Pop culture hasn’t been the same since the newly formed Fox network debuted Married…with Children, though that can be said about many shows on Fox. After decades of idealized American families dominating TV land, the Bundys arrived in cloud of dysfunction, lowbrow humor and belching.

The American dream of a nuclear family plus dog and picket fence got turned on its ear, starting from the very first episode. Al, the patriarch, was a sorry excuse for a husband and a father, trapped in a dead end job he hated and constantly reliving his old glories on the football field. Peg, his wife, seethed with unsatisfied sexuality while lounging around the house, usually occupying the couch with a box of bon-bons in her hand. The two children, Bud and Kelly didn’t fall far from the parental tree. Bud was a typical libidinous teenager with zero success in the lady department and lived in fear of following in his father’s unimpressive footsteps. Kelly, to put it mildly, was dumb as a sack of doorknobs but looked like a jailbait pin-up. Her wardrobe consisted of spandex, spandex, more spandex and a 40-gallon drum of peroxide for her blonder than blond, teased-within-an-inch-of-its-life hair. She brought home an endless parade of deadbeat boyfriends that impressed Peg but drove Al up the wall.

A couple of wacky neighbors also entered the mix. Young, childless yuppies Steve and Marcy were initially horrified to find themselves living next door to the crass Bundy clan. But Steve came to secretly admire Al and his atavistic attitudes and the pair often commiserated about their jobs or their wives. Marcy got along just fine with Peg but she and Al were mortal enemies from the moment they met. Whenever the two were in a room together, the insults flew fast and furious until one of them retired from the field of battle while the other gloated in victory.

Most of the plotlines took place in the Bundy home, particularly the living room where the most important member of the household—the TV set—was located. Long running gags included Al sitting on the couch with his hand casually down his pants; Peggy’s constant demand for sex; Bud’s elaborate plans to get some girl action; Kelly’s idiotic observations; and the whole family’s attempts at get rich quick schemes.

Since Married…with Children started on a brand new network it wasn’t immediately popular with audiences. Then a few upright citizens began drawing attention to it by complaining about its dysfunctional and bawdy portrayal of an imperfect family and presto, any publicity is good publicity. Viewers tuned in to see what all the fuss was about and many of them liked what they saw. The show broke from the convention of successful, loving parents, accomplished, obedient children and a clean, neat house that was the norm up until then.  

The series ran for 11 seasons, longer than any of its critics had anticipated. It featured numerous famous guest stars and some actors who would become famous in other TV shows. Love it or hate it, Married…with Children broke the mold and allowed later sitcoms to explore the grittier side of middle America.