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Kiepski's family. From left: Ferdynand, Mariolka, Halina and Waldek.
Świat według Kiepskich (The World According to the Kiepskis, "kiepski" being a term roughly translating to the English term poor or crappy) is a popular Polish television sitcom, produced by Polsat since 1998. The show follows the life of a dysfunctional Polish family from Wrocław, who live in an old apartment in Wrocław on 3/4 Ćwiartki street (in Polish Ćwiartka means 1/4 but it often refers to 1/4 of a litre bottle of vodka). Most episodes are centered on Ferdynand Kiepski, who tries to make various schemes to improve his financial or life situation, all of which ultimately fail. The series parodies the dynamics of Polish families in a similar style to the US series Married with Children which in Poland goes under the name Świat według Bundych (The World According To The Bundies); in many ways it inverts the dynamics of the Bundies. I many ways it olso inspirade by The Simpsons.
Director: Okil Khamidov
[edit] Main characters
[edit] The Kiepski family
- Ferdynand (Ferdek) (Andrzej Grabowski): Head of the family, unemployed (since December 13, 1981, the day when martial law was declared in Poland) 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. Ferdek comes up with ridiculous get-rich-quick schemes that due to his own faults and comic coincidences always fail. His favorite pastimes are drinking "Mocny Full" ("Strong Full") beer and watching television.
- Halina (Marzena Kipiel-Sztuka): Ferdek's wife, who works at a nearby hospital as a nurse (in the early episodes she was a cleaning lady in 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.
- Babka Rozalia ('Babka' from 'Babcia' for Grandma in Polish) (Krystyna Feldman): Ferdynand’s mother-in-law (but her last name is also Kiepski; she sometimes says that her name is Rozalia Małolepsza ('Not much better'). 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 1980s, and also Radio Maryja. Feldman resigned from this role two years before her passing in 2007.
- Walduś (Waldemar) (Bartosz Żukowski): 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.
- Mariolka (Mariola) (Basia Mularczyk), Walduś’ 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 ('bald'). 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. (She is usually ignored though)
[edit] Others (first plan)
- Marian Paździoch (Ryszard Kotys): 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 others' sides, something akin to Marcy D'Arcy. He is usually called by the neighbours 'menda', which 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 (he lies to his mother and says he is one). 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.
- Arnold Boczek (Dariusz Gnatowski): another neighbour, and employee of a butcher shop; he is very fat and not too smart. He enjoys eating fatty meat accompanied with vodka. 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 (however some other relatives of Boczek appeared during the show). Olso, in the first two episodes he apperd in, Boczek was portreted as much more agresive and tough but in leater episodes he become a very symphatethic and childish person. Ferdek calls Boczek 'zboczek' (from Polish 'zboczeniec' for pervert).
[edit] Others (second plan)
- Helena Paździoch - (Renata Pałys): Marian's Wife, greedy and despotic.
- Edzio the Postman (Listonosz Edzio)(Bohdan Smoleń): delivers mail to the Kiepski’s home. Always speaks in verse. He is sometimes called by Ferdynand "Edzio-Pedzio" (Pedzio is short of Polish vulgar word "Pedał", which translates to faggot).
- Borysek (Borys) (Kazimierz Ostrowicz) - an old man who lives in the Kiepski's apartment. He is a strict Catholic while also being a sexaholic.
- Paulinka (Paulina) (Zuzanna Helska) - an old woman who lives in the Kiepski's apartament. Babka's friend, a very strict Catholic and vulgar.
- Ziomek (Homie) - a cousin from the country, son of Ferdek's brother Staszek. He was living with the Kiepski's for a while. He appeared in four episodes.
- Uncle Władek - Ferdek's uncle, who was played by different actors.
[edit] See also
