Television You’re Not Watching (But Should Be): It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

The best show I have ever seen is entering it’s fifth season this week (September 17th). I am speaking, of course, of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. This show is not for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It is for people who like to laugh. Here are ten of the reasons that I watch It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia and hopefully you will, too. Watch for it Thursday night at 10:00 on FX.

1. The laughs. Every episode has left me laughing so hard that I have trouble breathing. Yes, I do live at a high altitude, but I have found the show has similar effects in more oxygen rich environments.

2. The originality. You’ve never seen anything like it. Well, maybe in your dreams if you are a sociopath. The new concepts and styles are refreshing.

3. The relevancy. The show deals with current affairs. Episode titles include The Gang Solves The North Korea Situation and Underage Drinking: A National Concern. The first episode of the upcoming season is The Gang Exploits The Mortgage Crisis.

4. The music. From the timeless Rick Astley ballad Never Gonna Give You Up to original numbers like Dayman and Nightman, the show has a dynamite soundtrack.

5. The staff. The show was created by and continues to be written and produced by Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day. These three also star in the series. The trio allegedly shot the pilot for somewhere between $85 and $200.

6. The cast. In addition to Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olson and Danny DeVito complete the stunningly talented group.

7. The guests. The painfully awesome Michael Rosenbaum appears in an episode. Dennis Haskins, Judy Greer, Sinbad, and Rob Thomas also make appearances.

8. The quotes. I have learned such charming phrases as “I’m going to smack your face off of your face”, ” I hate listening to people’s dreams. It is like flipping through a stack of photographs. If I’m not in any of them and nobody is having sex, what’s the point?”, and “I’m going to go America all over everybody’s asses!”

9. The shenanigans. To get through the episode, “the gang” often results in one or more of the following extortion, blackmail, arson, bribery, kidnapping, torture, vandalism, assault, impersonating a police officer, fraud, and breaking and entering.

10. Just watch it already, bitches.