Claire Manages A Loving Look...While Talking On The Phone

Last night on Modern Family, Claire (Julie Bowen) managed to avoid having to express physical affection for her husband Phil (Ty Burrell) by not being in the same town with him: the episode started with her taking daughter Alex (Ariel Winter) to an academic competition, so that Claire's interaction with Phil was limited to a phone conversation. Even that she accomplished without physical contact! (Hands-free car phone adapter.) Even so, as she very kindly urged Phil to do something fun with a friend, Claire managed to smile. But don't be too alarmed at the drastic change of character: her fondness didn't even last through the entire conversation.