Behind-The-Scenes Secrets From "Married With Children"

Married…With Children is still Fox’s longest-lasting comedy sitcom.  The show was no stranger to a little controversy but it was a hit with viewers around the world. We’ve rounded up some of the most fascinating behind-the-scenes facts about the series.

Name Games

Married With… Children aired for 11 years from April 1987 to April 1997. At the time of the show’s launch The Cosby Show was one of its competitors. Creators wanted to make the new sitcom as different from the Cosby Show as possible, the producers even considered calling the comedy Not The Cosbys.

Shoes Shoes Shoes

“I hate those complaint boxes they put in at the mall. A woman comes in the shoe store today, so huge she’s protected by ‘Green Peace’, and ask for a size-4 shoe. So I asked her if she wants to eat them there or take them home, and she has the nerve to complain about my performance.” Who remembers this scene? Ed O’Neill actually wrote this. What a classic!

Different Strokes

Series creators based the characters of Al and Peggy on Sam Kinison and Roseanne Barr, both of whom declined the roles when they were offered them. At the time, Barr and Kinison both had successful careers doing stand-up comedy with their over-the-top antics. Barr turned down the role because she was working on her own series that was set to debut the following year. Sadly, Kinison died in a car crash in 1992 at the age of 38.

A Sneaky Tribute

Producers loved to play games with the audience! During the first four seasons of the show, they snuck in some interesting tidbits into the opening credits. As the opening shot begins, an aerial shot of a highway in Chicago is featured. Eagle-eyed viewers may spot that the car used is the truckster from the film National Lampoon’s Vacation. Being big fans of the movie, producers wanted to pay tribute to the film for its inspiring role in the making of the sitcom.