The Gang Gets Racist...and Homophobic...and a Little Bit Sexist

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, "The Gang Gets Racist" - written by Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day - 2006

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In It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s first episode, first time viewers get a great introduction to the gang. The premise of the show is very typical of any sitcom: four friends own a bar, which is used as the main setting for their shenanigans. In each episode, they get into trouble, and by the next episode, that trouble has been forgotten. Usually, with these types of shows, the characters need to be just three-dimensional enough that viewers tune in again but still flat enough that the story can be reset every episode. It’s Always Sunny manages to do what a lot of writers consider impossible: the characters are completely irredeemable and do the unwatchable, yet still endearing to the audience, despite their absolute horrible qualities.

The basis of It’s Always Sunny lies in watching the gang self-destruct every week either because of interactions with each other or with the introduction of a new character. The first episode is blatant in its approach. Here, we see four white characters parade around Philadelphia making mistakes, stereotyping everyone they possibly can, and still maintaining their egos. In this first episode to air, we are introduced to the gang, and slowly begin to understand their dynamic. The characters are based on stereotypes that later get explored throughout the series when Dennis, Mac, Dee, and Charlie, try to label themselves. In essence, though, Dennis is the womanizing “golden god” egomaniac, Mac is the karate-obsessed little man, Dee is the failed actress who is just as horrible as her brother, Dennis, when it comes to objectification and manipulation, while Charlie is the wild card – a man whose inability to read or move on from his one true love, the Waitress.

“The Gang Gets Racist” explores various institutions of violence through the gang’s incompetence as decent humans. In one subplot, Mac and Charlie set off to make some black friends because “it’s 2005 and don’t you think it’s ridiculous you don’t have any black friends?” While there, they make fools of themselves just enough to get uncomfortable, but then Charlie finds himself loved and lauded by the group of black students. Mac, of course, is upset and asks why “these people” like Charlie more than him, and suddenly Charlie is the superior, more knowledgeable and socially aware character. When a girl approaches Charlie and he throws away her number, Mac cries out “Dude, what are you doing? She’s the perfect opportunity to prove we’re not racist...and she probably has friends for me.” Here we see some classic gang behavior in which characters are only motivated by their egos (I’m not a racist) and more basic desires (Mac wants to have sex), while completely ignoring the ethical repercussions of their actions.

Meanwhile, Dennis spouts one of his classic sex-crazed egomaniac statements when Dee starts to describe a dream: “I hate listening to people’s dreams. It’s like flipping through a stack of photographs. If I’m not in any of ‘em and nobody’s having sex, I just—I just don’t care.” Of course, this statement is quickly undermined by the next scene in which the gang discover that they’re running “the hottest gay bar in Philadelphia.” At first taken aback by the amount of guys coming on to him, Dennis quickly embraces the attention. In retaliation, Mac gets Dennis blackout drunk, and hire some actors so that when he wakes up the next morning and is confronted with the reality of being a hot guy magnet, he acknowledges that he and Mac are homophobes. It’s Always Sunny works by using the characters’ prejudices and selfish intentions until all of their ridiculous antics escalate into a cringeworthy, horrible climax.

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