Television Endorsement #2

Thanks to a transcontinental JetBlue flight, I stumbled upon a little television gem called "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." In a heartwarming story of indie success, three guys wrote and filmed a pilot episode for $200 with a digital camera. This pilot somehow found its way into the offices of FX Networks, and they paid the creators $400,000 for a full season. The rest is history.

Those 3 creators - Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney, and Glenn Howerton - play Charlie, Mac, and Dennis, the owners of Paddy's Pub, a failing bar in South Philly; and, tending bar is Dennis' sister, Sweet Dee (played by Kaitlin Olson). Because the show's on FX, the characters can say "shit" and "asshole," and they definitely take advantage of that right. This foursome reminds me of the Seinfeld gang, with a healthy dose of Arrested Development mayhem. It's great, and you should watch it. That is, if you're not offended by the following:
- abortion
- racism
- underage drinking
- faking disabilities to get chicks
- a super-hot pre-op male-to-female (accompanied by many close-up shots of the "bulge")
- people getting hooked on crack so that they can get on welfare
- guys having sex with their friends' moms
- a child molesting PE teacher played by Mr. Belding (yes, you heard correctly)
- is that enough of a list? if you've made it this far, you're ready

Charlie's always agro, Mac's the sleazy, dumb one, Dennis is the (relative) straight man of the group, and Sweet Dee just wants to be part of the gang. And in the 2nd season, Danny Devito has joined the cast as Dennis and Dee's father, Frank. Here are the episode titles, so as to whet your beak. If you live near me, I will show you the episodes myself. Observe the heavy, topical issues mentioned in the folowing titles:

Season 1:
1. The Gang Gets Racist
2. Charlie Wants an Abortion
3. Underage Drinking: A National Concern
4. Charlie Has Cancer
5. Gun Fever
6. The Gang Finds a Dead Guy
7. Charlie Got Molested

Season 2 (so far):
1. Charlie Gets Crippled
2. The Gang Goes Jihad
3. Dennis and Dee Go on Welfare
4. Mac Bangs Dennis' Mom
5. Hundred Dollar Baby
6. The Gang Gives Back

Tell me what you think of the show!