Modern Family is a popular American sitcom that aired on ABC from 2009 to 2020. Over 11 seasons, the show followed the lives of Jay Pritchett and his extended family in suburban Los Angeles. With its mockumentary style and hilarious characters, Modern Family became one of the most acclaimed comedies on television.
One of the most memorable episodes of Modern Family focused on an unusual guest star – a pigeon. The bird made a surprise appearance in Season 5, causing chaos for Mitch and Cam. So which episode featured the pesky pigeon? Read on to find out.
What Happens in the Pigeon Episode?
The pigeon episode is titled “The Cold” and is the 16th episode of Season 5. It originally aired on March 26, 2014.
The episode begins with the entire family frustrated over colds spreading through the household. Mitch and Cam are especially annoyed when Lily refuses to stop wiping her runny nose with her sleeve.
Later, Mitch discovers a pigeon sitting in Lily’s dollhouse in her bedroom. He shoos the bird out the window, but it soon returns and roams freely through the house. Mitch and Cam make increasingly desperate attempts to get rid of it.
The pigeon evades all their efforts and continues to pop up in random places. It destroys Gloria’s nursery, ruins Phil’s real estate signs, and sneaks into Jay’s clean office.
Mitch even takes the dollhouse outside to lure the pigeon out, but it still comes back inside. The episode ends with the family giving up on catching the elusive bird.
Why a Pigeon?
The pigeon was likely chosen by the show’s writers to maximize the comedy. The bird’s unexpected infiltration of Mitch and Cam’s immaculate house allowed for hilarious scenes and witty exchanges.
The pigeon’s persistence despite their escalating tactics highlights Mitch and Cam’s frustration and descent into madness. Its randomness also balances the other subplots in the episode related to the family’s illnesses.
The pigeon added a sense of surprise, slapstick humor, and even metaphor to the episode. Its stubborn presence despite Mitch and Cam’s best efforts mirrors how the colds stubbornly spread through the family.
Overall, the pigeon lightened the episode’s mood and gave the talented cast plenty of fodder for funny performances. The bird was an unexpected scene-stealer.
Memorable Pigeon Moments
Some of the most hilarious moments from “The Cold” revolve around Mitch, Cam, and the pesky pigeon:
– Mitch flailing around with a butterfly net trying fruitlessly to catch the pigeon
– Cam setting up a trail of bird seed attempting to lure the pigeon out
– The pigeon popping up in random spots around the house at inopportune times
– Mitch chasing the pigeon away from Phil’s open house, but having it follow him back inside
– The pigeon destroying Gloria’s nursery right before Jay sees it
– Cam whacking at the bird with a broom as it flies past him
– Mitch resigning himself to the pigeon’s permanent presence: “Remember when we used to have nice things?”
– The final shot of the still-uncaught pigeon sitting comfortably on top of the refrigerator
The pigeon brought physical comedy and farce to the episode, allowing the cast’s skills to shine. Ty Burrell (Phil) and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitch) got to show off their knack for frenzied comedic meltdowns.
Impact on Mitch and Cam’s Relationship
While much of the humor comes from Mitch and Cam’s failed attempts to catch the pigeon, the episode also includes poignant moments between the couple.
They bicker frequently over how to handle the bird, with Cam insisting they should shoo it outdoors while Mitch wants to set traps and exterminate it. As frustrations boil over, they trade passive-aggressive barbs and blame each other for the pigeon’s presence.
But they are able to laugh over the absurdity of being outsmarted by a pigeon. And in the end, Mitch acknowledges they need to calm down and work together, not against each other. He also shows concern for Cam getting sick from standing outside to chase the pigeon away.
So while the pigeon adds conflict between Mitch and Cam, it also reaffirms the strength of their relationship. They may argue and get frustrated, but they still support each other and face challenges together.
Critical Reception
“The Cold” received positive reviews from critics, who particularly praised Ferguson and Burrell’s performances:
– Todd VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club called the episode “a solid, traditional family comedy” and singled out the pigeon subplot for its physical comedy.
– Entertainment Weekly rated it a B+, writing that Cam and Mitch’s “slapstick reaction to the pigeon is Modern Family farce at its finest.”
– TV Equals said the pigeon provided “one of the best comedic B-stories I’ve seen in awhile…Ferguson nails every bit.”
– IGN praised Ty Burrell’s “hilarious meltdowns” and awarded the episode an 8.5 rating.
So while not considered an all-time classic episode, “The Cold” was seen as a prime example of the cast’s comedic skills and the show’s ability to mine humor from everyday conflicts.
The Pigeon’s Unexpected Legacy
Remarkably, the pigeon subplot took on a life beyond just one episode. The show featured callback jokes about the pigeon in multiple later episodes:
– In Season 6’s “The Cover-Up,” Phil tells the camera crew he had just “stepped in pigeon poop – again!”
– In Season 7’s “Spread Your Wings,” Haley and Alex tease Claire about finding a bird trapped in the chimney. Claire insists it’s a dove, not the same pigeon.
– In Season 9’s “In Your Head,” Luke asks Phil if he’s overreacting to a previousTenant leaving behind a taxidermied squirrel. Phil brings up Mitch and the pigeon to suggest everyone has different sensibilities about wild animals indoors.
– In Season 10’s “A Game of Chicken,” Mitch sees a pigeon outside and says, “He never forgets.”
– In Season 11’s “Finale Part 2,” Cam wants to get a pet and suggests a dog or cat. Mitch immediately vetoes getting a cat, saying, “After the pigeon fiasco, no more birds.”
So the pigeon left an indelible mark on Mitch and Cam as characters. It also gave the show’s writers an enduring comedic callback to sprinkle into future episodes.
Conclusion
While Modern Family offered no shortage of hilarious episodes, Season 5’s “The Cold” stands out for debuting the show’s infamous pigeon. The bird stumbles into Mitch and Cam’s home and wreaks havoc despite their every attempt to oust it.
This simple premise creates a barrage of physical comedy and escalating absurdity enacted flawlessly by Ferguson and Burrell. The pigeon brings out Mitch and Cam’s exasperation but also reaffirms their relationship.
The episode was praised by critics and fans for the comedic performances. Remarkably, the pigeon also became an in-joke referenced in many later episodes. So a random storyline about a stubborn bird left an unexpected legacy on the hit series. Whenever viewers hear “pigeon episode,” they immediately think of Cam, Mitch, and the comedic chaos started by one ordinary bird invading the Pritchett home.