AllMovie

April 5, 1987, was the historic day upon which the Fox network launched its first prime-time lineup with the highly controversial -- and incredibly successful -- situation comedy Married... With Children. The pilot episode wastes no time introducing the delightfully dysfunctional Bundy family of Chicago: Boorish shoe salesman Al Bundy (Ed O'Neill), his lazy, sex-obsessed wife Peg (Katey Sagal), and their worthless children, underachieving 11-year-old Bud (David Faustino) and promiscuous 15-year-old Kelly (Christina Applegate). In the opener, Peg insists that Al try to make friends with the Bundys' new next-door neighbors, simperingly sweet newlyweds Steve and Marcy Rhodes (David Garrison, Amanda Bearse) -- and in the process nearly destroy the young couple's marriage before it gets into first gear. Also on hand is Al's swinging-bachelor co-worker Luke Ventura (Ritch Shydner).