Married with Children (1987–1997)

Al Bundy is a misanthropic women's shoe salesman with a miserable life. He hates his job, his wife is lazy, his son is dysfunctional (especially with women), and his daughter is dim-witted and promiscuous.

Creators:

Ron Leavitt, Michael G. Moye

Stars:

Ed O'Neill, Katey Sagal, Amanda Bearse

Nominated for 7 Golden Globes. Another 6 wins & 21 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Ed O'Neill	...	Al Bundy (261 episodes, 1987-1997)
Katey Sagal	...	Peggy Bundy (261 episodes, 1987-1997)
Amanda Bearse	...	Marcy D'Arcy (261 episodes, 1987-1997)
David Faustino	...	Bud Bundy (260 episodes, 1987-1997)
Christina Applegate	...	Kelly Bundy (259 episodes, 1987-1997)
Ted McGinley	...	Jefferson D'Arcy (168 episodes, 1989-1997)
Buck	...	Buck the Dog (105 episodes, 1991-1995)

Storyline

The Bundys are a stereotypical "white trash" American family. Al is a shoe salesman who is fond of frequently reliving his doubtful 15 seconds of fame on the football field. Al is terrified of the all-to-frequent amorous advances his ditsy wife Peggy, a woman who must spend most of Al's wages at the salon and the mall. They have two children: Kelly, the stunning but superficial party animal, and Bud, who is too wrapped up in himself to realize his goal of "scoring" with a girl.

---

Plot Keywords:

shoe salesman | teen | sitcom | neighbor | dysfunctional family | 

---

Taglines:

Domestic bliss was never like this!

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Entertainment Television [br] Sony Pictures Entertainment

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 April 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Married... with Children

Filming Locations:

ABC Television Center - 4151 Prospect Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Embassy Television, ELP Communications, Columbia Pictures Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

22 min 22 min (262 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Ed O'Neill and David Faustino, much of their life was parodied on the show. O'Neill (Al Bundy) did play college football. Faustino (Bud Bundy) wanted to be a rapper, hence his character Grandmaster B.

---

Quotes

Jefferson: Can I stay here a while? I don't want Marcy to know I'm not at the Unemployment Anonymous meeting.

---

Crazy Credits

With rare exceptions, the end credits are played over a still of Peggy and Al (looking disgusted) sitting on the couch.

---

Connections

Spoofed in Married with Hormones: Part II (1992)

---

Soundtracks

"Love & Marriage"
Music by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen
Performed by Frank Sinatra
Arranged and Conducted by Nelson Riddle

User Reviews

Why did it end!

This show is an all time classic and it's easy to see where more modern shows, especially such total and blatant rip-offs as the Simpsons, have their roots.

Married came about at a time when all other family sit-coms were sickly-sweet and correct. Who can forget such horrors as the Cosby Show or Diff'rent Strokes? Married was different. It dared to push the envelope of what was considered (at the time) right and proper. The family wasn't nice to each other all the time (or even any of the time!) and the show had a more real feel to it as a result.

Of course, reality quickly became subjective in Married, as the episodes became ever more ridiculous and crazy. But every show pandered to some aspect of family life that we can all identify with - car sharing, hatred of our spouses relatives, puberty, dating, work etc. etc. The list is endless. If it's a real life issue, Married has spoofed it in some way or other. Nothing was sacred. Even PMS! Though the writers were reigned in a few times, by all accounts.

The show ran for eleven seasons and over 250 episodes, which is pretty incredible for a comedy show and really should give you an indication of the dedicated fan base that Married attracted. I suspect the show will be in re-runs somewhere until the end of TV as an entertainment medium.

For more info on the show I recommend the E True Story documentary on the show, which really gives an insight into how the show started, progressed and finally was cancelled.