Świat według Kiepskich
Świat według Kiepskich is a Polish television sitcom that premiered by on March 16, 1999 on Polsat. The show follows the life of a dysfunctional Polish family from Wrocław. Most episodes are centered on Ferdynand Kiepski, the family's patriarch, who schemes to improve his financial or life situation, but ultimately fails. The series is a parody of the dynamics of Polish families in a style similar to that of the US series Married... with Children, released in Poland as Świat według Bundych |reason=ATM Grupa S.A. original production|date=August 2019Citation needed|reason=What 'many ways'?|date=August 2019
Main characters
The Kiepski family
- Ferdynand Kiepski : Head of the family, unemployed father of two, who has a penchant for canned beer and trying to prove that he is an unappreciated genius. His character is similar to that of Peggy Bundy, who enjoys the finer things in life yet refuses to work for them, as well is similar character to Homer Simpson. Ferdynand comes up with ridiculous get-rich-quick schemes that, due to his own faults and comic coincidences, usually fail. His favorite pastimes are drinking "Mocny Full" beer and watching television. He inherited his name after his German grandfather, Ferdinand Urlich Doppeldeke. He made his debut in the first episode.
- Halina Kiepska : Ferdek's wife, who works at a nearby hospital as a nurse. In early episodes she was a cleaning lady at a hospital, but one day Ferdek had his wish granted through a miracle, and his wife got a better job. Every day she has to solve problems created by other members of the family. She's the one strong-arming Ferdynand to look for a job, usually through her famous quote: "A w pośredniaku byłeś?". She also debuted in the first episode.
- Rozalia Kiepska : Ferdynand’s mother-in-law, but her last name is also Kiepski; she sometimes says that her name is Rozalia Małolepsza. She is a senior citizen who lives in two worlds— real and imaginary. Her pension is a key component of the family’s budget. Ferdynand constantly tries to con her out of money in order to buy more beer for himself. She loves "Koziołek Matołek", a Polish cartoon from the 1960s, and also the religious radio station Radio Maryja. One time, along with her friends, she became a member of a street gang, robbing banks and knitting scarves. Feldman resigned from this role two years before her death in 2007. Rozalia debuted in the first episode.
- Waldemar Kiepski : 25-year-old son of Ferdynand and Halina. Like his father he is unemployed. His life centers on bodybuilding or drinking beer with his father, and he avoids books and studying as much as he can. Walduś had problems with finishing elementary school, but after many attempts he succeeded. He equates to Kelly Bundy as he is the family's bumbling buffoon with his own share of "Kelly-isms". He often helps his father with his schemes. Walduś ends up leaving for the United States to sell hot dogs with his uncle Staszek, but comes back in the 13th season and gets married. He was debuted in the first episode.
- Mariola Rebeka Kiepska : Walduś’s 17-year-old sister. Like Bud Bundy she is the most well adjusted of her family. She is a typical teenager and likes to spend time outside the house - this usually involves going somewhere with her boyfriend Łysy. She is typically perverted- usually when a guest comes over, she will turn the topic toward sex, and after the topic change she will typically giggle, although these attempts are most often ignored. She debuted in the first episode - Umarł odbiornik, niech żyje odbiornik!
- Jolanta Kiepska : Waldemar's wife.
Others
- Marian Paździoch : a neighbour of the Kiepski family who owns several unsuccessful businesses. His day job is selling lingerie at a bazaar. He is a constant rival to Ferdynand and both are often thorns in each other's sides, something akin to Marcy D'Arcy. He is usually called by the neighbours 'menda', which colloquially means an unpleasant, evil person. There is not much known about Paździoch's past. In one episode he stated his father is German and in another, that his mother wanted him to be a priest. Marian's full name is Marian Janusz Heinrich Gottlieb Paździoch von Biberstein. Also, Pazdzioch once hinted that he had been a member of the ZOMO unit, saying that he had been using a baton on the streets of Wroclaw. In episode 363 - Uczeń czarnoksiężnika he turned out to be an evil sorcerer, but he was defeated by Ferdek and Walduś and was turned into a roll of toilet paper. He was debuted in the first episode.
- Arnold Boczek : another neighbour, and employee of a butcher shop; he is very fat and not too smart. Arnold Boczek was born in Italy and his last name is Leoncio. He enjoys eating fatty meat accompanied with vodka. He is very naive to Paździoch's fake business plans. He's a keen lover of Mongolian ballet, which he watches on television. In the first two episodes Boczek appeared to live with his brother, who has never been seen or mentioned again. Also, in the first two episodes he appeared in, Boczek was portrayed as much more aggressive and tough but in later episodes he became a very sympathetic and childish person. He thought that the main idea of Easter was to go to church with food and eat it later. Ferdek calls Boczek 'zboczek'. He was debuted in the second episode - Wiara czyni cuda.
- Helena Paździoch née Meisner : Marian's wife. Greedy and despotic. She debuted in first episode - Umarł odbiornik, niech żyje odbiornik!
- Listonosz Edzio : delivers mail to the Kiepski’s home. Always speaks in verse, and describes himself as a 'poet' and a philosopher. He is sometimes called "Edzio-Pedzio", by Ferdynand. He was debuted in first episode, but was written as a cameo role due to the actor's failing health, and ultimately written off due to Smoleń's death in 2016.
- Badura : alcoholic living in a scrap-heap. In one episode, he was revealed to be an angel.
- Borysek : an old man who lives in the Kiepski's block of flats, who used to be a baker. He is a strict Catholic while also being a sexaholic. He debuted in the second episode.
- Paulinka : an old woman who lives in the Kiepski's block of flats. Babka's friend, a very strict and vulgar Catholic. She also debuted in the second episode.
- Ziemowit: a cousin from the country-side, son of Ferdek's brother Staszek. He was living with the Kiepskis for a while.
- Wujek Władek : Ferdek's uncle, who was played by different actors.
- Łysy : Mariolka's boyfriend. Later, she broke up with him.
Reception