It's a Sopranos/O.K. Corral Mashup! Review: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang Dines Out"

Retrospective: S8, E9

Air Date: Thursday, December 13, 2012, 10:00 pm ET/PT on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

While Mac (Rob McElhenney) and Dennis (Glenn Howerton) are having their “monthly dinner” at Guigino’s, one of Philadelphia’s finer eating establishments, Charlie (Charlie Day) and Frank (Danny DeVito) walk in to celebrate the anniversary of living together. What none of them realizes is Dee (Kaitlin Olson) is at a table of her own. What ensues as the four men try to outdo each other has me chuckling deep down to my very core.

Observations and Thoughts:

With classic Italian tunes playing throughout “The Gang Dines Out,” and the way Charlie and Frank are dressed, their entrance into Guigino’s reminds me of a scene straight out of The Sopranos. They couldn’t look more like mobsters if they tried. Even funnier is Mac’s slicked back hair and the “two colognes” he’s wearing, but the best is Frank. He really takes the cake in the hair department.

It's a Sopranos/O.K. Corral Mashup! Review: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang Dines Out" 1

Mac and Dennis are prepared to have a good time at their favorite restaurant.

What amazes me is how these five people, who spend practically every waking minute together, initially ignore each other. What do they hope to gain? Charlie and Frank predict Mac and Dennis will come over and “pay tribute” to them; Mac and Dennis assume Charlie and Frank will do the same, and Dee thinks all of them will “pay tribute” to her. What’s with waiting each other out? Why don’t they all just sit at one table and have a good time?

It's a Sopranos/O.K. Corral Mashup! Review: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang Dines Out" 2

Mac sees Frank and Charlie entering the restaurant.

Dennis and Mac are trying hard not to let the presence of the rest of the Gang interfere with their “monthly dinner,” but it doesn’t go well. Mac can’t stop looking at Charlie while Dennis pretends not to be interested but it’s their banter that really makes me laugh.

Frank has prepared “some words” to honor his and Charlie’s special occasion and is annoyed when the waiter (Michael Naughton) interrupts him with the wine Dennis and Mac send over. Pissed that their friends send only one glass of wine for the two of them, Frank sends back the restaurant’s “most expensive bottle.” Dennis should be ashamed of what he does with it. Actually, Dennis should be ashamed of a lot more than that, as should Frank. They both act like brats; they would do well to take a page from Charlie and Mac’s book about behavior.

The bit with the money used to bribe the hostess (Nicole Sienna) and waiter for a few different things is funny because of where Frank, and then Dennis, puts the money on the hostess, and how Mac places the money on the waiter. You can dress these guys up but nice clothes don’t make them any less uncouth. Rude or not, these guys always give me a good chuckle.

Dee is just hysterical in “The Gang Dines Out.” From the way she refuses to order and the customer she hijacks, to her imitation of the waiter when he refuses to tie Mac’s shoelaces together, the woman always cracks me up!

It's a Sopranos/O.K. Corral Mashup! Review: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "The Gang Dines Out" 3

Frank and Charlie make a toast that excludes Mac and Dennis.

Dennis pays a wonderfully sincere tribute to Mac using the band’s microphone but what makes it funny is Mac doesn’t even realize Dennis is talking about him! And they say Charlie is the dumb one?

Memorable Lines:

Dennis: “I can’t believe this. They still haven’t paid tribute. It’s been 10 minutes. Not a wave, not a nod. Have you seen them do anything to acknowledge us?”

Mac: “I thought we agreed we would not let it get to us.”

Dennis: “It’s not getting to me. It’s just a little bit rude, is all I’m saying. It’s irritating. Whatever. I’m over it. How is their table, though?”

Dennis to the waiter: “Here I am, a regular, a full paying customer, and I’m sat by the kitchen on the wobbliest chair in Philadelphia. You know, I’m forced to eat dinner with this swarm of coupon-waving trash—this is crazy!”

Frank to Charlie: “Don’t make me say it, Charlie. I know you’re not as dumb as you seem.”

Charlie: “Well, let’s just say I am.”

I can’t believe the way Charlie and Frank humiliate Mac and Dennis! You know there’s no way Mac and Dennis are going to take that lying down. I sure wouldn’t! One thing leads to another, with Mac and Dennis facing off against Charlie and Frank, maniacal faces on all, in a scene reminiscent of Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

“The Gang Dines Out” is the second episode that takes an in-depth look at the codependent relationship between Dennis and Mac, the first being “Mac and Dennis Break Up” (S5 E9). Then, as now, they realize they’re better off being friends (thank heavens!), and the tribute Dennis pays to Mac at the end of the episode is very touching, indeed.

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 @Robmcelhenney, Dee @kaitlin_olson, and Dennis @Glenn_Howerton. You can also submit questions to The Gang via the Sunny mailbag @SunnyMailbag.

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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!