Life's a Beach is the 21st episode of season 3 of Married...With Children, also the 56th overall series episode. It originally aired on FOX on May 21, 1989. Directed by Gerry Cohen, the episode was written by Ralph R. Farquhar.
Synopsis[]
Taking some inspiration from Steve & Marcy, The Bundys spend a family day at the beach.
Full episode summary[]
Al is inspired by an episode of Eight Is Enough to spend more time with his family by taking them to the beach, but the experience doesn't turn out as ideally as he envisioned it. Seeking a tad more family togetherness, Al declares, "Bundy Day at the Beach", on which he takes the family to a local beach on Lake Michigan, where Bud and Kelly compete with each other to find some dates for themselves, while an old flame, named Marilyn Beamis (played by Morgan Brittany), finds Al. Meanwhile, Steve attempts to evade responsibility after causing a traffic accident. When the Rhoades need to avoid the other driver in a fender bender they had, everyone -- The Bundys and the Rhoades -- all head to the beach! Bud gets a girlfriend, or at least that's the way she sees herself.
Recurring cast/Guest stars[]
Regulars[]
- Amanda Bearse as Marcy Rhoades
- David Garrison as Steve Rhoades
- Buck the dog as Buck Bundy
Guest starring[]
- Morgan Brittany as Marilyn Beamis
- Candace Hutson as Tina (as Candy Hutson)
- Brice Alan as Chris
- Peter Steinfeld as Lifeguard (as Pete Steinfeld)
- Christi Allen aa Lucy
- Sandra Alexander as Wendy
- Amber Susa as Jill
- Gary Mauro as Mark
- Tracy Burton as Sandy
- Marilyn Pitzer as Betsy
- Michael Faustino as Kid #1
- Marcy Austin as Luana
- Saman as Beach Boy
- Vanessa Cherié Guarnera as Beach Girl (uncredited)
- Zara McDowell as Beach Girl (uncredited)
Quotes[]
- Al: Anyway, the fat one they call Dad; he had this great idea where they all get together, and, uh... well, I don't really know what it was about. But the important thing is they were all together and they did it as a family. Now, it made me think. See, we could do more together. [walks around and sits next to Bud, while pointing at him] For instance, how much do we really know about each other? Uh...
- Bud: Bud...
- Al: Right. Now, Bud, quick: When's Kelly's birthday?
- Bud: It was yesterday, Dad.
- [Al slowly turns around and looks at Kelly, who is nodding her head in agreement]
- Al: [disappointed] Gee, I'm sorry I missed it, honey.
- Peg: Happy birthday, sweetheart. [pats Kelly on her leg]
- Steve: But I digress. We really didn't come over to throw our happiness in your face. Actually, I was wondering if you could do me a favor?
- Al: What? Grab one of your wife's legs and make a wish?
- [Marcy quickly gets up and tries to attack Al while Steve holds her back and then kneels next to her. She gives Al an upset look as he continues grinning for several seconds before Steve finally calms her down]
- Steve: If you have chicken legs, call me Colonel Sanders.
- Marcy: [smiling] And ooh, baby, you do chicken right.
- [Steve leans in and kiss her on the cheek while the Bundys look disgusted]
- Al: Guys, I'll tell ya, if I had eaten something in the last forty eight hours, I'd be showin' you another little tradition I have.
- [At the beach, Al is visited by an old girlfriend as Peg naps right next to him and her kids put sand on Peg's feet]
- Marilyn: Al, would you do me a small favor? Will you make love to me right here right now?
- Al: [nervously chuckles] Well, uh, see, I'm married.
- Marilyn: Well, I don't care.
- [Al suddenly becomes afraid as he realizes that she is not joking]
- Al: Well, she's right here. [points to Peg]
- Marilyn: [smiling] Well, I don't care. It'll make it more exciting. Well, I'll send the kids away if you want.
- [Al chuckles nervously as he waves to Marilyn's kids who are busy burying Peg's feet]
- Al: Yeah, Marilyn, you always were one that would go that extra mile, but, uh, I don't want this to get out, but, see, I really kinda like my family. I don't think it would be right. Now, don't feel insulted or anything. I'd say the same thing to my wife if she asked for sex.
- [Steve and Marcy are sitting on their chairs at the beach and laughing. Suddenly, a lifeguard with a steering wheel in his hands comes up to them]
- Lifeguard: Excuse me. [squats down next to Marcy and flips the steering wheel over] Is this your Mercedes?
- Marcy: [sits up] Oh, Steve, I'd recognize it anywhere. [takes the steering wheel and looks it over] It's part of Klaus!
- [Steve quickly sits up and takes it from Marcy, examining the details]
- Lifeguard: By the way, the guy with the sledgehammer said your note, "Gone to the beach. Hah, hah, loser," doesn't quite cover his damage. Have a nice day. [stands up] And swim with a buddy.
- [Marcy smiles and watches the lifeguard leave, as a now depressed Steve clings to the steering wheel and goes into the fetal position]
Notes[]
Title[]
- The title for this episode is a reference to the idiom "Life's a Bitch", meaning that life is never easy and is often a struggle to survive through and the Bundys spending a day at the beach.
Trivia[]
- Marcy confirms that this episode takes place somewhere in May, as she said that she and Steve have a tradition of going to the beach on the first sunny day in May.
- Steve indicates that he has faked whiplash before to get out of trouble following a car accident.
- Steve mentions that he was born with some sort of skin yellowing condition which eventually cleared up.
- After Peggy begins sniffing around for money in Steve's envelope, Kelly says "Hey, I hope it's a G-spot" instead of "10 spot" (a term for a ten-dollar bill) as Peggy points out afterward.
- Kelly's line was cut out from the syndicated version, but remains intact in the DVD release.
- Marcy and Steve's Mercedes-Benz is named "Klaus".
- Al and Peggy didn't realize that Kelly's birthday was the day before this episode took place and had to rely on Bud and Kelly to confirm it. A similar incident happens later in season seven's "Movie Show" where they forgot about her birthday again until she reminds them about it.
- Michael Faustino, David Faustino's younger brother, makes another guest appearance as Kid #1. He is seen in a blue tank top building a sandcastle with his friend that Al inadvertently destroys when he puts the beach gear down.
- Vanessa Cherié Guarnera, who plays a beach girl in this episode, later appeared on MWC as a go-go dancer in the Season 11 episode, "Live Nude Peg".
Cultural References[]
- Al mentions watching the ABC television show Eight Is Enough which inspired him to go on a family trip.
- After Al jokes about grabbing one of Marcy's legs to make a wish, Steve refers to himself as Colonel Sanders and Marcy tells him "Baby, you do chicken right".
- This is reference to Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of fast food chain, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and its slogan "We Do Chicken Right" which was used from 1981 until 1991.
- Bud calls himself "Bud Bon Jovi" while taking to a girl, in reference to the singer Jon Bon Jovi.
Locations[]
- Bundy Residence
- Beach
Sets[]
- Bundy Living Room / Kitchen
- Beach
Goofs[]
- When Al tries to remember the name of the show he was watching, Bud tells him "Eight is Enough". If you look closely, Bud's lips are still moving, as if the audio was cut off right after "Enough". In context, it looks like he was originally saying "Eight is Enough, dad".
- When Al asks Bud when is Kelly's birthday, Bud's left arm is rest on the back of the couch. Immediately, it cuts to Bud and his arm is suddenly next to him as he tells Al that her birthday was on the previous day.
- Bud points out that Kelly's birthday was the day before this episode took place, indicating that she was born in May. This would contradict her birthday listed as November 27, 1971 as well as her stating that she was born in February (and claiming to be an "aquarium" instead of Aquarius) in season 4's "Peggy Turns 300".
- When Steve tries to hold Marcy back after Al makes a chicken joke, David Garrison appears to struggle to keep his laughter in. The camera then switches to Al who is still smiling while looking at them and appears to be waiting for the next line before Steve is shown again with a more serious look.
- After Bud pulls Kelly aside to hear the ocean through her head, the studio lights are clearly reflected on his sunglasses. Later, the studio lights are also seen on Al's sunglasses when he sits down with Peggy as she applies foot powder and deodorant on him.
- The Mercedes-Benz steering wheel that is brought to Steve belongs to a much older model that Steve is supposed to be driving.
External Links[]
Life's a Beach at the Internet Movie Database- Life's a Beach on Bundyology
- Life's a Beach - Transcript on albundy.net
- #57 Life's a Beach - MWC Podcast on Horrorphilia
