10 Things You Didn’t Know About It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Unless you already did. In which case, uh, we’re sorry?
Paddy’s Pub reopens for business on October 11th, when season 8 of Always Sunny premieres on FX. While Mac, Dennis, Charlie, Sweet Dee and Frank are far too self-absorbed to host a trivia night in the bar, we’re happy to fill the void with these little-known Sunny facts.
1. The original title was much more accurate.
Before it was called It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the show was going to be a show about a bunch of struggling actors trying to make it in L.A. titled… wait for it… Jerks. So that part stayed the same, obviously.
2. It has the cheapest opening credits ever.
Although the pilot cost less than $200 to make, the actual show’s opening credits are even cheaper. The scenes of Philadelphia were shot by the guys on a digital camera during a drive around the city, and the theme music is Heinz Kiessling’s “Temptation Sensation,” a public domain song.
3. Paddy’s Pub is not actually in Philadelphia.
Sorry, folks — if you’re looking for Paddy’s in Philly, you’re not going to find it. The location that’s used for the bar’s exterior is the Starkman Building in Los Angeles — it’s at 544 Mateo Street, but don’t expect to get a beer there.
4. Mac does own a bar in Philly, though.
Paddy’s may not be real, but creator Rob McElhenney (who plays Mac) opened a bar named Mac’s Tavern, located at 226 Market Street in Philadelphia, in 2010. It has a pretty serious selection of beers on tap and in bottles — check it out at www.macstavern.com.
5. Art does not imitate life.
Although none of the males in the show have any interest in — or even affection for — Sweet Dee, in real life Kaitlin Olson is actually married to McElhenney and they have two sons. Meanwhile, while The Waitress hates and fears Charlie on the show, actress Mary Elizabeth Ellis consented to tie the knot with actor Charlie Day in 2008. Glenn Howerton (Dennis) and Danny Devito (Frank) do not have a romantic relationship… that we’re aware of.
6. The Green Man is real.
According Glenn Howerton, Charlie’s beloved/creepy green-spandex bodysuit-wearing Green Man character is based on a real friend of the guys who would dress in the same outfit for Eagles games.
7. Rickety Cricket’s doin’ alright for himself.
Matthew Mara, better known as Rickety Cricket, has gone from Catholic priest to homeless crack addict thanks to the gang’s machinations, but don’t feel bad for actor David Hornsby. He’s married to Bones’ hottie Emily Deschanel. No, we have no idea how, either.
8. Mac was on the Island.
In the early, barely watched seasons of Sunny, one of the show’s fans was Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof, who hired McElhenney to play Aldo, a small but recurring role as one of the Others (he helps keep watch over Jack, Kate and Sawyer while they’re captured in season 3). He disappeared when Sunny became a hit, but did make a brief appearance in Lost’s final season so he could be killed by Claire.
9. The guys really like brown.
Any fan of the show is familiar with the RCG production company logo of Rob, Charlie and Glenn — get it? — in hoodies and sunglasses, while a vocal track plays backwards. Although the message changes every Sunny season, most of them involve the word “brown.” Season 4 has the most disturbing saying, for the record: “Clown baby, brown clown clown baby, brown clown”
10. It actually isn’t always sunny in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia has around 8-12 days of precipitation per month, whether it be rain, sleet or snow. Indeed, Climate-Zone.com estimates Philadelphia only has 93 truly clear days per year! Although we guess “It’s Occasionally Sunny in Philadelphia” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.
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