Season 6 Episode 9: Kelly Does Hollywood (1)

November 10, 1991

Published 11/10/91

Cable television arrives at the Bundy house, and with it a remote control called the Channel Master 2000 that is powerful enough to operate the Darcys’ set from across the living room, a capability Al discovers early and abuses immediately. His search for anything worth watching on his new dozens of channels is a tour of what basic cable actually offered in 1991, and it ends in horror when he learns what is coming on next. What he does find is Marcy, on public access, discussing her marriage in terms Jefferson would rather she had not chosen. Jefferson’s explanation of how she got on television is that anyone with thirty-five dollars and a pack of lies about her husband can do it, which gives Kelly an idea. Thirty-five dollars later Kelly has her own public access program. She describes her intentions as serious, something the youth of America can relate to, issue stuff, and what actually goes out is received well enough that a Hollywood network takes an interest. The best running gag in the episode is Al’s campaign to get himself onto his daughter’s show, which involves auditioning repeatedly while Bud operates a clapperboard reading AL BUNDY AUDITION, take after take, as Al delivers a dramatic recitation of the lyrics to “Duke of Earl.” This is also the last time Matt LeBlanc played Vinnie Verducci, brought back after the cancellation of Top of the Heap and billed as a special guest star. It is also one of the clearest snapshots of what the arrival of cable did to American households, filtered through a man who now has fifty channels and still cannot find anything to watch.

Episode Facts

Original air date: November 10, 1991
Season and episode: Season 6, Episode 9
Overall episode number: 114
Written by: Larry Jacobson
Directed by: Gerry Cohen
Taped: October 25, 1991
Production note: Christina Applegate named this one of her favorite episodes of the series in the 1995 special My Favorite Married.
Production note: Matt LeBlanc’s final appearance as Vinnie Verducci, billed as a special guest star ahead of the launch of his retooled spinoff Vinnie & Bobby.
Production note: Katey Sagal does not appear. Peggy’s absence is explained as a shopping trip.
Title note: Modeled on the title of the 1978 film Debbie Does Dallas.