The Famed Sitcom Star You Forgot Was On Married... With Children
"Married...With Children" was a massive hit in the late '80s and '90s. The sitcom was about an ordinary man who was unhappy in his daily life but at times found joy in being married and raising two children, per Sony Pictures. The cast of the show was also stellar. Ed O'Neill starred as Al Bundy, a women's shoe salesman from Chicago who was married to a lazy, unemployed wife named Peggy Bundy (Katey Sagal), per Deadline. The couple also shared two children, a daughter named Kelly, who was obsessed with her looks and dating, played by Christina Applegate, and a scheming son named Bud, portrayed by David Faustino.
"Married...With Children" was considered one of the most beloved sitcoms of its day, and ran for 11 seasons before wrapping. The show also had a hilarious supporting cast, which included Amanda Bearse as Marcy D'Arcy, Ted McGinley as Jefferson D'Arcy, and David Garrison as Steve Rhoades (via IMDb). In addition, the series also had many memorable guest stars and recurring characters, including one member of the "Friends" cast.
Matt LeBlanc played the role of Vinnie Verducci on Married...With Children
Actor Matt LeBlanc found huge fame when he was cast as Joey Tribianni on the NBC series "Friends." The show took off and became one of the most popular television shows of all time, skyrocketing LeBlanc and his co-stars, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, and Lisa Kudrow into stardom (via Cheat Sheet). However, before LeBlanc hit it big as the lovable and hilarious Joey, he had roles on TV shows such as "Just the Ten of Us," "TV 101," "Monsters," "Class of '96," "Red Shoe Diaries," and "Rebel Highway" (via IMDb).
However, one of the most significant roles he had on the way to the top was as the character of Vinnie Verducci in "Married...With Children." LeBlanc first appeared on the show in 1991 as the on-again, off-again boyfriend of Christina Applegate's Kelly Bundy, per Noteabley. Kelly and Vinnie offered plenty of comic relief on the show. The network even tried to create two spin-off series based around LeBlanc's character.
Matt LeBlanc's Married...With Children character was written into two failed spin-offs
According to Noteabley, Matt LeBlanc's character, Vinnie Verducci, on "Married...With Children, " was written into two different spin-offs. The first was called "Top of the Heap," which also co-starred Christina Applegate as Kelly Bundy. The show centered around Vinnie and his father, Charlie Verducci. Charlie schemed to have his handsome, yet brainless son find a rich woman to marry. However, the show proved to be a flop and was later axed (via Uproxx).
However, the network wasn't done with the character of Vinnie just yet. LeBlanc's "Married...With Children" alter-ego was then placed into a comedy series titled "Vinnie and Bobby." The show featured Vinnie and his best friend Bobby living together in Chicago. However, that show never took off, and like its predecessor, it was also canceled,per Poobala.
Of course, LeBlanc landed on his feet, and just a few years later became a part of one of the most iconic TV shows and casts of all time when he was hired to portray Joey on "Friends." However, the actor's longtime fans still remember him as the lovable and clueless Vinnie.