Top of the Heap focused on the attempts of two minor Married... with Children characters—Charlie Verducci (Joseph Bologna) and his son Vinnie (Matt LeBlanc)—to get rich. Charlie's "master plan" is for Vinnie to marry into a wealthy family; to this end, the two Chicago slum residents try to get into high society. Vinnie also owns a cat, Mr. Fluffy, who is despised by Charlie. Mona Mullins (Joey Lauren Adams) is a girl from the Verduccis' neighborhood who has a crush on Vinnie, who tries to fend her off. Alixandra Stone (Rita Moreno) is the manager of a country club, and the object of Charlie's affections. Vinnie gets a job at a country club, which also employs a security guard, Emmet Lefebvre.
In some episodes actors from Married... with Children made guest appearances as their characters from the show, thus reinforcing the connection between the two series. Al Bundy (Ed O'Neill) appeared in the pilot (which itself was an episode ofMarried... with Children), Bud Bundy (David Faustino) made an appearance in an episode in the country club, and Kelly Bundy (Christina Applegate) appeared twice on the show in cameo appearances.
In 1992, there was a continuation of this series entitled Vinnie & Bobby; it also lasted for only seven episodes.[citation needed] The only characters returning in this version were the eponymous Vinnie (Matt LeBlanc), Mona Mullins (Joey Lauren Adams) and Bobby Grazzo (Robert Torti), who only appeared in the last episode of Top of the Heap.
Pilot episode: After Vinnie loses his last boxing match (and Charlie wins Al's TV in a bet), Charlie comes up with a plan to get Vinnie to marry a rich woman, so they crash a high society party.
Guest appearance by Ed O'Neill as Al Bundy.
Vinnie gets a job working at a country club as an assistant to the manager, and Charlie gets the hots for her.
Guest appearance by David Faustino as Bud Bundy.
First appearance of both Alixandra and Emmet, as well as the show's theme song and opening credits, "Puttin' on the Ritz"
2
"Behind the Eight Ball"
Linda Day
Kimberly Young
April 21, 1991 (1991-04-21)
Charlie overhears that a guy he is hustling at pool is a godfather.
Jonathan Collier & Wayne Kline & Mike Scully & Kimberly Young
May 12, 1991 (1991-05-12)
Vinnie meets his first girlfriend on her wedding day, but Vinnie catches the groom with another woman.
6
"Mona by Moonlight"
Tony Singletary
Kimberly Young & Mike Scully & Wayne Kline & Jonathan Collier
May 19, 1991 (1991-05-19)
Vinnie must take the owner's stepdaughter (a high fashion model) to a prom held at the club, but Mona also wants Vinnie to take her.
Guest appearance by Robert Torti as Bobby Grazzo.
Last Appearances of Charlie, Alixandra, Emmet and Fluffy. The series would continue in Vinnie & Bobby.
