Modern Family: Season 3

2011 · 24 episodes · ★ 7.6

What Season 3 of Modern Family

Season three brings the sprawling Pritchett-Dunphy clan together once again, as they embark on a chain of family vacations full of setbacks. The three families travel to a ranch in Wyoming and then to Disneyland, while difficult in-laws and unexpected secrets come to light. Mitchell and Cameron consider adopting another baby. Gloria gets angry with Jay over his relationship with the dog Stella, and Phil decides to walk a tightrope after watching a movie. Claire, meanwhile, fights over a traffic sign in her neighborhood. Despite the friction, the family stays close, even if they never stop driving each other crazy.

24episodes

Sep 21, 2011premiered

May 23, 2012latest episode

9.1 hrtotal runtime

Season 3 Episodes

3x01 Dude Ranch
Sep 21, 2011 · 23 min · ★ 7.6
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.
Directing: Jason Winer · Writing: Brad Walsh, Dan O'Shannon, Paul Corrigan · Starring: Reid Ewing, Matthew Gumley, Tim Blake Nelson
3x02 When Good Kids Go Bad
Sep 21, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 7.8
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.
Directing: Michael Spiller · Writing: Jeffrey Richman · Starring: Annie Tedesco, Laurel Coppock, Fred Willard, Amanda Musso
3x03 Phil on Wire
Sep 28, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 7.9
Jay's relationship with the dog irritates Gloria. Phil and Luke try to master the tightrope. Cameron starts a juice fast.
Directing: Jason Winer · Writing: Danny Zuker · Starring: Jenica Bergere, Justin Kirk, Lusia Strus
3x04 Door to Door
Oct 5, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 7.6
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 · Cast: David Cross, Jordan Feldman, Bob Levitan, Michelle Anne Johnson
3x05 Hit and Run
Oct 12, 2011 · 23 min · ★ 7.6
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.
Directing: Jason Winer · Writing: Elaine Ko · Starring: David Neher, Samm Levine, David Cross, Michael Yurchak
3x06 Go Bullfrogs!
Oct 19, 2011 · 23 min · ★ 7.4
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.
Directing: Scott Ellis · Writing: Abraham Higginbotham · Starring: Jordan A. Nichols, Gilles Marini, Andrea Savage, Artemis Pebdani
3x07 Treehouse
Nov 2, 2011 · 23 min · ★ 7.6
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.
Directing: Jason Winer · Writing: Steven Levitan · Starring: Leslie Mann, Craig Zimmerman, Kevin Hart, Jennifer Tilly
3x08 After the Fire
Nov 16, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 7.5
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.
Directing: Fred Savage · Writing: Danny Zuker · Starring: Michael Eric Reid, Kiva Jump, Tyler Alexander Mann, Josh Latzer
3x09 Punkin Chunkin
Nov 23, 2011 · 23 min · ★ 7.6
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.
Directed by: Michael Spiller · Written by: Ben Karlin · Starring: Josh Gad, Aaron Krebs
3x10 Express Christmas Mid-Season Finale
Dec 7, 2011 · 22 min · ★ 7.3
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.
Directed by: Michael Spiller · Written by: Cindy Chupack · Starring: Ron Roggé, Eric Petersen
3x11 Lifetime Supply
Jan 4, 2012 · 23 min · ★ 7.3
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.
Directed by: Chris Koch · Written by: Bill Wrubel, Jeffrey Richman · Starring: Philip Baker Hall, Don Lake, Steve Tom, Benjamin Bratt
3x12 Egg Drop
Jan 11, 2012 · 23 min · ★ 7.5
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.
Directing: Jason Winer · Writing: Brad Walsh, Paul Corrigan · Starring: Zoë Jarman, Jonathan Kehoe
3x13 Little Bo Bleep
Jan 18, 2012 · 22 min · ★ 8.0
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.
Directed by: Chris Koch · Written by: Cindy Chupack · Starring: David Cross, Johnny Ray Meeks, Carol Abney
3x14 Me? Jealous?
Feb 8, 2012 · 22 min · ★ 7.9
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.
Directing: Michael Spiller · Writing: Ben Karlin · Starring: Greg Kinnear, Alexis Fowlkes, Phil Hendrie, Barbara Dodd
3x15 Aunt Mommy
Feb 15, 2012 · 23 min · ★ 7.8
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.
Directed by: Michael Spiller · Written by: Abraham Higginbotham, Dan O'Shannon · Starring: Joseph Bonilla, Rodrigo Rojas, Colin Hanlon
3x16 Virgin Territory
Feb 22, 2012 · 23 min · ★ 7.6
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.
Directing: Jason Winer · Writing: Elaine Ko · Starring: Will Greenberg, Jack Laufer, Ernie Hudson, Marc Vann
3x17 Leap Day
Feb 29, 2012 · 23 min · ★ 7.5
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.
Directed by: Gail Mancuso · Written by: Danny Zuker · Starring: Kali Rocha, John DiMaggio, Alex Schemmer, Robert Chester Smith
3x18 Send Out the Clowns
Mar 14, 2012 · 23 min · ★ 7.3
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.
Directed by: Steven Levitan · Written by: Bill Wrubel, Steven Levitan, Jeffrey Richman · Starring: Chris Dollard, Guilford Adams, Joe Childs, Bobby Cannavale
3x19 Election Day
Apr 11, 2012 · 23 min · ★ 7.6
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.
Directed by: Bryan Cranston · Written by: Ben Karlin · Starring: Philip Baker Hall, Stephanie Faracy, Melinda Page Hamilton, Frank Wood
3x20 The Last Walt
Apr 18, 2012 · 23 min · ★ 7.4
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 · Cast: Stacey Travis, Mandy McMillian, Barry Corbin, Malcolm Foster Smith
3x21 Planes, Trains and Cars
May 2, 2012 · 22 min · ★ 7.5
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.
Directing: Michael Spiller · Writing: Brad Walsh, Paul Corrigan · Starring: Kevin Hart, Eric Edelstein, Joseph Bonilla, Joe Rowley
3x22 Disneyland
May 9, 2012 · 23 min · ★ 7.7
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.
Directing: James Bagdonas · Writing: Cindy Chupack · Starring: Reid Ewing, Sarah Baker, Matt Prokop, Frank Romeo
3x23 Tableau Vivant
May 16, 2012 · 23 min · ★ 7.6
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 · Cast: Beth Grant, Matt Roth, John Viener, Mike Madrigal
3x24 Baby on Board Season Finale
May 23, 2012 · 23 min · ★ 8.0
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 · Cast: Reid Ewing, Terri Hoyos, Elena Tovar, Albert Marrero Jr.