| "Dude Ranch" | |
|---|---|
| Modern Family episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Jason Winer |
| Written by | Paul Corrigan Brad Walsh Dan O'Shannon |
| Production code | 3ARG03 |
| Original air date | September 21, 2011[1] |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Dude Ranch" is the third season premiere of the American sitcom Modern Family and the 49th episode overall. The episode originally aired on September 21, 2011, on American Broadcasting Company (ABC) and ran back-to-back with "When Good Kids Go Bad". The episode was written by Paul Corrigan, Brad Walsh & Dan O'Shannon and directed by Jason Winer.
"Dude Ranch" features guest stars Tim Blake Nelson as Hank and Reid Ewing as Dylan. Serving as the first part of the one-hour season premiere, the episode revolves around the three families traveling to a dude ranch.
"Dude Ranch" received positive reviews from critics with many praising Nolan Gould's performance as Luke Dunphy, with Alan Sepinwall calling him the MVP of the episode.[2] The episode was viewed by more than 14.54 million viewers and received a 6.1 rating/15% share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49, marking an 18-percent rise from the second season premiere, "The Old Wagon". The episode also became the highest-rated and most viewed episode of the series. It also ranked as the highest-rated ABC series for the week of broadcast and fourth overall.
This episode won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation.[3] Season one episode "En Garde" won the same award back in 2010.[4]