Ed O’Neill Reveals Why He Almost Got Fired from ‘Married with Children’ | The Rich Eisen Show

Actor Ed O’Neill joins Rich Eisen in-studio where he reveals how he nearly didn’t make it past the pilot episode of ‘Married with Children.’
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[@philricci2012]

Ed O’Neil absolutely nailed the Al Bundy character. He made that show.

[@glen3509]

The show got so M🤘CH Better when they hired Ted McGinley to play Jefferson😄🤘

[@TheRockinDonkey]

@@glen3509 Jefferson gave Al someone to commiserate with. Brilliant move replacing Steve with Jefferson.

[@wullahblack6452]

@@glen3509 That was the neat thing. We watch the Bundy family slowly corrupt and change Steve and Mary. Steve was supposed to be the straight man to counter Al. Then Jefferson comes in and he's just as dirty and scummy as Al so it works on a different level while changing the formula a bit.

[@JamesAllen-xk8bc]

Yes, he did!

[@grant1739]

​@@glen3509i disagree the show was hilarious with Steve or Jefferson

[@marvinshenk]

This guy was a beast on the football field back in the day. Once scored 4 touchdowns in one game for Polk High.

[@stefanharris659]

A true American success story

[@thehellyousay]

he actually was a hell of a good football player for real. tried out for the steelers. i think he was a linebacker.

[@lilmissknowitall5775]

I didn't know this because, as we all know, he keeps it to himself and never brings it up

[@JamesAllen-xk8bc]

Yes, he did!

[@Reggie2000]

He even scored on that tiny wimp"Spare Tire" Dixon.

[@Adventure_Quan]

Would have been the biggest mistake in sitcom history not having Ed O'Neil as Al Bundy.

[@seanknox7321]

And no one would have known this the mistake never happened.

[@kalnyc1]

100

[@avidadolares]

There literally thousands of stories of big names not getting parts or taking chances and then those roles becoming iconic. You cant foresee how it would have played out and theres plenty of other stories of big names passing and no names nailing the part. Its a dumb thing to say since you cant see the future or second guess it.

[@Adventure_Quan]

@@avidadolares it's a dumb thing to say. Great insight

[@DurkMcGerk]

You surely mean "not having Fonzie jump over a shark on a motorcycle"

[@miguelmckenzie248]

There is literally no one else who could've embodied Al Bundy better. I'm glad they doubled down on Ed O'Neill. What an absolute legend.

[@Ishai1]

For a little more context, Fox was the new small TV network and Married was their first series. Having the star of the show be some unknown actor when you're trying to get people to switch from one of the three established networks to your new one is a huge risk. When it's someone you've never seen do a comedy, it's really crazy casting. It makes sense the execs weren't happy with it and wanted someone they at least knew of. It turned out to be perfect casting of course, and was the hit that first brought people over to Fox

[@badnoodlez]

crazy to think about. I grew up in the 90s and my favorite sitcom in syndication was married with children. fuckin classic

[@texdoc89]

@@badnoodlez same my nights were Married With Children, Home Improvement and then adult swim... good times

[@yadda333]

@@texdoc89 Adult Swim, huh? Neah, you didn't live it like we did.

[@trvman1]

Here is the thing that almost NO one ever thinks about. The show is only going to be as good as the writers are. This show could have had big names playing Peg and AL and if the writing was bad, it may not have made it past even 6 shows.

[@artguti1551]

FOX was pushing the boundaries of Great TV series back then. In Living Color, The Simpsons, Married with Children, Beverly Hills 90210...

[@philp1072]

Ed O'Neill's one of the truly great actors and good guys in Hollywood, if there were only more like him

[@Whalefood69]

That’s because he’s from Youngstown,OH

[@sandal_thong]

I enjoyed seeing him in the comedy, _The Adventures of Ford Fairlane._

[@photofinish8607]

Good guy? Lol - you don’t actually mean that. Right? He intentionally plays roles that create controversy.

[@philp1072]

@@photofinish8607 you're right after I've seen some recent comments that was a preemptive judgement

[@dannygonzalezskate]

I watched the pilot the night it came out. The intro song, the humor, the characters and the plot. It was a smash!

[@jamescarter3196]

It was the show that 'made' Fox. Simpsons took them to the next level, but Married With Children was the first original show that was better than most sitcoms on the other three networks. My family sat down and watched the pilot together and we all loved it and watched it every week for years.

[@sandal_thong]

I was just talking about the Fox show _Herman's Head_ now that _Inside Out 2_ is about to debut. They even referred to it once on _The Simpsons_ since the voice of Lisa was one of the actors, I think.

[@mysteriowc]

Thank goodness he wasn't fired. That show brought so many people joy!

[@dcaslick]

Married With Children was one of the pillars that FOX was built on. One of the most important sitcoms in TV history. Can’t imagine what would’ve happened if they’d canned it after the pilot because some executive bigwig didn’t like O’Neil as Al?

[@charmerci]

Yeah, so DT would have never become President!

[@Lucytheedog]

@@charmerciTDS on full display. Seek help

[@Typical.Anomaly]

@@charmerci Nah, Nazis gonna Nazi. They would have found some other way to get him on the escalator.

[@DanPittel]

In Living Color Simpsons Married w/Children

[@dentalnovember]

Don’t forget COPS.

[@cys-fi6230]

Dutch is a criminally underrated movie.

[@bartmix8994]

I enjoyed it.

[@yost112ty]

It is!!! It’s a must watch every thanksgiving.

[@MT-tu8dt]

Great film.

[@PhantomOfThePsy-Opera]

Yes it sure is!... classic

[@tonyacosta4574]

I loved it

[@MT-tu8dt]

Nobody could play Al Bundy. Ed O’Neil was perfect for that role.

[@asianconnection7701]

When u have Asian families who barely speak any English watching your show that means you are good, AL is good.

[@NeoRetroEntertainment]

I loved Married With Children as a kid growing up in the 90's. Honestly I couldn't imagine anyone else in the role of Al Bundy

[@Severmore]

The 90s were great..... but..... kids have it just as good today, right? 😒

[@bobbenbrown123]

Absolutely NO ONE ELSE PERIOD

[@MrShanester117]

Well yeah that’s how it works. If it was someone else who did a good job and was Al Bundy for years. You wouldn’t be able to imagine anyone but that person being Al Bundy

[@randomuser2461]

@@Severmore No, no they don't.

[@randomuser2461]

I can't even imagine who else could have played that. He is the character.

[@emptyhand777]

I'm old and remember how different MWC was compared to every other sitcom up to that point. It truly broke the mold. I was a young teen at the time and watched every week.

[@christopherjamesboudoir]

It influenced so much after it came out. Roseanne was a take off on it, with the family being blue collar and the interplay between the family. You could even say it influenced Seinfeld with its "nobody hugs" policy.

[@erakfishfishfish]

@@christopherjamesboudoirMarried with Children was heavily influenced by All in the Family.

[@christopherjamesboudoir]

@@erakfishfishfish Very true.

[@MsKatyDidKnot]

I was the same age as Kelly Bundy and even wore some of those snug dresses to parties.

[@mistercool3859]

The fact that Ed O'Neill was relatively unknown at the time was perfect. It was easier to just associate him with Al Bundy and only Al Bundy. Plus, Al Bundy kind of dipped into obscurity after his high school glory days, which matched Ed O'Neill's unknown status in Hollywood at the time.

[@DwightStJohn-w1l]

Blazing Saddles almost became a movie with a "known" black actor and it would have ruined the movie.

[@h2ohydrox]

​@@DwightStJohn-w1l that "known" actor was Richard Pryor. He co-wrote the movie. I agree that Cleavon Little did an amazing job. I don't think Richard Pryor would have been worse, though.

[@rcrawford42]

Pryor would have been too obvious.

[@DeltaEcho303]

Ed is right about Dutch. Very underrated and I remember they spoofed it on the show when the Bundys went to the video store and they were giving away copies for free.

[@osaji922]

lol

[@mk-ultramags1107]

John Hughes has his flaws like any filmmaker but he always had an eye for "Regular People" in his work. I always forget the actors name who plays Carl in 'The Breakfast Club' but he was another great choice in his films, even as the Greek Gangster in 'Weird Science.' They have charisma but deep down feel like guys you'd live next door to.

[@DeltaEcho303]

@@mk-ultramags1107 John Kapelos. I remember him best as the South American general (who definitely wasn't a drug dealer) from Head Office.

[@mk-ultramags1107]

@@DeltaEcho303 ahhh. Right. I remember that

[@palaceofwisdom9448]

The family saw Dutch in the theater and we all loved it. Ed was tremendous going back and forth between funny and very serious as he steadily broke down the bratty Doyle.

[@REDBEARD5252]

A gifted athlete, the 6'1" O'Neill attended Ohio University on a football scholarship, but transferred after his sophomore year to Youngstown State University, where he played as a defensive lineman. In 1969, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but was cut in training camp

[@davidpoole5595]

He tells a great story on this same show about the day he was cut and going drinking afterwards

[@garryb374]

I am impressed that neither of them held a grudge and didn't take things personally. And because of what happened we got Al Bundy. So iconic I couldn't imagine anyone else doing that job. He was so perfect and it is clear even just seeing the first episode that the role was his. I think they did a great job with the entire cast, it was just amazing. Thank you Mr O'Neill for your services to American and world culture.

[@daves2822]

It wouldn't have worked without Mr. O'Neill

[@CarsonDouglas]

When "Jefferson" got added to the show, it turned up !

[@muzkat101]

It is truly hard to say that if Ed O'Neill was not cast for the show, it would have been a success. Ed brought the look of the 'every man' to the show at a time, in my opinion, when we needed it. So many shows of the time focused on looks over real-life characters, and Ed brought the right character to be the one NOT to be PC, and it fit this show perfectly... his look and his character was what I feel made the show. I was not a fan of Katy at first, but she evolved into the perfect character later, as did the kids. Kelly too was the smart one at first, it played out OK, but only when she began to become a total ditz and Bud begin to mature, the show took off really well. Overall, the entire show was a success, and I am so happy that I got to see it all; from beginning to end, and so on as it repeated in syndication. And as the show goes, I am so happy that the casting hit it on the head, perfectly. How many years has it been how? I still feel that this show will still be appreciated for another 3 decades, if not more... probably better than the Honey Mooners or I Love Lucy. That, of course, is just my opinion.

[@shannonduffy5973]

Rich, you do a good job interviewing. I love watching these Ed O'Neill spots. There's something about him that when he's talking, it makes me feel good.

[@johnnyjoey]

I love listening to Ed O’Neil tell a story! He makes everything sound funny!

[@freecheese4143]

He is so interesting. Seems like a lot of fun to hear stories from.

[@UncleBen-h2y]

Ed O’Neil has the best perspective a man could have. He’s funny, sarcastic, to the point, and a no nonsense personality!!!

[@ghanasoul]

That’s exactly the vibe i get from him too! You’re right.

[@brando7266]

And anti- trump,

[@Iloveswedes]

I can't imagine Married With Children without Ed O'Neill. That was HIS show. Damn, his look, his attitude, his charisma, his delivery.

[@ericadams214]

Dutch is legitimately one of my favorite Thanksgiving movies, right behind Planes, trains, and automobiles. I've watched it EVERY year during the holidays. Love some Ed O'Neill

[@littletom1978]

Thats a great story, shows the faith they had in their choice, the respect to not put that extra pressure on him or the cast, and be willing to let it fail then change their vision.

[@StarkIller-df7gw]

Married with Children was a smash hit! Alao helped put Fox on the map as it was a new network at the time!

[@ShootyBazooky]

Ed was incredible as Al Bundy. Perfect casting.

[@Realmikesambo]

Could listen to these back stories all day!

[@cccyyy21]

I’m 45 and from Turkey and this guy feels like a member of my close circle

[@pwnzunub]

I heard he had 4 touchdowns in one game

[@gmonroy852]

Some say his knee was down by spare tire

[@Daniel-fd3wp]

Polk High😂😂😂

[@paradoxparade1]

The scene where he fights that security guard in the school hallway is one of the funniest things ever.

[@palaceofwisdom9448]

I heard he invented shoes that looked like feet, but it was rejected as too silly looking to ever sell.

[@kenlompart9905]

Then he got married had kids you know the rest.

[@onearmy942]

Could we get some background on the genius who chose Ed O'Neil!?!! That was an absolute gem of a find!

[@vegeta420z]

47 years ago, the man they called Al “Touchdown” Bundy, cemented his place in Chicago High School Football history with 4 Touchdown’s in a single game for Polk High.

[@StevenB-f9l]

Four touchdowns not bad were the all rushing or passing or both

[@Soundsforesleep]

I just found out he played football and was even with the Steelers. I’m not a football fan at all, but I am a fan of people who are able to change their careers and have success.

[@danlove12k]

He was the reason why married with children lasted 11 seasons

[@DDDD-of3hv]

this show was, and still is, such a great show...... it was the Sunday night highlight watching this....... always before bed..... such a great show and great memories from watch it....

[@mullycards8277]

Dutch is such a fantastic movie

[@Hoss1919]

It’s an absolutely terrific movie. Unfortunately, as of this posting it can’t be purchased. 😢

[@mullycards8277]

@@Hoss1919 there are dvds floating around. I owned a copy at one point. Very expensive but worth it

[@mdshonkkc]

Great holiday movie! Should be played every Thanksgiving!

[@mullycards8277]

"Nothin burps better than bacon" 😂 still say it to this day

[@jesseswarbrick7895]

​@@mullycards8277i have the blu ray...bought it when it first came out, now its going for ridiculous prices

[@ericcaisse791]

Was a kid watching Married with children 51now still watching the greatest show of my time

[@osaji922]

Stories like that are why I love sitcoms.

[@chm97chm97]

O'Neill is a great interviewee being interviewed by the best.

[@mikeduff2070]

I couldnt imagine married with children without ed, He was a perfect al bundy

[@Turco949]

Clearly, somebody with excellent foresight, knew about Ed to have him come in for the role which was one of the best casting decisions they must have made.

[@billcunningham8485]

Dutch - underrated and under appreciated movie. Mr O’Neil knocked that role out of the park. Changed my mind about him as an actor. Been a fan ever since.

[@Boss3Nate]

Ed is a tv sitcom GOAT.... starting to really get old. They better make sure to do a Modern Family reunion show/movie/series before we no longer have him

[@CARLOSRUIZ-pe3mo]

thank you for all those years AL!!

[@RockBottomPod]

Thank God they didn’t fire him!! Couldn’t imagine someone being a better Al Bundy the Polk High superstar 4 td’s in one game

[@Robjay1795]

Today Al Bundy is needed more than ever!

[@raiderrog6412]

They couldn't have picked a better actor for this role!

[@chriskurtz8744]

Reading the book Ed's talking about right now. It brings back a lot of memories. I grew up with this show.

[@Dclxvi6x3]

I don't know where I would be right now without Al Bundys guidance. Thank you very much Ed 🙏

[@72Dexter72Manley72]

Man, that sitting on the sofa and putting his hand down the front of his pants is Legendary. I have my people do that every Thanksgiving and they have to send pics. 🤣😂😎😎

[@lockitdownduck4033]

He was the perfect Al.

[@Stephen-fe8bq]

My favorite sitcom! 😉😁

[@CupidsCrackhouse]

Ed IS Al Bundy. No way that show would have lasted without him.

[@Jsmith2024]

Very happy it turned out the way it did!

[@theoriginalkrabbypatty]

Best show in the 80’s 🤣🤣

[@Carrilleptbreak]

Al just chillin with the Sketchers on!

[@taysmith9321]

Good story i love how it all came together

[@THEQUICKSILVER31]

He is such a good storyteller; I can't help but just stop what I am doing and listen to everything he has to say.

[@luisgordillo1695]

No one else could of played Al Bundy . They tried with that spin off Unhappily ever after but failed. Ed was a beast ! 🤣🤣

[@nolantruesdale3770]

Ed O’ Niel is the man!!

[@pmcpmc8005]

Had Ed never got Married he wouldn't be sitting there talking to Rich. So, in a way it's a blessing they kept him.

[@ДаниелКаменаров-т4ю]

Al Bundy will forever be my favourite character ever created

[@dobermanowner7246]

Ed O'Neill is Al Bundy! I'm sure the show wouldn't have been as good without him.

[@channelnow5845]

What a great show

[@JohnDoe1999-lg7mh]

Keeps showing, the higher up, the less air there is and poorer choices they make. Ed was great!! I did not see the movie Dutch some years ago on TV and I liked it.

[@jamesneveaux4892]

Loved the 'Al' Thanks for the memories Ed.

[@AAAA-lt9hq]

We love you, Ed.

[@OG1323]

GREATEST SITCOM EVER!! Ed O’neal Al Bundy is the GREATEST sitcom character EVER

[@BiffJackson-o4i]

Oh stop for crying out loud. Nobody believes that.

[@richardsemuta1089]

Great actor. Tells some good stories.

[@Scott-pn3if]

Bundy is a legend loved the show!!

[@2815marionwood]

We need Al Budy as a grandfather, with no filters.

[@Jrh-rp7np]

It’s weird a generation of kids will only know Ed O’Neill from Modern Family.. While a whole other generation knows him from Married With Children,, and Also,, Modern Family… But, when they see him their first thought it Al Bundy

[@allnamestakenlol]

MwC is one of the greatest sitcoms of all time.

[@ThomasSlayer]

Great story teller

[@johnsmith-wk2tb]

When it first aired, we thought it was the "new generations" All in the Family. Even though it was hilarious, we felt like the bar was lowered to mean=funny. But I loved it. I'm thinking of the Santa landing in their backyard episode 😁

[@Cre8tive81]

Ed, I know you won't see this but thank you for the years of entertainment. Not just with Married With Children.

[@tupole272]

I can’t imagine any other actor, past or present, as Al Bundy

[@glen3509]

Woah, Bundy....👍👍 "Fox viewing positions"😁

[@stripersmorgan4493]

He is legend ❤

[@uc95nu51]

I was NFL bound until them Sebring Lightning bolt boys took out my knees in the Heartland Championship game of the 7th grade Junior high school round of 64 in 1997. Them good ole days as the running back for them Hardee Junior High Wildcats.

[@keithcarlson7267]

Ed O’Neill is a national treasure!

[@Tydyjav1]

So much disrespect for a dude that scored 4 touchdowns in a single game against his nemesis Bubba “Spare Tire” Dixon.

[@bartmix8994]

Ed O’Neill played Popeye Doyle in the third French Connection movie which came out in 1986 just before Married with Children got started. If you watched that movie, you would know that Ed O’Neill was going to make a great Al Bundy.

[@gilraybaker826]

Remember, these executive geniuses told Roddenberry to can Leonard Nimoy from Star Trek. Didn't Diller use to work for NBC?

[@Iloveswedes]

Makes you wonder how these people ever got to where they are with dumb decisions repeatedly, and then those decisions being ignored anyway to prove their ignorance.

[@PoopMqn]

That show needs to come back in fact shame in general should make a come back

[@AWF1000]

This is why you should follow what the show runner believes. Just because he was known in a different genre doesn't mean he can't handle this. They knew he was the right man for the job

[@Mossmentality506]

I thought that was Junior Soprano in the thumbnail haha but big respect to Ed O'Neil,a true master

[@thegamingchef3304]

When this came on my Pop always made up an excuse to get us out the living room 😂😂. We would be like ahhh you just want to watch that show!! Lol

[@pizzaishappiness7994]

They're keeping Al, thank your father kids. THANKS dad! 😂👍🎉

[@chilecayenne]

I recall they originally wanted Sam Kinison to be Al Bundy. NO ONE else, could have been Al Bundy, other than Ed.

[@MS-ql8ek]

Imagine the amount of crybabies that would cry if a show like this comes out in 2024

[@charlesleiva2125]

Specially the gay episode. Lol

[@PodcastClips23969]

They would be more offended by the “ Married with kids” part, if you haven’t noticed, there aren’t any Live Action family Sitcoms on TV anymore, Besides Netflix, but I mean on prime time TV not streaming. There have been several live action family comedies on TV since 2020, they all lasted about 20 episodes or less lol

[@martyrobinson4474]

And “All in the Family” too

[@VeryGreatGladness]

Ed as Al makes that show. The other cast members are excellent, but could have been a number of different folks and still work with Ed ❤

[@grant1739]

Al Bundy is the greatest television character of all time

[@browsman2328]

Ed O’Neill looks so much like my Irish father here, and my father was a good story teller.

[@cityhawk]

I thought I was the only one that felt that way. They could have been brothers they look that much alike. Ed looks a lot like my father, except Ed is about 6” taller than him. And there are similarities with their personalties as well.

[@swanseamale47]

Glad they made the series. Still makes me laugh now. Good for you Al Bundy.

[@likestoospooge]

A core memory I have is my Dad laughing for five solid minutes from a MWC episode. Dude didn’t laugh that often so it really stuck with me. I just wish I knew what part it was that made him laugh so hard. It was the first time I had heard of the show so it must’ve been an early episode.

[@guillermo3564]

Thank God that Eisen has the remarkable ability to repeat what people say.

[@eddiejames7201]

Ed O’Neil was the perfect Al Bundy

[@DIDYOUSEETHAT172]

I saw one or two episodes of Married With Children, fumy stuff, saw Dutch on late night TV a couple years ago. Hilarious! Ed's a great actor.