A 5-course introduction to the depraved delights of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

[TMC]

http://www.avclub.com/article/5-cour...-always-247969

When it airs its pre-ordained 14th season in 2019, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia will tie the record for America’s longest-running live-action sitcom. Befitting the band of miscreants at the show’s center, that distinction is a bit of a cheat: The current longevity champion, The Adventures Of Ozzie And Harriet, aired upwards of 30 episodes per season, and Charlie (Charlie Day), Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Mac (Rob McElhenney), Sweet Dee (Kaitlin Olson), and Frank (Danny DeVito) still have a long way to go to catch up with the episode counts of shorter-lived primetime staples like Cheers, M*A*S*H, and My Three Sons. Regardless, that’s a remarkable tenure for a low-budget cable comedy about terrible people behaving terribly, a Seinfeld-on-steroids premise that didn’t just prove elastic—it wound up defining the comedic voice and tone for a fledgling FX and its eventual spin-off, FXX. With such a backlog, diving into The Gang’s misconducts, delusions, and surprisingly plentiful musical performances can be an onerous task. Any of the following episodes should provide a good introduction, as well as an explanation for why, against all odds and municipal regulations, the doors to Paddy’s Pub remain open.