect, but she does not understand.
Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitch (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) are out with friends and Cameron tells a story of when he used a catapult to launch a pumpkin across a football field. Mitchell, who is tired of the story, tells Cameron he doesn't believe it and questions the authenticity of it and several other stories he tells. Cameron, offended, insists that all of his stories are true, but he struggles to make Mitch believe them.
The whole family gathers at the Dunphy's house, where Jay takes the chance to tell Manny his centerpiece isn't that good. Manny throws it in the trash, leading to an argument over all three issues and dividing the family into the "Dreamers" (Cameron, Phil and Gloria) and the "Realists" (Jay, Mitchell and Claire). The arguments ends up leading them to a football field so Cameron can prove that his story with the punkin chunkin is true.
At the field, they build a catapult and shoot a pumpkin from it, but it doesn't travel very far, seemingly disproving Cameron's story. The Realists don't get the satisfaction they thought they would and instead tell the others they want to try again but this time with the pumpkin shot from a steeper angle with more people pulling at it. The second time, it works. As the pumpkin sails through the air, a guilt-ridden Alex confesses to Claire what happened to the car just before the pumpkin hits the dent they made.
In its original American broadcast "Punkin Chunkin" was watched by 12.72 million; slightly down from the previous episode. [1]
"Punkin Chunkin" received mixed reviews.
Claire Zulkey from The A.V. Club gave a B+ rate to the episode saying that "...the show didn’t go anywhere new tonight but it was good entertainment for the night before Thanksgiving." [2]
Leigh Raines of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 3/5 rate stating that this week's episode was "just depressing". [3]
Maris Kreizman from Vulture gave a good review to the episode saying: " The push and pull between the three main couples has always been the show’s lifeblood. If revisiting this dynamic sometimes comes at the detriment of plot and character development, well, at least it’s good for laughs." [4]
"The Bicycle Thief" is the second episode of the American family sitcom television series Modern Family. It originally aired on ABC in the United States on September 30, 2009. The episode was written by Bill Wrubel and directed by Jason Winer.
"Run for Your Wife" is the sixth episode of the American family sitcom television series Modern Family. It premiered on ABC in the United States on October 28, 2009. The episode was written by Brad Walsh & Paul Corrigan and directed by Jason Winer.
"Fifteen Percent" is the thirteenth episode of the first season of the American family sitcom television series Modern Family, and the thirteenth episode of the series overall. It originally aired on ABC on January 20, 2010. The episode was written by co-creator Steven Levitan and directed by Jason Winer.
"Airport 2010" is the twenty-second episode of the American television sitcom series Modern Family and the twenty-second episode of the series overall. It premiered on May 5, 2010, on ABC. The episode was written by Bill Wrubel & Dan O'Shannon and directed by Jason Winer.
"Strangers on a Treadmill" is the fourth episode of the second season of the American sitcom, Modern Family and the 28th episode of the series overall. The episode originally aired on October 13, 2010 on American Broadcasting Company (ABC). The episode was written by Danny Zuker and directed by Scott Ellis.
"Chirp" is the seventh episode of the second season of Modern Family and the 31st episode overall. It originally aired on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States on November 3, 2010. The episode was written by Dan O'Shannon and directed by season two's main director, Michael Spiller.
"Caught in the Act" is the 13th episode of the second season of the American television comedy series, Modern Family and the 37th overall episode of the series. Co-creator Steven Levitan & Jeffrey Richman wrote the episode and Michael Spiller directed it. The episode originally aired on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States on January 19, 2011. It featured guest star Rachael Harris as restaurant owner, Amelia.
"Regrets Only" is the 16th episode of the second season of the American sitcom Modern Family, and the series' 40th episode overall. It aired on February 23, 2011 on ABC. The episode was written by Abraham Higginbotham and directed by Dean Parisot.
"When Good Kids Go Bad" is the second episode of the American sitcom Modern Family's third season and the 50th episode overall. The episode originally aired on September 21, 2011 on American Broadcasting Company (ABC) and ran back-to-back with "Dude Ranch" in a one-hour timeslot. The episode was written by Jeffrey Richman and directed by Michael Spiller.
"Go Bullfrogs!" is the sixth episode of the third season of the American sitcom Modern Family, and the series' 54th episode overall. "Go Bullfrogs!" first aired on October 19, 2011, on ABC. The episode was written by Abraham Higginbotham and was directed by Scott Ellis. It featured guest star Gilles Marini as Julian.
"Express Christmas" is the tenth episode of the third season of the American sitcom Modern Family, and the series' 58th episode overall. It was aired on December 7, 2011. The episode was written by Cindy Chupack and directed by Michael Spiller. Express Christmas is the second Christmas episode of the series.
"Virgin Territory" is the 16th episode of the third season of the American sitcom Modern Family and the series' 64th episode overall. It aired on February 22, 2012. The episode was written by Elaine Ko and directed by Jason Winer.
"Leap Day" is the 17th episode of the third season of the American sitcom Modern Family, and the series' 65th episode overall. It aired on February 29, 2012. The episode was written by Danny Zuker and directed by Gail Mancuso.
"Bringing Up Baby" is the first episode of the fourth season of the American sitcom Modern Family, and the series' 73rd episode overall. It aired on September 26, 2012. The episode was written by Paul Corrigan & Brad Walsh and directed by Steven Levitan.
"When a Tree Falls" is the ninth episode of the fourth season of the American sitcom Modern Family, and the series' 81st episode overall. It aired November 28, 2012. The episode was written by Ben Karlin and directed by Steven Levitan.
"Diamond in the Rough" is the 10th episode of the fourth season of the American sitcom Modern Family, and the series' 82nd episode overall. It aired December 12, 2012. The episode was written by Dan O'Shannon, Becky Mann & Audra Sielaff and directed by Gail Mancuso.
"A Slight at the Opera" is the 14th episode of the fourth season of the American sitcom Modern Family, and the series' 86th episode overall. It aired February 6, 2013. The episode was written by Paul Corrigan & Brad Walsh and directed by James Bagdonas. For his performance in the episode, Nathan Lane received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
"Marco Polo" is the fourth episode of the sixth season of the American sitcom Modern Family, and the series' 124th episode overall. It originally aired on October 15, 2014. The episode was written by Elaine Ko and directed by Fred Savage.
"Finale" is the series finale of the sitcom Modern Family. It aired in two parts, both on April 8, 2020, on ABC. The first part was written by Steven Levitan, Abraham Higginbotham, Jon Pollack, Ryan Walls, Jeffrey Richman, Morgan Murphy, and Stephen Lloyd, and directed by Steven Levitan. The second part was written by Christopher Lloyd, Jack Burditt, Elaine Ko, Danny Zuker, Vali Chandrasekaran, Brad Walsh, and Paul Corrigan, and directed by Gail Mancuso.