'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'

By: Lindsay Turner

Posted: 9/12/07

Life and Style editor, Lindsay Turner, interviews actor and executive producer Charlie Day, who sets the record straight on the pilot, the FX series' third season, and his role in creating the show.

FX premieres season three of its riotous, original comedy series, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," to a nation of loyal fans, and those soon to be, at 9 p.m. CST tomorrow.

By now, most of FX's audience have seen the hilarious previews (spoofing the Mac v. PC commercials) for what could be the series' wildest season yet. This season will include 15 fresh episodes that will air for the next 10 weeks. As an added bonus, FX will air two new episodes back-to-back at 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. CST every Thursday, according to a FX press release.

The show's existence is a miracle in itself. Created by actor Rob McElhenney (Mac) and produced with co-stars, Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton, the pilot was shot with $200 and one camcorder. As soon as the pilot got into the hands of FX, they picked it up and re-made the episode with a substantially larger budget; after viewing the new pilot, FX bought the whole first season, according to the press release.

"Sunny" stars four friends, Charlie Kelly (Day), Mac (McElhenney), Dennis Reynolds (Howerton) and Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds (Kaitlin Olson), who operate Paddy's Pub in Philadelphia. Their relentless vanity, greed, self-involvement and plotting create wacky and uncomfortable situations; though lessons never seem learned from their misjudgments and blunders.

The cast was joined in season No. 2 by Danny DeVito, who saw the show and decided he wanted to be a part of it. He plays Frank Reynolds, Dennis and Dee's estranged father who comes back into their lives and tries to reestablish a relationship with them.

During a phone interview Day answered some questions about his career, the series' creation, his character and the DVD release.

Before "Sunny," Day appeared several times on Comedy Central's "Reno 911!," NBC's "Law & Order" and "Third Watch," and on stage at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, where he began his acting career.

Originally based out of New York City, Day endeavored toward a successful acting career getting gigs in plays and shows of various genres. Ending up in comedy wasn't his ultimate goal.

"I really didn't choose comedy… I was doing shows in New York like "Law and Order" until I moved out to California and began auditioning for some comedies," Day said. "Then Rob, Glen and I got the idea to make this television show."

Having known each other as actors in New York, the three guys reunited in California to create the "Sunny" pilot.

"We were just in our apartment, pointing the camera at each other, taking turns holding it and saying lines," Day said. All of a sudden, "Sunny" became a series.

Day's involvement with the show goes beyond portraying the runt of Paddy's gang, he is an executive producer and writer as well.

"It is overwhelming and takes up all of our time, but in a good way," Day explained. "It's just that we feel an overwhelming responsibility to please our audience, At the end of the day I think what matters the most to us it that [the audience] enjoys the show, and I think that is overwhelming, but mostly fun."

Day can't pick a favorite function from his work on "Sunny." "I thought I would have originally answered 'the acting,' but, over the years that we've been doing the show, I've really grown fond of being involved in every aspect of it."

As a "Sunny" script writer, Day said that the plots don't come from any of their real lives "fortunately," as the storylines lead the gang through crack addiction, abusing welfare, steroid use and abortion, to name a few. The plots are "based on what makes us laugh," he said.

When it comes to his role as Charlie on the show, Day simply shares a first name with his character. "I sympathize with Charlie, but I can actually read and write," he said.

So, still not convinced to tune in tomorrow night?

Well, critics seem to love this comedy.

The show is earning respect from critics across the country, including Time, which noted "Sunny" as, "…one of the few shows that beg 'Seinfeld' comparisons that actually deserve the comparison."

This isn't the only 'Seinfeld' association the series has received, especially when "Sunny's" tagline reads, "'Seinfeld' on crack." The Los Angeles Daily News said, "It makes the monumentally self-absorbed characters of 'Seinfeld' and 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' seem like Peace Corps volunteers…fresh and almost punishingly funny." A Miami Herald critic raved, "It's really a blue-collar version of 'Seinfeld." The depraved laughs in 'Sunny' are undeniable."

Not a "Seinfeld" fan? That's OK. The Associated Press also compared "Sunny" to the beloved sitcom "Friends."

And the praise keeps pouring in.

The show has garnered other nods from big-time critics across the country. The Chicago Sun Times claims it's "one of TV's funniest series." Just as a reviewer at the Kansas City Star said it "is unlike any show on television." And yet another at US Weekly said, "This is one gloriously brazen, deliciously acted comedy."

Not taking the critics to heart, the cast and crew are focused and are putting the finishing touches on their season three episodes and await the gathering of an even more widespread fanbase.

"We realize how privileged we are to be making this show. It's pretty great to go to work every day with your friends and get to goof off all day," Day said. "Our plan, hopefully, is for people to watch, and then we can come back with an even better and funnier fourth [season]."

With the series' DVD release last week and episode sales on iTunes, addicted fans are able to catch up on missed episodes before tomorrow's premiere of season three.

"There are a lot of good behind the scenes bloopers, screw-ups and some commentary on a couple of episodes. I think we even have clip from the original home movie that was shot for the pilot [on the DVDs]," Day said.

Day's favorite episodes from the series are 'Mac bangs Dennis' Mom' and 'Hundred Dollar Baby' (look for them on iTunes and DVD).

Catch "Sunny" at 9 p.m. CST every Thursday on FX.