No Pot to Pease In

This episode of Married With Children ranks among the funniest and most clever episodes of the series. The story is hilarious as the Bundys become the subject of a sitcom. Hence, a sitcom within a sitcom, with extremely humorous results. George Wyner is extremely funny as the sitcom director and the entire cast is in top comedy form, especially Ed O'Neill as the indefatigable Al Bundy. When it wants to, Hollywood can put together a really upbeat, humorous story. This episode offers nonstop laughs as the Al cannot get enough of a TV show that confirms everything he's always said about marriage, children, work and life itself. This is great comedy and deserves praise.

When Kelly attends an audition for a FOX sitcom called Pease in a Pod, she explains to the producers that their show is nothing like real life, telling them all about her own family. Kelly doesn't get the part, but when the show airs, the Bundys notice that the Peases seem very familiar: the writers have taken everything that Kelly said and used it for the script. The Bundys go to the studio to demand an apology, but Al accepts a $500 payment per episode instead.

This is one of the better episodes of MWC: the basic premise is a lot of fun, especially with Al finding Pease in a Pod so hilarious because he can relate to the main character's situation. The Darcys also find the show funny, at least until their sitcom counterparts make an appearance. The episode is also rather clever, with several affectionate swipes at FOX (the network that made MWC), a jab at Terry Rakolta, the Michigan housewife who famously complained about Married With Children, and a scene that I reckon must have been the inspiration for the doppleganger moment in Shaun of the Dead: the Bundys file past their Pease in a Pod counterparts, who are dressed in exactly the same outfits.

Great stuff and proof that there was still life left in the show, even by season nine.