Top of the Heap is the 20th episode of Season 5 of Married... with Children, as well as the landmark 100th episode of the series. Directed by Gerry Cohen, it was co-written by Ron Leavitt and Arthur Silver, who would later go on to create the WB network series, Unhappily Ever After, which was based on the formula of the success of MWC. The episode originally aired on FOX, premiering on April 7, 1991.
Synopsis[]
In this special 100th episode (which features only Al Bundy in a small cameo), Al's divorced and unemployed friend Charlie Verducci (Joseph Bologna) and his dim-witted teenage son Vinnie (Matt LeBlanc), try to fit in with snobs at a high-class party where Charlie hopes that Vinnie will meet and marry a debutaunte.
This is the pilot episode for the spin-off series Top of the Heap.
Episode summary[]
The fifth season's twentieth episode, this was the landmark centenary episode of MWC and the backdoor pilot for Top of the Heap as a spin-off. Charlie and Vinnie Verducci from "Oldies But Young 'Uns" returned, and we saw where and how they lived. In the 100th episode (which features only Al Bundy in a small cameo), Al's friend Charlie and his dimwitted son Vinnie try to fit in with snobs at a ritzy, high-class party.
Vinnie and Charlie are superintendents of a run-down apartment building. Vinnie is recovering from a boxing match that he lost the other night while fending off come-ons from their local teenage neighbor Mona Mullins. Feeling bored with their miserable lives, Charlie comes up with a "Verducci Master Plan": he and Vinnie secretly crash a formal, high society fund-raiser to meet some wealthy women for themselves hoping Vinnie will marry a débutante, while Charlie himself fends off come-ons from a rather large rich woman. They also visit Al at Gary's Shoes to exchange some facts of life about women, where Al is revealed to have lost his TV set in a bet due to Vinnie's poor boxing ability.
Cast[]
- Ed O'Neill as Al Bundy
- Katey Sagal as Peggy Bundy
- Christina Applegate as Kelly Bundy
- David Faustino as Bud Bundy
- Amanda Bearse as Marcy D'Arcy
Guest starring[]
- Matt LeBlanc as Vinnie Verducci
- Joseph Bologna as Charlie Verducci
- Diana Bellamy as Kathleen Morgan
- Joey Lauren Adams as Mona Mullins
- Rebecca Cross as Tyler Cameron
- John Mansfield as Roger Bonderly
- Charles Howerton as Nelson
- Dennis Holahan as Man #1
- Harold Harris as Man #2
- Kathryn O'Reilly as Woman
- Tim Hill as Security Man
- Jill Pierce as Mary Ann
Quotes[]
- [After trying to choke Vinnie in front of Charlie for costing him his television, Al is lamenting over his loss]
- Charlie: Al, I know that feels good, but uh, it won't bring your tv back.
- Al: [walks to a nearby chair] That tv was my baby! Got me through a lot of rough times. I watched it when we conceived our two kids. [sits down and begins to smile] I still remember putting my forearm in Peg's mouth to shut her up, so I could hear Get Smart. Yeah, for Bud,... for Bud, I wised up. Put her head by the foot of the bed, so I could watch too. [laments] Now, it doesn't matter which way I turn her, the magic is gone.
- Charlie: Al, you're not much more than a bus boy. [Al reluctantly nods in agreement] My kid's at a difficult age, where he might just turn into a "you" [Al looks down in disappointment] Help him out! Give him some advice!
- Al: [to Vinnie] Don't marry! DON'T... MARRY! It's only good for the woman. Yeah, see, women got it made. They find some guy to marry, then they steal his youth, his paycheck, and his dreams. [pondering] Oh yeah, then their butt gets bigger, then you die and their butt gets smaller 'til the next guy comes along. [Charlie and Vinnie smile and nod in agreement] Ah, next to being a dog, being a beautiful woman is a thing to be.
- Charlie: I'm sorry, Al, but you don't have the butt to be a beautiful woman!
- Al: Eh, I let myself go...
- Charlie: Hey, don't run yourself down. You still got a beautiful smile
- [Al shows off his famous smile and nods while pointing to Charlie]
- Vinnie: Uh, uh, do you two want to be alone or anything?
- Charlie: Do you mind?! He was just gonna say something nice to me.
- Al: [disappointed] Ah, the moment's past.
- Al: You know what we should have done when we were young studs?
- Charlie: What?
- Al: Married us a couple of rich babes! See, that way, all we have to do is get up late...
- Charlie: Yeah?
- Al: Pump a little iron to stay in shape...
- Charlie: Yeah?
- Al: Let the robe pop open a little, show the maid what she could have if she saved her pennies [Charlie laughs and playful jabs Al] and settle back on the couch, get stinking drunk, and pick your feet 'til the cows come home! I can't think of a fuller, more satisfying life!
- Charlie: Ah, but time has passed us by. Young women today don't understand that we don't want to go right to sleep after sex... We have to! Eh, I guess it's a young man's world.
- [a few moments later, after Charlie discusses his idea with Vinnie]
- Al: Hey, Charlie. I was thinking about what you were saying, but I don't have to go to sleep after sex. I want to go to sleep after sex... I welcome the darkness.
Notes[]
Title[]
- The title of this episode is likely a reference to either the 1980 film or 1989 CBS political drama, Top of the Hill
Trivia[]
- This episode marks the 100th episode of MWC.
- The 100th episode of a television series is usually considered a special event because it means that the show is likely going into syndicated rerun, as MWC eventually did. But it's rumored that many people didn't realized that this was the 100th episode, considering that Al himself is the only MWC star in the episode and he only appears briefly.
- Katey Sagal, Amanda Bearse, Ted McGinley, Christina Applegate and David Faustino do not appear in this episode.
- This episode was the pilot for the spin-off series Top of the Heap (1991).
- As indicated by the production code, this was the 25th episode filmed, but aired as the 20th episode.
- This episode aired on the same night as "Kids! Wadaya Gonna Do?" as part of a one-hour special.
- Joey Lauren Adams who played Mona would later appear on MWC as Cousin Effie and Janey.
- Diana Bellamy, who played Kathleen in this episode, previously appeared on MWC as Nancy, one of the fat women that Al has to deal with during season 1.
- Charles Howerton, who played Nelson in this episode, previously played Brooke's father in "One Down, Two to Go".
- Charlie reveals that he was a U.S. Marine when he decides to kiss Katherine.
- Joseph Bolonga, who played Charlie, actually was in the United States Marine Corps having served a tour of duty after college.
- In this episode, in addition to Ron Leavitt and Michael G. Moye, Arthur Silver was credited as another executive producer in the intro. This made the animated "EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS" split into unanimated "EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS" and "EXECUTIVE PRODUCER".
- Vinnie tells Mona he'll go out with her when she isn't a felony, implying that she is a minor. In real life, Joey Lauren Adams, who played Mona, is only 1 year younger than Matt LeBlanc, who played Vinnie, As she was born in 1968, she was around 23 years old when this episode was filmed.
- According to IMDB, this episode is the lowest rated in the MWC series, with a rating of 5.6 out of 10.
- Although this episode is the pilot episode of Top of the Heap, it is not featured with the other TOTH episodes on the streaming service, Crackle. This is likely due to Crackle not having the rights to stream MWC. Instead, it makes "The Last Temptation of Charlie" as the first episode.
Cultural References[]
- Al tells Charlie that Kelly and Bud were conceived while he was watching the 1960s television series, Get Smart.
- Al previously mentioned wanting to watch Get Smart on a portable TV instead of having sex with Peggy in "Here's Lookin' at You, Kid".
- Al likely watched Get Smart on late night TV as the series was off the air, as far as first run episodes are concerned, before Kelly was even conceived as she gave 18 as her age earlier this season.
- While talking to Charlie about a philosopher he learned about in high school, he mistakes the Greek philosopher, Plato with the Disney cartoon character Pluto.
- To prepare themselves for being at a fancy party, Charlie mentions that he read 3 different books and taken their ideas to blend in with the socialites:
- Trump: The Art of the Deal - "How about that market?" likely referencing Donald Trump who at the time was known for making business deals in the real estate market.
- The Wall Street Journal - "Damn Democrats!" likely referring to the publication's conservative bent, as it tends to be more popular among conservative readers.
- "Rich Babes in Chains" - "Punish me! I've been very, very bad!"
Locations[]
- Verducci Residence
- Gary's Shoes & Accessories for Today's Woman
- Banquet Hall
Sets[]
- Verducci Apartment Living Room / Kitchen
- Shoe Store
- Banquet Hall
Goofs[]
- Al claims that both of the kids were conceived while he was watching TV in their bedroom. In different episodes, it was mentioned that Kelly was conceived in the Dodge.
- More specifically in "Requiem for a Chevyweight (Part 1)", that episode claims she was conceived in the Dodge at the drive-in theater that Al and Peg go to on the day he scored Four Touchdowns. That would mean that Kelly was actually born in the late 1960s rather than 1971.
- Al mentions that Kelly was conceived while he was watching Get Smart, but the show ended its original run in May of 1970, while Kelly's birthday is listed as November 27, 1971. Even if she was conceived during the final episode of Get Smart, it would rather impossible for Peggy to have been pregnant with Kelly for over a year and a half at the very least.
- It is possible that Kelly was conceived during a commercial block that aired during a local network syndicated rerun of Get Smart in early 1971. There is a record of super short sex sessions between Al and Peggy throughout the series so this makes sense.
| Top of the Heap Episodes | ||
| Top of the Heap • The Agony and the Agony • Behind the Eight Ball • Stocks and Bondages • The Last Temptation of Charlie • The Marrying Guy • Mona by Moonlight | ||