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.
Al is unable to purchase a gift for Peg on their 16th wedding anniversary as his credit card seemed to be maxed out.
