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'Philadelphia' may be the new 'Friends' |
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Written by ASAP
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Wednesday, 05 July 2006 |
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PHILADELPHIA — Today it really is sunny in Philadelphia, which is ironic considering FX’s sarcastic comedy “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is at the tail end of a two-week-long shoot, soaking up exterior scenes which will be burned between interior shots from Los Angeles, where the bulk of the comedy is filmed.
There’s a fly-by- the-seat- of-your-pants, do-it-yourself feeling here. The kids — executive producers/stars Rob McElhenney, 29; Charlie Day, 29; and Glenn Howerton, 28 — are running the show, which is about four sourpuss friends — McElhenney’s Mac, Day’s Charlie, Howerton’s Dennis — and Kaitlin Olson’s Dee, the show’s lone female cast member.
In-between attending abortion rallies to meet girls and visiting Nazi grandpas in the nursing home, the over-the-top foursome run an Irish pub.
They’re certainly not likable. But they’re sorta relatable.
Despite the blacker-than-black off-the-wall humor, the “Always Sunny” characters look and dress like people you know. They make mistakes like people you know. They’re funny (and sometimes not funny) like people you know.
While many TV shows appeal to the 18-34 demo, they rarely capture it, stuff it and put it in a diorama like “It’s Always Sunny” does. There’s no laugh track to punctuate the remarks the characters spew at each other.
The story of how “It’s Always Sunny” came to be is distinctly Generation, uh, whatever-letter-we-are-today. The out-of-work actors turned TV princes conceived, shot and starred in the pilot. They made it with a digital camera and their own cash.
Then they sold it to FX.
The first season aired. Reviews were murky. Ratings were dismal.
When it seemed like the sun had set, FX President and General Manager John Landgraf not only renewed the show for a second season, he asked his pal and “It’s Always Sunny” fan Danny DeVito to join the cast.
And so? You will watch this show because it is a show for you, people in your twenties. And DeVito’s in it.
TO WATCH
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” airs at 11 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays on FX. | Only registered users can write comments.
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