A telephone control service is described. In embodiment(s), a request to interface with a content distributor can be received from a mobile phone, and the content distributor can correlate the mobile phone with a television client device that receives television media content from the content distributor. The content distributor can communicate an instruction to configure a client device feature according to the request from the mobile phone. In other embodiment(s), a request for a video clip can be received from the mobile phone, and the content distributor can obtain and communicate the video clip to be rendered on the mobile phone. In other embodiment(s), a request to interface with the content distributor as a diagnostic aid can be received from the mobile phone. The content distributor can execute diagnostic instructions according to the request to identify system problems, and communicate the system problems to the mobile phone as diagnostic feedback.