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Modern Family Season 3 Episodes
Season 3 Episode Guide
24 Episodes 2011 - 2012
The mockumentary-style sitcom went 3-for-3 with Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series in its third season, which begins with a Pritchett clan vacation at a dude ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyo., where Jay (Ed O'Neill) has a showdown with a cowboy (Tim Blake Nelson) for flirting with Gloria (Sofía Vergara), while Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cameron (Eric Stonestreet, a two-time Emmy winner for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series) plan to break the news of adopting another child, though this revelation may not sit well with their daughter, Lily (new cast member Aubrey Anderson-Emmons). Other Season 3 stories include an encounter with an annoying city councilman (David Cross) that has Claire (Julie Bowen) thinking about getting into politics; Cameron's birthday celebration on Leap Day; a surprise announcement by high-school senior Haley (Sarah Hyland) about her future; and the day Christmas came early for the Pritchett clan.
Episode 1
Dude Ranch
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 30 mins
The Pritchett clan holiday at a guest ranch in Wyoming, where Jay has a showdown with a cowboy.
Episode 2
When Good Kids Go Bad
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 30 mins
Mitchell and Cameron plan to break the news of adopting another child, though this revelation may not sit well with Lily.
Episode 3
Phil on Wire
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 30 mins
Jay's bond with his dog, Stella, annoys Gloria; Phil and Luke take a walk on a tightrope; Claire's good intentions backfire when she tries to teach the girls a lesson; Cameron picks a bad time for a juice fast.
Episode 4
Door to Door
Wed, Oct 5, 2011 30 mins
Jay helps Manny sell wrapping paper for a school fundraiser; Claire campaigns for a stop sign at a busy intersection; Phil and Luke throw themselves into making a viral-video sensation; Gloria loses Stella the dog.
Episode 5
Hit and Run
Wed, Oct 12, 2011 30 mins
Phil and Claire's encounter with an annoying city councilman on the campaign trail gets Claire thinking about throwing her hat into the ring. Meanwhile, Gloria's offers for help fall on deaf ears with Jay, who's frustrated at work, and Manny, who's worried about school; and Mitchell and Cameron have a hit-and-run fender bender that leads to a confrontation with a kid who's bothering Haley.
Episode 6
Go Bullfrogs!
Wed, Oct 19, 2011 30 mins
When Phil takes Haley to his alma mater on a trip to visit universities, Claire persuades Mitchell and Cameron to include her in their boys' night out. Meanwhile, Gloria and Jay are alarmed at how fast Manny appears to be growing up.
Episode 7
Treehouse
Wed, Nov 2, 2011 30 mins
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.
Episode 8
After the Fire
Wed, Nov 16, 2011 30 mins
The Pritchetts rally for a good cause after a neighbour's house burns down, but there is a downside to their Samaritan intentions when Jay hurts his back; Cameron takes on a moving truck; and some donated toys fall into the wrong hands.
Episode 9
Punkin Chunkin
Wed, Nov 23, 2011 30 mins
Phil imagines a different path in life after an old neighbourhood kid returns as a fabulously wealthy adult. Meanwhile, Jay worries that Manny is too coddled, and Cameron is miffed when Mitchell scrutinises stories from his childhood, but all the family's differences are settled at Thanksgiving during a game of "punkin chunkin".
Episode 10
Express Christmas
Wed, Dec 7, 2011 30 mins
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.
Episode 11
Lifetime Supply
Wed, Jan 4, 2012 30 mins
Manny's dad pays another surprise visit, this time to take his son to the racetrack as a belated birthday present. Meanwhile, Phil starts to get his affairs in order after a doctor's appointment coincides with the end of his lifetime supply of razors; and Mitchell's environmental-law award kicks off a trophy competition.
Episode 12
Egg Drop
Wed, Jan 11, 2012 30 mins
Luke and Manny's egg-capsule project triggers Claire and Jay's competitive instincts. Elsewhere, Phil ropes Haley and Gloria into providing audience support during his work presentation; and Mitch and Cam try to impress potential birth mothers.
Episode 13
Little Bo Bleep
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 30 mins
Claire gets ready for her televised debate with Duane Bailey for the town-council seat. Meanwhile, Lily's going to be a flower girl, but she picks a heck of a time to learn her first bad word; and Jay blames Gloria for Stella's recent bad behaviour.
Episode 14
Me? Jealous?
Wed, Feb 8, 2012 30 mins
Phil's preoccupation with a business opportunity blinds him to his new partner's inappropriate behaviour around Claire. Meanwhile, Jay and Gloria may regret letting Mitchell and Cameron be their temporary house guests when their home is being fumigated.
Episode 15
Aunt Mommy
Wed, Feb 15, 2012 30 mins
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.
Episode 16
Virgin Territory
Wed, Feb 22, 2012 30 mins
Gloria learns about a secret that Claire has been hiding; one of Jay's proudest golf moments is ruined by Mitchell; Phil makes an inadvertent, and uncomfortable, discovery about one of his daughters.
Episode 17
Leap Day
Wed, Feb 29, 2012 30 mins
The pressure is on Mitchell to get Cameron's birthday celebration just right, since he was born on Leap Day and it only comes once every four years. Meanwhile, Jay undergoes a masculinity crisis; and Phil's Leap Day plans hit a snag.
Episode 18
Send Out the Clowns
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 30 mins
Cameron has a reunion with his estranged clown partner at a funeral for their former mentor; Phil gets bullied by a real-estate rival when he tries to land an important listing; Jay and Gloria are leery of Manny's new friend.
Episode 19
Election Day
Wed, Apr 11, 2012 30 mins
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.
Episode 20
The Last Walt
Wed, Apr 18, 2012 30 mins
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 neighbour; Phil and Alex have a father-daughter bonding experience; and Haley throws a party without permission.
Episode 21
Planes, Trains and Cars
Wed, May 2, 2012 30 mins
Phil goes car shopping with his neighbour Andre, but in the end will probably wish he'd taken Claire instead. Meanwhile, Jay sets off for his high-school reunion with Gloria and Manny; and Lily's favourite stuffed animal is lost on a commuter train.
Episode 22
Disneyland
Wed, May 9, 2012 30 mins
The entire Pritchett clan go to Disneyland, where Phil has trouble keeping up with Luke; Claire is surprised by an encounter with Dylan; Jay and Gloria debate suitable footwear; and Mitchell and Cameron cope with Lily's recent inclination to run anywhere at anytime.
Episode 23
Tableau Vivant
Wed, May 16, 2012 30 mins
Alex's school project on family harmony is in jeopardy when it seems no one can get along, which is exemplified by Jay and Gloria's spat over lunch and Manny getting upset by Luke accepting an award he may not deserve. Elsewhere, Claire and Cameron differ on parenting skills; and Phil has an uneasy working relationship with Mitchell.
Episode 24
Baby on Board
Wed, May 23, 2012 30 mins
In the third-season finale, 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.
