Modern Family | Season 3

 

"Dude Ranch"

While vacationing at Lost Creek Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, 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 (Tim Blake Nelson).

"When Good Kids Go Bad"

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 poorly when they realize that Lily may not take well to another baby in the house. Meanwhile, Claire and Jay are each focused on proving a point.

"Phil on Wire"

The growing bond between Jay and the dog, Stella, gets on Gloria's nerves. Meanwhile, Phil and Luke go on a tightrope, but it's Claire with the missteps as she tries to teach the girls a life lesson. Cam's juice fast creates tension between him and Mitchell.

"Door to Door"

Jay is determined to help Manny sell wrapping paper for a school fundraiser. Claire petitions the city for a stop sign to be installed at a high-traffic intersection. Mitchell tries to prove a point with Cameron, and neither one of them will back down. Phil and Luke attempt to create a viral video sensation. Finally, Gloria is desperate to find Stella after losing her.

"Hit and Run"

Phil and Claire's encounter with an annoying city councilman (David Cross) on the campaign trail gets Claire thinking about throwing her hat into the ring. Meanwhile, Gloria's offer 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.

"Go Bullfrogs!"

When Phil takes Haley to his Alma Mater on a trip to visit colleges, 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.

"Treehouse"

Gloria persuades Jay to commit to a night of salsa dancing after seeing how much his friend Shorty (Chazz Palminteri) and his girlfriend (Jennifer Tilly) do together. Meanwhile, Cameron makes a bet that he can get a woman's (Leslie Mann) phone number at the bar and Phil builds a tree house for Luke.

"After the Fire"

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 injures his back. Cameron takes on a moving truck and some donated toys fall into the wrong hands.

"Punkin Chunkin"

A former neighborhood resident, now rich and successful, returns for a visit. Jay thinks Manny needs constructive criticism and Mitchell questions the authenticity of Cameron's colorful childhood stories.

"Express Christmas"

The family gathers at Jay and Gloria's pool on a sunny December day, and realize that everyone will be scattered this coming Christmas, so they set off with their respective duties to throw an impromptu Christmas celebration. Therefore, Mitchell, Alex and Lily search for a tree, Jay and Cameron wrap gifts, Phil and Manny shop for the groceries, Gloria and Luke retrieve the angel, that Claire and Mitchell's mother made them, from the attic, and Claire and Haley shop for last-minute gifts.

"Lifetime Supply"

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. Gloria tutors Haley in Spanish.

"Egg Drop"

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.

"Little Bo Bleep"

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.

"Me? Jealous?"

Claire believes that Phil's new prospective client is inappropriate, but she cannot convince a trusting Phil. Meanwhile, Cam and Mitchell stay with Gloria and Jay, while their house is being fumigated.

"Aunt Mommy"

After selling a house to Mitch and Cameron's friends, Claire and Phil plan a celebratory dinner; overindulging in drinks leads to over sharing.

"Virgin Territory"

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. Luke and Manny try to get Lily into trouble because she is too cute.

"Leap Day"

Mitchell feels pressured to make Cameron's birthday extra special; people start to question Jay's manliness; the girls' "cycles" interfere with Phil's leap day plans.

"Send Out the Clowns"

Cameron's former clown partner comes to town. Meanwhile, another real estate agent obtains a listing Phil was trying to land. Elsewhere, a new friend of Manny's has Gloria and Jay suspicious.

"Election Day"

On Election Day, the family does some last-minute campaigning for Claire. Claire experiences technical difficulties during interviews.

"The Last Walt"

Claire tries to help Luke cope with the death of their neighbor, Walt. Phil and Alex spend some time together. Haley throws a pool party without permission at Jay and Gloria's house; Cameron's father visits.

"Planes, Trains and Cars"

Phil's friend Andre (Kevin Hart) convinces him to buy a two-seat convertible instead of his regular Cadillac, to which Claire's response is far from expected. Cam and Mitchell lose Lily's favorite stuffed rabbit on the subway and go to great lengths to recover it. Meanwhile, Jay, Gloria and Manny take a trip to Jay's high-school reunion but run into trouble along the way.

"Disneyland"

When the family travels to Disneyland, Phil struggles to keep up with Luke. Claire tries to set Haley up with her friends nephew Ethan (Matt Prokop) but is stunned when they run into Dylan. Cam and Mitch try to curb Lily's new penchant for running.

"Tableau Vivant"

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 "Freedom from want".

"Baby on Board"

While Gloria helps Cam and Mitch pursue an adoption opportunity, Jay and Manny baby-sit Lily; Alex attends her first prom; Haley makes a shocking announcement about her plans for the future; and Gloria makes a surprise announcement in the end.