The BEST episodes of Modern Family season 3

Every episode of Modern Family season 3, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Modern Family season 3!

This mockumentary explores the many different types of a modern family through the stories of a gay couple, comprised of Mitchell and Cameron, and their daughter Lily, a straight couple, comprised of Phil and Claire, and their three kids, Haley, Alex, and Luke, and a multi-ethnic couple, which is comprised of Jay and Gloria, and her son Manny.

Last Updated: 9/14/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
Baby on Board
star
7.99
4551 votes

#1 - 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.

Directors: Steven Levitan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Treehouse
star
7.94
5788 votes

#2 - 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. Cameron makes a bet that he can get a woman’s phone number at the bar. Phil builds a tree house for Luke.

Directors: Jason Winer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
When Good Kids Go Bad
star
7.84
5800 votes

#3 - When Good Kids Go Bad

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/21/2011

Lily has problems with Mitchell and Cameron’s plans to adopt another child, Jay tries to get Manny to confess to stealing a locket at school, and Claire goes to extreme lengths to prove that she was right in an argument.

Directors: Michael Spiller
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Punkin Chunkin
star
7.82
5638 votes

#4 - Punkin Chunkin

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/23/2011

An old neighborhood kid returning to town as a internet billionaire gets Phil thinking of what could have been. Jay feels Manny could use some constructive criticism, Cameron is offended when Mitchell questions the authenticity of his colorful childhood stories.

Directors: Michael Spiller
Writer: Ben Karlin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Disneyland
star
7.80
5010 votes

#5 - 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.

Directors: James Bagdonas
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Little Bo Bleep
star
7.80
5481 votes

#6 - 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.

Directors: Chris Koch
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Aunt Mommy
star
7.77
5217 votes

#7 - 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.

Directors: Michael Spiller
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Express Christmas
star
7.77
5568 votes

#8 - Express Christmas

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/7/2011

The family puts together a quick Christmas celebration when they realize they won’t be together on the actual day.

Directors: Michael Spiller
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Tableau Vivant
star
7.76
4623 votes

#9 - 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.

Directors: Gail Mancuso
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Phil on Wire
star
7.75
5727 votes

#10 - 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.

Directors: Jason Winer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
After the Fire
star
7.75
5680 votes

#11 - 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 when Jay throws out his back, Cameron takes on a moving truck, and some donated toys fall into the wrong hands.

Directors: Fred Savage
Writer: Danny Zuker
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Me? Jealous?
star
7.74
5365 votes

#12 - 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. Jay and Gloria may regret letting Mitchell and Cameron be their temporary house guests when their home is being fumigated.

Directors: Michael Spiller
Writer: Ben Karlin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Door to Door
star
7.74
5736 votes

#13 - 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.

Directors: Chris Koch
Writer: Bill Wrubel
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Go Bullfrogs!
star
7.74
5578 votes

#14 - 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.

Directors: Scott Ellis
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Hit and Run
star
7.74
5522 votes

#15 - 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.

Directors: Jason Winer
Writer: Elaine Ko
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Lifetime Supply
star
7.73
5558 votes

#16 - Lifetime Supply

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/4/2012

Phil contemplates the worst after missing a call from the doctor. 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. Gloria tutors Haley in Spanish.

Directors: Chris Koch
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Last Walt
star
7.70
4748 votes

#17 - 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. Claire helps Luke face the death of an older neighbor, Phil and Alex have a father-daughter bonding experience. Haley throws a party without permission.

Directors: Michael Spiller
Watch Now:Apple TV
Virgin Territory
star
7.69
5227 votes

#18 - 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.

Directors: Jason Winer
Writer: Elaine Ko
Watch Now:Apple TV
Planes, Trains and Cars
star
7.68
5250 votes

#19 - 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.

Directors: Michael Spiller
Watch Now:Apple TV
Dude Ranch
star
7.67
5978 votes

#20 - 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.

Directors: Jason Winer
Watch Now:Apple TV
Egg Drop
star
7.67
5038 votes

#21 - 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. Cam and Mitchell meet with a potential birth mother.

Directors: Jason Winer
Watch Now:Apple TV
Send Out the Clowns
star
7.66
4910 votes

#22 - Send Out the Clowns

Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/14/2012

Cameron is reunited with his estranged ex-clown partner, Lewis. Phil is serious about landing a very important listing, only to be trumped by a notorious bulldozer of an agent, Mitzi Roth. Manny has a cool new friend, which makes both Jay and Gloria suspicious.

Directors: Steven Levitan
Watch Now:Apple TV
Leap Day
star
7.65
5095 votes

#23 - 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.

Directors: Gail Mancuso
Writer: Danny Zuker
Watch Now:Apple TV
Election Day
star
7.63
4987 votes

#24 - 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.

Directors: Bryan Cranston
Writer: Ben Karlin
Watch Now:Apple TV