A Bundy Thanksgiving was the 6th episode of Married... with Children, also the 244th overall series episode.
Directed by Amanda Bearse, the episode, which was co-written by Vince Cheung and Bon Mantnio, premiered on FOX-TV on November 24, 1996.
Summary[]
On Thanksgiving, Al tries to uphold his childhood tradition of eating Aunt Maddie's sweet potato pie, so he and Griff take a trip to see Aunt Maddie in order to buy some. Unfortunately, it turns out that she had recently died and that the last pie is at her funeral. Meanwhile, Jefferson can't find a turkey for Marcy because they've sold out. Then, a stray turkey just happens to follow Kelly home. Will Kelly let the others eat it?
Plot[]
On Thanksgiving Day, Al looks for a pie tin from Aunt Maddie's Pies, a bakery that Al visits every year since he was a child. Upon bringing the tin back to her shop, he would get a discount toward her famous sweet potato pie. Unfortunately, as Al and Griff arrive at her bakery, there is a notice saying that it is closed due to a death in the family. An elderly gentleman informs the two men that if they are looking for Auntie Maddy, she will be at the nearby church.
Meanwhile Jefferson can't find a turkey for Marcy to cook, as virtually all of the stores within the Chicagoland area are sold out for the holiday and seeks some help from Peggy and Bud. Just then, a stray turkey just happens to follow Kelly home, which she names "Hank". Seeing this, the other three try to see if they can convince Kelly to let them kill the bird and have their Thanksgiving feast.
At the church, Al and Griff find out that it was Aunt Maddie who had passed away. As Al mourns over her (and Griff tries to flirt with a woman there), they end up meeting sports commentator, James Brown, who reveals that he was her nephew. After introducing themselves, Brown tells Al that Aunt Maddy used to talk about him all the time, by telling her nephew, "James, do you homework or you'll wind up like Al Bundy". He then informs the two that the very last pie that she made will be served to the attendees after the funeral, which motivates Al to come up a plan and have the pie for himself.
Kelly soon becomes frustrated with Bud, Peg and Jefferson as they continue trying to steal Hank and turn him into their thanksgiving meal. Trying to save Hank, Kelly throws him out of the window so that it can fly away. Unfortunately for Kelly, not knowing that domesticated turkeys are not able to fly, Hank immediately falls down head first and dies, becoming their Thanksgiving dinner.
Back at the church, upon learning that Reverend Hightower, who is presiding over the funeral, will be burying the pie with Aunt Maddy instead of sharing it, Al ends up taking it while the congregation had their heads down to pray. Furious at the disrespect Al is showing, the rest of the church go after him. But, using his football skills and Griff running interference, Al is able to outmaneuver everyone, including James Brown. At the Bundy residence, Kelly continues crying over Hank as the rest of the family celebrates with Hank's corpse now roasted and ready to be carved. Just then, a young boy stops by and reveals that Hank was actually his pet, "Timothy" and that he had raised from a young age. As Kelly apologizes to the boy, he then reveals that he wanted to be the one that killed Timothy before stealing his remains, leaving the Bundys and D'Arcys without a turkey.
At that moment, Al arrives back at home and shows off the final pie of Aunt Maddy. After the rest of the family are disappointed that they no longer have a turkey and Griff arrives looking bruised and bloodied, Al initially refuses to share his pie. Suddenly, the ghost of Aunt Maddie appears on the box and reminds Al that her saying was "My pies are always sweeter when you share 'em.". Al eventually decides to give in and share with his family and friends.
Just before the credits, at the NFL on FOX studio, James Brown ends up being mocked by his fellow commentators (and MWC guest stars) Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, and Ronnie Lott as they watch the replay of Al outmaneuvering him and the others mourners.
Cast[]
Main cast[]
- Ed O'Neill as Al Bundy
- Katey Sagal as Peggy Bundy
- Amanda Bearse as Marcy D'Arcy
- Christina Applegate as Kelly Bundy
- David Faustino as Bud Bundy
- Ted McGinley as Jefferson D'Arcy
Recurring cast/Guest stars[]
- Harold Sylvester as Griff
- Lucky as Lucky the Dog
- Terry Bradshaw as Himself
- James Brown as Himself
- Howie Long as Himself
- Ronnie Lott as Himself
- Beau Billingslea as Reverend Hightower
- Ann Weldon as Aunt Maddie
- Lakeitcha Hurd as Mourner #1
- Virginia Capers as Mourner #2
- Vivian Bonnell as Mourner #3
- Patricia Belcher as Eunetta
- Nick LaTour as Old Man
- Caroline Jones as Woman
- Miles Marsico as Boy
Quotes[]
- [After learning that Aunt Maddie passed away, Al is shown weeping at her funeral as several other mourner in line walk by him]
- Al: [crying] I don't know how I can live without the warmth and sweetness.
- Mourner #1: [pats Al on the shoulder, as she cries] We're all gonna miss her.
- Al: [crying] That unforgettable, spicy flavor and buttery bottom.
- [As Al hunches over, a pair of mourners overhear Al and have a look of concern]
- Mourner #2: Good Lord, is he talking about Aunt Maddie?
- Mourner #3: Hmm! I think Aunt Maddie had jungle fever with this man.
- [The two ladies look down at Al as he continues crying]
- James Brown: Gentlemen, excuse me. I don't believe we've met. I'm James Brown, Aunt Maddie's nephew.
- Griff: Aren't you that guy on TV?
- Al: The the host of NFL on Fox?
- James Brown: [proudly] Why, yes, I am. But you know, I also cover hockey.
- Al: [scoffs] Yeah, but who cares about that?
- James Brown: So you knew my Aunt Maddie?
- Al: I have very fond memories of your aunt. My mother and father use to take me to her pie store every Thanksgiving. I'd try to steal a cookie and she'd slap me upside the head. Then she'd give me a cookie anyway. She was a wonderful woman.
- James Brown: Wait a minute. Don't tell me you're Al Bundy?
- Al: Yeah, did she talk about me?
- James Brown: Oh, my goodness. All the time. As a matter of fact, I'm where I am today because of you.
- Al: Really?
- James Brown: Yeah. I can hear her now. She used to always say: "James, do your homework or you'll wind up like Al Bundy."
- Al: [bitterly] Yeah, I'm glad I could help.
- [As Bud, Peggy, and Jefferson try to convince Kelly to let them have her pet turkey, Hank, so they can prepare the Thanksgiving meal, she locks herself in her bedroom.]
- Kelly: [petting Hank] I'm sorry, Hank. I really want to keep you but... it's not safe here. I'm gonna have to set you free.
- [Hank gobbles]
- Kelly: [emotional] Oh, me, too! I'll never forget you!
- [Kelly gives Hank a quick kiss, then picks him up and prepares to give the turkey a boost out through the window]
- Kelly: Fly away, Hank! [pauses, then starts to cry] FLY LIKE THE WIIIND!
- [Kelly throws the turkey out, hoping it would take off and fly away. Instead, she ends up witnessing Hank quickly plummet to his death in the backyard.]
- Kelly: [horrified] ....I MEANT FLY *UP*, HANK! [begins wailing]
- [In the Bundy kitchen, a mourning Kelly is crying over Hank's death, while Peggy, Marcy, Jefferson and Bud are standing over the diner table with Hank's oven-roasted body being presented for their Thanksgiving dinner]
- Kelly: [crying] Well, who knew that turkeys couldn't fly?
- Marcy: [reluctantly raises her hand] I did.
- Peg: Me too.
- Jefferson: [raises hand] Ditto.
- [Lucky, who is sitting on the couch, whimpers and raises his paw to indicate that he knew as well]
- Bud: Duh.
- Marcy: [hugs Jefferson, smiling] Jefferson, thanks for my Thanksgiving turkey.
- Jefferson: Well, you really have to thank Kelly. I mean, she's the one who threw him to his neck-snapping death.
- Kelly: [crying even louder, then leans over the roasted turkey and talks directly to it] I'm so sorry, Hank.
- Bud: [leans into Kelly, quietly] You're talking into his butt. [Kelly immediately has a horrified look] His head's in the garbage.
- Kelly: [wailing] AHHHHH!!!!!
Notes[]
Title[]
- The title of the episode is a reference to the Bundys celebrating the holiday known as Thanksgiving.
- The title also refers to the 1973 thanksgiving special, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.
Trivia[]
- This is the only episode in which we see Kelly's bedroom.
- It appears to be located at the end of a hall by a window and directly across from the linen closet.
- This is the only Thanksgiving episode in the series.
- The only other episode that references Thanksgiving at the Bundy residence is season 4's "Fair Exchange", in which the opening scene takes place the day after Thanksgiving. It also reveals that the Bundy's eat pizza toppings for Thanksgiving and save the crust for the next day.
- The epilogue features the cast of FOX's NFL Sunday pre-game show, as they comment on James Brown's appearance in this episode.
- The FOX NFL Sunday pre-game show features James Brown as well as Terry Bradshaw who appeared in season 10's "Dud Bowl II" and Howie Long who appeared in season 10's "Al Bundy's Sports Spectacular".
- Beau Billingslea, who previously appeared on MWC in season 8's "Banking on Marcy" as the moderator, plays Reverend Hightower in this episode.
- It is revealed that Bud has failed a tuberculosis test in elementary school.
- Al mentions that his Thanksgiving in his childhood involved his parents having Wild Turkey, driving drunk to Aunt Maddie's and after they returned home and passed out, Al consuming a whole sweet potato pie by himself.
- The young boy who owned Hank / Timmy mentioned that he was told where the bird was by Mr. McGinty.
- The McGintys have been mentioned in several past episodes, with Mrs. McGinty making her one and only appearance in season 3's "Here's Lookin' at You, Kid".
Cultural References[]
- Al mentions the bourbon brand, Wild Turkey, as he described his childhood memories of Thanksgiving.
- Bud is revealed to be watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade at the beginning of the episode and admiring the floats of fictional characters Miss Piggy and Betty Boop.
- After Peggy comes down the stairs, she asks if there is a Rush Limbaugh float in the parade, before Bud points out that it actually is him.
- Rush Limbaugh was a radio personality and author who was considered one of the premier conservative voices in the United States during the 1990s. At the time, he was known to be rather heavyset as well as a constant cigar smoker. He was previously made fun of by Buck in "I Want My Psycho Dad (Part 1)" and Mark and Oliver in "Radio Free Trumaine".
- As Al cries over Aunt Maddie and describes how he will miss the flavors and texture of her pie, two of the mourners overhear him and believe he and Aunt Maddie had an affair. One of them says ", I think Aunt Maddie had "jungle fever" with this man!".
- This is in reference to the 1991 film Jungle Fever, which is about a success black architect who begins an extramarital interracial relationship with his white secretary.
- The scene where Kelly Drops Hank from her bedroom window gets its reference from the Season One WKRP in Cincinnati episode titled "Turkeys Away". This episode revolved around WKRP holding a special promotion at the Lindale Mall. It was dreamed up by station manager Arthur Carlson and involved a helicopter dropping live turkeys.
- This MWC episode even has Kelly saying the line, "I thought turkeys could fly?"
- "Turkeys Away" is also loosely referenced in the season 2 MWC episode "You Better Watch Out" which featured a Santa parachuting onto Lakeside Mall property with coupons while the Bundys and Rhodes watch the action on TV (the audience only hears the announcer's voice) only to see that Santa crash to his death in the Bundy backyard.
- Both the WKRP episode (loosely) and the season 2 MWC episode reference the 1932 incident in Mesa Arizona where a newspaper editor named John McPhee drops a store mannequin dressed as Santa from a plane only for the stunt to go very wrong.[1]
- After the boy sees his turkey, he mentions that he and Hank / Timothy won a 4-H ribbon together.
- 4-H is a youth organization that teaches children to better society through the use of agriculture and technology.
Music[]
- "Down by the Riverside" is heard when Griff starts dancing in church
- "He's Got the Whole World in his Hands" is heard after Al warns Griff about making it a double funeral if he continues to sing.
Locations[]
- Bundy Residence
- Downtown Chicago
- Church
Sets[]
- Bundy Living Room / Kitchen
- Bundy Hallway
- Kelly's Bedroom
- Aunt Maddie's Pies exterior / Chicago Sidewalk
- Church Seating Area
Goofs[]
- In this episode everyone makes fun of Kelly for thinking Hank the turkey could fly and they all tell her that turkeys cannot fly. In reality, wild turkeys can and do fly, albeit in limited capacity.
- Though, in all fairness, domesticated turkeys (the ones that are used for Thanksgiving or raised as pets, such as Hank / Timothy) typically cannot fly due to the breeding that causes them to have larger breasts and more weight than a wild turkey.
- When Al and Griff are getting directions from the old man in front of Aunt Maddie's, a boom mic's reflection can be seen on the window.