7.9/102,930 votes#1 - Dude Ranch
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/2011
While vacationing on Lost Creek Ranch, the three families try their hands at a little cattle herding, skeet shooting and horseback riding. There are also some big firsts, a huge surprise and an actual face-off between Jay and a cowboy named Hank.
Director: Jason Winer
Writer: Dan O'Shannon, Brad Walsh, Paul Corrigan
8.1/102,745 votes#2 - When Good Kids Go Bad
Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 9/21/2011
Mitchell and Cameron plan an evening with the whole family to break the happy news that they're attempting to adopt another child. However, things go wrong when they realize Lily may not take well to another baby in the house. Meanwhile, Claire and Jay are each focused with proving a point.
Director: Michael Spiller
Writer: Jeffrey Richman
8.0/102,729 votes#3 - Phil on Wire
Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 9/28/2011
Jay's relationship with the dog irritates Gloria. Phil and Luke try to master the tightrope. Cameron starts a juice fast.
Director: Jason Winer
Writer: Danny Zuker
7.7/102,639 votes#4 - Door to Door
Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 10/5/2011
Jay helps Manny with a school fundraiser. Claire petitions for a stop sign at a busy intersection. Phil and Luke try to create a viral video. Gloria searches for Stella.
Director: Jason Winer, Chris Koch
Writer: Bill Wrubel
7.7/102,577 votes#5 - Hit and Run
Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 10/12/2011
Gloria tries to help Jay and Manny with their problems but both are unreceptive. Claire considers running against Councilman Duane Bailey. Cam and Mitch are the victims of a hit-and-run accident.
Director: Jason Winer
Writer: Elaine Ko
7.7/102,586 votes#6 - Go Bullfrogs!
Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 10/19/2011
Phil takes Haley to visit his alma mater. Claire goes out with Mitchell and Cameron. Gloria and Jay may have to broach a delicate subject with Manny.
Director: Scott Ellis
Writer: Abraham Higginbotham
8.1/102,778 votes#7 - Treehouse
Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 11/2/2011
Gloria persuades Jay to commit to a night of salsa dancing after seeing how much his friend Shorty and his girlfriend do together. Meanwhile, Cameron makes a bet that he can get a woman's phone number at the bar, and Phil builds a tree house for Luke.
Director: Jason Winer
Writer: Steven Levitan
7.8/102,537 votes#8 - After the Fire
Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 11/16/2011
The Pritchetts rally for a good cause after a neighbor's house burns down, but there's a downside to their Samaritan intentions when Jay throws out his back, Cameron takes on a moving truck, and some donated toys fall into the wrong hands.
Director: Fred Savage
Writer: Danny Zuker
7.8/102,597 votes#9 - Punkin Chunkin
Season 3 Episode 9 - Aired 11/23/2011
When an old neighborhood kid returns to town as a hugely successful internet billionaire, it gets Phil thinking of what could have been. Jay feels Manny could use a little dose of constructive criticism, and Cameron is offended when Mitchell questions the authenticity of his colorful childhood stories.
Director: Michael Spiller
Writer: Ben Karlin
8.0/102,699 votes#10 - Express Christmas
Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 12/7/2011
The Pritchett clan decide to celebrate Christmas a little early (and in a hurry) so they split up to gather the holiday trappings as Mitchell, Alex and Lily hunt for a tree, Gloria and Luke fetch the ornaments, and Claire and Haley shop for the gifts. Meanwhile, Phil and Manny buy the groceries and Jay and Cameron stand by to wrap presents.
Director: Michael Spiller
Writer: Cindy Chupack
7.7/102,554 votes#11 - Lifetime Supply
Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 1/4/2012
Phil contemplates the worst, after missing a call from the doctor. Elsewhere, Javier, Manny's biological father, pays another visit to take his son to the horse races, Mitchell wins an environmental law award, creating a competition between Cam and himself on who has the better trophy, and Gloria tutors Haley in Spanish.
Director: Chris Koch
Writer: Bill Wrubel, Jeffrey Richman
7.6/102,493 votes#12 - Egg Drop
Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 1/11/2012
Jay and Claire take control of their kids' school projects from Manny and Luke, while Haley and Gloria help Phil with a real estate presentation. Elsewhere, Cam and Mitchell meet with a potential birth mother.
Director: Jason Winer
Writer: Brad Walsh, Paul Corrigan
8.4/102,885 votes#13 - Little Bo Bleep
Season 3 Episode 13 - Aired 1/18/2012
Claire prepares for her debate with Duane Bailey. Mitch and Cam try to clean up Lily's language before her turn as a flower girl. Jay blames Stella's strange behavior on Gloria.
Director: Chris Koch
Writer: Cindy Chupack
7.8/102,537 votes#14 - Me? Jealous?
Season 3 Episode 14 - Aired 2/8/2012
Phil's preoccupation with a business opportunity blinds him to his new partner's inappropriate behavior around Claire. Meanwhile, Jay and Gloria may regret letting Mitchell and Cameron be their temporary house guests when their home is being fumigated.
Director: Michael Spiller
Writer: Ben Karlin
8.0/102,541 votes#15 - Aunt Mommy
Season 3 Episode 15 - Aired 2/15/2012
Phil and Claire go overboard with drinks, and divulging personal information, on a night out to celebrate the sale of a house to Mitchell and Cameron's friends.
Director: Michael Spiller
Writer: Dan O'Shannon, Abraham Higginbotham
7.7/102,544 votes#16 - Virgin Territory
Season 3 Episode 16 - Aired 2/22/2012
It's a day of disturbing realizations when Mitchell manages to ruin one of Jay's proudest golf moments, Phil overhears something that may forever change how he sees his little girl, and Gloria stumbles upon Claire's dangerous little secret.
Director: Jason Winer
Writer: Elaine Ko
7.9/102,608 votes#17 - Leap Day
Season 3 Episode 17 - Aired 2/29/2012
Mitchell feels pressured to make Cameron's birthday extra special. People start to question Jay's manliness, and the girls interfere with Phil's leap day plans.
Director: Gail Mancuso
Writer: Danny Zuker
7.4/102,492 votes#18 - Send Out the Clowns
Season 3 Episode 18 - Aired 3/14/2012
The funeral service for a beloved clown mentor reunites Cameron with his estranged ex-clown partner, Lewis. Phil is serious about landing a very important listing, only to get trumped by a notorious bulldozer of an agent, Mitzi Roth. Manny has a cool new friend, which makes both Jay and Gloria suspicious.
Director: Steven Levitan
Writer: Steven Levitan, Bill Wrubel, Jeffrey Richman
7.7/102,498 votes#19 - Election Day
Season 3 Episode 19 - Aired 4/11/2012
Claire's race for town council comes to a head on Election Day as the Dunphys make phone calls for votes and Mitchell and Cameron take to the streets to campaign, while the candidate endures technical problems during some last-minute interviews.
Director: Bryan Cranston
Writer: Ben Karlin
7.5/102,411 votes#20 - The Last Walt
Season 3 Episode 20 - Aired 4/18/2012
A visit from Cameron's father features an awkward dinner for Jay and Gloria at Mitchell and Cameron's house. Meanwhile, Claire helps Luke face the death of an older neighbor, Phil and Alex have a father-daughter bonding experience, and Haley throws a party without permission.
Director: Michael Spiller
Writer: Dan O'Shannon
7.6/102,421 votes#21 - Planes, Trains and Cars
Season 3 Episode 21 - Aired 5/2/2012
Phil buys a car without consulting Claire. Jay is on a mission to get to his high-school reunion with Gloria and Manny. Lily loses her favorite toy on a train.
Director: Michael Spiller
Writer: Brad Walsh, Paul Corrigan
8.1/102,611 votes#22 - Disneyland
Season 3 Episode 22 - Aired 5/9/2012
When the family travels to Disneyland, Phil struggles to keep up with Luke, Claire is shocked when they run into Dylan, Jay and Gloria disagree about what are sensible shoes for the day, and Mitch and Cam must contain Lily's new affinity for running.
Director: James R. Bagdonas
Writer: Cindy Chupack
7.9/102,431 votes#23 - Tableau Vivant
Season 3 Episode 23 - Aired 5/16/2012
Gloria and Jay bicker while trying to order lunch at a diner. Claire and Cam have different theories on how to discipline kids. Luke accepts an award under false pretenses. Phil has a hard time firing Mitchell from his temporary job at the real estate agency. The entire family participates in Alex's living art display of Norman Rockwell's Thanksgiving painting.
Director: Gail Mancuso
Writer: Jeffrey Richman, Bill Wrubel, Elaine Ko
8.5/102,842 votes#24 - Baby on Board
Season 3 Episode 24 - Aired 5/23/2012
Gloria's bilingualism comes in handy on Mitchell and Cameron's quest to adopt another child. Meanwhile, Jay and Manny help Lily get ready for a dance recital. Alex goes to her first prom, and Haley announces her future plans, which come as a shock to her family.
Director: Steven Levitan
Writer: Abraham Higginbotham
The Best Episodes of Modern Family Season 3
Every episode of Modern Family Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Modern Family Season 3!
The Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker clan is a wonderfully large and blended family. They give us an honest and often hilarious look into the sometimes warm, sometimes twisted,...
Genre:Comedy
Network:ABC
Season 3 Ratings Summary
"Dude Ranch" is the best rated episode of "Modern Family" season 3. It scored 7.9/10 based on 2930 votes. Directed by Jason Winer and written by Dan O'Shannon, Brad Walsh, Paul Corrigan, it aired on 9/21/2011. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "When Good Kids Go Bad".