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Hilarity Ensues. Review: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – “The Gang Recycles Their Trash”

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  • October 18, 2012

  • 6 mins to read

IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA: L-R: Rob McElhenney as Mac, Kaitlin Olson as Sweet Dee, Charlie Day as Charlie, Danny DeVito as Frank and Glenn Howerton as Dennis. CR: FX

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, S8 E2 – “The Gang Recycles Their Trash”

Air Date: Thursday, October 18, 10:00 pm ET/PT on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

 

“This time, we do it my way.” – Frank

The Gang has so much uncollected trash, they’re forced to keep the overflow inside Paddy’s.

With the garbage men in Philly on strike, Mac (Rob McElhenney) thinks The Gang should collect the trash themselves, but it’s Frank (Danny DeVito) who comes up with the brilliant money-making scheme in “The Gang Recycles Their Trash.” Even though the Gang has doubts about his plan, Frank convinces them to go along with it, telling them this time, the scheme will work as long as they listen to him. If you’re a fan of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, you know something—hell, probably everything—is going to go wrong.

Everyone has questions for Frank when he finishes explaining his scheme.

Frank’s idea isn’t very complicated: Mac, Dennis (Glenn Howerton) and Charlie (Charlie Day) are supposed to rent a van to pick up rich people’s trash—for a fee, of course—and then dump it in New Jersey, while he and Dee (Kaitlin Olson) try to bribe the appropriate city official into giving them the contract. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, Dennis doesn’t want to be a trash man, Mac doesn’t want to hang off the back of a van, and Dee doesn’t want to be a whore. So, what’s the first thing the Gang does? Change the plan, of course!

Thoughts and Observations:

The guys never thought about seagulls dumping all over them!

First to switch things up are Mac, Dennis and Charlie. Instead of getting a van, they rent a limo and wear tuxedos. This is probably not a bad idea, although Mac hanging off the back of the limo for dear life is sheer stupidity. He looks absolutely ridiculous and when they finally stop, his teeth are filled with bugs! Eww! However, the song they perform for their first rich housewife (Kristin Carey) to get her to pay for their services is what really cracks me up! They sound like a modern-day version of a barbershop quartet, minus one quartet member.

**

Frank and Dee pay a visit to the city official (Richard Ruccolo) responsible for “waste management” and contrary to Frank’s instructions on how to dress, Dee looks nothing like a whore. I must say, I agree with Frank’s assessment of Dee in her yellow suit. When the city official goes into his office, it turns out to be someone they know: the “gay guy who wanted to buy Paddy’s.” The physical altercation Frank and Dee get into in front of the guy is hysterical, as is Frank’s imitation of a Chippendale. I know DeVito was going for sex appeal, but he looks more like a small Buddha than a sexy dancer!

**

Frank and Dee take the official to a gay bar hoping to convince him to give them the city’s trash contract. While the whole scene is humorous, it contains some of the funniest dialogue of the episode, including some words Dee makes up to describe the official: “yestergay…twunk…twank.” Should I be worried that Dee’s explanations actually make sense to me? Kudos to Olson for this scene—I can’t imagine how she got through her lines without cracking up. And the eye candy isn’t bad either!

**

Of course, Frank and Dee try to convince the union not to sign the new contract before the union delegate (Peter Holden), poor guy, can explain a thing. Or should I say “Martina Martinez does?” Dee dresses up as a Latina, complete with enhanced boobs and booty, dark face makeup, and a long, curly, black wig. Just the sight of her was enough to make me chuckle, but the way she whips the crowd into a frenzy really made me laugh out loud. Plus, Olson’s accent is unbelievably funny!

Memorable lines:

Dee: “I am presenting myself as a powerful lady.”

Frank: “You’re presenting yourself as a banana.”

**

Frank to the city official: “I don’t get it. We take you to a titty bar and you say no to us. We bring you to this place with all these juicy dongs and you shut us down. What team are you playing for?”

Dee: “Hold on a second, Frank. I think I know what’s going on here. This man has been realigned. He’s a yestergay.”

**

A few days ago, when I posted a promo clip of this episode, I said it was going to provide “sheer uproariousness.” Well, sure enough, it did. I spent most of the half hour laughing my ass off. “The Gang Recycles Their Trash” is one of the funniest episodes of Sunny I’ve ever seen. If this episode is an example of what to expect this season, I can’t wait to see what other adventures these guys cook up!

Tune in to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Thursdays at 10:00 pm ET/PT, only on FX.

LIKE Sunny on Facebook, and follow the show on Twitter @FXNetworks, using the hashtag #sunnyfx. You can also follow Frank @DannyDeVito, Mac @Robmcelhenny, Dee @kaitlin_olson, and Dennis @Glenn_Howerton. You can also submit questions to The Gang via the Sunny mailbag @SunnyMailbag.

All photos courtesy of Patrick McElhenney / © 2012 FX Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.

Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!

Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!