There is one simple reason (beyond being side-splittingly funny) that Married with Children needs to return to TV: in a landscape full of politically correct, safe, formulaic sitcoms, there is nothing like the show that offended everyone. Originally entitled Not The Cosbys, Married with Children was the answer to every dull television half-hour that portrayed the perfect family. From Family Ties to Growing Pains to The Cosby Show - no one really lived like that, right? For a lot of us, we're far more like the Bundys than the Cleavers, but no one had ever shown that before. Married With Children established Al Bundy in the pop culture world, offended everyone at every turn, and was frankly one of the best shows on television during its run, which saw Ed O'Neill become one of the highest paid sitcom stars in his day (until Seinfeld really upped the ante), and Christina Applegate (Kelly Bundy) a teen idol. Since the show ended, O'Neill would try his hand at dramas before returning to (and re-conquering) the sitcom world with Modern Family, TV-wife Katie Segal (Peggy) would star in 8 Simple Rules, Futurama, and Sons of Anarchy, and Applegate would try her hand at her own sitcom before starring in the most recent Vacation movie. There was talk recently of the hapless Bud Bundy (David Faustino) getting a spin-off, but nothing came of it - which is a shame, because it would be a way to have the whole family back tormenting one another in guest spots. And to see Al still slaving at Gary's Shoes.
Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.
