Calendar Girl is the seventeenth episode of Season 10 of Married... with Children and the 228th overall episode. Directed by Amanda Bearse and written by Fran E. Kaufer, it originally aired on FOX on February 4, 1996.
Summary[]
Bud gets the idea to create a calendar featuring the girls of Trumaine for his marketing class. The cover girl, Crystal Clark, is reluctant to participate when told that the calendar can go nationwide, and Bud must find a way to convince her it's for the best. Meanwhile, Peg is on the road searching for her dad to save her parents' marriage.
Plot Synopsis[]
Al has a rivalry with Floyd Babcock, who also owns and operates a more successful shoe store at the New Market. When Al learns that Bud has a business project and has the same class with Floyd's son, "Little Floyd", Al is determined to get Bud a higher grade than Floyd's son. Kelly inspires Bud to go with a calendar featuring the women of Trumaine College after she showed off her "Buns of USC" calendar.
Meanwhile, Peggy has been out of the house for over a day, but no one seemed to have noticed. Upon calling home from the back of a limo, she reveal to Al that she is out searching for her father, who has been missing since he abandoned Peg's mom at couple's therapy to go traveling with a younger woman.
After working with several models (and Al's friends trying to sneak a peek during the photoshoots), Bud has an idea for the cover of the calendar. He suggest a fellow student named Crystal Clark and after showing off a picture of her to Al and Floyd, the two men decide to invest $10,010 dollars to help get it published nationally. However, after hearing that she will be the cover model, Crystal becomes reluctant to do it, especially after Bud shows her the revealing bikini. Bud finally convinces her to do it on the basis that it will improve her self esteem and the calendar itself.
Upon its planned release, Al, Floyd, Griff and Jefferson wait the Bundy living room with boxes full of the calendar. Bud and Little Floyd arrive, where Bud reveals that he earned an A+. While Little Floyd also reveals that he earned an A on his project (which involved computer compatibility), Floyd decides to disown his own son and declares that Bud is now his and Al's son. After being hugged by his dads, Bud then informs them that Crystal goes on Chicago Live to promote the calendar, causing Al and Floyd to celebrate together.
In the televised interview, she admits that not only is Bud a great kisser, but that the modelling project boosted her self esteem and now, she has something important to say. Hearing this, Bud is convinced that it will be a marriage proposal, as Al and Floyd watch, awaiting the possible profits from this interview. While everyone is watching the interview at home, Bud gets down on his knees in front of the TV and says "Yes", just before she tells the truth about who she really is: a woman who was born as a man. Al, Floyd, Griff, Jefferson and Little Floyd (who laughs at Bud) all leave Bud to himself, as Bud watches on, even after the television blares white noise hours later.
Recurring Cast[]
Guest Cast[]
- Victor Raider-Wexler as Floyd Babcock
- Krista Allen as Crystal Clark
- John Patrick White as Little Floyd Babcock
- Patty Breton as Pilgrim Girl
- Tina New as Woman #1 (Woman in black dress)
- Robin Krieger as TV Host
Quotes[]
- [In the Bundy kitchen, Al walks over to pick up the ringing telephone]
- Al: Hello?
- Peg: [offscreen] Hi, Al.
- Al: [confused] Peg?
- [Peg is now revealed to be using a cell phone and riding in the back of a limo]
- Peg: Yeah, it's me. I'm just on my way out to find Dad.
- Al: [looks over and suddenly notices that she's not on the couch] Well, when did you leave?
- Peg: Yesterday.
- Al: Well, no wonder the sex was good last night.
- Peg: Oh, but don't worry, Al, I'll be home just as soon as I find Dad, and believe me, I am leaving no stone unturned.
- Al: Where are you?
- Peg: Well I just left Tiffany's. You wouldn't believe how big some of their stones are.
- Al: You should see some of mine. I just felt a big one leave my kidneys and head for my urinary tract.
- [Bud reveals that Crystal might not pose for the the calendar, making Al upset]
- Al: [yelling] What do you mean she doesn't wanna do it?! Don't you know how much money I've got riding on this calendar?!
- Bud: [bitter] Oh, yeah, I know. You had $10, Dad.
- Al: That's beside the point. Don't you realize how many hundreds of thousands of dollars that $10 was going to earn?
- Bud: [bitter] Oh, and you were gonna share how much of that money with me?
- Al: Again, we deviate from the point.
- Bud: Look, Dad, I got her to come over. I'll talk her into it, okay?
- Al: You better! Or I'm cutting you out of the will! [begins to walk up the stairs, but then stops and has a realization] Wait a minute, that's no punishment. [points to Bud] I'm putting you IN the will! HA! You'll owe millions!
- [In his attempt to reassure Crystal that she has nothing to worry about, Bud pulls out the string bikini that she would be wearing, causing her to be even more concerned]
- Crystal: I'm sorry, Bud, I just can't. You don't understand.
- Bud: Oh, Crystal, please, please. Look, you've got nothing to be ashamed of. I mean, you got a great body. And don't worry about what your parents think. Parents love their children no matter what they do.
- [Upstairs, an angry Al suddenly confronts Kelly]
- Al: [offscreen] Damn you, Kelly! You ate my last Hershey's Kiss! You're in the will!
- Kelly: [offscreen] No, Dad, nooo!
Notes[]
Title[]
- The title of the episode is a reference to the song of the same name by Neil Sedaka, which is heard while Bud starts his photoshoot at Gary's Shoes.
- It is also a reference to the fact that Bud is making a calendar with images of girls from his school.
Trivia[]
- Because of Katey Sagal's pregnancy, Peggy's character leaves Al to search for her runaway father from this point until the end of the season.
- Al reveals that Babcock's Shoes has been in the New Market Mall for over 20 years.
- Bud states that he didn't get play in little league baseball because of Al, but Al stated that it was because Bud threw like a girl.
- The end credits do not feature "Love and Marriage" or the still frame of Al and Peg. Instead it continues off from the end of the last act, with Bud in front of the TV while white noise from the TV plays instead.
- In the original airing of this episode, Bud is still motionless after finding out about about Crystal, but the footage is still live while the credits roll. On the DVD release, a still frame of Bud in the same position is used instead, though the white noise is still heard.
- Al reveals that putting his family in the will is his punishment to Bud and Kelly, as they will owe money instead of inherit anything of his.
- This is also one of the few times that Al has actually punished Kelly on the show, as she can be heard screaming "No, dad, noo!" as he puts her in the will for eating his last Hershey's Kiss.
- Several hints are dropped throughout the episode regarding Crystal's secret.
- Bud gets the idea to make a calendar of the girls of Trumaine from Kelly, when she gets a male calendar of the Buns of USC. Naturally, Kelly gets confused and asks, "You wanna make a calendar of men's butts?"
- When Bud realizes he has to be honest and sincere with her, he says, "Completely honest? That goes against everything I stand for. That'd almost be like talking to a guy."
- Crystal is initially reluctant to pose for the calendar in case her parents see her in it, and she tells Bud that he doesn't understand why that can't happen.
- When Crystal finally decides to pose for the pictures, she says, "You know, maybe doing this calendar isn't such a bad idea after all. I'll let my parents know I've finally become a woman."
- During her interview, soon before her revelation, Crystal mentions that Bud helped her to realize that she has nothing to be ashamed of anymore.
- Tina New, who plays the woman in the black dress who asked if Al sells black pumps, previously appeared on MWC in "Blonde and Blonder" as Debbie, the woman who slapped Bud in the face after asking her for a dance for the 15th time.
Cultural References[]
- When Al first confronts Babcock, he makes a joke about the Chicago Bulls being involved with his wife.
- Later, Al says that Little Floyd looks a lot like Dennis Rodman, an NBA player, who, at the time this episode originally aired, started his stint with the Bulls. Rodman was known for his bizarre hair colors and numerous tattoos.
- As Peggy talks to Al on the phone, she tells him that she just left Tiffany's and commented on the stones there.
- Tiffany & Co. is a luxury jewelry and specialty retailer, with its flagship store based in New York City.
- While Peggy didn't say where exactly she was at, there is at least one Tiffany's in Chicago, but the image of her limo exiting and driving off has California license plates, implying she may have been in Los Angeles.
- As Peggy's limo exits onto the streets, there is a billboard for Bell's Whisky.
- The calendar that Kelly looks at is The Buns of USC, in reference to the Los Angeles based private university, University of Southern California, which is typically referred to by its initials "U.S.C.".
- Later in the show, Kelly mentions that she has another calendar to look at called The Buns of UCLA in reference to the Los Angeles based public university, University of California, Los Angeles, which is typically referred to by its initials, "U.C.L.A.".
- When Bud needs twelve beautiful woman for his calendar project, Kelly suggests that he use some of his toys, including:
- Lieutenant Uhura - A character from the 1960s sci-fi series, Star Trek.
- Barbie - a popular fashion doll and was the subject of MWC episodes "Guys and Dolls" and "Sleepless in Chicago".
- Strawberry Shotcake - a female cartoon character that was popular in the 1980s and has had several relaunches.
- Isis - Bud's inflatable sex doll that has been mentioned in several past episodes.
- Al is heard punishing Kelly for eating his last Hershey's Kisses a bite size piece of chocolate that is shaped like a teardrop and wrapped in foil with a plumb sticking out at the top.
Music[]
- "Calendar Girl" by Neil Sedaka is heard during Bud's photoshoot with the girls at Gary's Shoes.
Locations[]
- Bundy Residence
- Gary's Shoes & Accessories for Today's Woman
- Chicago Live Studio
Sets[]
- Bundy Living Room / Kitchen
- Gary's Shoes Seating Area / Photo Shoot area
- Chicago Live Set
Goofs[]
- When Kelly finds the "page turner" Bud left behind and tries to flip her "Buns of USC" calendar, the first page reveals that she is actually looking at a Chippendales calendar.
- In the scene where Peggy's limo pulls out and exits onto the main road, although the episode takes place in 1996, the footage is clearly taken from the early to mid 1980s, judging by the design of the cars on the road. Also worth noting, the limo has a blue California license plate with yellow lettering. The California DMV had discontinued those license plates style in 1982 in favor of the white with blue lettering version. [1]
- In several shots, Kelly can be seen wearing a wedding band on the ring finger of her left hand; however, in the show she is single.
- Near the beginning of the episode, an attractive redhead asks Al and Griff if they have black pumps, but Al says that they never had them. In several episodes, such as "So This is How Sinatra Felt", they clearly sell black pumps.