The
Nightman
Cometh↓
Adapted from his previous
songs “Nightman” and
“Dayman,” Charlie’s rock opera was
later turned into a real-life musical
that the cast (and DeVito’s wife,
Rhea Perlman) reenacted around
the country. While it is a success
in that sense, the performance
in the season 4 finale fails when
Charlie’s show-ending marriage
proposal is declined.
‟The Gang Runs
for Office”
As if politics could get any dirtier,
the group stakes its claim in the
corruption game when Dennis
and Dee run for comptroller. What
ensues is an endless cycle of
bribes, even costing Charlie his
beloved Garbage Pail Kids collection.
Paddy’s Pub ↑
Once hailed as “the worst
bar in Philadelphia,” Paddy’s
serves as the headquarters for the
gang’s various high jinks, hosting
such events as strip shows, model-
ing competitions, and cult meetings
(R.I.P. Ass Kickers United).
Quantum Leap
When they experience classic
body-switch movie tropes in sea-
son 12’s “The Gang Turns Black,”
Dee’s theory that they’re dealing
with a Quantum Leap situation gets
tested by a run-in with the star of
the NBC series, Scott Bakula, who is
working as a janitor and wishing he
could leap back to 1989 when he still
hung out with Nash Bridges.
Rickety Cricket
Introduced as a clean-cut
priest with a longtime crush on
Dee, Matthew Mara (Sunny writer
David Hornsby) has since seen his
life repeatedly ruined by the gang,
leaving him now a drug-addicted
homeless man.
Sweet Dee
The lone female member
of the gang, Frank’s daughter
and Dennis’ twin sister is often
the target of their jokes, especially
when it comes to her romantic
and professional failures, as well
as her resemblance to a bird...
Would that make Charlie her lawyer?
Sigur Rós’↑
“Varúð”
The season 13 finale, “Mac Finds
His Pride,” concludes with Mac
coming out to his imprisoned father
via a stunning five-minute rain-filled
shirtless interpretive dance number
to this song from the Icelandic
rock band. Frank wasn’t the only
one tearing up.
The Waitress
Played by Day’s wife, Mary
Elizabeth Ellis, since the series debut,
the woman of Charlie’s dreams
(and stalkings), whose real name
is unknown, has been romantically
involved with all the male members
of the gang at some point.
Xmas Special
Danny DeVito has said there’s
nothing he won’t do for a laugh
on Sunny, and that is on full display
in the season 6 holiday special,
“A Very Sunny Christmas,” when
the legendary actor emerges from
a couch naked and greased up.
Yuck Puddle
No one at Paddy’s is more
dedicated to their job than Charlie.
But no matter how hard the janitor
works (as showcased in sea-
son 10’s memorable “Charlie Work”),
he’s never been able to clean up
the bar’s biggest mess: a blob in
the men’s bathroom that seems to
somehow both move and feed.
Z
For a rich businessman,
Frank has some low-class hobbies.
Among them are playing “Night
Crawlers” with the adult man he
shares a bed with (and who might
be his son) as well as hanging out
under the bridge with people like Z
(The Wire’s Chad Coleman). Don’t
get us started on Z’s jean shorts.
U
CHASE UTLEY
Mac has one
dream in life: to
play catch with
Chase Utley. He
even wrote to the
MLB star, declar-
ing, “I am sure
our relationship
would be a real
home run!” Mac’s
wish became
McElhenney’s
reality in June
when the actor
caught the first
pitch from Utley
at a Phillies game.
T
THUNDER
GUN EXPRESS
The gang loves
action flicks, be
it Thunder Gun
Express, which
they rush to see
in a season 7 ep,
or Lethal Weapon 5
and 6 , which they
make themselves.
(Yes, Mac in the
Danny Glover role
is as problematic
as it sounds.)
N
P
V
W
X
Y
Z
Q
R
O S
EW ● COM SEPTEMBER 2019 85
UTLEY: MITCHELL LEFF/GETTY IMAGES; ALL OTHERS: PATRICK M
CELHENNEY/FX (9)
