The Goodbye Girl was the 22nd episode of Season 6 of Married... with Children, also the 127th overall series episode. Directed by Gerry Cohen and written by Stacie Lipp, the episode first aired on the FOX network, premiering on April 19, 1992.
Synopsis[]
While Al is on an imaginary trip around the world, Kelly gets a job at a TV history museum — and becomes a bug-killing TV personality known as The Verminator, while Jefferson is harassed by kids who think they recognize him from Happy Days and The Love Boat.
Storyline[]
When Kelly's modeling school suddenly closes down (it's actually merely moved upstairs and the models are too stupid to find it anymore), she gets a new job as a greeter at the TV World theme park. When this is threatened by her low-performance ratings, Kelly gets switched into Commercial Land where she plays "the Verminator" who hunts down roaches, like Bud. Meanwhile, Al takes his annual "Bundy World Tour,": a week-long trip around the world by himself, in the Bundy living room on the couch watching TV.
Recurring cast/Guest stars[]
- Cast Regulars
- Amanda Bearse as Marcy D'Arcy
- Ted McGinley as Jefferson D'Arcy
- Buck the Dog as Buck Bundy
Guest starring[]
- Louis Mustillo as Mr. Nielsen
- Hal Landon Jr. as Janitor
- Edd Hall as Tour Guide
- Mitchell Dean as Guy
- Dean Mitchell as 2nd Guy
- Sean Fox as Kid #1
- Lindsey France as Kid #2
- Dana Lee as Master Po (voice)
Quotes[]
- [Bud notices Al sitting on the couch with a beret and glass of wine, staring blankly at the television while pretending to be on vacation in France]
- Bud: Dad, this was really cute when I was about four. But after 18 years of your world cruises, I can't help but feel maybe its time to stand on a freeway off-ramp with a sign that says [gestures holding up a cardboard sign to his chest] "Mindless - Will Embarrass My Family For Food".
- Al: [calmly] Bud, come here a second. [gestures to Bud to lean in closer] Let me explain something to you. You see,...[pauses] you know that I'm just sitting here on the couch and I know I'm just sitting here on the couch. But, you see son, the rest of the weeks out of the year, I'm selling shoes... [gradually becomes bitter] ladies shoes... fat ladies... very, very FAT ladies!
- [Bud tries to quietly leave but Al quickly grabs him by the collar and forces him to stay]
- Al: And you know what fat does best, son?! Fat sweats! [gradually becomes aggressive and insane] So, after selling fat SWEAT all year, one needs a little vacation! So, you see, son, if I didn't think I was enjoying myself here, I might one day just run amok and destroy everyone and everything with anything I see! Do I make myself clear?!
- Bud: [meekly, as he pats Al on the shoulder] ...We'll discuss it when you get back, Dad.
- Al: Mais Oui ["Of course"]
- [Peg and Bud take a seat at the kitchen table]
- Peg: But you know, the one the one we really should be worried about right now is Kelly! You know, ever since she's had this job, she reminds me of someone. I just can't place my finger on who.
- Kelly: [walks through the front door in a bitter mood] Why doesn't the world explode into a fiery pus filled death?! [Bud and Peg have a concerned look on their face as Kelly shuts the door] A fat woman comes to the gate today, her muumuu covering what must have been three or four heinies. Now she could exit through an itty-bitty turnstile or a huge gate - guess which one she chooses! A line was forming. So, I had to do something. So, I went and got a tub of butter from the Delta Burke "Let's Get Big" exhibit and oiled her up. Then I went over to Star Trek Land, hotwired the Enterprise and sent it up where no man has gone before! She goes flying like a vegetable out of Dad's mouth, right into "The Facts of Life" fan club pavilion. Thank God it's always empty. Can somebody give me a reason to live?!
- Peggy: Not a convincing one, [shakes her head] no!
- Bud: Listen Kel, I know what would make you feel better. You can get me into the park for free!
- Kelly: [bitterly] I do nothing for you, nibblet! I do nothing for anyone! All I want to do is just sit and relax!
- [Kelly lets out a sigh and plops down on one of the living room chairs. She then lets out a heavy sigh and shoves her hand down the top of her skirt like Al]
- Peg: Who is it she reminds me of?!
- Kelly: Well, the modeling school may be closed, but its spirit must live on! I will follow its motto: Smile as if your brain had wisdom. Smile and go on Nutrisystem. Smile, something something, Smile. I will not let that wisdom go to waste!
- [Kelly puts on a forced smile and waves to the empty area, just before Marcy comes out of the exhibit door and notices her]
- Marcy: Hi, Kelly. What are you smiling at?
- Kelly: [smiling] Nothing. Life sucks!
Notes[]
Title[]
- The title of this episode is a reference to the 1977 film of the same name.
Trivia[]
- The filming of this episode was part of a MTV special called Backstage with the Bundys.
- Mr. Nielsen, Kelly's boss in TV Land says that "usually two viewer complaints would lead to your cancellation." This is a reference to one Terry Rakolta from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, who in 1989, along with her husband, complained about Married... with Children and led a boycott against the show, almost resulting in its cancellation.
- Hal Landon Jr., who plays the janitor that talks to Kelly at TV World, is an actor best known for his role as Captain John Logan, the father of Ted Logan, in the 1989 film, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and its sequels.
- Edd Hall, who plays the tour guide at TV World, is best known for his role as the announcer of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno"
- This particular episode was the focus of an MTV special called Backstage with the Bundys, where MTV followed the cast and staff of the show during the filming of this episode.
- As revealed by Bud, Kelly's modeling school that she had been attending since season 5's "Kelly Bounces Back" closed as the models couldn't find its new location, which was just upstairs from the original location.
- Despite Al's hatred for the French, he can be seen acting and dressed as a stereotypical Frenchman, wearing a beret and holding a wine glass. He also has a table spread of cheese, a french baguette and a bottle of wine.
- Kelly spent six months pondering as to why Garfield can speak but Odie can't.
- In a roundabout way, Odie can speak, but it is basically the normal way dogs communicate.
- In the strip, Garfield can speak, but his words are expressed in thought balloons while Jon usually can't hear him. On various TV shows and movies, only the audience hears Garfield as do the animal characters such as Nermal and Odie.
Cultural References[]
- During Al's vacation there are references to various films:
- Escape from New York - Al pulls out a videocassette copy of the film as his first stop.
- The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington - Al pulls out a copy of the film for his second stop.
- This film features a cameo appearance by Larry Storch who would later appear on "Married with Children" in season 9.
- Casablanca - Al is supposed to be "vacationing" in the city of Casablanca as he watches the film on the television. He wears a hat similar to Rick Blaine and then says his line, "Here's looking at you, kid."
- A group of children can be seen questioning Jefferson at TV World over whether he appeared on The Love Boat and Happy Days, but he denies that he appeared on either of those series.
- Ted McGinley, who played Jefferson, actually appeared on both shows late in their runs as Ashley "Ace" Covington Evans and Roger Phillips.
- Mr. Nielsen's name is a reference to the Nielsen Rating system.
- The Verminator's name and her phrase "Hasta la vista, Buggy" are a reference to the 1991 film, Terminator 2: Judgement Day.
- When Kelly suggest that Bud stand by Al and say "The plane, boss. The plane", it is a reference to the character, Tattoo from the TV series Fantasy Island and his catchphrase.
- One of the TV World exhibits the D'arcys mention is the "Steven Bochco's Hall of Failures", a reference to the TV producer and writer best known for shows such as NYPD Blue and Doogie Howser M.D. that ran for several years, as well as several shows that were cancelled after one season.
- The D'arcys mention that the exhibit has Hooperman, Cop Rock and Capital Critters, all of them being shows by Bochco that were canceled after one or two seasons.
- At TV World, the D'Arcys mention Hooperman, a 1980s comedy-drama starring John Ritter, who would later star with Katey Sagal on the sitcom, "8 Simple Rules" until his death in 2003.
- Another TV World exhibit that Bud mentions is "Talk Show Land" where a "binge-n-purge" statue of talk show host Oprah Winfrey is shown growing and shrinking. This is a reference to her well known struggle with weight loss.
- Kelly's favorite cartoon cat, Garfield is mentioned, when Bud reveals that Kelly spent six months pondering as to why Garfield can speak but Odie can't.
- During Kelly's fat woman rant after coming home from work, she mentions having to get butter from the "Delta Burke 'Let's Get Big!'" exhibit and then went to the Star Trek Land, hot wired the Enterprise and sent the woman to where no man has gone before, where she then landed in the Facts of Life fan club pavilion that was empty.
- Delta Burke is an actress who at the time the episode originally aired, starred on the show Designing Women. She was previously mentioned by Al in "If I Could See Me Now" when he confused her with actor Raymond Burr.
- The sci-fi television series, Star Trek is referenced as Kelly mentions the USS Enterprise and the phrase "Where no man has gone before!".
- The Facts of Life was a 1980s sitcom that focused on a housemother/dietician working at an all-girls boarding school. Its opening theme song was previously heard on MWC earlier in season 6.
- When Kelly recites the modeling school's motto, she mentions the diet system, Nutrisystem.
- At TV World, Marcy reveals that she is a big fan of the 1980s police procedure show, Cagney & Lacey, claiming it inspired her to cut her hair short and wanting to shot at men with a big gun. She then list off several other television shows including:
- Bewitched
- Gilligan's Island
- Green Acres
- That Girl
- When Marcy and Jefferson argue in front of Kelly, she stops them and suggest that they take their argument over to "Thirtysomething Land", which is in reference to the 1980s television drama series, Thirtysomething.
Locations[]
- Bundy Residence
- TV World
Sets[]
- Bundy Living Room / Kitchen
- TV World exit
- TV World Verminator Kitchen set
Goofs[]
- When Bud is telling Peg about Kelly's modeling school being shut down, you can see from the back door that there is a curtain moving and a stagehand is walking around the backyard set.
- When Mr. Nielsen warns Kelly after Marcy and Jefferson complain to him, he tells her "Tsk, tsk as we say here in TV Land.". The park's name is TV World as stated earlier in the episode, as well as the large sign near him and Kelly.