Christina Applegate ‘cringes’ at Kelly Bundy’s ‘full rock s---’ status: ‘Wouldn’t have a shot in hell today’

Christina Applegate reflects on playing Kelly Bundy in "Married... with Children," explaining why the provocative character was popular and how the show wouldn't be made today.

"I look at all this now and cringe. The show was indeed broad, and lewd, and it wouldn’t have a shot in hell of being made these days." Janelle Ash is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to janelle.ash@fox.com. 

"I played Kelly as a tease and as a virgin — which is why I think viewers loved her rather than hated her. One of the creators, Michael Moye, and I talked about this regularly. We agreed to keep Kelly virginal and have the 'Kelly is a tramp' opinion come solely from her brother, Bud," Applegate wrote.

"By season five, my God: I could walk into the living room, as I did in episode 13, ‘The Godfather,’ in a leather fringed jacket over a short red shirt and there would be a five-second break in the scene while the crowd hollered lustily at me," she wrote. "I look at all this now and cringe. The show was indeed broad, and lewd, and it wouldn’t have a shot in hell of being made these days. That’s a good thing: It’s hard enough for young women to thrive in a world of appearances."