IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA Remains Bright

Article first published as TV Review: ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ – Season 11 Premiere on Blogcritics.

FX’s oldest original sitcom, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, returns this week for its eleventh season on spin-off network FXX. Some shows would start to grow stale after more than a decade on the air, but this one, perhaps in part because of a production schedule that only requires ten fresh episodes per year, has managed to stay inventive and engaging. It pays tribute to long-time fans by keeping the running gags and throwbacks coming, but also finds ways to not make the stories seem repetitive.

Season 11 begins with “Chardee MacDennis 2: Electric Boogaloo,” in which the homemade game the gang competitively tears each other apart playing re-emerges as they try to sell it to an executive. Dee (Kaitlin Olson) and Dennis (Glenn Howerton) defend their title from Charlie (Charlie Day) and Mac (Rob McElhenney), as Frank (Danny DeVito) tries to put his spin on it. As you expect, things get out of hand and go horribly wrong, which our core group of characters seem completely unaffected by.
The chemistry between this ensemble is one of the best on television, finely honed after many years together. While the people they play are almost always trying to get a leg up on the others, the performers themselves mesh together beautifully, each allowed plenty of time to shine, never stepping on top of one another in the name of a good joke. They seem completely at ease and in their element.

“Chardee MacDennis 2: Electric Boogaloo” is enhanced by the presence of Andy (Andy Buckley, The Office), an outsider who participates with the group. For brief moments, viewers might wonder why Andy goes as far as he does in the service of the competition, but usually one is too distracted by the zaniness around him to notice, and I love seeing a fresh outsider tossed into the mess that eventually shocks even him. Plus, the half hour wraps things up nicely with no further explanation needed.

The inside jokes among the gang are communicated well enough that most of the audience at home will feel included, not excluded. When a beer bottle becomes a puzzle, it’s funny because we’re familiar with the characters and how they relate to one another, even if someone who has never seen the show before might be confused. Even if you are a first-time sampler, though, this half hour is plenty humorous enough, providing a nice example of the show’s style, to hook you in and entertain you.

For the deeper fans, there’s a chuckle when we’re reminded that Mac finds Dee disgusting, even though Olson and McElhenney are married in real life. The chemistry of the group only works because of the revulsion, though. If any of the guys ever wanted Dee, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia would fall apart, so Olson plays her just despicable enough to hang with the guys, who each are awful in their own way. Except maybe Charlie. Sort of.

Week two, “Frank Falls Out the Window” is even more for the fans, as the events from several season two episodes are revisited. Frank did not join the cast until season two, and with a somewhat clever twist on a television trope, updated for the raw edginess of It’s Always Sunny, his origin plays out again. I won’t spoil exactly what’s going on,  but it did make me want to pull out my DVD and rewatch some old installments.

If I have one complaint about the show, it’s that only seasons five through eight have been released on Blu-ray. The older and the more recent episodes are sold exclusively in standard definition DVD, which seems a waste when the show airs in HD.

While I have only viewed the first two episodes of season 11, it seems to me that It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has returned exactly on the level I wanted it to, still lots of fun, and still surprising me when I think I have it all figured out. The show premieres Wednesday on FXX.

THE LEAGUE is "Sitting Shiva" For Shiva

Article first published as 'The League' Review - Season Premiere: Sitting Shiva' on Blogcritics.

FXX’s The League kicks off its sixth season this week with “Sitting Shiva.” One of the members of the fantasy football league dies and the others gather for the funeral, which happens to be concurrent with this year’s draft. Trying to pick a team and observe tradition for the deceased is hard while dodging family members and friends. Which makes for the funniest draft since the one in the delivery room, several seasons ago.

The League is much like network sister series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia in that it revolves around a group of guys and one girl, who wants to be one of the guys, picking on one another and being inappropriate, with hilarious results. The League is less gross and the characters are both more likeable and more relatable than IASIP, with actual emotional bonds underlying the cruelty. But it is as amusing as the long-running hit, having earned a following in its own right and its place on the network.

Yes, it’s incredibly wrong to make fun of death. Yet, somehow The League gets away with it. From the moment Ted (Adam Brody) is killed, through the sex in the morgue and the flash-mob-of-one, jokes land pretty steadily throughout the half hour. It’s almost Seinfeld-like in how cold the characters can be towards outsiders, even as they stay affectionate towards one another. But it also has that edgy, modern sensibility that makes it very watchable.

The dynamics of The League have shifted in “Sitting Shiva.” Jenny (Katie Aselton) is more accepted than ever, thanks to her win last year and current responsibility of planning the draft. Her husband, Kevin (Stephen Rannazzisi), is in a shame spiral due to his Sacko loss, making him the butt of everyone’s jokes because he’s an easy victim. This frees Andre (Paul Scheer) to stop being the one always dumped upon, and despite their efforts to bring him back down, he’s now the smooth “Teflandre.”

There is a sense that balance in the clique will eventually be restored. Yet, the way that The League constantly mixes up the chemistry is part of what keeps it fresh. Certain individuals will have their ups and downs, but these are plot-driving devices, not permanent shifts. There’s an overall consistency and continuity amid the weekly stuff that keeps it interesting.

“Sitting Shiva” makes an obvious play on the word ‘Shiva’ with a short i sound, referring to the Jewish mourning practice, and Shiva with the long e sound, the name of a female classmate of the group’s and the title of their league trophy. In retrospect, this seems like a necessity for the show to eventually get to this, and thus, the death should not be a surprise. Yet, it still elicits several chuckles when you hear the word and its varied pronunciations discussed on screen.

One thing I have complained about in the past is the overuse of NFL cameos with athletes that cannot act. Sometimes The League makes good use of its guest stars, such as Cameron Jordan and Jordan Cameron at the funeral in “Sitting Shiva.” But other times, it does not, such as pretty much everyone in Kevin’s opening dream sequence this week. Sure, some of The League‘s viewers are also football fans who get excited by these appearances, as many in the cast and crew do. But not all of us are, and given that the writers known how to effectively use some of them, the others drag down the episodes quite a bit by comparison.

Still, even with some bad cameos, “Sitting Shiva” is a memorable half hour and a great way to begin a new season. It sets up some arcs, reinforces favorite elements of the show, and is frequently fantastically funny. Six years in, it shows no signs of staleness, and I look forward very much to what else it has in store this season.

The League airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on FXX.

IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA "Broke Dee"

Review first published as IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA Review Season 9 Premiere on Seat42F.

The new FXX network brings us the season nine premiere of IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA this week. Entitled “The Gang Broke Dee,” the episode begins with Sweet Dee (Kaitlin Olson) at what is perhaps her lowest point to date. She completely doesn’t care anymore, is unwashed, and won’t even fight back when the guys pick on her. In short, she’s most definitely broken.

We don’t see how Sweet Dee got broken directly in “The Gang Broke Dee.” One can assume, after having viewed eight previous season of the series, it all just got too be too much for her. Last year, especially, they were cruel and merciless to her, treating her like a little, unwanted sister. A person can only take so much of this kind of brutality, even one as hardened and blindly self-involved as the inappropriately nicknamed “Sweet” Dee.

It’s hard to feel sorry for her, as a fan of the show, though that’s not the point anyway. After all, we’ve seen Dee be horrible to the boys, too. There is a little bit of a protection instinct that says she’s the girl and so should be treated more gently. However, part of the premise of IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA is that these are heartless people who care for no one but themselves. As such, Dee likely deserves this state, and if she really wants to improve, should remove herself from the negative environment.

The gang isn’t completely without soul, and do come up with a plan to fix Dee. Actually, two separate plans. Charlie (Charlie Day), Mac (Rob McElhenney), and Frank (Danny DeVito) want to put Dee on stage and encourage her to do standup comedy, a dream of hers she has been unable to accomplish. They figure since she isn’t self-conscious in this mood, she won’t get nervous and puke. Whether she’ll be funny or not remains to be seen, but at least she has a chance, and maybe the guys can get people laughing, even falsely, to boost her self-esteem.

Dennis (Glenn Howerton), on the other hand, thinks his twin is too far gone to be salvaged and should be pawned off on some pathetic guy as a wife to take care of, thus removing the responsibility of caring for Dee from himself and the rest of the gang. He searches high and low for many unworthy suitors, and brings a couple to meet Dee.

Dee, not caring at this point, agrees to both plans, though one is a lot more successful than the other.

I absolutely love the premise of “The Gang Broke Dee,” showing what happens when the characters go too far towards one of their own. I love seeing Dee begin to heal, even if that means she turns into her mean self again. Each of the actors, especially Olson, who really gets to shine this week, handles the installment amazingly, creating some very funny stuff with impeccable timing.

Most of the way through “The Gang Broke Dee,” though, I got a bit bored for a moment. I thought I had figured out the predictable ending of the episode, and while I still enjoyed watching, I assumed the writers had gone with the most logical next step.

Then, there is a huge twist that will make you sit up and pay attention, both very clever and natural-feeling, for the most part. Even the couple of leaps one must make to arrive there are totally worth it for the joke. The finale of the episode is exactly why I and so many others love IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA: this cast of characters has no lows they will not go to, and just when you think you’ve lowered the bar enough for them, they shatter expectations again. Fantastic.

This also leaves open the possibility for a second “broke” member of the gang going into the second episode, though I haven’t watched ahead to see if the show follows up on the promise. It would be cool if they do, but completely acceptable if they do not.

“The Gang Broke Dee” is everything you want in a SUNNY premiere, a chance for one of the players, Dee this time, to come to the center in a new and neat way, and there is a lot to laugh at. IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on FXX.

It's Always Sunny plays out nightmares

This week, FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which recently began its eighth season, celebrates Halloween with "The Maureen Ponderosa Wedding Massacre." Maureen (Catherine Reitman) is getting married, and Dennis (Glenn Howerton) crashes the ceremony to make sure that she goes through with it, so that he won't have to continue paying her alimony. The rest of the gang comes, too, some to support Dennis, others who want to ruin things so that he will stay miserable. But what they don't count on is encountering the McPoyle clan, who soon begin acting like a hoarde of zombies.

I am not a fan of the McPoyles. I love It's Always Sunny greatly, but sometimes it ventures into a territory a little too gross for me. This includes pretty much every instance in which the incestuous clan shows up. Thankfully, they've done only a few episodes in the past eight seasons, but as I believe I am in a minority opinion here, it's inevitable that they return.

This time, however, I feel like the McPoyles are used correctly. It's hard to watch them being sweaty and gross, but considering the point of "The Maureen Ponderosa Wedding Massacre" is to be creeppy and scary, it works well. Who wouldn't be terrified trapped at a wedding in the woods with a bunch of inbred hillbillies? No one would want to be eaten, or have sex with, any of this group.

And the fake-out blowjob bit between Liam (Jimmi Simpson) and Ryan (Nate Mooney) is funny.

As things go from bad to worse, told in a series of flashbacks at the police station, Dennis not only ends up fleeing after ill-advised sexual relations, but Dee (Kaitlin Olson) attacks Charlie (Charlie Day) and Mac (Rob McElhenney), and Frank (Danny DeVito) is sort of behind all the trouble. They all get away with their terrible actions, consequence free, as always, because they don't do anything illegal. But one has to admit that, even when they stay within the confines of the law, what they're doing isn't right. This will surely catch up with them some day, a la the Seinfeld finale, only hopefully better executed.

The Mac / Charlie / Dee sequence is my favorite part of the episode, especially when the truth behind Dee's attack is revealed. Mac and Charlie are pure bozos, and it's hard to believe how believable it is that they would wreck her car and think they could lie their way out of it. Priceless comedy gold!

The only thing that really rings hollow in "The Maureen Ponderosa Wedding Massacre" is why Liam is marrying Maureen in the first place. She has fixed the dead tooth and gotten new, big boobs, so she's way too attractive for the very gross Liam. Liam is definitely still in love with Ryan, so it makes little sense that he would want to marry her. And while I won't say that Maureen can do better, as she is still as weird as ever, and improving her look can't fix that, why would she want Liam? There is no chemistry and no reasonable explanation for the union. This would have been an easy fix if only Maureen had invited Dennis to the wedding, going through with the whole thing just to make him jealous, which he does become on his own, temporarily.

Overall, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia remains a great series. This is a serviceable episode with some fantastic moments, though perhaps overall falls a little short of some other installments. But week in and week out, It's Always Sunny makes me laugh, and any series that can do that is worth watching.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on FX.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! First posted on TheTVKing

It's Always Sunny in the seventh season

FX has recently released It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia The Complete Season 7 on DVD and Blu-ray. Included in the two disc set are all thirteen episodes of last fall's run, as well as a few special features.

Like a demented Seinfeld, where the characters live with little class and care even less about one another than in the popular network sitcom, It's Always Sunny has been amusing for years, and continues to deliver the same high quality as it ages. Season seven is fantastic, slightly playing off of pop culture, like when they visit the real Jersey Shore, but more often than not, just trying to outdo one another in ways that end up with no one winning, and with familiar recurring characters and callbacks to past seasons.

It's hard to pick favorite episodes from this stellar lineup, as they are all so good,  so here's what is included in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia The Complete Season 7:

• "Frank's Pretty Woman" Frank (Danny DeVito) is dating a crack-addicted prostitute. The gang worries this will make them become known as the "gross group" (too late), but are too lazy to put any real effort into making her over. Charlie (Charlie Day) tries to help Frank con a new gal, finding that easier than fixing the current one. Oh, and Mac (Rob McElhenney) has gained fifty pounds recently, but is in denial about it. (That's no fat suit; McElhenney is dedicated to the role!)
• "The Gang Goes to the Jersey Shore" None of that glamorous reality show crap, the real Jersey Shore is kind of a crap hole, as the gang finds out when they nostalgically travel there as they did when they were kids. Charlie, alone, has the night of his life.
• "Frank Reynolds' Little Beauties" Frank becomes involved in little girl beauty pageants. The more he tries to not to act child molest-y, the creepier he gets. The rest decide to use try to use his position to coach their way to victory.
• "Sweet Dee Gets Audited" Dee (Kaitlin Olson) finally reveals the real reason she served as a surrogate last year, and the boys try to turn the bar into a democracy until dirty, dirty politics ruin the system.
• "Frank's Brother" Told in flashback, we get the tale of Frank and his brother, Gino (Jon Polito), running a bar in the 1960's and '70's, and fighting over the lovely Shadynasty (Naturi Naughton).
• "The Storm of the Century" With serious wind and rain on the way, Dee tries to get the Y2K bunker she stocked back in shape, as it isn't really useable. The guys go out in search of supplies, but Dennis (Glenn Howerton) is more concerned with luring women back to the hideaway than preparing for the worst.
• "Chardee MacDennis: The Game of Games" The foursome are bored, so they revive an old game they invented, not remembering the reason that they haven't played it in so long. Practically self-contained, letting the cast just play off each other as they do best, personalities clashing and yet complementing all at the same time, this installment is a true gem.
• "The Anti-Social Network" Promoting one's pub on facebook is a good idea. Stalking people who offend you online, not such a good idea.
• "The Gang Gets Trapped" Indiana Jones searched out treasures in a remote cave. The gang looks for valuables in someone's house, and aren't too happy when the family arrives home early.
• "How Mac Got Fat" Mac sits in a confessional and lets the priest in on the secret of his huge weight gain, without taking any personal responsibility himself, of course.
• "Thunder Gun Express" The President is in town, which means major traffic jams. This isn't welcome, as the gang would like to see a movie. Soon, they are all scrambling any way they can to make it across town by showtime, every man for himself!
• "The High School Reunion" In the two part finale, each member of the group tries to rewrite their past by making new identities at their high school reunion. When the popular kids refuse to let this happen, our favorite losers declare war.

This last hour shows just how little these characters refuse to change, being the same as they were as teenagers, and for people who like entertaining television, this is a good thing. No matter what they are doing, and who they screw over, the laughs keep coming, whether from hilarity or disbelief. How they are acting is really working for them, as a show, and hopefully they will continue to do it for a long time to come.

Special features include a blooper reel, commentary on certain episodes, and Artemis (Artemis Pebdani) giving a tour of the city. I wish there was a bit more, but It's Always Sunny is merely a cable sitcom, and the jokes stand well enough on their own. Seven seasons in, those who wants to know what goes on behind the scenes already do. I guess it makes sense for the bonus features to begin to dry up at this point, even though previous sets were much richer in this regard.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia The Complete Season 7 is on sale now. And check out new season eight episodes, currently airing Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on FX.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! First posted on TheTVKing.com

It's Always Sunny attends "The High School Reunion Part 2: The Gang's Revenge"

     FX ends It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's latest season with "The High School Reunion Part 2: The Gang's Revenge." Dee (Kaitlin Olson) has been ejected from the popular group after Cricket's (David Hornsby, Fanboy and Chum Chum) stunt, and looks for the others to help her seek revenge. She finds Frank (Danny DeVito), Charlie (Charlie Day), and Mac (Rob McElhenney) hanging by their underwear. They decide to track down a psycho, but that falls through. Luckily, Dennis (Glenn Howerton) has turned psycho after failing to close the deal with rival Tim Murphy's (Ian Reed Kesler, (500) Days of Summer) wife, Christie (Frances Turner). But then Mac is exposed as having done what Dennis hates Tim for, turning the group in on itself. Frank redirects them to Plan B, a big dance number, which goes about as well as one would expect it to.

     It's Always Sunny may not always be sunny, but it is pretty consistently funny. "The High School Reunion" allows for the return of many great recurring characters, including Cricket, the Waitress (Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Perfect Couples), Maureen (Catherine Reitman, Knocked Up), and Schmitty (Jason Sudeikis, Satirday Night Live), the former two of whom's lives continue to tank because of their involvement with the central gang, who bring misery wherever they go. Also introduced are some new classmates, like cool dude Adriano (Sasha Roiz, Caprica, Grimm) and a former fat girl (Judy Greer, Archer, Arrested Development), who hopefully will be seen again. It's interesting to see the disdain others have for the main characters, whose self-absorbed black hole pulls people in and destroys them, no matter how much those victims resist.

     "The High School Reunion" also gives fans one of the best moments of It's Always Sunny yet: the dance number at the end. When it begins, people immediately start applauding and cheering the gang's awesome moves, which plays a little false. However, that is forgotten as the perfect execution and light cues draw one in to something unexpected and awesome. When it is exposed that things are only that cheery in their heads, and they are pathetic, indeed, it not only makes sense, but makes the earlier vision more humorous, exposing once more their narcissistic streak. These people are so self-absorbed, they ignore everything else, which does not help them in society. Thank goodness they have a bar to hide out in!

     The main characters of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia will never change. "The High School Reunion" proves this, telling how each of the four younger people were in high school, and in spite of the fact that they try to come off different, or deny their essential traits, they are still those same people. Dee continues to be insecure, and her back brace's return is simply a physical manifestation of internal feelings. Dennis thinks he is way cooler than he is, and so does Mac, in completely different ways. Charlie is easy going and easy to manipulate. They are mean townies who have little regard for others, and refuse to grow. Everyone knows someone like them, though rarely does anyone, let alone four such friends, go to the extremes of the gang. It's good to see them fail, because they deserve to fail. And yet, it's impossible not to tune in week after week to see just how they fall flat on their faces next. It's part hilarious comedy, part schadenfreude.

     Now, admittedly, Frank's presence and involvement in the events in the finale is a bit of a stretch. But no matter how hard certain other characters fight Frank worming his way into all of their activities, he does. He is part of the group, and he is there to stay. Which kind of explains why he might force his way into the reunion, considering that's what he does every day of his life. Though one does wonder, if bumbling Frank can get past security, how much protection would the guards really have afforded if Psycho Pete showed up to burn down the school?

     There is no end in sight to It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's brilliance. The series will return next year to FX.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     To catch up on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia with streaming episodes and DVDs, please click here.

"The Storm of the Century" hits It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

     With media hype about every hurricane growing more and more ridiculous, it isn't surprising that FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia chooses such a topic to tackle in "The Storm of the Century." While note on the coast, Philadelphia is close enough to suffer from some serious wind and rain should such a storm make land fall. In last night's episode, the city was in a panic, preparing for the worst. The gang ventures out to get supplies, intending to party in the bar, and if needed, head to the bunker in the basement to ride out the disaster. Of course, along the way, they create much of the problem themselves.

     It's Dee's (Kaitlin Olson) idea to use the bunker, which they built for Y2K, and everyone knows how that turns out. She is surprised to see it is no longer in good shape, and sends the guys out to restock it. Except for Frank (Danny DeVito), who is too slow to get away from the crazy lady. While Dee frets and freaks out, the guys take things relatively calmly, likely heading to the store as much to get away from Dee, as to actually accomplish their missions.

     But the characters are nothing, if not adaptable. Upon arriving at the market, only Charlie (Charlie Day) keeps to the original purpose, gathering funny clothing and a hatchet. Which infringes on Dennis's (Glenn Howerton) goal to get women to come back and party (and have sex) with them. Dennis doesn't need to be any creepier than he already is around women, and Charlie's insistent mentioning of a bunker, as well as general look, makes them seem more scary. At least Dennis is honest about his motivations, angrily sending two girls away when they reveal they have boyfriends. They probably only talk to Dennis as long as they do because he owns a bar, and hey, you don't pass up free booze! And those are just dumb, young bimbos. Dennis's dream weather girl is far out of his league.

     Mac (Rob McElhenney) continues his mission this season to get as fat as possible. Going into the store searching mainly for food, he has no problem leaving his friends to make sure the edibles make it back to the bunker. It's a sad development for the character, whose portrayer decided that packing on weight for real this season would be funny. Olson, McElhenney's real-life wife, must be an incredibly patient woman. But it's not entirely out of character for Mac to do this, either. The characters in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia care only about themselves, and in Mac's case, food for himself. Tubbo needs to get back in shape, and he will, when he realizes that he is danger because of his declining health.

     As "The Storm of the Century" approaches, even finding supplies and hunkering down proves impossible for this motley crew. Frank shoots Rickety Cricket (David Hornsby, How to Be a Gentleman) in the hand when they find him lurking in the basement. Charlie, Frank, and Dee start a riot in the store after an injured Cricket drives their car through the front windows. And, it doesn't even matter, because "The Storm of the Century" proves to be a light drizzle. Which will in no way make the gang feel guilty for what they've done. They have no guilt and no shame. That's just who they are. And their comfort in their own skin is why, even as detestable as these characters are, we keep tuning in week after week. That, and they are positively hilarious.

     It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia airs Thursday nights at 10 p.m. ET on FX.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     To catch up on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia with streaming episodes and DVDs, please click here.

Blu-ray Review: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia The Complete Season 6

     Now available on Blu-ray and DVD is FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: The Complete Season 6. The two disc set contains all twelve episodes of another very funny season, as well as a wealth of extras. The stories in season six tend to run longer than in previous seasons, with some plots stretching for multiple episodes or the entire season. But there are also the shorter adventures more common for the show.

     Season six finds the gang getting into some humorous trouble, just as the past five years have. But some of the situations they get into here have lasting consequences. This season begins with most of the gang contemplating marriage after Mac (Rob McElhenney) learns that Carmen (Brittany Daniel) is now a woman, and engaged. Dennis (Glenn Howerton) marries a girl he liked long ago, but soon regrets the decision. Frank (Danny DeVito) and Charlie (Charlie Day) pursue the idea of a gay marriage without sex. None of these work out, and it isn't long before the group reverts to status quo, though Dennis is still stuck playing alimony.

     This year, the main characters are looking to better themselves, though those familiar with the series know that is unlikely to ever happen. Dee (Kaitlin Olson) works at a school for a while, and Charlie soon joins her as a janitor. They do okay until they expose the students to their friends, and both are soon out of a job. Dee is also pregnant, but won't say who the father is, driving the guys crazy as they try to figure it out. I'll refrain from spoiling the surprise as the paternity is not revealed until the season finale, but it's unexpected, for sure.

     Besides these longer stories, there are some of the stand alone stories that are standard for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In these episodes, the gang buys a boat, looks for a pool, and gets lost in the woods. Each is humorous in its own right, and there isn't a disappointing entry in this entire season.

     Among the many extras included on this release are the expected deleted and extended scenes, bloopers, and four audio commentaries on select episodes. FX has kindly included the "pilot" of Wilfred, to introduce fans of this series to another on the network. There are also three minutes of Jack Kelly's late night legal show.

     For some of the other bonuses, the gang gets extra creative. Three episodes of Dennis and Dee's podcast, about four minutes in length, are included, as is a 15 minute cut of the gang's Lethal Weapon 5. If you'll remember, this is the movie they show to Dee's class, and among the offensive things in it are Mac in blackface and a long sex scene starring Frank. The cut on this Blu-ray set is longer than the one shown in the broadcast episode. LW5 has an optional audio commentary track provided by Charlie, Dennis, and Mac--in character--and it may just be funnier than the short film itself. A fourth episode of the podcast is included, too, if your Blu-ray player contains memory.

     On the Blu-ray only, not included on the DVD, is The Sunny Flip Cup Trivia Challenge. This is an addictive interactive game consisting of three rounds of five trivia questions each, based on episodes from season six. After each round, players are given the opportunity to play one of four randomly selected mini-games. They're more complicated than expected, and there are enough different trivia questions to keep your attention for a long time.

     It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia The Complete Season 6 is presented in 1.78:1 widescreen picture, and has English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. This means it looks and sounds as good as anything else on Blu-ray, despite it being so much more low budget than most shows and movies. Why do you need excellent, crisp, clear sound and picture for a sitcom with virtually no special effects? Well, why not? It looks great, the details are vivid, and that allows the viewer to be more fully drawn into the world onscreen. The characters really come alive with such a perfect image. I can't recommend any other format besides Blu-ray when high definition is available.

     New episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia air Thursday nights at 10 p.m. ET on FX.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     To catch up on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia with streaming episodes, Blu-ray, and DVDs, please click here.

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: The Complete Season 6 on Blogcritics.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "Frank's Pretty Woman"

     FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (finally!) returns with "Frank's Pretty Woman." Learning that Frank (Danny DeVito) intends to marry a crack-addicted prostitute named Roxy (Alanna Ubach, Men of a Certain Age, Hung), the gang decides to class her up a bit, a la the movie Pretty Woman. After all, they wouldn't want to be known as the "gross" group. But in typical fashion, the guys get bored, and leave Dee (Kaitlin Olson) to finish the job herself. That is, until Dee learns from Roxy that she can make a lot of money doing very little, and considers a career change.

     While Dee is off with Roxy, Charlie (Charlie Day) tries to hook Frank up with a better girl, more worthy of his time. His brilliant plan? Pretend to be a millionaire with Frank as his limo driver. The girl will show up, thinking she is dating "rich" Charlie, and then be ditched with Frank, who she will find in rich in spirit. Of course this doesn't work, but the way it fails is epic. In a very sick way that really could have been left out of the episode.

     The third plot line finds Dennis (Glenn Howerton) attempting to assist a suddenly fat Mac (Rob McElhenney) with his declining health. A doctor visit proves that neither one is in good shape, for completely different reasons. Of course, both try to twist the results to prove they are better off than the other, but the bottom line is, both need a major tuneup in their diet and physical regimes. Not that this is news to anyone who watches the series.

     McElhenney actually did gain fifty pounds before filming this season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, citing fat as funny. That's some real dedication for a sitcom, albeit one of the cleverest, most original works currently on television. The whole think could have potentially been pulled off with a fat suit, but by gaining the weight, McElhenney does lend "Frank's Pretty Woman" some real legitimacy. Let's just hope, for his health's sake, Mac makes a major life reversal soon.

     As to the worry that the gang is "gross," too late; they are. In fact, there are few characters on television as gross as the main staples in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

     Yet, they are also incredibly funny as a bunch of losers who spend their lives in a bar that they own and run. Their hair brained schemes and weird ideas make them more than your typical oddballs. For instance, in "Frank's Pretty Woman," Dennis is really craving some crack. Who, besides an addict, normally does? Not many people. Lucky for him, he knows someone he can get it from - his (sort of) father's hooker girlfriend! This episode, like many, will have viewers almost constantly cracking up at the things the characters say and do.

     The ending of "Frank's Pretty Woman" demonstrates perfectly what kind of people this gang is. Roxy dies of an overdose just as Frank is proposing. They drag her out in the hall, and plan to call 9-1-1 from a pay phone, anonymously. You know, if it's convenient. They certainly don't want to have to worry about answering questions and filling out paperwork. That would inconvenience their (planned?) fun evening, which will surely involve drinking at the bar they own. Never mind that a human life has ended, and one Frank presumably loves.

     The gang doesn't concern themselves with anyone but themselves. They are TV's most narcissistic group since Seinfeld. They especially don't care about their customers, which is probably why there are almost never any in their bar. Just don't ask questions about how they manage to stay open and (barely) support themselves year after year. That would be too much analyzation for a series that doesn't need it.

     Don't miss next week's episode, which finds the gang vacationing at the Jersey Shore. It will involve rum ham, a familiar face, and two very different parties.

     It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia airs Thursday nights at 10 p.m. ET on FX.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     To catch up on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia with streaming episodes and DVDs, please click here.

Article first published as TV Review: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "Frank's Pretty Woman" on Blogcritics.

Archer The Complete Season One

    I loved FX's Archer last winter, and no viewer was more excited than me when it got a surprise second season pick up. So when the DVD of the first season came in the mail yesterday (on its release date), I was ecstatic! After reviewing this DVD, I still am, but only for the episodes, not for any special features included, of which this DVD is sorely lacking.

     There are no commentaries. There are no cast interviews, or creator interviews. No one talks about where the idea for the series came from, or what's coming up for season two. The best special feature included was probably a thirty second promo for the show that never aired, my guess, because it was kind of wrong. However, Archer's humor often crosses a line, and that's what makes it great, so I'm not sure how this promo was any worse than what airs during the episodes.

     What is included is a roughly twenty minute 'Making Of'. The 'Making Of' is divided into a number of very short segments, almost all having to do with animation. You get to see how the scenes are created, step by step. There's some bits of storyboard translated into animation. If you're an animation guru, you probably already are aware of the techniques being used. If you are a casual viewer, you may not care, or be bored by it. As such, I'm not really sure who this feature is geared towards. Because this is an animated show, I'm sure it is rewarding to all the people who work very hard to make it happen to see their contributions rewarded. And they deserve it; they really do. But like an ending credits scroll, not many people are actually interested in most of it. If this was one of a number of features, I would say it was kind of neat. As the sole feature of substance, it disappointed.

     There is also about two and a half minutes of deleted scenes, mostly just quick jokes cut out, and a so-called 'Original Unaired Pilot'. I have serious doubts if this is actually an unaired pilot. It's actually the exact full episode "Mole Hunt", the original of which is also included on the DVD, with one big twist that runs through the entire episode. Now I won't spoil the twist, except to say it was completely unexpected, funny at first, and wore thin long before the episode was over.

     As a bonus, FX included the pilots of Louie and The League on the DVD as well. I think both shows are hilarious, and if you haven't seen them, they're worth checking out. The League has already completed two full seasons, so putting a pilot on at this point seems odd, but Louie has only done one season, so the timing is great for it.

     The price of $19.99, as it is currently listed on Amazon, is a little steep, considering the first season of Archer was only ten half hour episodes. However, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia charged the same price last year for a single, hour-long special episode, so compared to that, it's a steal. There is currently no Blu Ray release, just the DVD. I would recommend shopping around for a price around $15, which is about the worth I would assign to it. But I totally recommend buying and watching Archer, as it is an awesome comedy.

RATING:
Archer First Season Episodes: A-
Archer First Season DVD: C-


For frequent mini-reviews and occasional TV news, follow Jerome on Twitter.
Article first published as DVD Review: Archer The Complete Season One on Blogcritics.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Is Obnoxious Fun

     It has been nine long months since FX has aired a new episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (there was a Christmas special released on DVD, but way over priced for something so short). I missed the gang at Patty's, and I'm sure many other viewers did, too. That's why it's so nice to have them back.

     The sixth season premiere was entitled, "Mac Fights Gay Marriage," and it vamped on many different types of marriages. Mac (Rob McElhenney) ran into The Tranny, whom he had previously been with, and was glad to discover that she had gotten her male private parts removed. Unfortunately for him, instead of calling him after the surgery, as he had hoped for, she went and got married. And so Mac begins a crusade to break them up, finding a bible and preaching of the evils of homosexuality.

     Frank (Danny DeVito) and Charlie (Charlie Day) learn of this so-called gay marriage, and ignoring Mac's complaints, decide to apply it to themselves. Charlie needs to see a doctor, and so tries to convince roommate Frank to marry him to get on his insurance. Frank is resistant; we eventually find out because he doesn't want to be the girl in the couple, nor does he want to see Charlie as a girl. Here's a little bit of the dialogue:

Charlie: We'd be two cool, straight dudes married together.
Frank: Oooh. Well, I never thought of it that way. Two dudes getting married, that doesn't seem very gay.

     Once he realizes it's just going to be two straight dudes, he doesn't see anything gay about it and is ready to go through with it. I wonder how long this plot will last.

     Meanwhile, Dennis (Glenn Howerton) and Dee (Kaitlin Olson), after hearing of Mac's problem, decide that they should be married, and look up a brother and sister they were interested in a long time ago. Dee's crush has gotten fat, but she sleeps with him anyway. Dennis takes it a step forward and takes his girl to the courthouse, where they are soon wed. I assume this new union won't last very long, because next week's episode is called "Dennis Gets Divorced." That's probably for the best, because by the first evening, he was getting tired of her.

     That's what It's Always Sunny does. The main characters are more self-involved than the Seinfeld gang. They act only in their interests, not caring a bit who they hurt along the way. Not a one of the main characters ever exhibits the slightest bit of remorse. Though past mistakes do sometimes come back to haunt them, they always escape those situations unscathed and go right back to what they were doing before, never learning any sort of lesson. The random recurring characters that drift in and out are just as shocked at their behavior as we the viewers are.

     For some people, it's loathsome television. For myself and plenty of other fans, it's hilarious. No, you can't feel for the cast, but you have to see what they're going to do next. Modern television has brought the anti-hero to the forefront of many a series lately, but none quite like this gang from Philly. It's one of the worst sitcoms out there, so bad that it's great. Like a train wreck, it's hard to look away.

     So I suggest you don't fight it. Tune if for new episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Thursday nights at 10pm on FX.


Article first published as TV Review: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Is Obnoxious Fun on Blogcritics.

Salute American Dad

    Thank goodness only one of Fox's Animation Domination shows ended as last night, as I have too many other finales to cover from last night.  But American Dad went out on a wacky high with "Great Space Roaster".  Roger the alien (voiced by Seth McFarlane, the show's creator) wanted a roast for his birthday, but he took the family's comments too much to heart, vowing revenge.  After several attempts on their life failed, they fled to space, but Roger followed them up there, too, where he tied them up and made them roast each other, only to realize that he actually was part of the family, and he was loved no matter what they said.

     For awhile last year, American Dad surpassed Family Guy in consistent humor, and while the latter has been doing much better, the former has stayed relevant.  What started out as a cheap copy of a popular animated sitcom has found it's own legs in the last couple of years.  The characters have become better defined, and their antics have gotten more side-splitting.

     Total lack of care about others seems to be the hallmark of comedy today.  From shows like Seinfeld and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, American Dad simply continues a formula that seems to work.  For example, as Roger attacked Francine (Wendy Schaal) and Hayley (Rachael MacFarlane), Stan (also S. McFarlane) got to the escape pod, believing his family a necessary sacrifice to save himself.  This isn't an uncommon scenario on the show, and while the big guy certainly loves his family, they come second to himself.

     Hayley in particular has become a more interesting character, though there weren't any great examples of that last night.  She began the series as a liberal counterpoint to Stan's conservatism, but though out they have learned to get along and care about each other, as much as Stan can care about someone.  He did say she was elected 'gun shield' for the family in last night's episode.  But we have gotten to see that Hayley is an open, warm person, as evidenced by her latest relationship with unexpectedly funny koala-spy Reginald (Erik Durbin).

     American Dad has already been picked up for aanother season, and will return to Fox in the fall.

Sitcom Roundup '09 Part II

How I Met Your Mother (CBS) ~ Who'd have guessed that every main character on How I Met Your Mother smoked?  Crazy, right?  The show took a page from Mad Men and let everyone light up this week, but I guess the censors allowed it because it proved just how bad it was for you.  Some may have not been pleased that this was a secret kept from the viewer all of this time, mostly, but the explanation offered, that Ted (narrated by Bob Saget, Full House, played by Josh Radnor) just didn't want to reveal it to his kids made perfect sense.  This episode also contained plenty of good future spoilers, a welcome convention often employed in the series, to let you know not only when each character kicked the habit for good, but also when Robin (Cobie Smulders) would begin dating her jerky co-worker.  It was a great addition to the fall finale, giving something for the viewer to look forward to.  Funniest part of the episode was Barney's (Neil Patrick Harris, Doogie Howser, M.D.) denial that he is an addict.  No one could have added as much depth and physical comic genius to the part as Harris does.

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) ~  The Good Wife let Christine Baranski take a break so she could reprise her role playing the mother of Leonard (Johnny Galecki, Roseanne) on the fall finale.  What a Christmas blessing that was!  Her chemistry with Sheldon (Jim Parsons, Judging Amy) was electric the first go round, but who would have thought that she'd connect so fully with Penny (Kaley Cuoco, 8 Simple Rules)?  Their scene getting waste in The Cheesecake Factory was hilarious!  Though Mommy Dearest may not have imagined her the ideal mate for her son, there was clearly some good vibes there.  I wonder what will happen when Leonard eventually finds out what happened between his roommate and mother?  And is anyone else disappointed that that was all that happened?  Surely there should have been more spark!  No matter, it was hilarious, just as almost every episode of this third-year show is.

The League (FX) ~ One of the funniest show of 2009, The League has taken us through a fall fantasy football season and into the payoffs with their fall finale.  The only really bad part about it was that it only lasted six episodes.  Next season will not air until next summer, and I hope that it's considerably longer.  The finale centered around who would win the trophy this year, the coveted 'Shiva', a girl the guys all drooled over in high school.  Andre (Paul Scheer) was having a bit more luck than expected, however, and it was attributed to the fact that he was dating (surprise!) the real life Shiva!  This was funny because Andre is stupid about sports, and he unseated frequent winner, Pete (Mark Duplass).  Of course, these guys play dirty, and I won't spoil what happens, as I hope more viewers catch it on the rerun, but it was hilarious!  Love live The Shiva!

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX) ~ This show had a Christmas special this year, but the powers that be chose not to air it on television, and instead make you purchase the DVD.  That would be fine, if they weren't charging $18.99 on Amazon for a 43 minute show, and I found only slightly cheaper in stores.  What happened to iTunes episodes for $1.99?  Anyway, instead of that incredibly overpriced ripoff, I will review the final episode that did air.  The gang finally had a ten year ban lifted on a flip cup tournament, and they were anxious to get their rivalry going again.  Of course, their old nemesis didn't even remember them, and now ran a classy joint.  Trying to first recruit and then challenge a fraternity, they continue to be disappointed.  However, in true Sunny fashion they quickly move on, not caring that they've ruined several lives in the process.  This demented version of Seinfeld, while sometimes straying a bit too gross, continue to amuse to no end, and this episode was definitely a funny one.  Not quite funny enough to ease the pain of their greed concerning the Christmas special, but pretty funny just the same.

Click here to go to Sitcom Roundup '09 Part I (ABC & NBC).

The League will not fatigue

     FX's newest sitcom is The League, and this one works very well.  While the network does good drama, this is only their second enjoyable sitcom, after It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  I admit, because of the sports-themed content, and other failed attempts before it, I almost didn't tune in.  I'm glad that I did, because this one earned a season pass to my TiVo immediately.

     The show centers around five guys who play fantasy football.  Well, technically, one of the guy's takes all his advice from his wife, but the guys are who get together.  Their various lives are different enough to be interesting, but not so much that their friendship seems unrealistic.  Yes, they may be in different places, but there's a strong bond there.

     The main thing this show has going for it is the cast, especially Nick Kroll and Stephen Rannazzisi, who recently appeared in funny, failed shows such as Worst Week, Big Day, and Samantha Who?, each funny, though quickly cancelled.  This show certainly proves the adage about when one door closes, another one opens.

     I only caution the show not to step too far into the tasteless pool, which It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is guilty off from time to time.  There's a fine line between hilarious and gross, and the character who had the kid up in the bedroom asking for tips, while his parents believed that there was something sexual going on, toed the line very closely.  It didn't cross it this time, but I hope they rarely do.  Side note, if it's a bit crass, but makes you spit milk out of your nose, like Taco's birthday song almost did, it gets a pass.