Ed O'Neill unintentionally discovered his recurring exposure as the character "Al Bundy"
Two and a quarter decades ago, the satirical comedy series "Married... with Children" was axed from US television. The character actor Edward O'Neill, famously portraying the cantankerous character Al Bundy, is reportedly still not over the manner in which he discovered the show's termination. The sorry news reached him through an anonymous stranger.
Boisterous, crass, and incredibly popular: The show's unapologetic portrayal of lower-middle-class family life centered around the perpetually disgruntled shoe salesman Al Bundy and his unruly offspring, was a hit in Germany during the 90s. From 1992 to 1997, a whopping 259 episodes aired on German television first on RTL, then on ProSieben. Yet, many viewers were taken aback when the show was definitively cancelled in 1997 following an impressive eleven-season run. O'Neill shared his personal recollections of the show's demise on the podcast "MeSsy," in conversation with his on-screen daughter, Christina Applegate.
Much to his surprise, the actor had not been informed by the show's production team, instead, he happened upon the information during a chance encounter with a newlywed couple in Ohio. The couple, initially overjoyed to meet the infamous "Al Bundy," soon closed the mood by offering their sincere apologies. The wife said, "We're really sorry about your show," and O'Neill was left puzzled, asking "What do you mean?" The groom replied somberly, "I'm afraid the word is out. Your show has been cancelled." Eschewing his misfortune, the couple offered him a celebratory glass of champagne.
Similarly, the protagonist's "Dumb Blonde" daughter, played by Christina Applegate, also found out about the show's cancellation in a roundabout fashion. She only learned of the news through the 'gossip mill' that she would no longer be portraying her iconic character, "Kelly Bundy," again. This bittersweet revelation was shared with her by "a guy who knew a guy who worked for my assistant at the time."
Fortuitously, after the crushing blow of "Married... with Children's" cancellation, O'Neill soon found another successful home on the small screen. He rose to fame once again in 2009, starring in the show "Modern Family," another long-running series that lasted for eleven successful seasons. Its conclusion is presumed to have come to him in a far less unconventional manner.
In contrast to how Edward O'Neill learned about the show's cancellation, the German broadcasting station RTL typically communicates such news to their talent through formal channels.
Christina Applegate, too, wished she had been informed about the show's end through a more direct channel, rather than relying on the 'gossip mill.'
