Did you know that the Kelly and Bud Bundy you fell in love with were not actually the original cast? It was probably because the producers were already short on time during filming of the pilot episode of the show. The producers did not bring along Ed O’Neill, the dad you know and love, during the original casting of the Bud and Kelly characters.
It was Tina Caspary who first played Kelly, while Bud was originally played by Hunter Carson. However, the producers decided to change the cast. Lack of chemistry between the original actors was the reason for the recast. They had to reshoot all the Bundy kids’ scenes for the pilot episode to be broadcast.
How Katey Sagal Got To Play Peggy
With bills to pay and a career to save, Katey Sagal had to play the role of Peggy. Reading Peggy Bundy’s part for her audition, Katey Sagal proved to everyone that she was worthy of playing the role, as she really got into the character, wearing a huge red wig. She had this image of Peggy Bundy created in her mind beforehand and she pulled it off effortlessly.
There’s no denying that we all fell in love with the redhead! Instead of going there as a regular actor, she went the extra mile in the audition. She was so true to the Peggy character that it showed. Almost the exact same thing happened with Christina Applegate, who also won the hearts of the judges when she pranced in dressed up as the bratty character of Kelly. Her performance as Kelly is one worth taking a trip down memory lane to see!
Kramer Almost Played Al Bundy
Do you know Cosmo Kramer from the sitcom, Seinfeld ? Yeah, Michael Richards, who played Kramer, took a chance at playing the role of Al Bundy. However, after a few test tapings of the scene from the show’s first episode, the producers realized he was too enthusiastic for the sluggish and shabby character of Al. They wanted someone who looked and acted more tired and grumpy. Ed fit the character like a glove.
In the end though, everything turned out well. Richards got the role of Kramer, which is perfect for his natural character. Richards was not right for the role of Al, as the casting director Marc Hirschfeld said. But, Hirschfeld remembered Richards when he was casting for Seinfeld , and that’s how Richards got the role of Kramer.
Friends Or Enemies?
The writers of the show originally planned that Al and Peggy really loved Marcy and Steve, their annoying neighbors. But, the real-life issues and true feelings of the actors interfered. There was no way of hiding the real relationship of Ed O’Neill and Amanda Bearse on screen.
Ed O’Neill and Amanda Bearse played neighbors on the show, but talk around the set was that they were not on good terms in real life. Amanda is a lesbian and Ed is not very understanding about this, as the rumor goes. In a beautifully sardonic twist, Ed’s role in Modern Family was that of a gay man’s dad who was very supportive of the LGBTQ community.
Katey Sagal Was Pregnant 3 Times During The Show
Peggy Bundy was played by Katey Sagal, who was actually pregnant in real life not just once, but three times during the 10-year filming of the show. With Katey’s pregnancy popping up during the earlier seasons of the sitcom, the writers included it into the show. In Al’s nightmare in one episode, Peggy and Marcy were pregnant at the same time, and it was the reason for the story to be stretched out.
Sadly, Peggy’s first child was stillborn, arriving six weeks earlier than planned. Katey had to wear a fake pregnancy belly while shooting. A tough sacrifice for the show. Fortunately, Katey’s last two pregnancies were successful. They somehow kept it hidden from the audience. Kudos to the producers and wardrobe consultants as it wasn’t so obvious in the show.