Christina Applegate, a blonde Channels Kelly Bundy with “The Bundy Bounce,” a New Dance
Christina Applegate, who became well-known as Kelly Bundy in the 1990s comedy Married with Children, surprised fans by giving a nostalgic homage to her former role and offering a novel viewpoint on an old story. Applegate, who played Al and Peg Bundy’s cheerful and somewhat naive daughter, is auditioning for an unexpected job as the face of a new Allanté car.
With a dance routine she’s called “The Bundy Bounce,” Applegate is reenacting an event that was inspired by Kelly Bundy. This is a satirical nod to her married days with kids. She explained the shift in a recent interview, stating that it was an effort to reconnect with the carefree and joyful character Kelly had from 1987 to 1997, when the show ran.
“I thought, ‘Why not have some fun with this?’ while going through some old scripts.” Applegate remembered, thinking back on the part that made her a household name. Since Kelly was always coming up with absurd ways to set herself apart, I wondered what would happen if she were currently applying for a luxury automobile commercial. Thus, “The Bundy Bounce” was created.
This tale is based on a Married with Children episode where Kelly Bundy, who was sometimes on the verge of slapstick humor, was well-known for her audacious conduct and bold fashion choices. Kelly’s desire to become the face of Allanté would have made for an amazing made-up plot complete of her signature airheaded charm, cocky self-assurance, and unique dancing abilities. The outcome of that idea is “The Bundy Bounce,” a silly, extremely vivacious dance meant to catch the judges’ eye.
Recently, Applegate shared a short video of herself rehearsing the dance on social media, much to the delight of her ardent Married with Children followers. With a lot of exaggerated arm gestures, hip swings, and, of course, a wink toward the camera, Applegate is shown in her living room mimicking Kelly’s wild enthusiasm for the audition in the instantly viral video.
Applegate jokingly said, “It was the Kelly that was all show and no substance that people really wanted to see again.” “Kelly would have attempted to win over the crowd by doing the goofy, ridiculous dance.”
Kelly Bundy’s influence endures in popular culture despite Applegate’s prosperous post-Married with Children career, which featured highly regarded roles in Anchorman and Dead to Me. Kelly became a renowned “dumb blonde” for sitcom audiences in the 1990s thanks to her easygoing manner, memorable one-liners, and unapologetic attitude. She was also often more self-aware than people gave her credit for.
A new generation is introduced to the antics of the Bundy family by Applegate’s tribute to Kelly with “The Bundy Bounce,” as many fans are rediscovering Married with Children through streaming services. Sitcom fans are still deeply touched by the show’s harsh assessment of middle-class America, exaggerated characters, and irreverent comedy.
When asked if she would consider going back to Married with Children after this great callback, Applegate smiled and said, “You never know!” I think it all boils down to timing and narrative. But for now, I’m happy to pay tribute to Kelly in my own special way.
Despite her busy schedule of recent activities, including continuing to raise awareness of multiple sclerosis after being diagnosed with the disease herself, Applegate hasn’t ruled out taking on Kelly Bundy’s role again in the future.
Her cheerful dance routines and nostalgic charm are currently available to fans. It’s arguable if Kelly Bundy would have ever been employed as a spokesperson for Allanté, but one thing is for sure: The Bundy Bounce is a hilarious reminder of the reasons fans will always like Christina Applegate and Kelly Bundy.
The amount of views Applegate’s new “Bundy Bounce” video is getting suggests that her tribute to her classic role has both introduced her character’s charm to a new generation of viewers and brought back some 90s nostalgia. Keep an eye on Applegate’s social media pages, as she has hinted that she may share more material based on her time spent as Kelly Bundy.
“Once you start bouncing, it’s hard to stop,” she laughed.
