Season 1 (1987)

Married with Children: Season 1
"Married... with Children" Season 1 DVD cover.
Program information
Episodes aired:
13
Dates aired:
April 5, 1987 - June 28, 1987
Network/Country:
FOX-TV / United States
Previous Season: None/ First Season
Next Season: Season 2

The first season of Married... with Children introduces the major characters: Al, Peg, Kelly and Bud Bundy, along with their neighbors, Steve and Marcy Rhoades. The first season is the only one in which Al and Peg are regularly intimate, to the point of Al initiating the sessions. It is also the only one where Peg can be seen doing housework under normal circumstances, and she even has her own car (as seen in "Sixteen Years and What Do You Get"). In "Thinnergy," Bud mentions that Kelly had been held back a year in school. Al's dislike of the French is first shown in this season and it is also the first time that he calls Marcy a "chicken". It also contains the first mention of Peg's family being "hillbillies" from the fictional Wanker County, Wisconsin.

Episodes

Season 1 (1987)

No. in series	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Production code
1	1	Pilot	Linda Day	Ron Leavitt & Michael G. Moye	April 5, 1987	1.01
A down-on-his-luck shoe salesman named Al Bundy, unhappily married with two children, is forced to choose between going to a basketball game or joining his lazy wife, Peg, in meeting their new neighbors, Steve and Marcy Rhoades. Note: On April 22, 2012, Fox re-aired the series premiere in honor of its 25th anniversary.
2	2	Thinnergy	Linda Day	Ron Leavitt & Michael G. Moye	April 12, 1987	1.02
Inspired by a diet book from Marcy to improve their sex life, Peg decides the entire family should be eating healthier and starts them on a diet. Al actually says, "I love you" to Peg at the end of the episode.
3	3	But I Didn't Shoot the Deputy	Linda Day	Ron Burla	April 19, 1987	1.04
The neighborhood has a local robber on the loose. After Steve and Marcy are robbed, they buy a guard dog to protect themselves, but Al, on the other hand, illegally buys a gun (without a permit), causing a lot of trouble.
4	4	Whose Room Is It Anyway?	Zane Buzby	Marcy Vosburgh & Sandy Sprung	April 26, 1987	1.06
Steve and Marcy plan on adding another room to their house with their tax refund, but the men and wives get into a huge argument when Al and Steve want a room to play 8 ball pool in, while Peg and Marcy want to put together an exercise room.
5	5	Have You Driven a Ford Lately?	Linda Day	Richard Gurman & Katherine Green	May 3, 1987	1.05
Steve gets a vintage 1965 Ford Mustang. Since the car is in bad condition, Al and Steve decide to restore the car but it completely takes their time, irking their wives.
6	6	Sixteen Years and What Do You Get?	Linda Day	Katherine Green & Richard Gurman	May 10, 1987	1.03
Al is unable to purchase a gift for Peg on their 16th wedding anniversary and later learns that his credit card was maxed out by Peg and Kelly, who used it to buy gifts for him and pay for their catered dinner and entertainment.
7	7	Married... without Children	Linda Day	Ralph R. Farquhar	May 17, 1987	1.09
Al and Peg decide to go on vacation. They ask Steve and Marcy to take care of their kids, Bud and Kelly. They don't get along, as Bud and Kelly throw a huge party at the Rhoades's house, irking Steve and Marcy. Meanwhile, Al and Peg have a better-than-expected time on their vaction.
8	8	The Poker Game	Brian Levant	Ron Leavitt & Michael G. Moye	May 24, 1987	1.10
Al invites Steve to play poker with his best friends, but Steve ends up losing his paycheck to Al, leaving him in a hard situation with Marcy. Note: Christina Applegate and David Faustino do not appear in this episode.
9	9	Peggy Sue Got Work	Linda Day	Ellen L. Fogle	May 31, 1987	1.08
Peg takes a job at a clock store at the mall when Al won't buy her a VCR to earn on her own. Both Peg and Al are unhappy with the situation and pay their kids to suggest that Peg should quit.
10	10	Al Loses His Cherry	Arlando Smith	Marcy Vosburgh & Sandy Sprung	June 7, 1987	1.07
Al runs away from home after a fight with Peg and stays with his best friend, Luke. When a pair of sisters show up, Luke takes one to bed while the other tries to seduce Al.
11	11	Nightmare on Al's Street	Linda Day	Michael G. Moye	June 14, 1987	1.12
Marcy freaks out when she begins having erotic dreams about Al after a heated argument about men vs women.
12	12	Where's the Boss?	Linda Day	Marcy Vosburgh & Sandy Sprung	June 21, 1987	1.11
Al threatens to quit his job at the shoe store unless he gets some appreciation and credit for his work.
13	13	Johnny Be Gone	Linda Day	Katherine Green & Richard Gurman	June 28, 1987	1.13
Al and Peggy delay going to a closing of their favorite hamburger joint when Bud and Kelly need them to solve their own problems. Meanwhile, Steve and Marcy prepare a party for their bosses.