Season 7 Episode 2: T-R-A-Something-Something Spells Tramp

September 20, 1992

Published 09/20/92

Christina Applegate has named this her favourite episode of the series, and it is easy to see why. Kelly goes out with a boy named Ralph, played by Corey Feldman, who drives her to a secluded spot, claims he has run out of gas, and makes his intentions clear in about four words. Kelly’s response is to match his economy of language, decline, punch him, and get out of the car, at which point he drives off and leaves her on a dark road miles from anywhere while calling her a tramp. The injustice of the label is Kelly’s main objection, since she is standing outside the car precisely because she said no. Walking home, she finds she is not alone. Other girls are out there, dumped on the same road by the same kind of boy for the same reason, and the episode turns into an unexpectedly solid piece of writing about who actually gets to use that word. Back at the house, Al and Peg have resolved to save their marriage by talking to each other, which neither of them has any practice at and which goes about as well as expected. Marcy arrives with more information about Jefferson’s bedroom difficulties than anybody asked for, including the phrase he uses to encourage himself. And Bud has secured a date with the most beautiful girl in his college, who agreed to go out with him because she has the measles. It is a better episode than its premise suggests and one of the few times the series let Kelly Bundy be the smartest person in the scene.

Episode Facts

Original air date: September 20, 1992
Season and episode: Season 7, Episode 2
Overall episode number: 133
Written by: Ron Leavitt and Ellen L. Fogle
Directed by: Gerry Cohen
Taped: August 28, 1992
Production note: Christina Applegate has said this is her favourite episode of the series.
Title note: Taken from Kelly’s attempt to spell the word she keeps being called, with a likely nod to the “V-A-M-P” sketch Cher used to perform on The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.