The premise of the show was the life of Al Bundy, a shoe salesman who hated his life. He was married to Peg, a redhead wife that specialized in driving her husband crazy.
He hated his job, he loathed his marriage and family, and we all pitied Al.
Fast forward to present time. I'm in my 30's now, and I envy Al Bundy.
Why?
He owns his own house and car. Too many people I know can barely get into apartments, let alone purchase their own house. I'm currently renting as it is. Al not only owns a house, but a 2-story house with a decent sized back yard and a spacious-enough garage that can be converted into a man cave. Lucky bastard.
He has a stable job. Sure, he's a shoe salesman and hates his career, but how many people in the 2010's wouldn't kill to be out of the unemployment line and working at a shoe store? It's not a 6-figure income, but with unemployment rates as high as they are, you take what you can get.
He's married to a woman who likes sex. For his kids to be as old as they are, Al should statistically be divorced and paying child support. Instead, he's still married to the mother of his children, and mom (Peg) is still fairly hot. And craves sex. This rarely happens these days, so Al can be considered ahead of the curve.
He has disposable income. Al is constantly in The Jiggly Room, MwC's resident strip club. You don't go to a titty-bar unless you have some money to burn, right? That, coupled with household repairs mean he's got dough. It seemed like every other episode resulted in a broken window, appliances destroyed, or other accidents. Yet, week in and week out, they all get fixed. My girlfriend's car broke in 2009, and we couldn't afford to fix it until December 2010. Al, can you spare some change?
Yes, 20 years ago we felt bad for Al Bundy. The poor man had a mortgage, a wife with a sexual appetite, a loyal dog who loved him, a stable job, and a close circle of friends. Now, in the 21st century?
He'd be living the dream.
Note: This post was the winner of a Dude Write "Diamond Man Card" award, being the best post of the week in the Dude Write lineup.
Note: This post was the winner of a Dude Write "Diamond Man Card" award, being the best post of the week in the Dude Write lineup.
All true, he is an American hero.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the four touchdowns he scored in one game back in high school - and he's a hell of a bowler.
Makes me want to go pick up an issue of "Big 'Uns".
TheSimpleDude.com
I agree with simple dude,
ReplyDeleteGod bless America,
Very good blog
Enjoyable read aha, and kinda what he said ^
ReplyDeleteThe one thing I never got is why he never wanted to shag Peg. SHES SO HOT!
ReplyDeleteAl Bundy's one of my heroes for those reasons. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a "No Ma'am" meeting to go to. ;)
ReplyDeleteThere was never food in the house but always money for Peggy to go shopping and Kelly to go out on dates and for Bud to buy inflatable women. I miss Al and crew, there just aren't shows like that on TV anymore.
ReplyDeleteIf you're as young as I am (31) you probably enjoy watching the reruns to get all the adult jokes that went by us when we were young.
Im confused why does leela have two eyes in this picture
ReplyDeleteLove the show. Never really understood why he as so miserable, always kinda had your current view on it.
ReplyDeleteI still can't get the intro / theme song out of my head! It's too catchy..
ReplyDeleteVery salient points. He's also neighbor and friends with Ted McGinly, or Stan Gable from Revenge of the Nerds. Maybe he was always bummed out because he had a hot daughter and was constantly worried about her being a dick magnet.
ReplyDeleteYep, his was the life sitting on his couch with his hand tucked in his pants watching his favorite shows, haha!
ReplyDeletelife sure is complicated in the 21st century!
ReplyDeleteI'm apparently living the dream and it mostly blows. Like.. when you have no heat because you're too broke to insulate the house. I wish I could call someone to complain... but it'd come to my own voicemail. :/
ReplyDeleteDude, I think out of your six million posts, this one is the best. The analogy of how a man who appeared defeated in the 80's can now stand with his chest out in 2011 is amazing and spot on! Great, great post!
ReplyDelete*And* Peggy is hot!
ReplyDeleteDidn't you hear? Al divorced Peg and is now remarried to a much younger Colombian sex pot. Kelly is married to a realtor and has three children. Bud is gay and has a little Vietnamese daughter with his significant other.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in real life, he's a jiu jitsu black belt and could probably kick all of our asses without trying. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteNow I envy Al as well... And I always feel bad for him. How I didn't notice before he was living the dream. MInd = Blown
ReplyDeleteHe was leaving the dream.. delayed to realise it.. is it late already?
ReplyDeleteWho knew Al Bundy would be our hero. Now I hear Peg's voice on a ton of commercials.
ReplyDeleteFunny work, B.
Great post. Very true, and sad. Not for Al, but for the state of disrepair that our world is in.
ReplyDeleteGreat post but you forgot one thing...he had Christina Applegate as his daughter....wait that sounded kind of iggy huh? I retract that statement...kind of.
ReplyDeletewhowouldathought-Kevin.blogspot.com
It's funny how life has a way of putting things in perspective. Al's misery is another man's paradise. Just goes to show you that when you think you have it bad, there are scores of others who have it worse.
ReplyDeleteMichael A. Walker
Defying Procrastination
I would kill to be Al Bundy right now....complete with the sex craving wife! Oh, who am I kidding! I am Al Bundy, minus the disposable income!
ReplyDeleteAnd he gets away with chilling, watching some tube and sticking his hand down his drawers. Living the dream, indeed.
ReplyDeleteI can't say I've ever seen the show, so I read the whole thing as though you were writing about Ted Bundy instead. I still felt jealous of his life.
ReplyDeleteI know. I'm still living at home with my parents and work in a tiny cubicle making garbage pay. What did he ever have to complain about?
ReplyDeleteI can't say that I didn't love the show, though.
Great post bro. So true.
ReplyDeleteNothing but truth bombs. Al Bundy, legend
ReplyDeleteHe really did have it all.
ReplyDeleteAnd now he is married to that hot chick in Modern Family. What a pimp.
Now I remember; Al is my hero. (Sorry, Sean.)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. It's all a case of how you look at what you've got, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteJust goes to show you can always find something to bitch about if you want to bad enough.
ReplyDelete