Ship Happens (Part 2)

Ship Happens: Part 2 is the 20th episode in Season 9 of Married... with Children, and was also the 202nd overall episode. Directed by Gerry Cohen and written by Katherine Green, the episode originally aired on FOX, premiering on February 26, 1995.

Synopsis

Conclusion of two-part story. The Bundys, the D'Arcys, a fat woman, and comedian-former SNL cast member Gilbert Gottfried are lost at sea and are the only survivors after the cruise ship sinks. Gilbert entertains them and finally Al goes for help. The rest get rescued soon and Al turns up two days later. Meanwhile, the media hound the kids for stories, and Bud starts to see the economic possibilities.

Storyline

Part two and conclusion of two-episode story arc. In this particular episode, the Bundys' ocean cruise aboard the S.S. Sea Dodge takes a turn for the worse when their ship sinks, and they are stranded on a life raft in the middle of the ocean as with the D'Arcys, a fat woman, and comedian Gilbert Gottfried, who tries to "lighten the monotony" by endeavoring to entertain them all telling bad jokes! The six are the only survivors. Meanwhile, Kelly and Bud endure the media circus that comes to their house asking about their missing parents.

Recurring Cast/Regulars

• Amanda Bearse as Marcy D'Arcy
• Ted McGinley as Jefferson D'Arcy
• Buck the Dog as Buck Bundy

Guest starring

• Gilbert Gottfried as Himself
• Leilani Jones as Reporter #1
• Keith Sellon-Wright as Reporter #2
• Kevin McBride as Reporter #3
• Melissa Chan as Reporter #4
• Scott Hartman as Reporter #5
• Teresa Parente as Miranda Veracruz de la Jolla Cardinal

Notes

Title

• The title of this episode is a reference to the idiom "Shit happens", meaning that life is unpredictable and that bad things can occur, no matter how hard one tries to avoid them.

Trivia

• The name of the ship was "Sea Dodge".
• Katey Sagal and Gilbert Gottfried were both costars of the late John Ritter. Gilbert Gottfried starred with him in the Problem Child films and Katey Sagal starred with him in his last sitcom 8 Simple Rules.
• Gilbert Gottfried and Ed O'Neill both appeared in The Adventures of Ford Fairlane.
• Melissa Chan, who plays the Asian female reporter would appear on MWC again in the season 10 episode, "Enemies" as Keiko, the waitress.
• Logo TV scheduled the episode to run on April 13, 2022 at midnight Eastern Time, which happened to be one day after Gilbert Gottfried had died. This had previously been planned and its timing of several hours after the announcement of Gottfried's death was purely coincidental.

Cultural References

• Comedian Gilbert Gottfried is featured in this episode. He was previously mentioned as someone Al and Jefferson didn't like in the previous episode.
  • One of the reporters mentions that Gottfried was the voice of Iago, the talking parrot from the 1992 Disney cartoon, Aladdin and its sequels. He had played that role until the 2019 reboot version.
• During his rant about listening to his agent, Gilbert Gottfried mentions fellow comedians Sinbad and Carrot Top and how he wouldn't have to follow them if he went on the cruise.
• When Al asks who would know the most about the sea, Gilbert Gottfried says "David Hasselhoff", an American actor and singer.
  • Gottfried's response is a reference to Hasselhoff's role on the show Baywatch where he played a lifeguard.
• Al calls Marcy "Kathie Lee Gifford", an actress and singer who at the time this episode originally aired, was the host of the ABC morning talk show Live! with Regis and Kathy Lee
  • She was also at the time a spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line.
• Al calls Peggy's hair style as "Loch Ness Hair-do", in reference to Loch Ness Monster
• Joy laments that the cruise didn't get Gallagher so they could at least be eating watermelon.
  • Gallagher is an American comedian who typically used watermelons as his props in his comedy routines. His routine would usually culminate with him taking a sledgehammer and smashing the watermelons that would send pieces out into the audience.
• During his comedy set, Gilbert Gottfried makes several references to famous actors and characters:
  • Mickey Mouse tripping on acid.
  • Clark Gable, mocking his large ears.
  • Vincent Van Gogh, mocking the artist after he cut off one of his own ears.
  • Detective Robert Ironside from the television series Ironside.
  • Jerry Lewis, alluding to his role as Professor Kelp in in The Nutty Professor and his involvement with The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon.
  • Jerry Seinfeld imitating the comedian/actor who had his own television series at the time and using his typical comedy routine bit.
  • Ted Kennedy referring to the political figure who was known for his drinking and inappropriate behavior with women.
• Kelly is shown watching a cartoon featuring Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam.
• On the news, it is mentioned that Wolfman Jack was left in a dumpster tied up and bound at a Planet Hollywood.
  • Planet Hollywood is a chain of themed restaurants that was originally backed by several well known celebrities in the early 1990s. The Chicago location opened in 1993, but closed in 1999 and as of 2019, has only 7 locations, with only 3 within the United States.
• When Kelly tries to tell the reporters that their parents might still be alive, the female reporter scoffs and says "Yeah and Hoffa's eating at Denny's!".
  • This is in reference to the family restaurant chain and Jimmy Hoffa an American labor union leader who mysteriously disappeared in 1975.
• As Al is getting ready to fish, he complains, "Why can't it be once, 'Al wake up, its Cindy Crawford! I'm hungry and horny!'", referring to the supermodel.
• The reporters asks Kelly and Bud if they had been touched by several celebrities:
  • Michael Jackson - Pop singer who at the time was dealing allegations of child sexual abuse.
  • Bob Barker - Game show host who had several lawsuits filed against him in the 1990s until his retirement in 2007 by former female employees that alleged sexual misconduct and workplace discrimination.
  • Tom Arnold - Actor who at this recently had been divorced from Rosanne Barr.
  • Roseanne Barr - Comedienne / actress who at the time was the star of her own sitcom, Roseanne.
  • George Plimpton - Journalist who incidentally was the host the MWC special, "The Best of Bundy".
• After being asked about being touched by celebrities, Bud complains to the reporters "Whatever happened to the noble image of the Fourth Estate? People like Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite".
  • The Fourth Estate is a term used to refer to journalists and the influential power they have, believing it is their duty to act as a watchdog to the government and keep the people informed without censorship of important events. In this case, Bud seems to be pointing out that they lack integrity and are just there to find some sleazy news.
  • Edward R. Murrow was an American broadcast journalist and war correspondent, who was praised for his honesty.
  • Walter Cronkite an American broadcast journalist who served as anchorman for the CBS Evening News who was often cited as "the most trusted man in America".
• While the journalist bribe Kelly, she tells them that Al had Senator Packwood and Senator Mike Tyson chase her around the bed.
  • Bob Packwood is a former U.S. Senator who, in 1995, resigned his seat following allegations of sexual misconduct.
  • Mike Tyson is a former professional boxer who was accused of rape in 1991 and sentenced to six years in prison, but was released in March 1995.

Locations

• Bundy Residence
• Ocean

Sets

• Bundy Living Room / Kitchen
• Ocean / Lifeboat

Goofs

• A boom mic is visible moments before Al Bundy is interviewed by Miranda Veracruz de la Jolla Cardinal.
• Al declares that he has watched all 3000 episodes of Gilligan's Island. The original series only had a total of 98 episodes. Even if he included spin-offs, made-for-tv films and the cartoon series, it would still be nowhere near 3000 episodes.