The Best Episodes of Modern Family Season 3

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   7.9/10(3248 votes)

   #1 - Dude Ranch

   S3:E19/21/2011

   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

   Writers:Paul Corrigan, Dan O'Shannon, Brad Walsh

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   Director:Jason Winer

   Writers:Paul Corrigan, Dan O'Shannon, Brad Walsh
2. 

   8.1/10(3054 votes)

   #2 - When Good Kids Go Bad

   S3:E29/21/2011

   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

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   Director:Michael Spiller

   Writer:Jeffrey Richman
3. 

   8.0/10(3026 votes)

   #3 - Phil on Wire

   S3:E39/28/2011

   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

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   Director:Jason Winer

   Writer:Danny Zuker
4. 

   7.7/10(2933 votes)

   #4 - Door to Door

   S3:E410/5/2011

   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.

   Directors:Chris Koch, Jason Winer

   Writer:Bill Wrubel

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   Directors:Chris Koch, Jason Winer

   Writer:Bill Wrubel
5. 

   7.7/10(2856 votes)

   #5 - Hit and Run

   S3:E510/12/2011

   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

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   Director:Jason Winer

   Writer:Elaine Ko
6. 

   7.7/10(2857 votes)

   #6 - Go Bullfrogs!

   S3:E610/19/2011

   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

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   Director:Scott Ellis

   Writer:Abraham Higginbotham
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7. 

   8.1/10(3071 votes)

   #7 - Treehouse

   S3:E711/2/2011

   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

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   Director:Jason Winer

   Writer:Steven Levitan
8. 

   7.8/10(2819 votes)

   #8 - After the Fire

   S3:E811/16/2011

   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

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   Director:Fred Savage

   Writer:Danny Zuker
9. 

   7.8/10(2890 votes)

   #9 - Punkin Chunkin

   S3:E911/23/2011

   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

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   Director:Michael Spiller

   Writer:Ben Karlin
10. 

    8.0/10(3007 votes)

    #10 - Express Christmas

    S3:E1012/7/2011

    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

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    Director:Michael Spiller

    Writer:Cindy Chupack
11. 

    7.7/10(2824 votes)

    #11 - Lifetime Supply

    S3:E111/4/2012

    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

    Writers:Bill Wrubel, Jeffrey Richman

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    Director:Chris Koch

    Writers:Bill Wrubel, Jeffrey Richman
12. 

    7.6/10(2762 votes)

    #12 - Egg Drop

    S3:E121/11/2012

    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

    Writers:Paul Corrigan, Brad Walsh

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    Director:Jason Winer

    Writers:Paul Corrigan, Brad Walsh
13. 

    8.4/10(3201 votes)

    #13 - Little Bo Bleep

    S3:E131/18/2012

    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

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    Director:Chris Koch

    Writer:Cindy Chupack
14. 

    7.8/10(2812 votes)

    #14 - Me? Jealous?

    S3:E142/8/2012

    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

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    Director:Michael Spiller

    Writer:Ben Karlin
15. 

    8.0/10(2816 votes)

    #15 - Aunt Mommy

    S3:E152/15/2012

    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

    Writers:Abraham Higginbotham, Dan O'Shannon

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    Director:Michael Spiller

    Writers:Abraham Higginbotham, Dan O'Shannon
16. 

    7.7/10(2825 votes)

    #16 - Virgin Territory

    S3:E162/22/2012

    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

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    Director:Jason Winer

    Writer:Elaine Ko
17. 

    7.9/10(2903 votes)

    #17 - Leap Day

    S3:E172/29/2012

    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

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    Director:Gail Mancuso

    Writer:Danny Zuker
18. 

    7.4/10(2762 votes)

    #18 - Send Out the Clowns

    S3:E183/14/2012

    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

    Writers:Bill Wrubel, Steven Levitan, Jeffrey Richman

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    Director:Steven Levitan

    Writers:Bill Wrubel, Steven Levitan, Jeffrey Richman
19. 

    7.7/10(2774 votes)

    #19 - Election Day

    S3:E194/11/2012

    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

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    Director:Bryan Cranston

    Writer:Ben Karlin
20. 

    7.5/10(2674 votes)

    #20 - The Last Walt

    S3:E204/18/2012

    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

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    Director:Michael Spiller

    Writer:Dan O'Shannon
21. 

    7.6/10(2685 votes)

    #21 - Planes, Trains and Cars

    S3:E215/2/2012

    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

    Writers:Paul Corrigan, Brad Walsh

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    Director:Michael Spiller

    Writers:Paul Corrigan, Brad Walsh
22. 

    8.1/10(2899 votes)

    #22 - Disneyland

    S3:E225/9/2012

    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

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    Director:James R. Bagdonas

    Writer:Cindy Chupack
23. 

    7.9/10(2690 votes)

    #23 - Tableau Vivant

    S3:E235/16/2012

    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

    Writers:Bill Wrubel, Jeffrey Richman, Elaine Ko

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    Director:Gail Mancuso

    Writers:Bill Wrubel, Jeffrey Richman, Elaine Ko
24. 

    8.6/10(3152 votes)

    #24 - Baby on Board

    S3:E245/23/2012

    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

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    Director:Steven Levitan

    Writer:Abraham Higginbotham