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Ahead of its record-tying* 14th season (premiering
Sept. 25 at 10 p.m.), EW honors FXX’s little sitcom that could.
BY DEREK LAWRENCEYOUR GUIDE TO
It’s Always Sunnyin PhiladelphiaRick Astley
The popular internet trend of Rickrolling
has been linked to the use of the singer’s
“Never Gonna Give You Up” in a 2005 Sunny
episode that reveals Dennis’ (Glenn Howerton)
unexpected fandom.Bird Law
Charlie (Charlie Day) may be illiterate,
but season 11’s “McPoyle vs. Ponderosa:
The Trial of the Century” proves that he’s the
“best goddamn bird lawyer in the world.”ChardeeMacDennis↑
Invented by Charlie, Dee (Kaitlin
Olson), Mac (Rob McElhenney), and
Dennis, this “Game of Games” is a test of
the mind, body, and spirit (and now horror,
thanks to Danny DeVito’s Frank) that they’ve
unsuccessfully tried to sell to Mattel.toI
INTERVENTION
In season 5, the
gang decides Frank
is no longer fun to
drink with, so they
stage an interven-
tion, which he mis-
takes for a roast.J
JERSEY
SHORE
Speaking of meats,
the comedy makes
a rare trip outside
of Philly in “The
Gang Goes to the
Jersey Shore.”
The season 7 epi-
sode is notable for
the debut of Frank’s
favorite beach
snack: rum ham.K
KITTEN
“M ITTONS”
In the market for
an “elegant, com-
fortable mitten”
for your pet? Well,
after his sleep is
disrupted by the
cats outside his
apartment, Charlie
has the perfect
product for you.L
LIBERTY BELL
The season 4 epi-
sode “The Gang
Cracks the Liberty
Bell” flashes back
to tell the story
of how “Patrick’s
Pub” was instru-
mental in giving
the iconic symbol
its signature mark.M
MCP OYLES
Siblings Liam
(Jimmi Simpson),
Ryan (Nate Mooney),
and Margaret
(Thesy Surface)
are the most noto-
rious members
of this inbred
milk-loving family
that once took
the gang hostage.D
THE
D.E.N.N.I.S.
SYSTEM
Dennis Reynolds
has always consid-
ered himself quite
the ladies’ man,
and in a season 5
episode, he dis-
closes his creepy
foolproof system
to seduce any
woman: “Demon-
strate value,”
“Engage physically,”
“Nurture depen-
dence,” “Neglect
emotionally,”
“Inspire hope,” and
“Separate entirely.”E
EMMYS
SNUB
Despite its lengthy
run, Sunny has
been largely
ignored by Emmy
voters, earning
just three nomina-
tions (all for stunt
coordination) and
no wins. The lack
of awards success
is parodied in the
season 9 episode
“The Gang Tries
Desperately to Win
an Award.”Fat Mac↑
Noticing that characters
often get better looking as
TV series continue, McElhenney
decided it would be funny if the
Sunny cast instead put on weight
for season 7. They all passed, but
he went ahead with it, gaining
60 pounds—and plenty of laughs.Green Man
In a town known for its
mascots (Phillie Phanatic and
Gritty), Charlie’s spandex-covered
alter ego fits right in.“Hero or
Hate Crime?”
After being confronted about his
exercise bike, “the Ass Pounder
4000,” during an arbitration over
the rightful owner of a winning
scratch ticket, Mac finally admits
to his friends that he’s gay in this
season 12 episode.C
B
F
G
H
A
*Sunny and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet are now TV’s longest-running live-action sitcoms