The BEST episodes of My Wife and Kids season 3

Every episode of My Wife and Kids season 3, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of My Wife and Kids season 3!

Michael Kyle longs for a traditional life, but his day-trader wife Janet, gangsta rap-worshipping son Michael Jr., and brooding daughters Claire and Kady make his dream just that ... a dream.

Last Updated: 4/29/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
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Jr.'s Risky Business (2)
star
8.42
120 votes

#1 - Jr.'s Risky Business (2)

Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/12/2003

After walking in on Jr. and his girlfriend having sex on his bed, Michael decides that he and Junior can no longer live under the same roof and throws his son out. Feeling sympathetic for her baby, Jay opposes to Michael's attitude, but at the same time agrees the boy needs a severe punishment. She had Jr. stay on a tent in the backyard until she can cool things down with Michael, who only realizes he might be estranging his son for good after Vanessa has a woman-to-woman talk with Jay. Michael lets Jr. move back, remembering that he once was in the same position as Jr.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Jr.'s Risky Business (1)
star
8.38
129 votes

#2 - Jr.'s Risky Business (1)

Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/5/2003

As a very impressed Michael sees it, his son's girlfriend, Vanessa is an absolute prize: ""She's beautiful, smart, personable and polite... you guys have nothing in common,"" he tells Jr. But there's something about her that rubs Jay the wrong way. Elsewhere in the courtship department, Kady's similarly smart and personable gentleman caller is a budding piano prodigy named Franklin. As for Claire, all she's courting is a severe case of nerves: the PSATs are coming up and her face has broken out in hives.

Directors: Damien Wayans
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Graduation (2)
star
8.36
121 votes

#3 - Graduation (2)

Season 3 - Episode 27 - Aired 5/21/2003

Junior finally graduates, and his parents give him a trip to Japan as a gift – and as a way to separate Junior and Vanessa, who are planning on moving in together and getting married as soon as they start college. Both Kady and Clare admit their sadness on Junior leaving, and Michael and Jay feel proud of having raised a semi-successful child. They go out to relive some of their memories and when they come back late at night they find Junior and Vanessa sitting in the kitchen. He's decided not to go to Japan anymore. Vanessa is pregnant.

Directors: Eric Laneuville
Writer: Don Reo
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Claire's Permit
star
8.20
113 votes

#4 - Claire's Permit

Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/26/2003

Claire has taken her driving permit, but Michael won't lend her the car because he doesn't think she can drive very well. Nevertheless, Claire steals the car keys thinking if she goes out really quick while her parents are gone they will never notice. Unfortunately, she drives by them on her way to meet her friends, and Michael decides to teach her a lesson on the Michael Kyle style: stealing the car and making Clare feel guilty about it. She goes to Junior for help, and they call the police reporting the stolen car. Michael ends up in jail due to the mixup, but he and Clare end up getting along after everything is cleared up.

Directors: Andy Cadiff
Writer: Bill Vallely
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Big Bang Theory
star
8.17
114 votes

#5 - The Big Bang Theory

Season 3 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/7/2003

Michael and Jay panic when Claire reveals that she and Tony have decided to have sex. Her parents try by all means to change their minds and stop them, unsuccessfully. When the day and time comes, their find out Claire has sneaked out of the house and panic. Claire and Tony show up a few minutes later, and just when Michael is ready to kill him, Tony reveals that they didn't do anything. Just when they were about to do it, he opened the drawer on the hotel room's nightstand and found a bible, which he took as a sign from God. But he doesn't have to know that every hotel has a bible.

Directors: Andy Cadiff
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Not So Hostile Takeover
star
7.98
122 votes

#6 - Not So Hostile Takeover

Season 3 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/14/2003

Claire comes home with the exciting news that she was invited to senior prom. Jay is excited about it and volunteers to chaperone at the dance, in order to keep Claire safe from her date, a senior quarterback. But Jay's exaggerated excitement makes Claire feel uncomfortable, especially when her parents are crowned queen and king of the prom. Michael tells Claire that she shouldn't be upset about it because Jay never attended her own prom as she was giving birth to Junior that night, and so Claire lets her mom enjoy her moment. Meanwhile, Junior falls into another one of Michael's plans once he tries to teach the kid a lesson about money management and ends up turning his car the exact opposite of Junior's plans.

Directors: Guy Distad
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Blackout
star
7.96
123 votes

#7 - Blackout

Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/22/2003

Michael wants some time alone in the house and makes a deal with Jay for her and the kids to get out of the house. But of course it doesn't come as easy as he hoped. He has to pay for Claire to agree on going to the mall and is forced to watch The Little Mermaid with Kady for the hundredth time. He switches the movie to Gremlins, which scares the death out of the poor girl, and when the power goes off Claire freaks out about losing her entire work on the computer. In the end, the power failure ends up bringing the Kyles closer together.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Here Come Da Judge
star
7.94
124 votes

#8 - Here Come Da Judge

Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/5/2003

When Jr and Claire find a lost wallet containing $500, it's time for a session of ""family court"" to decide who gets the money. Meanwhile, Claire's boyfriend Tony induces her to become a vegetarian.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Kyles Go to Hawaii (3)
star
7.92
141 votes

#9 - The Kyles Go to Hawaii (3)

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/2/2002

A mad scramble ensues when Michael finds out that the family's flight home from Hawaii leaves much earlier than he thought, but matters are complicated when a love-smitten Jr. insists on staying with his new love, Leilani. Meanwhile Kady refuses to leave without her beloved doll, Little Pippy, and Claire has to go to extremes to keep her parents from finding out about her exorbitant hotel charges

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Kyles Go to Hawaii (2)
star
7.91
145 votes

#10 - The Kyles Go to Hawaii (2)

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/25/2002

Michael and Janet decide to go out on a romantic dinner, leaving their kids all alone. Claire and Jr. fight over who'll have to stay in the room babysitting for Kady, but Claire lets her brother get out of the duty, after all it's not often he gets a date. Jr. has a memorable night on the beach with Leilani, a native girl. Kady and Claire decide to spend their times on the hotel's spa, while at the dinner table Jay and Michael both struggle to say no to the temptations they met – an female underwear model and a male chest/abs model. When they go back to the hotel, they find their three kids resting in peace. Kady and Claire are glowing like never before, and Jr. has the biggest smile on his face. With all three sleeping deeply, Michael and Jay decide to extend their night at the beach, celebrating their second honeymoon.

Directors: Andy Cadiff
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Crouching Mother, Hidden Father
star
7.87
142 votes

#11 - Crouching Mother, Hidden Father

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/30/2002

Jay volunteered to be the director for Kady's kindergarten class play, but due to illness she is forced to step away from the production, leaving it all on the hands of Michael – for the children's salvation, because Jay was way too competitive, even arguing with their teacher over the quality of their last show. Michael allows the children to make any changes they want on Shakespeare's ""Romeo and Juliet"", and the result is a very successful – and very weird – play.

Directors: Andy Cadiff
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Sharon's Picture
star
7.86
120 votes

#12 - Sharon's Picture

Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/9/2003

Jay gets mad at Michael after finding a photo of an attractive former girlfriend among his things. Franklin has trouble admitting that his little sister Aretha is an outstanding singer.

Directors: Ron Moseley
Writer: Kim Wayans
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Kyles Go to Hawaii (1)
star
7.79
164 votes

#13 - The Kyles Go to Hawaii (1)

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/2002

The Kyles are leaving for their family vacation on Hawaii, but instead of taking only one flight straight to the island, Michael thought it would be a good idea to make a quick tour around the country, so they make stops at New York, Chicago, Denver and other cities before they get to Hawaii (two days later). When they finally get there, Michael's luggage gets lost and they're forced to take a master suite because their reservation expired. While Michael wants to make it a romantic and resting trip, Jay wants to get to know place, and drags the entire family on a historical tour – except for Michael, who chose to sleep in. The kids are sick of the tour and go back to the hotel. Jr. tries to meet women and buys a book on how to talk to women subliminally, while Michael keeps scaring away any guy who lays his eyes on Claire.

Directors: Andy Cadiff
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Man of the Year
star
7.79
114 votes

#14 - Man of the Year

Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/29/2003

Jay nominates Michael for the ""Small Businessman of the Year"" award and he assumes he's going to win it (especially after a golfing buddy on the organization's board tells him: ""If my vote were the only one that counted, you'd be a shoo-in""). Meanwhile, Claire helps herself to items from Jay's makeup bag once too often.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Tee for Too Many
star
7.72
120 votes

#15 - Tee for Too Many

Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 4/30/2003

Jay decides to spend more quality time with Michael - by watching him play golf. Meanwhile, Jr., who only wants to go to college because Vanessa's going, asks Franklin for help with the application essay.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Jr.'s Dating Dilemma
star
7.63
145 votes

#16 - Jr.'s Dating Dilemma

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/20/2002

Michael decides to help Junior on his women approach techniques, seeing that his son has absolutely no clue on how to behave around women. His advice consists on primarily having women say ""really?"", which is the key for a successful approach. When Jr. tests Michaels advice on one of Claire friends, he's surprised that it works, and even gets the girl to agree on going on a school dance with him. But Jr. was just testing her so he could ask the hottest girl on school out, which he does (and she accepts, on a move to make her ex-boyfriend jealous). Claire's friend is crushed, and Michael now has to teach him how to apologize properly to a woman. Meanwhile, Jay freaks out about her dream of Michael and Janet Jackson having an affair.

Directors: Andy Cadiff
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Fighting Kyles
star
7.56
163 votes

#17 - The Fighting Kyles

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/6/2002

Sick and tired of listening to their kids fights, Michael and Janet act like they are fighting themselves so Jr. and Claire can see how annoying it is and quit it. But the three Kyle children get the wrong idea and think their parents are splitting up, and try their best to bond them and end the fake fights.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Chair Man of the Board
star
7.54
171 votes

#18 - Chair Man of the Board

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/4/2002

Michael's old friend Tommy is coming over and Michael is very excited because he and Tommy used to compete for everything. But his excitement soon turns into awkwardness when Tommy shows in on a wheelchair and Michael doesn't know how to act with the situation. Tommy decides to take advantage of that until they have a talk in which Tommy asks Michael to treat him like he used to, because despite the wheelchair he's the same guy that used to race Michael for anything. Meanwhile, Claire is caught shoplifting and gets grounded for it. When she confronts Kady about who put the nail polishers on her purse she feels so guilty she confesses to their parents that Claire didn't do it. The punishment? She will no longer be treated like a baby.

Directors: Andy Cadiff
Writer: Janis Hirsch
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Graduation (1)
star
7.53
124 votes

#19 - Graduation (1)

Season 3 - Episode 26 - Aired 5/21/2003

Jr.'s graduation is coming up, and he breaks the news to his family that he wants to go to college. At first shocked, Michael decides to help him make a good interview, but his anxiety and lack of good sense makes him look like a complete moron. He even tries to bride the interviewer, when he's finally asked to leave Jr. alone. The kid does reasonably good. A few days later a letter arrives at the Kyles, saying that Jr. got accepted but has to take summer school classes. Meanwhile, Clare wears a blond wig to call her parents attention, thinking she has been forgotten now that Jr. is on the spot. And Franklin applies to the soon available son spot on the Kyle family.

Directors: Eric Laneuville
Writer: Don Reo
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Michael's Tribe
star
7.49
133 votes

#20 - Michael's Tribe

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/18/2002

Michael (aka: Chief Bald Eagle) is recruited to camp out with Kady and her friends and teach them Native American lore. Meanwhile, Clare and ""the new Tony"" plan to stay out all night themselves: they're plotting to sneak out to a ""rave.""

Directors: Damien Wayans
Writer: Jim Vallely
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Samba Story
star
7.46
175 votes

#21 - Samba Story

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/9/2002

Tired of the same dinner-and-a-movie routine, Jay convinces Michael to take dancing lessons to spice up their relationship. At first reluctant, Jay's argument that wins Michael over is that he better go to those lessons or else she'll shut down ""pantyville"". When they get there, only more problems waits for Michael. The samba instructor is all over Jay, which makes him so jealous he has the guy deported. The new instructor, however, is a very attractive woman who is all over Michael, making Jay jealous now. They decide to quit the samba lessons after all and spice up their marriage in their own way. Meanwhile, Claire's accepted in the cheerleading squad, but won't believe she only got in for her looks and not for her talent – which is none.

Directors: Andy Cadiff
Writer: Kim Wayans
Watch Now:Apple TV
Diary of a Mad Teen
star
7.44
178 votes

#22 - Diary of a Mad Teen

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/16/2002

While making Claire's bed, Jay finds her diary hidden under the mattress. She can't resist the temptation of reading it and is quite shocked to learn that her daughter is thinking about taking the next step with Tony. She has a heart-to-heart talk with Claire, about the consequences of pursuing hr hormonal desires. Meanwhile, Michael is scheduled for an appointment with the eye doctor even though he insists there's nothing wrong with his sight (doesn't matter than he can't even read the paper without squishing his eyes). He decides to have Jr. drive him there so he can test his driving abilities for an upcoming date with a girl. When he comes out of the doctor's office, Jr. is gone, and Michael tells him that he disappointed him big time, and if he can't trust Jr. to be there for his family, then he might want to consider moving out. And all Kady wants to do is play hide-and-seek.

Directors: Andy Cadiff
Writer: Craig Wayans
Watch Now:Apple TV
Open Your Heart
star
7.42
122 votes

#23 - Open Your Heart

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/11/2002

Jay decides to attend a ""Open Your Heart"" seminar for struggling couples, even though she and Michael are happier than ever. Her excuse is ""prevention"", but Michael warns her not to try fixing something that isn't broken. At the seminar, they are teased against each other and stop talking to one another. It takes Kady suffering an accident at school for them to realize how important communication between them really is. Meanwhile, Michael wants his children to learn the value of money and tells Jr. to start his own business selling monkeyfish like he. Jr., instead of the monkeyfish, decides to get 100% refunds on the clothes Claire buys with a 40% discount at the store she's working. When Jr. gets caught, Claire gets fired and Michael punishes him by making he wear the clothes he wanted refund.

Directors: Damien Wayans
Writer: Kim Wayans
Watch Now:Apple TV
Jay the Artist
star
7.35
173 votes

#24 - Jay the Artist

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/27/2002

Feeling that she has no space and time of her own due to home duties, Jay decides to paint. The result is a portrait of Michael based on Michelangelo's David, which makes Michael feel a little bit ""diminished"". They start an argument over it, which ends on Michael finally agreeing on letting Jay show her work at a friend's art gallery – with a ""big"" change, that is. Meanwhile, Michael renews acquaintances with old buddy Steve, while the kids are encouraged to develop their artistic abilities aswell. Claire designs clothes, Kady plays the piano and Junior writes some bizarre poetry

Directors: Andy Cadiff
Writer: Dean Lorey
Watch Now:Apple TV
Sister Story
star
7.34
146 votes

#25 - Sister Story

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/13/2002

Michael's sister Kelly is coming over for the weekend, which freaks Jay out because every time Kelly comes over she overstays her welcome and always gets on Jay's nerves. This time is no different, with Kelly constantly throwing on Jay's face that she is fatter than her, a worse cook than her and even tries to make her look like a bad singer, even though Jay can sing wonderfully. Things heat up when Kelly brings up Sharon, Michael's old girlfriend and Kelly's best friend. The two women get into an argument and it's up to Michael to break them up. He pulls it, and Kelly and Jay finally get along. But for how long?

Directors: Andy Cadiff
Writer: Kim Wayans
Watch Now:Apple TV