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.
Kelly and Bud try to raise money to got to a concert. Kelly's scheme involves playing poker against Peggy's friends and Bud makes Al take a bunch of kids camping.
The Bundys lets a foreign exchange student live in their home for the weekly $500 that the government will pay them, but the french girl ends up ruining Kelly's social life.
A Playboy model visits the shoe store and Al wants to find out which issue she is in, but Peggy sold his Playboy collection and Al has to convince her to get the magazines back.
Al has finally saved up enough money to buy Christmas gifts for everyone, but a few late customers to the shoe store makes Al unable to get to the bank.
After Peggy lied on the Bundy taxes, Al has to find a quick way to raise money for the audit, and when a couple offers good money for Peggy's hair, Al must find a way to convince her.
Al plans a special evening for Peggy's birthday by taking her out to the Bowlarama where he hopes to finally beat his arch rival's high game score. Al beats the score, but minutes later, Peggy bowls a perfect game, destroying Al's self-esteem.
Al has to judge a beauty contest at the shoe store and has nightmares about feet. Meanwhile, Kelly tricks Bud and Marcy into thinking they slept with each other.