Season 5 episode 11; Mac and Charlie Write A Movie. I watched this at 5p.m. on Comedy Central. FX is the home network, but Comedy Central frequently plays its reruns. The original air date of this episode was December 3rd, 2009. My first introduction to It's Always Sunny was last year- so although I'm watching the current season this was the first time I have seen this episode. The seventh season is current and started in September last year. A great aspect of this show is the old episodes still have style, and the new season hasn't lost any of the shows quality. Like many sitcoms today, they have done away with the "live" audience laugh track, though zany plot lines and unrealistic character behavior definitely still constitute it as a sitcom.
Characters are five owners of the semi-failing business Paddy's Pub:
Dennis Reynolds and Dee Reynolds (twins), "Mac" McDonald (later roommate with Dennis and long-time friend with Charlie), Charlie Kelly (roommates with Frank), and Frank Reynolds (non-biological father of Dennis and Dee, but may be Charlie's biological dad).
Onto the plot...
Dee announces she will be the "featured actress" in a movie. Immediately Mac and Charlie's eyes light up as they realize this is actually their big break, and they will write the script for this movie which is already being filmed and has a director. Here's a clip of the transcript from the scene when they are brainstorming their main character:
“You know what I’m thinking? Something that’s happening in
Hollywood that’s pretty cool- They take an underrated actor and whose career is
in a slump- and they make him a star again.” -Mac
“Now that is awesome, right?” -Charlie
“So who’s the most underrated actor in Hollywood right now?”
“Dolph Lundgren.”
“Yes. Why?”
“Well because of his spiky hair, ice cold demeanor and his
big muscles.”
And they decide to make him a scientist- as long as they
don’t cover up his body with a lab coat, bro.
So once that is decided along with a crazy plot line (with Charlie coming up with ideas and Mac editing them), they suddenly discover neither of them can actually write. After weeding out a woman in her 50's to be their writer (Charlie doesn't like her "demographic", she's too "judgemental"), they pick an "Indian" looking guy who turns out to actually be Pakistani (the difference is little to them). He edits their script, but they eventually boot him as they want the glory. So they skip straight to the movie poster to promote their Dolph Lungren film (who never makes an appearance). Frank gets in on the movie business by claiming to now be an agent, and represent Dennis. Dennis' response is a non-chalant "I don't give a damn", and follows Frank wherever. Meanwhile Dee is shocked to discover that her role which she continually referred to as the "featured actress role", constitutes laying in a pile of blood with other extras. She assumed and expected lattes brought at her request and her own trailer, although she wasn't promised any such thing by the casting director. In order to broaden her role, she maintains it is a zombie movie, where she can say the line "brains, brains...". However, the movie is about Serbian genocide. It's a really strange feeling watching the episode knowing you just laughed after the words "Serbian genocide" were said. By the end of the show, Dennis reveals he was not just typing away aimlessly on his phone the whole episode, but was instead inventing his own script. It turns out to be a story Mac and Charlie told him about a time they got trapped in a stairwell. Frank comes out on top in the end- having been given Dee's part in the movie because she complained so much. -fin-
A word on the cast: Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day (Mac, Dennis, and Charlie, respectfully) created, produce, and portray the main characters. Rob McElhenney was the first to present the idea for the series, and he is credited as the executive producer. He was raised in south Philadelphia, which is where the show takes place. Danny DeVito plays Frank Reynolds, and Kaitlin Olsen who plays Dee is married to Rob McElhenney.
Ads suck: Comedy Centrals' advertisements I saw were for other CC shows- mostly for Adult Swims' Futurama and Tosh.0. Boost Mobile had a few ads, all of them featuring their little green android man. Jack in the Box wanted me to buy their 100% beef cheeseburger and monster taco box.
ME, ME, ME: This is truly the mantra of the show. All characters are narcissistic and even psychopathic. It paves the path for hilarious comedy with dark subject matter. Plots and characters exploit tendencies of
people to be egotistical and have dishonest behavior to achieve their own ends. The characters speech varies between late 20's to early 30 year old's to pre-tween ramblings. Their style is casual as bar owners, and very realistic of how people dress. Many scenes are on-site of Paddy's Pub, however there is many others around Philadelphia as they don't seem to work more than the bare minimum. Always Sunny episodes have a plot and twists, very similar to 30 Rock. Story lines are carried into the next episode, but can also easily be dropped. Portlandia, while a sketch comedy with episodes containing skits, is also similar in their humor
because it makes fun of people. Sunny's brand of comedy is truly unique in how bluntly they deal
with dark subjects, yet do so cleverly. It is sarcastic and dry at times; like
my favorite comedies are.
10 reasons you should be watching It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia: http://popwatch.ew.com/2007/09/13/its-always-sunn-5/
Stereotyping is occasionally present, but not the over-used kinds. Even in comedies there's the goofy protagonist trying to get the girl (Scrubs...). One stereotype I have identified is that Dee, the only girl of the group, is constantly told she will be excluded from the group's antics. However, this show has a few main qualities which are projected through all of the characters, not individual stereotypical traits allotted per character. Manipulative tendencies and antics no sane person would do (using crack-cocaine to qualify for welfare) are entertaining for audiences who I believe appreciate ironic comedy. It takes an audience who is not easily offended, and prepared for sometimes cringe-worthy statements. The network you view this on really effects which ads you'll get. Comedy Central targets college and even high school crowds with Taco Bell, school tech products, Axe cologne, and Big 5 gum. FX has shown Nike and work-out gear, and very similar ads but perhaps just targeting college-age. The ads make sense- even the young professional age (for example my brother and some of his friends) watch this show and the ads are products they use as well. If I were from another country viewing this, I can imagine I would still find it funny. I may even be able to identify other sources of humor, such as how selfish and assuming it portrays these bar owners and find it a reflection on how some of America can be.
I love it when the theme song Temptations Sensations by
Heinz Kiessling comes in for a short reprise during an episode, after an event
which really contradicts the songs twinkly, everything’s-dandy air. To give a
super old-school reference- It reminded me of something the Audrey character
from Little Shop of Horrors sang when envisioning her perfect housewife 1950’s
life. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia theme
Would you hide naked in a couch to spy on someone or try to seduce a prostitute Pretty Woman style? I hope you said "no". These are the type of scenarios which make It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia a complete parody. There are veins of truth lurking in episodes. For example in the episode I have discussed, Charlie and Mac assume a dark-skinned man is from India (he is of Pakistani heritage, and both of his parents and himself born in the United States). Exploiting assumptions is part of the truth behind this show. What happens in this show is not a portrayal of what could happen in real life, but provides comedy for people who want the darker subjects of life lain out plainly, and the humor to be found in them. This is a show you can watch with your friends- it is laugh out loud funny, not a -smirk- "Oh, that's clever" like you could get from the Colbert Report. Occasionally I do think the situations are too ridiculous, maybe a little too cringe-inducing. Audiences at Rotten Tomatoes (great review site for movies and TV) give it 95% and 4.6 out of 5 stars; very positive for the sometimes cynical audience of Rotten Tomatoes. One of the top-rated comments begins "By far one of the greatest shows ever created. It's better than Seinfeld, Friends, Cheers, anything similar really. These are not just characters or scenarios generated from stand-up, they're brought on by pop culture nostalgia and insanity..."
I would agree it is one of the best comedy shows created on the FX network. Best shows of all time, no. It is ground-breaking in certain aspects, and I adore its unbashful treatment of pop culture and its exploration of selfishness.
I take my Sunny through Netflix or if it's recorded on DirectTV. My older brother watches this, and several of my friends. This is one of the few shows I watch when I occasionally want to watch TV. I don't need to see every new episode, but if I were in the routine of watching TV I definitely would.
Before typing this post, I thought I would wind up turning this into an analytical essay on its characters and the meaning of their humor. After, I realize I genuinely just enjoy the humor and it offers a break from the annoying habits of society by making fun of them. Even if this show gets too far-fetched at times, I'll take it as what it is; comedy. And you should too.
If you would like an entertaining re-cap of what you missed from the previous seasons, here's Grizzly Bomb: http://grizzlybomb.com/2011/06/16/its-always-sunny-in-philadelphia-new-season-7-details-and-the-15-best-episodes-ever/
Instead of waiting in the dentists office for 5 minutes while you stare blankly at a wall, download "Flipadelphia". It's pretty entertaining for a mindless game.
http://www.appbrain.com/app/always-sunny-flipadelphia/com.fx.flipadelphia
http://www.appbrain.com/app/always-sunny-flipadelphia/com.fx.flipadelphia
