Season 1 Episode 7: Married … Without Children

Steve and Marcy offer to take Bud and Kelly for a weekend so that Al and Peggy can get away, on the confident assumption that a couple of days of competent adult supervision will do the children good. The episode then cuts between the two experiments: the Rhoades steadily losing control of their own house as Kelly’s social life arrives in it, and the Bundys having what is plainly the best weekend of their marriage in a cheap motel. The contrast is the joke, and it is the first time the series made the case that the Bundys are happier than they look.

The motel material is where the episode’s affection lives. Al and Peggy, removed from the house and the children, are relaxed, pleased with each other and entirely untroubled by the surroundings. Al mentions that they still have the towels they stole from the motel they honeymooned in, and the show thought enough of this one to bring a towel back in the season finale as his favourite.

Several firsts are logged here. It is the first time the inside of the Rhoades’ house is shown, the first time one of Kelly’s boyfriends appears on screen, and, remarkably, seven episodes in, the first time Peggy is seen cleaning anything. Gunther Jenson, who plays Dweep, would return to the series nine years later in season ten’s premiere as one of the movers hauling Bud’s belongings into the street. Noah Blake, Kelly’s boyfriend here, came back in season four as a different boyfriend. By production code this was the ninth episode made for the season.

Episode Facts

• Original air date: May 17, 1987
• Season 1, Episode 7, and the 7th episode of the series
• Written by Ralph R. Farquhar
• Directed by Linda Day

Guest Cast

• Liane Curtis as Debbie
• Noah Blake as Sean
• Gunther Jenson as Dweep

The Rhoades Babysit

It is the first time the inside of the Rhoades house is shown, and the first time one of Kelly’s boyfriends appears on screen, which became a recurring position with high turnover.

The motel towels Al and Peg steal here come back in Johnny Be Gone, where Al calls one of them his favorite.

Famous Quotes

• Al: “Steve, you are the biggest… By the way, do you have cable?” Steve: “No.” Al: “…idiot I’ve ever met!” The insult, suspended mid-sentence for a practical question.
• Kelly: “I really like one of these guys, but don’t make any sudden moves.” Steve: “I guess I can dial 9-1-1 slowly.” Steve, supervising.
• Peggy: “I think the national anthem should be our song from now on.” Peg, on the motel.

Notes

• Liane Curtis later guest starred on Sons of Anarchy opposite Katey Sagal.
• Gunther Jenson came back in season 10 as one of the movers who carries Bud’s belongings out at Al’s request.
• Noah Blake returned in season 4 as a different Kelly boyfriend.
• The original broadcast used two Beastie Boys tracks, which were swapped for soundalikes in syndication.
• The production code shows this was produced ninth for the season but aired seventh.