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‘It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’ Season 7 Preview

Wednesday, June 15 by
 

Frank: This is dark.

Dennis: Darkest thing we have ever done.

On my visit yesterday to the set of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” those were the first lines uttered in the first scene that I observed. As they filmed the episode, the lines were repeated take after take. As a journalist reporting on the show, it’s hard to shake “dark” as my first impression of the upcoming seventh season.

While the cast agreed that the upcoming season’s premiere (on a date TBD in September) was indeed a darker season than some previous, they were not inclined to share specifics. In short order, however, Rob McElhenney was willing to divulge the themes of several episodes, “We’re doing an episode that would be the realistic version of Pretty Woman,” to which he added, in case it was unclear how this played out, “Frank proposes to a prostitute.” So there’s that.

If that’s too crass for your tastes, McElhenney quickly followed up with, “We have one with a child beauty pageant.” The entire cast was extremely forthright with topics for the upcoming season without managing to spoil the surprises. For instance, in a season two look-ahead, they had offered up that Charlie gets into an accident and ends up in a wheelchair without so much as shedding a ray of light on the fact that he becomes Tom Cruise from Born on the Fourth of July while screaming “VIET-GODDAMN-NAM IS WHAT HAPPENED!” So what the beauty pageant entails is anyone’s guess. The only assurance is that it will be conducted with the quiet dignity for which “Sunny” is known.

And, lest you believe the show remains rooted in the secular world, Charlie Day offered assurances that the gang will get philosophical, conveying, “With 2012 coming up, we’re gonna be tackling the apocalypse.” He ominously offered no further details.

The most significant breakthrough of season seven won’t be the end of days or Frank whoring around (again), but something far more unlikely. The gang gets out of Philadelphia. But not too far. They get to the Jersey shore. (The fact that I initially felt compelled to capitalize the “s” in “shore” makes me hate myself.)

“We worked very hard to create an episode” said Glenn Howerton, “that is not an episode about the people from the Jersey Shore.” When asked if that meant that Dennis would not be donning a spray tan,” he responded, “I’m not saying I won’t have a fake tan,” while Kaitlin Olson fired back, “Don’t put words in our mouth.”

While the group agreed to keep at least one big guest star (“Pretty famous guy,” giggled Day. “Rhymes with ‘Osama’.”) close to the vest, they offered up season seven appearances by “The Wire” and”Fringe” star Lance Reddick, Jason Sudekis reprising his role from last year, and Coen brothers staple Jon Polito playing Frank’s brother. Click here and you’ll see why.

We’ll also see a little more from The Waitress (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) than we did last season, which means we can also enjoy seeing more emotional trauma for Charlie. And because their guest stars are seemingly determined by a monkey at a dart board (remember Sinbad and Rob Thomas?), a visit will also be paid by no less than the Kings of Leon. Despite the band’s

While the set visit and the discussion of the episodes touched on some dark topics, the underlying message during the interview, seemed to be “more of the same.” Which, if you’re a “Sunny” fan thus far, is all the good news you’ll really need to get excited for season seven.

But in case it’s not, there’s also this: Rob McElhenney gained fifty pounds to play Mac this season. Why? For the sheer comedy of playing his character as a fat guy. “It’s been disgusting to watch him go through with this adventure,” said Charlie Day. “We were a little on the fence about it for his own personal health and safety,” he added, “but it has definitely made Mac a lot funnier.”

See ya in September.

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COMMENTS

  1. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Grace

    The whole Charlie in a wheelchair is the exact plot from a season 2 episode. Are you sure they’re doing something so similar in season 7?


  2. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Anonymous

    Sorry, that was unclear. He was discussing season 2.


  3. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Patrick Varnava

    Greenman!


  4. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Mcginn88

    he was referencing that episode….i doubt he will yell “VIET-GOD-DAMN-NAM’S WHAT HAPPENED” again


  5. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    sunnyfan

    Is the series still going to be on FX? I heard rumors of them going to a different channel. 


  6. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Havana

    It wasn’t unclear at all. People too busy to correct otherts without reading complete sentences.


  7. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Criddlebear20

    i am severely annoyingly excited about this! and really? a fat mac?! oh shit.


  8. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Just Joe

    Uh oh…FIGHT!!


  9. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Prof Mantis

    it was actually perfectly clear. people just need to learn how to read.


  10. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Camille

    “Rob McElhenney gained fifty pounds to play Mac this season”
    Whaaat? XD Man, you can say this and not show us a full pic (I take it it’s his arm we see in the first pic) or don’t they want to show it? Anyway, cool stuff!


  11. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    sunnyfan

    fat man karate. :-)


  12. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    nancy

    No fat Mac!! Why ruin a good (and smoking hot) thing??


  13. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Cory

    i hope Mac put on an old school Elvis suit and does some karate moves.


  14. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Marywannna

    this shit is gonna be awesome


  15. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Hotrap420

    God dam it


  16. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Scott Redd

    Fatman, fighter of the Thinman, you’re a master of spaghetti and french fries for everyone.


  17. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Jesus Christ

    Mac’s a fatty? My god…


  18. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Powell

    Like everyone here I read “Fat Mac” and became giddy with excitement. A few google searches later and, well, here ya go: 

    http://www.aceshowbiz.com/events/Rob%20McElhenney/wenn3300512.html


  19. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Penn Collins

    I wanted more than anything to show a pic, but FX won’t let images of Mac go out until the season premiere. I’m sure if you get on Google, they can’t be that hard to find. I know. It’s a big tease. But if you’re patient, it will pay off. 


  20. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Penn Collins

    Def still on FX. They’re good through this season and working on locking down season 8. 


  21. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Penn Collins

    Sorry. I was referencing season 2′s episode. It did read a little unclear. I was just trying to illustrate how you can get a pretty thorough description of a Sunny episode and it can still completely surprise you. 
     


  22. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    DMJ

    http://www.aceshowbiz.com/events/Rob%20McElhenney/wenn3300512.html


  23. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Steveaustinn

    a fat mac? does that mean no more kungfu?


  24. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    DMJ

    You ma’am are clearly not a true Sunny fan. You’re a pit of despair. You disgust me. You disgust everybody.


  25. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    KittenMittensacrosstheUSA

    Rock. Flag. and Eagle!


  26. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    KittenMittensacrosstheUSA

    Rock. Flag. and Eagle!


  27. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    KittenMittensacrosstheUSA

    Rock. Flag. and Eagle!


  28. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Youssef Muhammed

    this show is made by white trash about white trash characters and i feel so bad that this stupid show gets all that credits 


  29. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Youssef Muhammed

    this show is made by white trash about white trash characters and i feel so bad that this stupid show gets all that credits 


  30. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Youssef Muhammed

    this show is made by white trash about white trash characters and i feel so bad that this stupid show gets all that credits 


  31. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    DerrickaSunnyfatantic

    Im thinking mac got fat because Dee got fat last year lol.


  32. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    guest

    If they were how they were in the show in real life then they would be in jail lol.


  33. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Gonzalezh96

    maybe if he eats McDonalds in an episode they might make a big mac joke.


  34. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Joe Jackson

    +50 pounds in your thirties is risky and unhealthy and awesome for Sunny.


  35. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Joe Jackson

    +50 pounds in your thirties is risky and unhealthy and awesome for Sunny.


  36. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Kates254

    You only work out your glamor muscles and you know it.


  37. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Mitch_462

    Fx needs to get their shit together and play in Canada!


  38. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Gareth Elton

    ‘all that credits’?  I can understand the jokes going over your head if you don’t speak English bro.


  39. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Granny Pants

    big mac – love it…


  40. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Anonymous

    Big Mac lololol


  41. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    lucas

    i love this tv program….i thiking about charlie all the time, and i thik that he is my favourite character of the program….i love guys….


  42. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Thenext186

    http://i.imgur.com/SsDzB.jpg


  43. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Mysonkane

    you gotta pay the toll troll if you wanna get in this boys hole


  44. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Mysonkane

    What you know about that green man


  45. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Mysonkane

    son of a bitch i been waiting for “Its always sunny forever” i dont know how much longer i can wait


  46. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Mysonkane

    A you piece of shit, if you dont like it, get off the site.


  47. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Mysonkane

    A you piece of shit, if you dont like it, get off the site.


  48. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Guest

    It’s true, they were filming in Philly yesterday! http://www.flickr.com/photos/pompomflipflop/5864528927/


  49. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Carlos Mal

    I can’t wait.


  50. June 15, 2011 9:23 am

    Bob363

    i want to see an episode where Charile inherits a lot of money and dumps the gang for a rich version of the gang, or explain how they obtained Patty’s pub


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