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Top of the Heap is a 1991 Fox television sitcom that was spun off from Married... with Children. Lasting for only seven episodes, it was nonetheless (and perhaps sadly) the most successful of three attempted spin-offs from the original series.

Synopsis[]

Top of the Heap focuses on the attempts of two minor Married... with Children characters — Charlie Verducci (Joseph Bologna) and his son Vinny (Matt LeBlanc) — to get rich. Charlie's "master plan" is for Vinnie to marry into a wealthy family; to this end, the two Chicago slum residents try to get into high society. Mona Mullins (Joey Lauren Adams) is a girl from the Verduccis' neighborhood who has a crush on Vinnie, who tries to fend her off. Alixandra Stone (Rita Moreno) is the manager of a country club, and the object of Charlie's affections.

In some episodes actors from Married... with Children make guest appearances as their characters from the show, thus reinforcing the connection between the two series. In 1992, there was a continuation of this series entitled Vinnie & Bobby; it also lasted for only seven episodes.

In some episodes actors from Married... with Children made guest appearances as their characters from the show, thus reinforcing the connection between the two series. Al Bundy (Ed O'Neill) appeared in the pilot (which itself was an episode of Married... with Children), Bud Bundy (David Faustino) made an appearance in an episode in the country club, and Kelly Bundy (Christina Applegate) appeared twice on the show in cameo appearances. None of the three Bundys made an appearance together, however.

In 1992, there was a continuation of this series entitled Vinnie & Bobby; it also lasted for only seven episodes.[5] The only characters continued over to this version was the eponymous Vinnie (Matt LeBlanc), Mona Mullins (Joey Lauren Adams) and Bobby Grazzo (Robert Torti), who only appeared in the last episode of this version of the show.

Characters[]

  • Note: The table counts the backdoor pilot on Married... with Children as the first episode, but also qualifies in the "Appearances in Other Shows" section, after all, it was on another show. Without this change, Mona Mullins would not be in any Married... with Children episodes, Charlie Verducci would only be in one ("Old Ones But Young'ns"), and Vinnie Verducci would be in two ("Old Ones But Young 'Uns" and "Kelly Does Hollywood: Part 1").
Actor Role Appearances in Other Shows Episodes Appeared Total Episode Count
Joseph Bologna Charlie Verducci 2, Two episodes of Married... with Children 1-7 7
Matt LeBlanc Vincent "Vinnie" Verducci 10, Three episodes of Married... with Children,
all of Vinnie & Bobby
1-7 7
Joey Lauren Adams Mona Mullins 8, One episode of Married... with Children,
all of Vinnie & Bobby
1-7 7
Mr. Fluffy the Cat Mr. Fluffy the Cat 1 episode of Married... with Children 1-7 7
Rita Moreno Alixandra Stone 0, no reference or appearance 2, 4-7 5
Leslie Jordan Emmet LeFebvre 0, no reference or appearance 2, 4-7 5
Christina Applegate Kelly Bundy 255, most of Married... with Children 3, 5 2
David Faustino Bud Bundy 257, most of Married... with Children 2 1
Ed O'Neill Al Bundy 259, all of Married... with Children 1 1
Robert Torti Bobby Grazzo 7, all of Vinnie & Bobby 7 1

Episode list[]

  1. "Full Heap" / 1991-04-07
  2. "The Agony and The Agony" / 1991-04-14
  3. "Behind the Eight Ball" / 1991-04-21 
  4. "Stocks and Bondages" / 1991-04-28
  5. "The Last Tempation of Charlie" / 1991-05-05
  6. "The Marrying Guy" / 1991-05-12
  7. "Mona by Moonlight" / 1992-05-19

Episodes[]

No Title Directed by: Written by: Air date
1 "Top of the Heap" Gerry Cohen Ron Leavitt,

Arthur Silver

April 7, 1991

Pilot episode: After Vinnie loses his last boxing match (and Charlie wins Al's TV in a bet), Charlie comes up with a plan to get Vinnie to marry a rich woman, so they crash a high society party. Guest appearance by Ed O'Neill as Al Bundy.

Originally an episode of Married... With Children, and retains the opening theme of that show (Love and Marriage by Frank Sinatra) rather than Puttin' on the Ritz

2 "The Agony and the Agony" Linda Day Mike Scully,

Lenny Ripps

April 14, 1991

Vinnie gets a job working at a country club as an assistant to the manager, and Charlie gets the hots for her. Guest appearance by David Faustino as Bud Bundy.

First appearance of both Alixandra and Emmet, as well as the show's theme song and opening credits, Puttin' on the Ritz

3 "Behind the Eight Ball" Linda Day Kimberley Young April 21, 1991

Charlie overhears that a guy he is hustling at pool is a godfather. Guest appearance by Christina Applegate as Kelly Bundy.

Both Alixandra and Emmet are absent from this episode 

4 "Stocks and Bondages" Linda Day Jonathan Collier April 28, 1991

A hot stock tip sends Charlie to a loan shark, where he gets $10,000, but Vinnie doesn't get the money invested.

Alixandra and Emmet return for the rest of the show 

5 "The Last Temptation of Charlie" Gerry Cohen Lenny Ripps,

Arthur Silver

May 5, 1991

Charlie has a hard time convincing Vinnie that he didn't sell their cat, Mr. Fluffy, to pay for the television he claims to have won.

Guest appearance by Christina Applegate as Kelly Bundy. 

6 "The Marrying Guy" Tony Singletary Kimberly Young,

Mike Scully, Wayne Kline

May 12, 1991
Vinnie meets his first girlfriend on her wedding day, but Vinnie catches the groom with another woman. 
7 "Mona by Moonlight" Tony Singletary ???? May 19, 1991

Vinnie must take the owner's stepdaughter (a high fashion model) to a prom held at the club, but Mona also wants Vinnie to take her. Guest appearance by Robert Torti as Bobby Grazzo.

Last Appearances of Charlie, Alixandra, Emmet and Fluffy. The series would continue in Vinnie & Bobby

Videos[]

Episodes[]

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