Married…With Children, the Fox sitcom became an iconic comedy gem during its 11-season run. The show, which followed the stories of the Bundy Family, was known for its edgy humor and satire of the characters’ lives. The series gifted us Modern Family star Ed O’Neill and Christina Applegate who became a breakout star of the series, earning widespread recognition.
The show aired for 11 seasons from 1987 to 1997. However nearly three decades after the show’s abrupt cancellation, Applegate revealed some shocking details about the show. The star shared how she and her co-stars found out that the show was coming to an end.
Christina Applegate revealed that she found out Married…With Children got cancelled from a random source
In a candid conversation on her MeSsy with Christina Applegate & Jamie-Lynn Sigler podcast, Christina Applegate invited her on-screen father, Ed O’Neill, from the hit Fox show Married…With Children and shared some interesting throwback details. Applegate shared that she had no idea the was being canceled until she heard it through a roundabout source.
I found out from a guy who knew a guy who worked for my assistant at the time.
Applegate recalled, “That’s how I found out. They never called us.” She wasn’t the only one who found out about the abrupt ending of the show, O’Neill also shared his side of the surprising story. O’Neill, who played the iconic Al Bundy, shared he learned about the show’s ending in his hometown. Modern Family star said, “I was back in my hometown, and I was at this little bed-and-breakfast by the university because I was at the university for something, and it was a beautiful day.”
He recalled learning the news from a newly married couple, “A car pulled in with the ‘Just Married’ things hanging off the back… So I was standing there, and they got out of the car. It was the husband and wife… And he said, ‘Oh my God. It’s Al Bundy in Ohio.’” O’Neill recalled the woman saying, “Well we are so sorry about your show,” and he replied, “What do you mean?” What ensued was a total surprise for the actor. The guy said, “O my God. He doesn’t know. It’s on radio. You got canceled. Oh, we’re so sorry.” O’Neill, with much regret, replied, “I’d rather hear it from you.”
While the cancellation of Married…With Children left its cast in the dark, Applegate expressed another frustration. “We should have had a last episode,” the actress said, lamenting the fact that the final episode wasn’t intended to serve as a series finale. The show’s sudden end left fans and actors themselves without the opportunity to properly say goodbye.
Christina Applegate shared she doesn’t receive much residuals from Married…With Children
Another point of discontent for Dead To Me star was the issue of residuals. Despite the show’s continued success in reruns, the actress, reuniting with O’Neill revealed that she rarely receives any significant compensation for the ongoing popularity of Married…With Children. Applegate said,
I don’t get residuals… I get like, a dollar every once in a while. No, I’m not kidding.
Residuals, which are payments actors receive when a show is rerun or sold into syndication, are a crucial part of many actors’ earnings. However, many actors, particularly those from older shows, often find themselves receiving minimal compensation for their work, despite the show’s continued success.
Ed O’Neill shared he gets residuals, “but they’re not big.” He recalled that months after the show’s cancellation, he joked with a network executive about how the cast of Golden Girls had received Mercedes-Benz after their series finale. The executive assured him that the cast of their show would also receive a “wonderful gift.” However, O’Neill noted, “I never got a gift.”
It is a difficult reality for many actors. Despite the enduring popularity of the show, it’s clear that Applegate and O’Neill, like many actors, faced a lack of closure and acknowledgment for their hard work on the show.
Married…With Children is available to stream on Hulu.
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