La serie racconta le vicende quotidiane della famiglia Bundy, composta dal capofamiglia Al (Ed O'Neill), venditore di scarpe, ritratto dell'americano medio maleducato e pantofolaio, la moglie Peggy, casalinga dalle acconciature anni sessanta, concentrata più sul suo look che sulle faccende domestiche, i loro due figli Kelly e Bud, e i loro vicini.
Al and Griff blackmail Gary, because of a bad promotion contest, when they find the shoes from the shoe store are made by children in sweatshops. Meanwhile, Peggy wins a microwave and Kelly and her try to hide it from Al.
Al and Griff are fired during the holidays and have to take small jobs in the mall. Meanwhile, Kelly and Bud swipe biblical figures from the D'Arcys' nativity scene and Peggy enters the neighborhood Christmas decoration contest.
Al is sued by all of the overweight women he has insulted in the past, and they hold a trial in the shoe store. Meanwhile, Kelly and Bud tint the windows on Al's car for his birthday gift.
Bud asks Al to repair the basement after Al starts charging him rent. When Al refuses, Bud calls a health inspector who makes Al live in the basement after it is deemed uninhabitable.
Marcy gets Jefferson a membership to the health club and he becomes a spectacle there. Meanwhile, Bud directs when Al and Kelly star in a commercial for the shoe store.
Bud's pen-pal from prison and her boyfriend pay a visit to the Bundy household and takes the family hostage, but Kelly ends up falling in love with the boyfriend.
With hours before Kelly's wedding, Al learns that Kelly's new beau is lusting for other women and since Kelly is his daughter, he takes offense to that.