Star of the Show
Ed O’Neill, who plays the patriarch Al Bundy, is the only actor from the show’s cast to be in every single episode from when it first aired. That’s a total of 11 seasons and 259 episodes.
A Loyal Pup
Actually, there was another loyal character who showed up to work every day alongside Ed O’Neill. Buck, the dog, never missed a single day until the 10th season when he had to retire due to old age.
Call the Bundys
When Kelly revealed the number of the Bundy household, many fans actually tried calling it. Many of them actually managed to get through so production had to change the number due to all of the phone calls they received.
What’s In a Name?
Bud Bundy’s full name is rarely heard during the show but real fans know it’s Budrick Franklin Bundy.
A Frank Sinatra Theme Song
Many people may not know that the show’s theme song, “Love and Marriage” was originally recorded by Frank Sinatra.
Before Joey Came Vinnie
Before starring as Joey Tribbiani on Friends, Matt LeBlanc made his acting debut on Married With Children in 1991 as Kelly’s on-again-off-again boyfriend Vinnie Verducci.
No Emmy for You
Despite it being one of TV’s favorite sitcoms, it shockingly never received an Emmy during its years on the air.
Rerunning Ain’t Cheap
As the show became increasingly popular as time went on, it became clear it would be costly for TV stations to run it. By the 11th season, rerunning the show would cost stations $1 million per episode, which was not feasible at the time. This probably played a huge role in the show’s cancellation.
The Bundy Family Name
While many people think the surname Bundy comes from infamous serial killer Ted Bundy, they are very far off. In fact, the family was actually named after wrestler King Kong Bundy, who even guest-starred in 2 episodes of the series.
A Perfect Birthday Date
Christina Applegate and her character Kelly Bundy actually share the same birthday. The big day is November 25, 1971, whether it’s a coincidence or Applegate requested it.
Roseanne as Peggy
We can’t imagine anyone besides Katey Sagal playing Peggy Bundy but she wasn’t the initial choice. FOX had originally offered the role to Roseanne Barr. Luckily, she turned it down and we had Sagal rightfully as Peggy and Barr got her own show, Roseanne.
Black Belt Ed
Ed O’Neill’s friend John Milius introduced the actor to the martial art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Not only did he earn his black belt, he also trained for over 22 years. He calls it “the greatest achievement of my life, apart from my children.”
Kill ‘Em With Kindness
After only 3 episodes, family values activist Terry Rakolta created an entire campaign against the show because she was so offended by its content. While she hoped the campaign would drop funding, it actually boosted ratings! Producers sent her a bouquet of flowers every year when the show was renewed for another season.
The Real Deal
Just as the Bundy’s phone number was real, so was the famous cottage where they lived on the show. The family’s home can be found in Deerfield, Illinois, about 25 miles north of Chicago. And, of course, it became a favorite spot for fans to visit.
Blondes Have More Fun
The role of Kelly wouldn’t be the same with Christina Applegate and it also wouldn’t be the same without her blonde hair. So in season 10 when Applegate had dyed her hair red for a movie role, she had to wear a blonde wig because they wouldn’t dare make Kelly a redhead!
A Fitting End
Although Ed O’Neill was shocked by the news of the cancellation while on vacation, he came up with the ending for the show. He requested that the show finishes with the family winning the lottery and then getting hit by a tornado. He saw this as a perfect reflection of their time on the show – having been lucky enough to be cast but then having it ripped away from them without warning!
It’s Not Always Acting
Ed O’Neill’s Al Bundy and neighbor Marcy, played by Amanda Bearse did not like each other very much, and neither did the actors themselves. O’Neil and Bearse did not get along well off-screen at all.
Name Change
According to the LA Times, Married With Children was originally called ‘Nod To The Cosbys’ as a tribute to the well-adored show at the time.
Bad News Bears
The news of the show’s cancellation came as a shock to the actors as well. Ed O’Neill found out about it while on vacation and overheard a couple discussing the announcement in the newspaper. Meanwhile, Christina Applegate found out through friends.
Imitated but Never Duplicated
With the show’s overall success, the U.K. tried their hand with their own version called Married For Life. You’ve probably never heard of it though due to the fact that it only ran for 7 weeks.
• Don't insult other visitors. Offensive comments will be deleted without warning.
• Comments are accepted in English only.
• No swearing words in comments, otherwise such comments will be censored.
• Your nickname and avatar are randomly selected. If you don't post comments for 7 days, they both are reset.
• To choose another avatar, click the ‘Random avatar’ link.
... not always women, but it really shows your incel viewpoint nicely. Thanks for outing yourself.
What does f@#king mean, is it f@#king ?
Ask Izi. They're the ones who do the censoring...
No Izi doesn't censor, it is self censorship.
#11 my daughter shares same birth date, actually watching re-run marathon now.
...and katey lost an eye in futurama.