It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (TV Series) The Gang Gets Racist (2005) User Reviews

The One That Started It All

[Samuel-Shovel · 8/10 · 13 August 2017]

I remember the first time watching this show I was immediately drawn in by this pilot. I was laughing hysterically from the get go. The cold open, the choice of title, the jokes, everything just clicked to me and it's been my favorite comedy ever since then.

In this episode, the gang accidentally becomes a gay bar and Charlie tries to convince the waitress he's not racist. As usual, misadventures ensue. One of the more solid episodes of Season 1, this pilot captures the tone and atmosphere of IASIP perfectly.

Boy Bar

[injury-65447 · 9/10 · 4 June 2020]

What a great start to the series. These guys are comedic geniuses. Sets up the tone of the show extremely well.

The chemistry between the main characters is already there and you can tell these guys love working on this show together. and we love watching them.

Denis is exposed as totally vain and self-centred at this early stage. They set up Charlie's weird obsession with the waitress.

I didn't expect the very first episode to be quite this funny but it's like they had a perfect idea of the show they wanted to make and really succeeded.

"The Gang Gets Racist": Satire and Psychopaths.

[The_Coffee_Frog · 7/10 · 2 September 2019]

"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" centres upon five blue-collar psychopaths: The personally confused Mac, the borderline deranged Dennis, the dim-witted Charlie, the manipulative Dee, and later on the undefinable Frank.

I adore "It's Always Sunny" for its strong political views and biting, clever satire. I was conflicted about the series, until I decided to watch the pilot.

Plot: When Dee accuses Dennis, Charile and Mac of being racists, they go on a mission to prove her wrong.

More-or-less the best "Sunny" episode are always the political ones, and oh boy this one's hell-of-a-political. It uses the gang's almost, red-neck approach, as the comedy, this where the intelligence comes into play, as you have to understand the politics behind the show, to get the jokes. As well as the great satire, this is a great pilot for introducing the characters and their psychopathic tendencies excellently, although Dennis get progressively more psychotic. Honestly, it is one of my favourite sitcom pilots.

This episode isn't perfect, and some later episodes better convey that gang's ignorance, but this is still a great start to a phenomenal show.

A great way to start a fight.

[AustinStar · 10/10 · 20 January 2014]

In this episode, we are introduced to our gang who gets accused of being racist. In order to avert these allegations, the gang is ready and more than willing to sell out, and capitalize on the unexpected results.

This is the episode that started it all. within the first 5 minutes of the episode, I knew 3 things real quick.

1-This show was definitely not made for everyone. The TV rating is not actually able to cover this sort of thing.

2-It is so refreshing to see that something unique and smart, is available for the low, low, price of commercials.

3-I LOVE THIS SHOW!

A great first episode

[MovieAddict2016 · 5 July 2006]

Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Mac (Rob McElhenney), and Charlie (Charlie Day) are all the owners of an Irish bar in Philadelphia. Dennis' sister Dee (Kaitlin Olson) works as a bartender there, and as business is slow one evening she brings by a black friend named Terrell. Dennis, Mac and Charlie aren't expecting Dee to be romantically involved with a black guy and as a result they come across as being fairly racist.

To prove they aren't racist, they ask Terrell to help them get more people to come to the bar. They take a journey to Temple University and try to recruit some African-Americans to stop by, and Charlie ends up getting the number of a girl there.

Charlie has a crush on a white waitress at a coffee shop, who overhears him saying something that sounds racist, so the next day he brings by his black date to prove he isn't racist. Things don't go so well.

Meanwhile, Dennis and Mac realize Terrell is actually gay and has turned their Irish pub into "the hottest gay bar in Philadelphia." Dennis' vanity causes him to play to the gay men there and the end of the episode has a hilarious twist that had me in stitches.

This wasn't the first episode I had seen of this show - my first two episodes were of season two with Danny DeVito (I thought they were a bit funnier) - but this is a great way to start. To be honest I didn't expect much after seeing ads last year for this show - it looked like another lame sitcom - but after seeing a few episodes I can honestly say it's the freshest, most delightfully irreverent thing I've seen on TV in ages.

This single episode has more plot than most movies (can't you imagine the idea of a pub being turned into a gay bar run by straight men being used in an Adam Sandler movie? Yet "Sunny" only uses this as ONE of its plots in ONE episode). The cast is terrific (especially Charlie Day who I hope to see in films some day) and the writing is clever, witty and smart. There are a lot of slight references that you don't even pick up on the first time. I had to watch the episodes with DeVito at least two times each to pick up on stuff like "I'm rocking the FDR look." In this episode in particular there's a lot of racial-stereotype satire.

I highly recommend this as an entry point into the series - it's a great first episode, a great introduction to the characters and isn't - as some pilots are - all intro and no jokes. It's funny from the first five seconds onwards.

The Pilot is Good!

[animalfan92 · 10/10 · 27 September 2008]

I am a new fan of IASIP, so I decided to watch it from the beginning. The first episode is actually really good for a pilot. I've seen the first couple episodes of the 4th season, so looking back on the first season, it does make sense. Dennis is vain and loves attention, Dee can't get things right, Charlie's the 'wild card'(season 4 reference just in case you didn't know), Mac's the jerk. It starts out with Dee 'man' finding a way to get more service for the pub, and they all unknowingly become the owners of a gay bar. Dennis loves the attention, Dee hates the lack of attention(and the fact that her 'man' turns out to be gay,) Mac is trying to be on the in crowd with black people and Charlie's trying to get a date with his crush, the waitress. It's all funny, enjoyable, and perfectly timed.(which is very important.)

Good pilot

[rhystomkins-49252 · 9/10 · 12 September 2021]

This is my first review. This episode is a good strong pilot and the first episode of sunny I've seen. It's offensive to people who don't get the shows comedy, for me I'm not offended but be warned that this episode contains racism and homophobia but this episode to me is the funniest pilot for a show I've ever seen.

1x1: The Gang Gets Racist

[FriedToast02 · 8/10 · 26 February 2022]

The pilot has grown on me over time. It is definitely one of the weaker episodes of the season and of the show, but it's not even my least favorite of the season. This episode isn't bad or forgettable though and they really show in this episode this show is gonna be different than any other sitcom before it and tackle some very controversial topics that most tv shows would never tackle at this time, this was the time sitcoms were still having mostly laugh tracks, friends was ending, and How I Met your mother was starting, That 70s show was late in its run, but another monumental show The office also aired this year also getting rid of the laugh track and going for the more mockumentary style. It did take a couple of episodes for me to get on board, the first time I finished this episode, I paused and thought does this work for me. There was moments when I snickered but I was thinking shouldn't I be laughing more in a sitcom, and it wasn't the shows fault it just took me a while to get on board with the shows humor and realizing it's satire and how the main cast of characters are suppose to be unlikable and terrible people and is now probably my favorite sitcom of all time. The show just works cause in most shows there's a time when the characters have finished growing and there's nothing else left to tell for sunny the characters have minor changes but never have they actually changed as people, but if they can keep thinking of great stories and interesting settings to plop our characters this show could go on forever

For a while this was my least favorite episode of the show, and it's still a weaker one for a few reasons none of the characters have hit their peak which is fine it's the pilot but they all change somewhat by the next season. Dee is more of the straight person and telling the gang they are being out of line, which I don't care for by because I'm so use to her being part of the schemes by season 2 she fully starts to be in the gangs hijinks and it's been like that for 14 seasons. Dee is almost unrecognizable from later seasons and just shows how talented of an actress Kaitlyn Olson is. Charlies being illiterate is no where to be seen. Dennis psychotic tendencies are also pretty absent besides Glenn's acting school shining through even in the first episode. Mac feels more like Charlie and him being in the closet really doesn't start to be brought in around season 2 or 3. I also think the execution isn't done great, especially when Sunny's executions for episodes are almost always flawless besides a few rough ones in my eyes. The main plot is funny in writing with Charlie trying prove they're not racist and has some funny moments like Mac and Charlie fighting over the wallet and Charlie fitting in pretty quickly. The bar turning into a gay bar is fine has a couple of funny moments like dennis as the bartender and his spin. Also the scene when Dee is introducing Terrell is pretty good well acted by the main three. Also the introduction to the longest running returning side character the waitress Charlie Day's wife in real life Mary Ellis Elizabeth, who is one of the best side charcters. Charlies obsession with the Waitress is one of the best recurring gags of the show. Overall I think they did fine job for the budget they had back then, but it's a pilot and it's a little rough and you can tell by watching it. Not one I normally throw on just to watch but never skip it on rewatch.

Too sensitive? Get out now and stay out.

[sktraut · 8/10 · 6 June 2023]

I think it's funny how offended some people are in their reviews, because the Gang is just getting started here. It's certainly not the funniest episode of my favorite show of all time, but how could it be? It's a great start to the series that sets the tone before it hit its stride. The creators of this show are fearless and will do almost anything for a laugh. The point of It's Always Sunny? They are jerks, almost villains. In fact "Jerks" was almost the name of the show. You're supposed to think they are horrible people and laugh at the misery they inflict on themselves and each other. That's the joke. The people who rate this one star because it's offensive really need to go back to watching Big Bang Theory and get off the jocks of these golden gods.

I Gotta Say...

[adt2695 · 9/10 · 7 December 2022]

I found this show appealing for really only two reasons: It's actually shot on-location in Philadelphia, and the humor it contains.

When a TV show claims to have a setting in a particular city or state the odds are that it is contrived. Even if it's to be initially true Production will often deviate from authenticity and their own honor to avoid hefty costs, and to migrate their intentions where the tax break adheres more to budgeted effort, no matter the budget allotted. Even it that means moving production to a U. S. state that is in such contrast to the one being depicted. They did not.

To have a digestible TV show that stamps itself as one with gallows or "dark" humor takes quite a bit of audacity - then, to have it reach such a successful height is wonderful. Exciting for some, as well.

This is also so well-paced and shot for a pilot episode. It's without many noticeable errors either. The humor found in this episode is apparently not the one - as I've read - that can be found in much of the series. Once again, it is a pilot episode.

It's already started in Philadelphia

[paudieconnolly · 7/10 · 15 December 2021]

Didn't feel like a pilot opening episode felt like it could have been placed anywhere in the season. No introduction just straight into the capers of paddy's pub. Works has a very good hook being the strongest episode in the season it does reel you in. Bring you back for another round at Paddy's.

Amazing

[nxfsc · 10/10 · 22 October 2023]

It is very uncommon, in fact almost impossible to see a popular sitcom that has a very well-made pilot episode. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia begins with a banging episode that does a great job at displaying each one of the characters' personalities briefly while maintaining an entertaining episode . The plot in this episode was not the most original story ever told (especially in sitcoms), however it was a very well executed one. From the comedic timing, the delivery and acting, it was brilliant and the episode was also at a perfect pace. Even if the humor in this episode doesn't fit everyone's sense of humor, it is still an entertaining plot nevertheless. Hoping that the next 16 SEASONS!!!!! Match the quality.

Mediocre

[k-60337 · 6/10 · 21 June 2020]

Really mediocre - cheap jokes and unlikable characters. I like the music, and that they aren't afraid to be offensive. But that's pretty much all they've got going for them so far...

Unamused, confused, alienated & offended

[JDHunt2 · 1/10 · 2 March 2020]

As an opening episode I found this to be highly alienating as a non-white viewer, the word was unnecessarily used twice in the first eight minutes of the episode which was as far as I got before having to turn it off. At first I felt like it maybe an important or even necessary commentary on racism but no matter the intention, I don't feel as if it was at all executed in a responsible way. I think it would have been more responsible to tackle this highly emotive & important subject with the input of black people in the writers room & with the consultation of black people affected by racism. I found it in poor taste, turned the show off & will never continue watching it.

The Gang Gets Racist

[deanneuhart · 8/10 · 23 April 2023]

A great start to an amazing show! It doesn't waste time introducing all the characters, instead introducing them throughout the episode. The humor of this episode mostly comes from misunderstandings and misinterpretations which happens to be my favorite niche of humor (ie Arrested Development) The show does feel different without Frank around but the group dynamics are all present even in the very first episode. The cut away jokes are also pretty funny, and become less and less common as the series goes on so it's nice to see those again. The first season as a whole doesn't get too absurd and things feel much more "grounded" which could be a good or bad thing depending on who you ask. However I think this episode is just simply funny, it peaks its head into offensive humor without making it feel forced or overdoing it. Paddy's becoming a gay bar is hilarious considering that Mac is completely against it but as the series goes on he's hinted at being gay and he eventually full blown comes out in season 12.