Described as “‘Seinfeld’ on crack” by its creators, “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia,” a comedy on FX, started its fourth season on Sept. 18. The clever, or some may call crude, ads promoting the fourth season will definitely spark an interest and draw you into the show.
The ad campaign contains slogans like “It’s like an STD for your television,” or “It’s normal to feel dirty afterwards” were intriguing, to say the least. I started watching some episodes online after recommendations from several friends and realized this show is comedy genius.
The show revolves around four middle aged main characters who own an Irish pub in Philadelphia. Charlie, Mac, Dennis and his sister Dee are definitely hedonistic jerks in their own right, but the antics and schemes they come up with are nothing short of hilarious.
“It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” touches upon topics such as homosexuality, racism, abortion, cannibalism, incest, prostitution, the mentally challenged, and using crack to receive welfare. Basically anything else that can be categorized as controversial is fair game.
In addition to the main four, Danny DeVito stars as Frank, Dennis and Dee’s father who is equally egocentric and wants to be in the gang. He fits right in with the rest of the characters because of his selfishness, and is even willing to compromise his own children if it means getting ahead. Taylor Owen describes the characters as, “Oh so evil, but that’s what makes the show so good.”
There really is no main plot, but every episode centers on the gang getting into some sort of crazy shenanigan, and culminates in the end with an ironic twist, much like “Seinfeld.” The gang’s many “get rich quick” schemes and their derision from seeing others suffer make up a lot of the storyline, but the results are always humorous and unexpected.
Their many recurring characters also make the show what it is, like the recovering alcoholic waitress who Mac tries to sleep with, although Charlie has harbored obsessive feelings for her since the show has started. There’s also Cricket, a homeless guy who used to be a priest, before Dee exploited the fact that he used to have a crush on her in high school. The characters are so horrible but it all adds up to comedy gold.
Dedicated fan and freshman, Jesse Lederman, says, “It’s not even just funny. It’s an ‘out there’ kind of funny that words can’t even describe, only laughter can.”
The fourth season has gotten even better. The gang becomes cannibalistic, hunting humans as a sport, and they also buy and try to profit from selling gasoline from the back of their van. All in all, the characters in season four have become even more horrible, which only adds to the humor of the show.
“It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on FX.
