Bud Hits the Books

Bud Hits the Books is the 23rd episode of Season 10 of Married... with Children and the 232nd overall series episode. Directed by Sam W. Orender and written by Stacie Lipp, it premiered on FOX-TV on April 28, 1996.

Synopsis

Sex gets in the way of Bud studying for his finals, and he risks being expelled when he is caught masturbating in the school library. Marcy comes to his rescue by defending him.

Plot

Bud is preparing for finals and must pull some good grades to graduate; the only problem is that he is going out with a hot new girl named Ariel and sex is getting in the way of his studies. Bud makes a pact to remain celibate until finals are over, while Ariel says she is going to sleep with her teachers to improve her grades. Bud can't concentrate at home because Al subscribed to the new Big 'Uns Channel, so he goes to the school library. He just can't keep his mind off sex. The librarian lets Bud use a private room so he can study quietly, but now all of his books are conjuring up sexual images. He can't take it any longer and "takes care of business" in the study room. Little does he know that there is a video camera mounted in the room and Bud finds himself brought up on conduct charges by the university. It's up to Al, Marcy and the NO MA'AM guys to mount his defense. Despite everything, Bud still manages to graduate from college.

Recurring Cast/Regulars

• Harold Sylvester as Griff
• Tom McCleister as Ike
• Jennifer Lyons as Ariel
• Beverly Archer as Miss Hardaway
• Teresa Parente as Miranda Veracruz de la Jolla Cardinal

Guest Stars

• William Utay as Dean Marquand (credited as Will Utay)
• Ed Gilbert as the voice of Bob Packwood
• Gita Isak as giggler in the Big 'Uns network introduction (voice only) (uncredited)

Notes

Title

• The title of this episode is a refence to the idiom "Hit the books", meaning to study intensely.

Trivia

• Katey Sagal does not appear in this episode due to her childbirth.
• William Utay, who plays Dean Marquand previously appeared on MWC in the Season 1 episode, "The Poker Game", as the bum who receives money from Steve Rhoades.
• Beverly Archer who plays Miss Hardaway makes her second and final appearance on the show.
  • It is revealed that Miss Hardaway is the school librarian, as well as the Virgin Hotline operator as seen in "Dial B for Virgin".
• This is the second appearance of Jennifer Lyons as Ariel.
  • It is revealed that she and Bud appear to be dating now and attend the same college, despite her punching him in "The Hood, the Bud and the Kelly (Part 1)".
• When Bud gets out of bed and puts his clothes back on, in the background is the "Crazy Achmed" box that had the satellite dish that Al and his friends installed several episodes earlier in "The Hood, the Bud and the Kelly (Part 1)" and "The Hood, the Bud and the Kelly (Part 2)".
• After Bud reveals that he has been put on probation, Al asks if it was for spray painting a mascot or going on a panty raid. Earlier, in season 7's "The Old College Try", Al and Bud end up participating in a panty raid and bond over it.

Cultural References

• Ariel confuses the American Civil War with actress Cybill Shepherd.
• After Ariel and Bud arrive upstairs and are greeted by Kelly and NO MA'AM, Ike mentions the 1992 film, The Crying Game as he questions if Ariel really is a female or not.
• The announcer for the premiere of "Big 'Uns Network" is former U.S. Senator Bob Packwood. He then states that this will be a "Dear Diary" day for him.
  • At the time this episode aired, Packwood had been forced to resign from the United States Senate after allegations of sexual harassment from former staffers.
  • The "Dear Diary" line is likely a reference to Packwood's personal diary that had been subpoenaed by the Senate Ethics Committee and allegedly contained details about sexual encounters and sexual abuse.
• The line that Bud reads from the first textbook, "Her breasts, like ivory globes circled with blue, A pair of maiden worlds unconquered", is taken from the narrative poem, The Rape of Lucrece by William Shakespeare.
• The last textbook Bud looks at references the Trobiand Islands, an archipelago near New Guinea.
• Griff says he "did the Bundy" while watching the 1971 film, Shaft.
• Bud's line "Absolutely 100% not guilty" is a reference to O.J. Simpson's plead during his 1995 murder trial.
• After the trial, Dean Marquand declares that he will allow Bud to graduate, "and seal the records, so as to maintain the good name of the Michael Milken library".
  • Michael Milken is an American financier and philanthropist who served time in prison in the late 1980s for securities fraud.

Music

• The traditional graduation song, "Pomp and Circumstance" is played during the graduation ceremony at Trumaine University.

Locations

• Bundy Residence
• Trumaine University

Sets

• Bundy Living Room / Kitchen
• Bundy Basement / Bud's room
• Trumaine University Library Reference Desk / Study Room A
• Truamine University Commencement Stage

Goofs

• During the trial, Bud stated that Miss Hardaway has had a crush on him for years, yet, in season 9's "Dial B for Virgin", which took place a year before this episode, it is implied that it was their very first time meeting each other.
• When Bud screams after seeing the Library 'Uns centerfold, he puts the magazine down at an angle with the back cover and a few pages visible. Immediately, the camera cuts to Miss Hardaway giving Bud the books he requests and the magazine is now straight, with only its front cover visible and facing Miss Hardaway.
  • Also, when Bud screams, as the library patrons shush him, he turns to look back and only his left hand is on the counter. Right after it cuts to Miss Hardaway, he is already facing Miss Hardaway with both of his hands on the counter.