“…body NOT by Ozempic” – Christina Applegate at the 2024 Emmy’s.  It’s things like this - her real-life sense of humor and zest that really have me loving and deeply respecting Christina Applegate.

I’ll cover some of the “Married with Children” cast here, and I was glued to the TV to watch the Bundy family on regular basis, but Christina is the cornerstone of this entry, so let’s get started.

Yes, Kelly Bundy launched her to fame and “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead” was fun.  More TV and films, “Sweet Charity” on Broadway, etc., but it wasn’t until “Dead to Me” that I really perked up to Christina.  Such fantastic chemistry with Linda Cardellini, great back and forth between serious acting and comedic timing, all wrapped up in the relatable Christina Applegate persona of my youth.

I’m a huge fan of her longevity, her versatility, and her resilience.  Talking publicly about the agonies she has gone through with cancer, anorexia and M.S., all while being self-deprecating, truthful and relatable.  It all just makes me love her more.  She’s a survivor.

Christina’s little on-screen brother, DAVID FAUSTINO (Bud Bundy), was always good for a laugh.  Whenever he was thrown a line on “Married with Children” his delivery was perfecto!  I was surprised to find out that he even had a record; I don’t remember seeing THIS on MTV.  But when I found “I Told Ya” on vinyl at the thrift store –snap it up, I did! 

Check out his rap video here:

Autograph-wise, I really like his slower full signature shown here.  The “Married with Children” group shots that are so often sold at conventions or online are usually rushed signatures from the cast members.  And kudos to David for being a child star who seems to have escaped most of the publicized embarrassments and tragedies that have happened to so many of his ilk.  Transitioning into a not-so-public life after his level of fame can take a lot of strength and fortitude.

While we’re on the topic of strength and fortitude, how about KATEY SAGAL and her transition out of a well-known and beloved caricature role into a bad ass on “Sons of Anarchy”?!?!?  Granted, she continued to work in between these two iconic roles, but talk about a range of character and avoiding typecasting.  LOVE IT!  Additionally, she has quite the Hollywood pedigree: her dad, Boris Sagal, directed one of my favorite movies “The Omega Man”, her step-mom (and dad’s widow) was actress/dancer Marge Champion and her twin sisters, Liz and Jean Sagal were the “Doublemint Twins” and starred in TV’s “Double Trouble” – yes, I will have autographs posted of the last 3 soon!  The autographs of Katey, shown here were gotten before the hoopla and frenzy of conventions and eBay.  Thankfully!  Now it’s pre-prints through the mail and “This celebrity charges for autographs” in person.  Can’t blame her, though.

Now onto the more personal aspect of our main lady, Christina Applegate. In the early aughts Christina was married to JOHNATHON SCHAECH (damn there are so many ways to easily misspell his name!) and what a visually appealing couple THAT was!  Talk about red-carpet and magazine eye-candy …damn.

Johnathon is in my brain primarily because of 4 things:

1.   Starring in “That Thing You Do” – the title song which is still on my workout playlist (I love all things cheesy) – and until researching just now, I thought it was Johnathon’s voice.  Hmmm.  Is my bubble burst on that one? Naw.  Illusion is fine.

2.   “Hush” co-starring with Gwyneth Paltrow and my beloved favorite, Jessica Lange, in one of the campiest, good-bad, mother-in-law thriller films you’ll see.  Jessica provided the over-the-top menace-laden scenery-chewing (so many dashes), Johnathon provided the visual distraction and Gwyneth … well, yeah.

3.   One of the most incredibly eye-catching covers of Interview magazine featuring a man. I mean, he did start out as a Wilhelmina model …

4.   This incredibly handsome headshot from the beginning of his acting career with a perfect autograph!

A bow to Christina Applegate and those in her orbit.

Nudge your theme song memory by listening to "Love and Marriage" ...