Married… with Children vs. the World

The Inside Story of the Shock-Com That Launched FOX and Changed TV Comedy Forever

By: Richard Gurman

Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins

Married . . . With Children burst onto the airwaves with a full-frontal attack on the myth of domestic tranquility depicted in family comedies since the dawn of TV. The outlier series, created by two rebellious writers given carte blanche from a fledgling FOX, became one of the longest running live-action sitcoms in television history and forever changed the way married life was portrayed on the very networks it so scathingly satirized. But it was far from smooth sailing as the creators bucked up against Barry Diller—then CEO of FOX—and then butted heads with network standards.

Married . . . With Children writer-producer Richard Gurman takes us behind the scenes of this boundary-breaking show to reveal how its inner workings were at times as disruptive and contentious—yet at other times, as hysterical and raunchy—as the Bundy family themselves. Featuring exclusive interviews with the cast, including Ed O'Neill and Katey Sagal, media moguls, network executives, writers, directors, critics, and even the woman who was so offended by one episode she launched a sponsor boycott that almost got the series canceled, Married . . . With Children vs. the World celebrates the rebellious, satirical vision of the show and the battle to keep it alive that paved the way for the tremendous diversity in family comedy style we see today.

©2024 Richard Gurman; "Married... with Children" copyright 1987, 2022 by ELP Communication Inc. (P)2024 Tantor

Didn’t want it to End

Married with Children will always hold a special place in my
Heart. It’s something I bonded over with my father. This immediately made me want to rewatch the show and I didn’t want it to end. Praying for one day to get a married with grandchildren revival or even the animated show.