Married with Children: The Best TV Show of the 80's

When this sitcom about a dysfunctional family debuted April 5^th of 1987, on Fox network, it shocked some viewers. It was common to see families that had problems, but the Bundy's were one of a kind.

Rather than having a couple that had decent jobs, and normal children like most sitcoms portrayed in the past, the Bundy's were dysfunctional, yet in some ways more realistic.

A father with a low paying dead end job, a non-working mother that loved to dress nice and spend money, a promiscuous teen daughter, an intelligent son, and a dog with an excessive sex drive. No matter how controversial and off the wall the show was, it was a show that a lot of people could relate to and laugh about.

Al Bundy, a shoe salesman, would have went to college on a scholarship if he had not got Peg Wanker, known as the 'The Big Easy' in high school, pregnant. Then he married Peg, had two children, and complained that he suffered from the 'Bundy Curse' doomed to fail in life.

Interestingly, Sam Kinison and Roseanne Barr was the producers first choice for the roles of Ted Bundy and Peg Bundy. However, Ed O'Neil and Katey Sagal got the parts, and they were perfect. I do not believe Sam Kinison as a high school football player, and Roseanne Barr as 'The Big Easy' would have been as hilarious, although they are both very funny.

Kelly Bundy's role as a dumb-blond and boy-crazy teen, played by Christina Applegate, and Bud Bundy, played by David Faustino, the smart son who wanted nothing more than to be cool and loose his virginity kept you laughing. Kelly teased her brother, called him a pubescent horn-dog, and Bud often made fun of his sister's promiscuous behavior and took advantage of her ignorance.

Having a dog, Buck, that expressed his thoughts using voice overs was genius, it made the family pet come alive like never before.

Al's memories of his football days at Polk High, specifically when he scored four touchdowns in one game, Peg's big hair, spandex and stilettos, Kelly's sexy short dresses and bimbo ways, Bud's alter-ego's Grandmaster B and Cool Bud, even Buck's appetite for sex made dysfunctional families funnier than ever.

What was great about this fictional family is the fact that despite all the complaints and gritty jokes about one another, they were loyal. The underlying love was brought to the surface and made obvious in many episodes.

In 1989 Terry Rakolta led a 'failed' boycott against Married With Children, this actually increased viewers interest in the show and the show was kept on the air until 1997.

After 11 seasons and 262 episodes Married With Children definitely qualifies as one of the Best TV Shows of the 80's.