Talk:Married… with Children

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I'm gonna take out white trash. It sounds a bit offensive and not completley accurate.

Contents 1 THE REAL AMERICAN HERO (WAY BETTER THAN GI Joe WAS) 2 Michael Moore in Married ..with children 3 Recommend Changing the 9/11 Section 4 More Pictures! 5 Most Successful Sitcom Ever 6 Applegate was "successful" 7 POV 8 I dont get this part 9 Pregnancy? 10 Bud's virginity 11 Avoiding the big sins 12 Peg's Mother 13 A Common Style Mistake 14 Please Include Left Out Bundy Icon 15 Last paragraph of "Remakes" section 16 Peg's TV viewing 17 "Let's rock."" 18 Plot summary? 19 80s or 90s 20 Al Bundy Girls 21 Early Kelly 22 Transcripts 23 Cultural Impact 24 Trivia 25 Split

[edit] THE REAL AMERICAN HERO (WAY BETTER THAN GI Joe WAS)

Huh?

[edit] Michael Moore in Married ..with children

Anyone knows if Michael Moore appears in one episode about the elections? I watch that episode and it appears someone like him, but I know it's right that information.

[edit] Recommend Changing the 9/11 Section

In recent airings of the series in syndication on F0X Channel, the episode in question airs in its entirety. I'd suggest that the 9/11 episode paragraph either be removed, or at the very least changed to reflect the fact that the bomber is no longer being removed.

[edit] More Pictures!

I think that we should add more pictures of the Bundy family, the Rhoades/D'arcy's and others.

[edit] Most Successful Sitcom Ever

I removed the bit about it being the most successful American sitcom ever, for same reasons given at Talk:Amanda Bearse. Tuf-Kat

Which husband was the first one? (i.e. not the one that was the villain in Revenge of the Nerds) Tuf-Kat

As indicated in the entry, the character's name is "Marcy Rhoades D'Arcy;" the first husband was Steve Rhoades, the second, played by Ted McGinley, was Jefferson D'Arcy.

I also removed the bit about Christina Applegate being the only character to accomplish much during the show's run. Ed O'Neill was involved in a few projects during Married...with Children's lifetime, namely Dutch, the Wayne's World movies, Little Giants, and several more. -- goatasaur

[edit] Applegate was "successful"

I think saying Applegate was "successful" is a bit of a stretch. The only project she starred in during the show's run was Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. -- goatasaur

I reworded the Applegate bit to be more accurate; sometimes success isn't measured in how much you do but in how popular and recognized what you do *is.* Teenagers made Applegate a star in the late 80s/early 90s by putting her on posters and in magazines. By the way, I just realised there is already a "Married... with Children" page. It's much less detailed and scattered in format, but more importantly, the correct title is "Married...with Children." Just to alert this to someone who knows how to fix it.

Did the character Peggy SERIOUSLY have the middle name Wanker?

She is from Wanker County, Wisconsin

Her middle name wasn't Wanker; that was her maiden name. She was also, like someone said, from Wanker County in Wisconsin. TheCustomOfLife 02:05, 21 Jun 2004 (UTC)

I too believe there's a problem with the applegate bit, it's back to saying she's the only one to have any real success, but I've seen Ed O'Neill in many movies, seems like he's doing fine... --TIB (talk) 01:18, Aug 22, 2004 (UTC)

Yeah, she's from Wanker County, where as Einstein puts it, everyone's relative.--UltimatePyro 04:25, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] POV

While some of this POV sounds right, some of this also sounds wrong. Any way to fix this?

It was a very low-brow comedy that centered entirely around toilet humor and sex farce. The characters were one-dimensional parodies of actual people.

For example, I don't think the Rhoades characters were really one-dimensional parodies of actual people. I just think these two sentences could be worded differently. Can anyone help? Mike H 10:12, Feb 13, 2005 (UTC)

I did what I could. I also removed the bit about "Roseanne" being more popular- maybe back then, but I really think Married...with Children is as popular, if not more popular, these days.

I don't want to put down an otherside decent article, but isn't "slutty, airheaded daughter" POV?

No, because that's describing the character of Kelly. The long-running gag was that she was a big slut, and that she wasn't smart ("She may not graduate, you know that, Peg?") So no, I don't think it's POV. It was a statement of fact. Mike H 22:11, Mar 3, 2005 (UTC)

I greatly doubt that the term "slutty, airheaded daughter" represents the preferable stylistic register of the Wikipedia. --M. Alexander 00:58, 16 July 2005 (UTC)

Peggy's mother is seen in Al and Peggy's bed in the security light episode. also her shadow is seen in the episode where she is a phone sex voice.

That's not the same thing. Seen means seeing ALL of them. Wilson from Home Improvement was always seen, just not all of him, and that's why he would also be classified as "never seen." Mike H 01:21, Jun 4, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] I dont get this part

What was important about the show, and what likely allowed it to survive for as long as it did, is that inevitably the characters (including next-door neighbors and friends the Rhoades, later renamed the D'Arcys after Marcy married Jefferson D'Arcy) would come out supporting and defending each other. No matter how much they bickered and claimed to despise their familial ties, when one of them was put into a tough situation, the others would come out fighting on their side.

I dont understand. Does it mean when the Bundies are being put in a tough situation or the other chars?

Yeah I thought something was weird there too Astrokey44 11:19, 28 September 2005 (UTC)

It isn't explained. I'd just remove it, but it and the preceeding paragraph (see below) both need more work than I'd like to invest:

The show first aired in 1987 to very negative press. It was considered very low-brow comedy that centered entirely around toilet humor and sexual references. 1 Critics noted that the characters were mainly one-dimensional parodies of actual people. 2 Christina Applegate once remarked that the show was "a cartoon". 3 However, viewers quickly embraced the show because despite its obvious shortcomings it reflected a huge part of the populace that was not represented on television. The concept of an unhappily married couple whose life was, essentially, a complete failure had never been explored. Suddenly people were confronted with an arguing and unhappy, trashy married couple and their underachieving, smart-mouthed children.

1: What "parodies of actual people"?

2: Should be combined with previous paragraph, if it didn't need work.

3: While this may be true, it may equally be true that the show was popular because it was bawdier than anything else on TV at the time. It is not a clear case of popular success via class identification. It should be rewritten so it makes clear how unique the show's portrayal of marriage and family was without maintaining that it was the primary reason for the show's success. "Suddenly, people were confronted" ought to be removed too; it isn't Roots for crying out loud. Jeff Fries 09:05, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Pregnancy?

Should the article mention the fact that the pregnancy plotline was, er, cut short (almost wrote "aborted") when Sagal miscarried, and the entire arc was retconned into being an extended dream? DS 16:59, 14 September 2005 (UTC)

I'm not sure if mentioning this event fits into the structure of the article. The article is functional, not chronological. Plus, it's a very, very sensitive subject. I think it would be safe to assume that it's an intentional omission; all the fans of the series know it happened but none of them have written about it. AlGorup 14:37, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Bud's virginity

I've removed the fallacious remark that Bud doesn't lose his virginity until he's 19. He lost it fairly early in the series, in the episode where Al got a credit card in the dog's name, and Bud used the family's riches to seduce a couple of 20-something girls. He pretty much states it outright to his mother at the end of the episode.

If you watch the Season 4 episode where Steve leaves Marcy, it's rather clear that Bud is still a virgin. Kelly convinces Bud to seduce Marcy, and she says "And who wouldn't want a virgin?" to which Bud was rather excited. Mike H. That's hot 04:31, 31 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Avoiding the big sins

Actually, for a night time show, the Bundys avoided the really big sins: alcoholism, drug abuse, infedelity, teenage abortions, etc.. I always found it to be a defining characteristic of the show. (In fact, in the last episode, Al firmly took a stand AGAINST infedelity.) Unfortunately, the article is so well written that I can't find an easy way to add this tidbit w/o coming off as too wordy. AlGorup 14:37, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Peg's Mother

Peggy's mother is never shown...

That's not quite accurate. In one early-season episode, Al refuses to pay the phone company and they cut off service. He finally caves when Peggy's mother decides to move in with the family until phone service is restored -- but he was apparently too late, because at the very end of the episode Peggy is shown sharing the marital bed with a gigantic lump and she's talking on the telephone saying, "Yes Dad, Mom got here just fine..."

I think for unseen characters, the criteria is that you never see her face. It was dark in the bed and all you see is a massive form next to Peg. I think "unseen" would still count here. Mike H. I did "That's hot" first! 08:57, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] A Common Style Mistake

When writing about things that happen within the storyline of a television show, it is universally accepted that the present tense should be used:

"Al is a shoe salesman," is correct, but "Al was a shoe salesman" is not.

However, you can use the past tense to distinguish between a character's past and present:

"Al was a high school football player, but is a shoe salesman."

If you're speaking about things which are outside the action of the show, you should usually use the past tense for shows no longer in production:

"The show was often directed by cast member Amanda Bearse."

In short, don't refer to the content of a TV series as if it all happened in the past.

[edit] Please Include Left Out Bundy Icon

The Bundy Icon "Toaster Leavins" was not included. Please include this item!

[edit] Last paragraph of "Remakes" section

A remake named Casado con Hijos ¿quién dijo que era fácil? is on air in the Chilean TV Channel Megavision since April 2006, monday to friday 08:20 P.M. starring Fernando Larrain and Javiera Contador as Tito Larrain and Quena Gómez. Also featured are Dayana Amigo and Fernando Godoy in the roles of Titi and Nacho Larrain, Bud is replaced by a parrot.

Something definitely needs to be done with this, but I'm not sure what. Does the Spanish phrase need to be italicized? Do we need the "Monday to Friday 08:20 P.M."? --zenohockey 02:48, 30 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Peg's TV viewing

This article states that Peg watches both "Oprah" and "Dr. Phil". "Dr. Phil" first aired November 30, 2002 while "Married... with Children" was taken off air May 5, 1997.

- Actually, I believe "Phil" refers to "The Phil Donahue Show", not "Dr. Phil". This should probably be clarified in the article, as it confused me the first time I read it, too. -4.244.153.132 06:09, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

Definitely The Phil Donahue Show

[edit] "Let's rock.""

What about Al's favorite line: "Let's rock!" Tertiary7 05:10, 25 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Plot summary?

Has anyone else noticed that there's no plot summary in the article? Theshibboleth 21:33, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] 80s or 90s

Is Married with Children an 80s show or a 90s show? Heegoop, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

80's--UltimatePyro 04:27, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Al Bundy Girls

Strippers and porn stars had frequent cameos, especially in the latter part of the series. Strip Clubs would often advertise (in the sports section of New York tabloids) that a certain featured dancer was an "Al Bundy Girl" (in addition to other credits such as appearing in Playboy) Jny 02:18, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Early Kelly

Kelly dressed more conservatively in the first couple of episodes, wearing sweaters and ankle skirts which were popular for a few minutes in 1987. Jny 02:18, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Transcripts

I have in my possession about a 100 transcripts of the show. I downloaded them from http://www.marriedwithchildren.net/ which seems to have stop working. I think that uploading them to wikipedia would be a good idea since here they will be safely kept and accessible to a lot of pepole. what do you think? is uploading about 100 files of transcripts to wikipedia somthing that is normaly done? is this some sort of a copyright violation? --Nezek 18:14, 3 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Cultural Impact

Shouldn't it be worth mentioning the cultural impact about Married... with Children? I mean, this show began the trend of sitcoms featuring dysfunctional families.--UltimatePyro 04:31, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Trivia

The episode Top of the Heap is listed as the only successful spin-off. But those characters also appeared in the MWC episode Oldies but Young 'Uns. Shouldn't that also be mentioned? Kwyjibear 21:29, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Split

Could we split Bundy Curse and Bundy Icons into Running Jokes in "Married...with Children"? Those sections seem quite long. Drake Clawfang 06:43, 30 December 2006 (UTC)