Al Bundy is an unsuccessful middle aged shoe salesman with a miserable life and an equally dysfunctional family. He hates his job, his wife is lazy, his son is dysfunctional (especially with women), and his daughter is dim-witted and promiscuous.
In this pilot we meet Al and Peg Bundy, a very dysfunctional Chicago family. In the pilot, Al and Peg, who have no friends, meet their new neighbors Steve and Marcy Rhoades. Steve and Marcy are a very happily married couple until they learn from the Bundys.
Marcy gives Peggy the book "Thinnergy", which is a book about health. Very inspired by the book, Peggy goes on a diet and tries to convince the family to join in, but they refuse. When the diet makes Peggy really annoying, Steve convinces Al to join the diet, and persuades Peggy to quit.
The Bundys and the Rhoades' hear of crime in the neighborhood. Al buys a gun, and the Rhoades' buy a dog. Al hears a noise and accidentally kills the dog, thinking it was a burglar.
Steve and Marcy plan on adding another room to their house with their tax refund. Al tries to coax Steve into building a pool room, while Peg and Marcy decide on an exercise room. Who will win?
Al and Steve draw closer together when they try to restore a 1965 Mustang. Peg and Marcy on the other hand can't stop from despising their husbands.
Al is unable to purchase a gift for Peg on their 16th wedding anniversary as his credit card seemed to be maxed out.
