"Married with Children" Top of the Heap (1991)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Gerry Cohen

Writers:

Ron Leavitt (writer)
Arthur Silver (writer)

TV Series:

"Married with Children" (1987)

Original Air Date:

7 April 1991 (Season 5, Episode 20)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Al Bundy's childhood pal, Charlie Verducci, and the guy's dumb son Vinnie, attend a high society fund raiser in this pilot for the short-lived TV series, 'Top of the Heap.'

Plot Keywords:

Pilot Within Series | Crossover | TV Series Pilot | Shoe Salesman | Shoe Store

Cast

Ed O'Neill	...	Al Bundy
Joseph Bologna	...	Charlie Verducci
Matt LeBlanc	...	Vinnie Verducci
Diana Bellamy	...	Kathleen Morgan
Joey Lauren Adams	...	Mona Mullins (as Joey Adams)
Rebecca Cross	...	Tyler Cameron
John Mansfield	...	Roger Bonderly
Charles Howerton	...	Nelson
Dennis Holahan	...	Man #1
Kathryn O'Reilly	...	Woman
Tim Hill	...	Security Man
Jill Pierce	...	Mary Ann
Harold Harris	...	Man #2

Runtime:

23 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Columbia Pictures Television

Trivia:

This episode was the pilot for the spin-off series "Top of the Heap" (1991).

Quotes:

Charlie Verducci: You're not aloud in the men's room, are you?
Kathleen Morgan: Of course not.
Charlie Verducci: Good. Then that's where I'll be.

Movie Connections:

References Top of the Heap (1972)

Poor Spin-Off

Do you remember Charlie Verducci played by Joseph Bologna and his son, Vinnie, played by Matt LeBlanc? Well, the Married with Children people decided to have a spin off based on these two characters. Charlie wants Vinnie to marry a wealthy heiress so they can live in the lap of luxury instead of a tenement apartment building with their beautiful white cat. He arranges Vinnie to attend a lavish ball at a country club where familiar Diana Bellamy is cast as the club manager. She is the first woman ever insulted by Al Bundy in the show's premiere episode. Unfortunately, things don't go so well. Joey Lauren Adams is good as the seductive neighbor. The show's premise never really took off. It's nice to see thought that the show producers are loyal to their guests like Diana Bellamy who would return occasionally to the show. It's like seeing old friends. This episode would show Matt LeBlanc's earlier work before he hit it big on Friends.