Amanda Bearse
Marcy Rhoades wasn’t written as a joke. She was written as everything the Bundys weren’t. Responsible where Peg was carefree. Idealistic where Al was pessimistic. Amanda Bearse turned what could’ve been a background neighbor into the perfect foil, and the comedic mirror that made everyone else sharper.
Marcy started out as Season 1’s straight-laced voice of responsibility. Amanda Bearse refused to let her stay that way, turning Marcy into one of the show’s sharpest comedic weapons and Al Bundy’s most legendary sparring partner.
Marcy’s cousin Mandy arrives, befriends Al and Jefferson, and makes Marcy jealous. Then Mandy tells Al she is gay. Amanda Bearse plays both parts, four years after coming out publicly herself, and ten days before Ellen did the same on ABC.
Al goes out to judge an amateur contest at the Jiggly Room and comes back infatuated with one of the dancers. Peggy’s response is to take a job there herself. It is also the last appearance of Ike, Bob Rooney and Officer Dan, and the last mention of NO MA’AM.
Jefferson talks Al and Griff into joining the National Guard on the understanding that nothing is ever required of them. Then a garbage strike breaks out and the three of them are deployed into it. The only episode of the series co-written by David Faustino.
Peggy hits her head and loses her memory, so Al reprograms her into a wife who cooks and cleans. The result holds up through an entire NO MA’AM wrestling party. Filmed first in the season, though it aired tenth.
Al insults a customer on his birthday and is tied to a chair in the shoe store and tried for Crimes Against Obesity. The prosecution’s evidence is archive footage of things he actually said across ten seasons. Peggy takes the stand to help, which does not help.
The series’ only Thanksgiving episode. Al’s childhood tradition requires one of Aunt Maddie’s sweet potato pies, and the last one is at her funeral. At home, Jefferson cannot find a turkey, and the only one available is Kelly’s pet.
The Dodge gets a funeral in the back yard, complete with bagpipes and a folded seat cover. Al leases a replacement that goes badly wrong. Jefferson goes to Cuba for the fuel pump and turns out to be on first-name terms with Fidel Castro.
Kelly’s olive oil commercial comes with a morals clause requiring chastity, and a nun is sent to verify she is keeping it. Al, meanwhile, discovers Officer Dan is being filmed for COPS and decides that being on COPS is his life’s ambition.