Black-ish
Season 3
Promotional poster
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes24
Release
Original networkABC
Original releaseSeptember 21, 2016 (2016-09-21) –
May 10, 2017 (2017-05-10)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 2
Next →
Season 4
List of episodes

The third season of Black-ish aired from September 21, 2016, to May 10, 2017, on ABC in the United States. It is produced by Khalabo Ink Society, Cinema Gypsy Productions, Principato-Young Entertainment and ABC Studios, with creator Kenya Barris, who also served as executive producer alongside Anthony Anderson, Brian Dobbins, Jonathon Groff and Helen Sugland.

The series revolves around Dre, portrayed by Anthony Anderson, a family man who struggles with finding his cultural identity while raising his kids in a white neighborhood. He lives with his wife, Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross).

On May 11, 2017, ABC renewed the series for a fourth season.[1]

This is also the last season to have Yara Shahidi as part of the main cast, due to her character departing to star in her own spin-off, Grown-ish.

Cast

Episodes

See also: List of Black-ish episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
491"VIP"Anton CropperJonathan GroffSeptember 21, 2016 (2016-09-21)3016.39[2]
Dre takes the family to Walt Disney World and wants the kids to have the experience he never had, so he gets them a VIP tour. The kids get spoiled from bypassing lines all day and, when their VIP time is up, they get bratty when they now have to wait like everyone else. After calling them out on their ungrateful attitudes, Dre has an outburst and leaves them. Meanwhile, Bow ends up spending the day with Dre's parents since she can't ride most of the attractions due to her pregnancy.
502"God"Anton CropperLaura GutinSeptember 28, 2016 (2016-09-28)3025.58[3]
Zoey questions the existence of God, so Dre and Ruby try to convince her that God is real. Bow's brother Johan (Daveed Diggs) visits. Jack and Diane aren't doing their chores and trick Bow and Junior into doing them for them.
513"40 Acres and a Vote"Ken WhittinghamCorey NickersonOctober 5, 2016 (2016-10-05)3045.18[4]
Junior runs for class president at his school and Dre acts as his campaign manager. Pops and Johan think that the election is rigged because their polling place location has changed and Bernie Sanders didn't win the Democratic nomination. Dre fears that people will forget Obama's achievements once he leaves office.
524"Who's Afraid of the Big Black Man?"Matt SohnPeter SajiOctober 12, 2016 (2016-10-12)3035.84[5]
Bow wants to spend more time with the kids before the new baby arrives. Dre joins the Homeowner's Association as a step towards becoming more open-minded and being a part of his community.
535"The Purge"Matt SohnLindsey ShockleyOctober 26, 2016 (2016-10-26)3065.74[6]
The Johnson family celebrates Halloween. When Janine suggests a neighborhood "mischief night" for the children, Ruby takes hold of the idea and begins a neighborhood-wide version of The Purge. After Junior embarrasses him, Dre sets out to teach him a lesson with a complicated prank.
546"Jack of All Trades"Linda MendozaGail LernerNovember 9, 2016 (2016-11-09)3055.27[7]
The results of Jack's career test reveal that he may be looking at a blue-collar future. Ruby is led to believe that Diane is possessed.
557"Auntsgiving"Michael SchultzKenny SmithNovember 16, 2016 (2016-11-16)3075.56[8]
Pop's sister makes a surprise stop for Thanksgiving. This angers Ruby since she hasn't liked her ever since their friendship fell apart. Dre and Bow go on a baby-moon before the baby arrives. Bow is sad that this is her last pregnancy.
568"Being Bow-racial"Kevin BrayJenifer Rice-Genzuk HenryNovember 30, 2016 (2016-11-30)3095.37[9]
Bow deals with feelings about her own biracial identity when Junior brings home a white girlfriend. Dre counts on Charlie to teach him how to relate to the white point-woman for a big work presentation. Zoey wants to remodel Jack and Diane's room.
579"Nothing but Nepotism"Gail MancusoYamara TaylorDecember 7, 2016 (2016-12-07)3104.22[10]
Bow asks Dre to pull some strings to get Zoey an internship, but he doesn't want Zoey relying on nepotism. Junior secures a job at the local arcade pizza place, but gets it shut down by reporting unclean practices to corporate.
5810"Just Christmas, Baby"John FortenberrySteven WhiteDecember 14, 2016 (2016-12-14)3115.46[11]
The Johnsons celebrate Christmas and get a visit from Dre's friend Gigi (Tyra Banks) and her baby. She and Bow compare their differences on raising a child. Gigi prefers to rely on technology and mommy blogs instead of motherly instincts like Bow does. Bow has to take care of the baby when Gigi and her husband are called away to perform at a charity concert, but it turns out they just went to a hotel to get some rest. Junior comes up with "Bear in the Chair" in an effort to police the twins' behavior. Ruby is shocked to discover that quite a few Christmas songs were written by Jewish songwriters. The Christmas tree catches on fire when some of the lights blow and ignite Zoey's paper childhood ornaments.
5911"Their Eyes Were Watching Screens"Linda MendozaGail LernerJanuary 4, 2017 (2017-01-04)3125.79[12]
After having a conversation with some friends at school about sex, Diane is curious. She stumbles across an adult video, but Bow catches her as it begins. Dre and Bow sneak around to see what their kids' internet habits are. To keep their kids from being corrupted by the internet, they try to confiscate all their devices, even Ruby's. Eventually, the kids give their reasons on why the internet can be a good source of information. Dre and Bow give them back their devices, make dinner time a no-phone zone, and try to think of ways to use technology during family time.
6012"Lemons"Kenya BarrisKenya BarrisJanuary 11, 2017 (2017-01-11)3155.68[13]
Two months after the 2016 presidential election, the Johnsons are still sad that Donald Trump won. No one at Dre's work is happy, either, and they have a fit when Lucy admits that she voted for Trump. After much discussion, Dre suggests that it's time for the entire nation to come together.
6113"Good Dre Hunting"Millicent SheltonVijal PatelJanuary 18, 2017 (2017-01-18)3084.60[14]
Bow convinces a begrudging Dre to try therapy, and he learns how to cope with his anger issues. Meanwhile, Johan becomes a life coach to the kids.
6214"The Name Game"Gail LernerCourtney LillyFebruary 8, 2017 (2017-02-08)3145.31[15]
Dre and Bow have a gender reveal party, and Dre is thrilled because it's his turn to name the baby. He decides on a culturally significant name that Bow and Ruby aren't a fan of. Meanwhile, Zoey’s plan to have an anti-Valentine’s Day with her friend Shelly is thwarted when Junior asks Shelly out on a date, so Diane tries to fill in as Zoey’s BFF.
6315"I'm a Survivor"Ken WhittinghamHale RothsteinFebruary 15, 2017 (2017-02-15)3135.27[16]
When Dre goes back to Compton for a funeral, he is reunited with his old crew and struggles with survivor’s remorse for the friends he left behind. Meanwhile, Bow becomes self-conscious when Ruby criticizes her parenting style.
6416"One Angry Man"John FortenberryDoug HallFebruary 22, 2017 (2017-02-22)3165.32[17]
Dre is forced to participate in jury duty after Junior responds to the summons that was thrown away. The case is supposed to be open and shut, but when Dre sees that the defendant is a young African American, he feels a civic responsibility to give him a fair trial. Meanwhile, Bow decides to let the kids swear in the house since they are more open with her that way, but she and Ruby soon regret the decision.
6517"ToysRn’tUs"Oz ScottJenifer Rice-Genzuk HenryMarch 8, 2017 (2017-03-08)3175.09[18]
Janine gives Diane a white Girlstory doll for her birthday, and when Bow tries to return it for a black doll, she is shocked by the limited options offered. Dre blames the lack of representation of African Americans in the media, but when confronting this systematic problem, he realizes that he has prejudices of his own. Meanwhile, Ruby enlists the help of Junior to be her Spades partner.
6618"Manternity"Michael SpillerEmily Halpern & Sarah HaskinsMarch 15, 2017 (2017-03-15)3184.88[19]
Dre considers taking paternity leave after he realizes that Zoey is arguably the best child and their bond developed while he was unemployed when she was born. Meanwhile, Bow tries to hide her pregnancy in order to get a promotion, and Ruby convinces the kids that their nanny, Vivian, is stealing from them.
6719"Richard Youngsta"Jude WengPeter SajiMarch 29, 2017 (2017-03-29)3194.93[20]
Dre is excited about doing a campaign with a popular rap star, but becomes conflicted when Bow and Ruby provide feedback suggesting it plays on stereotypes. Meanwhile, Ruby judges Bow for letting the family eat so much take-out food but, when she tries to force the kids to eat one meal as she did as a child, her stubborn tactics come back to bite her.
6820"What Lies Beneath"Beth McCarthy-MillerJessica PoterApril 5, 2017 (2017-04-05)3214.58[21]
Dre's sister Rhonda is in town and he feels a little jealous of her close relationship with Pops. Bow urges Zoey to take Junior with her to a party and things get out of hand. Meanwhile, the twins feel like they've been forgotten and decide to live life to the fullest.
6921"Sister, Sister"Anya AdamsYamara TaylorApril 26, 2017 (2017-04-26)3244.42[22]
Bow’s sister comes to town after filming a stint on a reality show and they couldn't have less in common. Meanwhile, Zoey suggests that Dre spend more time with Junior since she's leaving for college and Jack and Diane decide to rebrand themselves.
7022"All Groan Up"Kenny SmithHale RothsteinApril 26, 2017 (2017-04-26)3224.22[22]
When Zoey gets into several colleges around the country, Dre and Bow begin to feel worried and sentimental. They reflect back on memories they've had with the family and wonder what life will be like without her around all the time. Pops tells the twins to try and sway Zoey into going to college in a city they want to visit.
7123"Liberal Arts"James GriffithsKenya Barris & Larry WilmoreMay 3, 2017 (2017-05-03)3234.17[23]

Dre drops Zoey off at college for her two-day orientation, where she hits it off with a fellow freshman after they ditch the campus tour and meet a guy at the Black Student Union booth; Zoey finds out Dre never turned in her housing application, so she pays a visit to the president and dean to plead for mercy.

Note: This episode served as a backdoor pilot for the first spinoff series Grown-ish.
7224"Sprinkles"Eva LongoriaLaura GurtinMay 10, 2017 (2017-05-10)3204.75[24]
In the Season 3 finale, Dre is prepping Bow's baby shower and wants it to be unforgettable, but his plans are put on hold when Bow stops by the OB/GYN due to a headache and discovers she is having complications.

Reception

Ratings

Viewership and ratings per episode of Black-ish
No. Title Air date Rating/share
(18–49)		 Viewers
(millions)		 DVR
(18–49)		 DVR viewers
(millions)		 Total
(18–49)		 Total viewers
(millions)
1 "VIP" September 21, 2016 2.0/7 6.39[2] 1.0 2.72 3.0 9.11[25]
2 "God" September 28, 2016 1.6/5 5.58[3] 0.9 — 2.5[26] —
3 "40 Acres and a Vote" October 5, 2016 1.5/5 5.18[4] 0.9 — 2.4[27] —
4 "Who's Afraid of the Big Black Man?" October 12, 2016 1.8/6 5.84[5] 0.8 — 2.6[28] —
5 "The Purge" October 26, 2016 1.7/5 5.74[6] 0.9 — 2.6[29] —
6 "Jack of All Trades" November 9, 2016 1.5/5 5.27[7] 0.9 2.23 2.4 7.50[30]
7 "Auntsgiving" November 16, 2016 1.5/5 5.56[8] 0.9 — 2.4[31] —
8 "Being Bow-racial" November 30, 2016 1.7/6 5.37[9] 0.9 2.26 2.6 7.63[32]
9 "Nothing But Nepotism" December 7, 2016 1.2/4 4.22[10] 0.8 2.18 2.0 6.40[33]
10 "Just Christmas, Baby" December 14, 2016 1.6/5 5.46[11] 0.8 2.29 2.4 7.76[34]
11 "Their Eyes Were Watching Screens" January 4, 2017 1.7/6 5.79[12] 0.8 2.17 2.5 7.96[35]
12 "Lemons" January 11, 2017 1.7/6 5.68[13] 1.2 2.84 2.9 8.52[36]
13 "Good Dre Hunting" January 18, 2017 1.4/5 4.60[14] 1.0 2.35 2.4 6.96[37]
14 "The Name Game" February 8, 2017 1.5/5 5.31[15] TBD TBD TBD TBD
15 "I'm a Survivor" February 15, 2017 1.5/5 5.27[16] TBD TBD TBD TBD
16 "One Angry Man" February 22, 2017 1.6/6 5.32[17] TBD TBD TBD TBD
17 "ToysRn’tUs" March 8, 2017 1.4/5 5.09[18] TBD TBD TBD TBD
18 "Manternity" March 15, 2017 1.5/5 4.88[19] TBD TBD TBD TBD
19 "Richard Youngsta" March 29, 2017 1.5/6 4.93[20] TBD TBD TBD TBD
20 "What Lies Beneath" April 5, 2017 1.3/5 4.58[21] TBD TBD TBD TBD
21 "Sister, Sister" April 26, 2017 1.2/5 4.42[22] TBD TBD TBD TBD
22 "All Groan Up" April 26, 2017 1.3/5 4.22[22] TBD TBD TBD TBD
23 "Liberal Arts" May 3, 2017 1.2/4 4.17[23] TBD TBD TBD TBD
24 "Sprinkles" May 10, 2017 1.3/5 4.75[24] TBD TBD TBD TBD

Accolades

References

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