Buck the Stud was the 25th and final episode of Season 5 of Married... with Children, also the 105th overall episode of the series. Directed by Gerry Cohen, and written by Chip Johannessen and John Rinker, the episode originally aired on FOX, premiering on May 19, 1991.
Synopsis[]
Al trains Buck the dog to mate with a neighbor's female dog for $10,000. Meanwhile, Bud begins to dress up in foppish clothes to attract women.
Storyline[]
A man offers the Bundy's $10,000 if Buck will breed with his champion dog, Lady. So, Al has to coach Buck into knowing the varieties of breeding with other dogs the proper way. But needless to say it goes wrong and Al is stuck with the bill. Meanwhile, Kelly becomes Bud's fashion counselor and dresses him up in medieval costumes. Much to his (and her!) shock, this does make him a hit with the girls.
Cast[]
Cast[]
- Ed O'Neill as Al Bundy
- Katey Sagal as Peggy Bundy
- Christina Applegate as Kelly Bundy
- David Faustino as Bud Bundy
- Buck the dog as Buck Bundy
- Amanda Bearse as Marcy D'Arcy
- Ted McGinley as Jefferson D'Arcy
Guest starring[]
- Armin Shimmerman as Mr. Lovejoy
- Debbe Dunning as Bubbles
- Jennifer Blanc as Margie
- Trea Shields as Bridgett
Quotes[]
- [Al is kneeling next to Buck and showing him a book with pictures of several dogs]
- Al: Hey, here's a proud beauty, eh, boy? Legs that won't quit. Quite a saucy little lilt to the tail. Look at that "Come Hither" look on her snout. Now, what I would do if I were you, next time you hop that briard, I'd just close my eyes and pretend I was "Bundy-fying" a poodle.
- Peg: [unenthusiastic] Listen to him, Buck. He satisfied me. Look how happy I am.
- Marcy: [sees Al kneeling next to Buck] Gee, Al, nice to see you down on all fours, like your forefathers. Next, perhaps you can point to a wheel and say [imitating Al's caveman ancestors] Me no understand wheel thing. Wanna buy some shoes?
- Al: [looking at Marcy's legs as he begins to stand up] Heh, well, it looks like something that'd come from the Colonel alright, but, uh, the legs are picked clean and I don't see any breasts.
- [Al and Buck arrive back at the Bundy residence following Buck's session with Mr. Lovejoy's prized dog]
- Peggy: He's here! We're rich!
- Bud: Yes! [the kids and Peg go over to Al, while Bud's date, Margie, leans over the couch to observe]
- Peggy: Oh, Al! Give me that check!
- [Peggy snatches the paper out of his hands and after a moment of looking it over, she suddenly has a change in tone]
- Peggy: Al, this isn't a check for $10,000... This is a bill for $10,000!
- Al: [pointing] If you look a little closer, you'll see it's a bill for $100,000. [starts walking toward the living room] You see, Buck was ready all right. [stops for a moment to look at Bud in his newest attire, then shakes his head in disappointment and continues walking] A little bit more ready than our Lady of Astoria. [turns around to face the family] Or should I say... "The late Lady of Astoria".
- Peggy: [dumbfounded] ...To death, Al?!
- Al: [makes an upward gesture with his hand] ...And beyond, Peg! But don't worry, the hundred-thou is payable over a three day period. So, I figured, ya know, a couple of busy days at the shoe store, maybe a lemonade stand manned by my two daughters here, [Kelly smirks at the embarrassed Bud] we'll be able to save up enough money to buy a chocolate bar and maybe some nylons for my new cellmate Bruno! [sits down]
- Kelly: Daddy, if it'll help any, you can have my share of the $10,000.
- Al: [sarcastically, as he gives her a feint smile] I'll miss you most of all, Scarecrow.
Notes[]
Title[]
- The title of the episode is a reference to Buck Bundy being used as a stud. In this case, a stud refers to a male animal that is registered and kept for the specific purpose of breeding with a female animal. It may also be referring to the term when used in modern slang to refer to a male who is considered attractive and sexually active.
Trivia[]
- Debbe Dunning, who plays Bubbles in this episode, previously appeared on MWC a few episodes earlier in "Kelly Bounces Back" as Rochelle Alpert. She also appears to be wearing the same black dress and hairstyle from that episode.
- Al mentions that he was All State while complementing Buck on becoming a stud.
- Al questions whether Bud will play baseball again, likely referring to the New Market Mallers.
- Bud reveals that he played hockey as a child.
- According to Peggy, the neighbors are The McGintys, The Ritters (across the street) and Finleys (behind the house)
Cultural References[]
- Kelly calls Bud "Yoda" and later "Ewok" when he puts on his dark hooded robe jacket, referring to characters from the Star Wars franchise.
- While defending his fashion choice, he mentions that the sales clerk told him that actor Kevin Costner wears them. He then mentions that it was next to the Dick Tracy raincoats.
- After Peggy accepts Mr. Lovejoy's offer for Buck to be a stud, Al is shown acting out catching a football and celebrating. Peggy then says "Wake up, Gipper!", in reference to football player George Gipp.
- When introduced to the girls for the first time, Bud compares himself to an "Early James Dean or bride of Leavenworth", referring to the American actor and the federal prison.
- Al tells Marcy that she "looks like something that came from the Colonel" referring to Colonel Harland Sanders and his fast food restaurant, Kentucky Fried Chicken.
- After Kelly tells Al that she'll give him her share of the money after suggesting that he'll be in prison for not being able to pay off the bill, he tells her "I'll miss you most of all, Scarecrow" referring to the movie The Wizard of Oz.
- During Al's teasing of Buck after locking him in the basement, he mentions fictional dog, Lassie, causing Buck to go wild and scratch the door
- After mentioning Lassie, he then says former U.S. First Lady, Nancy Reagan, but Buck remains silent. Following that, Al says he doesn't "believe that Sinatra story" referring to singer Frank Sinatra and claims that he and Nancy Reagan had a sexual affair during her time in the White House. He was known to be a frequent guest at the White House, as he was friends with her and her husband, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. The claim came from the 1991 book, Nancy Reagan: the Unauthorized Biography by Kitty Kelley.
- Sinatra also sang the MWC opening, "Love and Marriage".
- After laughing at Bud and his latest outfit, Peggy asks Kelly "Did they re institute the draft or something?".
- Military Conscription (colloquially known as "The Draft" in the United States) was the requirement of able bodied males to register and serve in the U.S. Military during times of war. Those who tried to get out of it were known as "Draft Dodgers" and used various means to disqualify them from serving such as escaping to Canada, claiming certain medical / psychological conditions, receiving religious or educational deferments, or declaring themselves to be homosexual, as Peggy implies that Bud is doing. It fell out of favor with U.S. citizen after the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, eventually turning military service from mandatory into all voluntary.
Locations[]
Sets[]
- Bundy Living Room / Kitchen
Goofs[]
- When Al comes home with the bill for $100,000 and the family comes up to him, he shuts the front door behind him and it remains shut as he walks towards the couch. When the camera does a close up of Peg saying "To death, Al?", the door is somehow wide open and remains that way until Peg finally shuts it after Bud is attacked by the other girls outside.
External Links[]
Buck the Stud at the Internet Movie Database- Buck the Stud on Bundyology
- Buck the Stud - Transcript on Springfield! Springfield!
- #105 Buck the Stud - MWC Podcast on Horrorphilia
