I have started a new project in my life, which means I'll be hitting the treadmill 3-4 times a week, and I've decided to watch during each session one episode of Married With Children, starting at Season 1 episode 1, right through till the very last episode. I love this show, and I've already seen every single episode, so I know what I'm getting into. I decided to foist my thoughts and feelings on each episode onto you, my fellow Loungers, and mark this as my 29K post (or near enough). You hope some of you join in when you see episodes you recognise. That'd be nice. Hell, some of you may wish to join in and watch seasons along with me.

I reckon this will take about a year and a half.

So here goes.


SOME PRESEASON NUGGETS FOR YA:

Roseanne Barr and the late Sam Kinison were considered for the roles of Peg and Al.

The shoe store was once used by the series One Day At A Time.

A porn version of series does exist as Married with Hormones volume 1 & 2.

I am irrationally and deeply in love with Peggy Bundy. and Al is my hero.

Season 1, Episode 1: PILOT

synposis: Al wants to go to the ball-game, but Peg insists he stays in as they have guests coming, the newlyweds from next door, Marcy and Steve. Marcy and Steve get a little education about long-term relationships from the 15-years-married Bundys.

I'd rate this one: 7/10


This has the proper theme song and familiar titles that ran right through all seasons, with updates as the kids aged and Al, Peg and Marcy's husbands changed. The kids are very young here; Kelly must be around 13, and Bud is probably about 9. Peg is dressed as Peg always dresses, and has all the Peg mannerisms right off the bat (including the swinging crossed leg when she's sitting), but here she hasn't got the Peg red hair or big hair, more a spiked up brunette. also her makeup is quite different, and we don't get that great dark lipstick she came to use.

Al is Al, but younger and thinner than you'd probably remember him, but like Peg, his character is fully formed and firing on all cylinders from the start.


Peg and Al do come across as a identikit bickering married couple from a sitcom in a few exchanges, but that great Al-Peg thing is already there too.


It was good to see this one again.


Some Dialogue:

Al (to Steve): You know another thing that makes women such a blessing for us? It's when you're sitting somewhere and they come over and they say to you, "What are you thinking?" And you start thinking, "You know, if I wanted you to know, I'd be talking."
=================================
Marcy: I feel sports glorify violence and competition, and I don't think it's psychologically healthy. When we have a child, we don't want it to grow up with that winning-is-the-only-thing attitude. A child is better off not being exposed to sports.
Al: You gonna neuter him too?
=================================
Al (to Peg): I'm sorry, honey. I didn't hear you. I was just thinking of killing myself.
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Al (responding to Peg's comments about hair on his back): Peg, that hair serves a purpose. It keeps you offa me.

Excellent.

I've loved the show since it came out.

But as I'm getting older I really appreciate Al. Brilliant character, played perfectly.

Glad Roseanne and Kinison didn't make it.

(Hate Roseanne, and Sam Kinison is too perfect as Al's guardian angel later.)

__________________


Which season would you reccommend if someone wanted to buy just one season?

ever see Unhappily Ever After? Daughter in that was way hotter than CA.

I'm going to see if I can find any of these old episodes and watch with you. Sounds like fun! It cracks me up that Al is your hero. I'll admit that Al is a brilliant TV character with some truly great lines. Can't imagine anyone else playing him besides Ed O'Neil. Roseanne Barr is an odd choice for Peg.

This thread needs some pics don't you think?

I love any episode with Jefferson. What an awesome character.

Wow, this is really difficult, because each season has its merits. I liked Steve, for example, but love Jefferson, and also the odd cameo by Officer Dan. I liked the whole 'NO MAAM' thing in the later series, and Bud's fratfull of losers, and Jefferson's ageing pretty boy antics, and Bud going through his Grandmaster B phase...


But I think I have to go with season 3, probably, because of a few specific episodes. One where the Bundys go to the beach, one where the Bundys and the Rhodes all go camping and all the women get periods at the same time, and the one where Peg and Al get sex-taped at a motel, and the judge dismisses it because something that fast can't be considered sex....but the standout is the one where Al returns 'The Little Engine That Could' to the library, and gets criticised as a loser by the same librarian as when he was a boy (season 3, episode 1). and he gives this speech:


"So you think I'm a loser? Just because I have a stinking job that I hate, a family that doesn't respect me, a whole city that curses the day I was born? Well, that may mean loser to you, but let me tell you something. Every morning when I wake up, I know it's not going to get any better until I go back to sleep again. So I get up, have my watered down Tang and still-frozen Pop Tart, get in my car with no upholstery, no gas and six more payments to fight traffic just for the privilege of putting cheap shoes on the cloven hooves of people like you. I'll never play football like I thought I would, I'll never know the touch of a beautiful woman, and I'll never again know the joy of driving without a bag on my head. But I'm not a loser. 'Cause despite it all, me and every other guy who'll never be what he wanted to be, are still out there, being what we don't wanna be, forty hours a week, for life. And the fact that I haven't put a gun to my mouth, you pudding of a woman, makes me a winner!"

Katy,

pictures are very, very welcome.

Look what I found! Is this what her hair looks like in the Pilot?

yes, but I think it was a little darker. This has to be in like the first 5 episodes though, she definitely evolves into a proper Peggy look by the end. The lipstick was even lighter than here, more like fleshtone lipstick.

Indeed, Sam Kinison's shouty style would have sunk this show, Ed O'Neil is perfect. I do consider the Kinison guardian angel episodes (IIRR it was a 2-parter) as among the best ever episodes though.

also, I'll be looking for some 'very first instance of...' whilst doing this. For example, very first time Al compares Marcy to a chicken, very first instance of a 'whoa Bundy', very first instance of Al talking about 4 touchdowns for Polk High. Let me know if there's any others you want watched out for.

This should be fun. Love the show!
Al is also my Hero!!!!

Putting the newspaper under his arm and trudging upstairs to the toilet

His trademark--putting his hand down his pants

will do.


Season 1, episode 1. I'd estimate about 17 minutes in.

It's even mentioned as a no-no to do by Peg before the visitors arrive. His response to Peg is 'but you keep it so cold in here, Peg!'

And Al does it anyway.



Peg does her leg-bobbing thing in ep 1 too. and watches a stupid daytime woman's reality show (about a lost tribe in the Amazon where the women eat the men after mating).

Bud and his blow up doll FTW.

1st time Kelly is called a slut/whore/easy lay

+1. This is an awesome idea DB and I may just join you in rewatching the whole series. I MWC.

If I recall this episode correctly, it's the one where Marcy and Steve are the perfect young couple, and Al for his part and Peg for her part turn them against each other and completely corrupt them, and feel pretty good about doing it!

The rank insidiousness and knowing cynical corruption of the Bundys and their wordlessly assumed mission of matrimonial terrorism was a stunner and set a tone the rest of the series was very hard-pressed to keep up. I'd give this one a 10/10.

Another trivia bit: Ed O'Neill was also considered for the role of Sam in Cheers. Imagine that: in one show he'd have been portraying a successful small businessman and widely beloved sports hero who's a superstud with a knack for the ladies, and in the other he's the virtual opposite.

Haha this one is gold.

Why do women do that?

Epic thread idea, I just told Tivo to start recording these again.

I'm in....even if only vicariously. (this gives me a great reason to go buy season one tomorrow, though.)

I haven't seen much of this show. This seems like a good excuse.