When Married…With Children first premiered, we introduced to the Bundys and also their neighbors, newlywed couple, Steve and Marcy Rhoades. They were a loving couple at first and Steve did all he could for Marcy and vice versa. But as they were also trying to be good neighbors to Al and Peg, they also were being a little corrupted by the crass Bundys… or maybe they always had their own crass side to them.
Then they got a divorce and at some crazy banker party, Marcy inadvertently got married to Jefferson D’Arcy. Jefferson was the complete opposite of Steve. He was a conman, content with being a kept man; which infuriated Marcy to no end. But he was able to skate by on his good looks, which always made Marcy happy. Here are five times that Steve was the best husband and five times that Jefferson was.
1. Steve – “The Gypsy Cried”
Steve tried to be a pretty good husband whenever he had the chance to. After a gypsy they hired saw only tragedy for Marcy but good fortune for Steve and the Bundys, she wants to drag them all on a trip to New York that she needs to go on for business. Unfortunately, Marcy’s boss thinks she’s more of a secretary than a new Bank Manager.
Even as the plane is possibly going down, he still is ordering her around. Steve let his assertive wife assert herself as she finally told him off, sat back down and proclaimed, “I’m ready to die.”
2. Jefferson – “She’s Having My Baby, Part ”
As most newlyweds do, Jefferson and Marcy found themselves expecting a little bundle of joy. While Al was mocking him, Peggy had revealed that she was also pregnant. According to Marcy, Jefferson had been the perfect husband, rubbing her feet and pregnant tummy, driving miles to get the pie that she liked.
Considering this was Married, it didn’t last long, but for a few fleeting moments, Jefferson put all expecting fathers to shame.
3. Steve – “Married…Without Children”
After Steve gives Al a tip on a hotel to bring Peg, Marcy agrees to watch Bud and Kelly. Steve begrudgingly agrees, and Marcy convinces him it’ll be good practice for when their parents.
But it’s Bud and Kelly, and they’re nightmares that only a mother could love. Steve and Marcy do their best, but are ill-equipped to deal with crazed teenagers and/or ex-cons.
4. Jefferson – “Weenie Tot Lovers And Other Strangers”
Jefferson was always looking for a quick score. He found an opportunity when Kelly became the face of Weenie Tots. Al had won 50,000 in a Weenie Tot sweepstakes but couldn’t cash in since Kelly was an employee. Al conspired with Jefferson to split the prize money if he accepted the prize instead, but he planned to double-cross Al and take his wife instead.
Not only did Kelly ruin the plan, the government finally found Jefferson, who had defrauded many elderlies out of their money before he met Marcy.
5. Steve – “Guys And Dolls”
The boys relive their youth collecting baseball cards for Bud. Meanwhile, the girls play with Kelly’s old Barbie dolls. Unbeknownst to Steve, Marcy had a very special love for her first Barbie, which was buried in the basement – he had sold it to buy cards.
Without her ever realizing he was culprit, Steve and Al hit the streets, old-noir style to find the toy. Steve gets beaten and they lose their collection in the process, but it made Marcy happy to see her favorite toy again.
6. Jefferson – “You Better Shop Around”
Jefferson is usually Al’s sidekick. But every so often, he does team up with his wife to beat the Bundys. Marcy was tricked off the line by Al at the Supermarket, which led to the Bundys becoming the millionth customer instead of her.
They convince the store to have them having a shop-off, ala Supermarket Sweeps. Despite losing the competition, Jefferson never left Marcy’s side and the couple was a tough team to beat.
7.Steve – “Her Cups Runneth Over”
Probably every couple has their own special language that only they know. Steve and Marcy did too, and some of the language involved evening wear. When Peg’s “support system” was no longer being made, Steve dragged Al to Oconomowoc, WI to find a replacement.
The store there was Steve and Marcy’s go-to. Naturally, he picked something up for her too. When they came back, all Steve had to say was “Oconomowoc,” and Marcy knew exactly what to do.
8. Jefferson – “How Green Was My Apple”
One of the big differences between Steve and Jefferson is that Jefferson was all-in on goofy antics. In “How Green Was My Apple,” the Darcys and the Bundys contest ownership of an apple tree that was on either one of their properties.
Their argument is silly and it’s a game of “Bugs vs. Daffy,” but again Jefferson was all in on protecting his home along with his wife.
9. Steve – “Just Married…With Children”
The Rhoades always tried to be neighborly. When the Bundys washer went on the fritz, Steve and Mary agreed to help, until it became too much. Steve took charge, which always made him more attractive to Marcy. Things got a little weirder when the Bundys inadvertently got the Rhoades’ mail and filled out a game show request form.
They showed up as Steve and Marcy and the Rhoades showed up and Peg and Al on a game show where spouses were tortured for cheap prizes. In the final round, the boys have to strap into electric chairs in order for their wives to win a new car. Steve has issue with it telling Marcy to “juice me ‘til I’m ash.”
10. Jefferson – “The Agony And The Extra C”
The Darcys are celebrating their anniversary, but Jefferson is laid up in the hospital, chatting with Bud and Kelly; recounting the events that got him to the ER. Naturally, it was all for love. All Marcy wants is for Jefferson to give her a night of romance (which he doesn’t mind) and staying away from Al and NO MA’AM for the day (which he does mind).
His friend come by and whisk him to the bar. He eventually gets tipsy enough to think a tattoo is a great gift for Marcy. But the tattoo artist was as inebriated as Jefferson and inked him up with “Mary.”
