Product Description

The dysfunctional fun continues with the complete first season of "Married…with Children," the off-beat comedy that changed the face of TV family sitcoms forever, available on DVD for the first time! Nominated for 7 Golden Globe Awards between 1991 and 1994. 2-disc set with all 13 episodes.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8547 in DVD
• Brand: SONY PICTURES HOME ENT
• Released on: 2003-10-28
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 302 minutes

Amazon.com
When Married... with Children debuted on Fox TV on April 5, 1987 (followed by The Tracey Ullman Show a half-hour later), the grungy sitcom became an instant flagship for Rupert Murdoch's upstart network. The program's much-publicized working title, Not the Cosbys (a dismissive reference to the cheerful vitality of Bill Cosby's hugely popular television clan on NBC's The Cosby Show) was a dead giveaway. Married... with Children was going to be a trashier, raunchier, and far more cynical view of the American nuclear family. But it turned out the series actually fell into other caustic-domestic entertainment traditions, notably the Don Ameche and Frances Langford radio comedy series from the 1940s, The Bickersons, and Jackie Gleason's TV classic, The Honeymooners.

The jokes were savage, key relationships were marked by ennui and indifference, and the Bundy family name couldn't help but make one think of America's most notorious, real-life serial killer at the time. Yet the show had a hint of Golden Age Hollywood gloss, a retro-screwball feel that one could detect in the snappy verbal warfare between husband Al Bundy (Ed O'Neill) and wife Peggy (Katey Sagal). The characters, and the show, eschewed sentimentality, which certainly opened the floodgates to comic cynicism but also kept a door ajar for moments of genuine sweetness. A decade later, however, by the time Fox cancelled the increasingly expensive series, Married... with Children's first-season tone would be considerably different, replaced by a stronger reliance on running jokes and character stereotypes, particularly concerning Bundy children Kelly (Christina Applegate) and Bud (David Faustino).

That evolution makes watching Married... with Children's first 13 episodes, once again, quite instructive. Those programs are all on this two-disc set, including the startling pilot, in which Al and Peggy lock horns over marital politics and enlist naive new neighbors Steve (David Garrison) and Marcy (Amanda Bearse) in a battle of the sexes. There's also the classic "Whose Room Is It, Anyway," concerning the Bundys' competition to connive Steve and Marcy into building a recreation room, and "Thinnergy," a very funny piece about a diet that supposedly boosts sexual interest. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Feel the Love...
Finally, after a very long and restless wait, "Married with Children: Season One" is now available to own on DVD. Considered one of the raunchiest and most vulgar shows in its time, these 13 glorious episodes are here for your viewing pleasure for the very first time on DVD. These guys ain't the Cosbys, that's for sure.

The show revolves around a shoe-salesman, Al Bundy, and his lovely (lovely??) family. His wife is always on his case about money and refuses to clean or cook the house. The kids are always driving him up the wall with their constant bickering and getting into trouble. The only sane one in the family appears to be sane is the dog (although he doesn't really do much). Yep, it's "Home, Sweet Hell" for Al Bundy all day, every day. You can just feel the love.

I forgot how funny the first season was. I don't think a second went by where I wasn't laughing hysterically at the Bundy hijinx that was occurring in each episode. Personally, I think Al Bundy has some of the funniest lines ever. All 13 episodes are some of the funniest TV you'll ever see. It's nice to finally see them earn a home in the DVD world.

Here are the 13 episodes that are included in this set:
"Pilot," "Thinergy," "Sixteen Years and What Do You Get," "But I Didn't Shoot the Deputy," "Have You Driven a Ford Lately," "Whose Room is it Anyway," "Al Loses his Cherry," "Peggy Sue Got Work," "Married� Without Children," "The Poker Game," "Where's the Boss," "Nightmare on Al's Street," and "Johnny B. Gone."

This 2-disk DVD set also includes extra features like bonus trailers and the "Married with Children Reunion Special" that aired on FOX awhile back. The picture and sound quality is pretty good, considering how old the show is.

"Married with Children: Season One" is a must-have for any Married with Children fans. Hey, with Christmas coming up pretty soon, this would make a great gift. The Bundys were a crazy family, but they were family nonetheless. Check out these 13 episodes as soon as you can and prepare yourself for some high quality entertainment.

Thank The Lord........Finally A Good Season Set!!!!!!!!!
Finally They Have Decided To Release A Good Season Set On DVD! I Have To Say This Is By Far The Best Show To Have Ever Been On The Air. This Dysfunctional Family Made My Days Brighter. I Don't Know One Person Who Has Seen This Show And Not Laughed. What's not to like. The First Season Consists of 13 Hilarious Episodes.

Here They Are:
0101 - PILOT - Steve & Marcy visit the Bundys for the first time.
0102 - THINNERGY - Peggy & Al make a diet.
0103 - SIXTEEN YEARS AND WHAT DO YOU GET - Al & Peggy's 16th anniversary.
0104 - BUT I DIDN'T SHOOT THE DEPUTY - Steve & Marcy buy a guard dog.
0105 - HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY - Al & Steve buy a Ford Mustang.
0106 - WHOSE ROOM IS IT ANYWAY - Steve & Marcy want to build a new room.
0107 - AL LOSES HIS CHERRY - Al wants to sleep at Luke's. Last episode with Luke.
0108 - PEGGY SUE GOT WORK - Peggy gets a job in a watch department store.
0109 - MARRIED... WITHOUT CHILDREN - Steve & Marcy take care of Bud & Kelly.
0110 - THE POKER GAME - Steve loses his paycheck to Al in a poker game.
0111 - WHERE'S THE BOSS - Al quits his job as his boss doesn't want to meet him.
0112 - NIGHTMARE ON AL'S STREET - Marcy dreams of Al.
0113 - JOHNNY BE GONE - The last day of "Johnny B. Good's" diner. The Pilot And Thinnergy were not the best episodes but it got a lot better........The show got a lot better when they replaced Steve with Jefferson. But all of them were great......So I would recommend everyone to buy this dvd. It will be the best 23 dollars you have ever spent. And If you don't have a dvd player, Buy one just to get this show.

LONG LIVE THE BUNDY'S!

Married... with Children - the first season on DVD
The first season was produced in 1987 (it's almost 20 years now!). It included 13 fabulous series.

I didn't have an intention to buy all seasons, and I wouldn't mind to have just the best of... But lately I discovered the complete first season on a DVD, and I decided to have just only this one! I thought, that since that was a beginning in a series of spectacular seasons, then it should have been definitely one of the best. Because lots of energies and efforts were given both by actors and the authors to make this new show popular so that it could win its audience in the late 80th. I bought this DVD and I am very happy about it. I enjoyed each single scene, each phrase and each pulled face. And I laughed a lot! This season is packed with 100% smart and witty jokes that worth to remember and cite!

Quality of the picture is just alright for 1987. I am glad it was not digitally re-mastered, otherwise it would lose the touch and the charm of the late 80th. Besides, re-mastering of a 302-minute show would make this DVD cost a fortune!

On the other hand, the quality of DVD's sound, which is Stereo Dolby Digital, is superb. First time I watched this show on TV dubbed in Russian and I couldn't really assess sound quality of original dialogues. But now, after I bought this DVD, I can tell you - sound is just great. All actors speak clearly and loud enough for one to hear each single word.... and to laugh!

I highly recommend this show!