Here’s the wild gang we all know and love! It’s hard to believe, but as “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” nears its 20th anniversary, the FX sitcom still hasn’t dropped the ball. Season 17’s eight episodes are, as expected, over-the-top, unsettling, and gloriously inappropriate. While tackling popular and controversial topics, they deepen the show’s warped and mischievous universe through the gang’s bizarre obsessions. Today, we’re zooming in on Episode 3: “Mac and Dennis Become EMTs,” a hilarious nod to the network’s hit drama, the phenomenal “The Bear,” while playfully poking fun at it!
It all starts with peppers. Our favorite dimwit, Mac (Rob McElhenney), declares early on, “Peppers add spice to everything.” And they sure do, because in the opening scene, we see Frank (Danny DeVito) at Paddy’s Pub, force-feeding a brutally spicy pepper to an unconscious guy, only for two EMTs to swoop in and try to revive him. Dennis (Glenn Howerton) and Mac are mesmerized watching the paramedics in action (the thrill of it all gives them a twisted kick), and they decide to enroll in a crash course to become EMTs themselves. “Guess we could be heroes, too, huh?” they must’ve thought.
Meanwhile, Dee (Kaitlin Olson) is hustling as a Postmates delivery driver, and Frank takes advantage, ordering himself a “smash burger.” That’s when a light bulb goes off in Charlie’s (Charlie Day) head! He’s convinced he can make a burger just as good (or better) at home. It doesn’t take long for him to transform his apartment into a chaotic, high-speed restaurant kitchen, styling himself as a self-taught (and delusional) “master chef” who “macro-doses” on peppers to keep up with the imaginary high-stakes environment. “Yes, chef!” cries ring out as a chaotic kitchen party ensues!
Yes, Chef! The Bear Parody Hits Its Peak!
When Dee catches wind of Charlie’s newfound culinary passion, she immediately schemes to exploit it. She convinces the illiterate and slightly “trashy” Charlie to turn his apartment into a “ghost kitchen” for Postmates deliveries. It’s a two-birds-one-stone move (or in this case, a brick wrapped in foil smashing burgers). Charlie eagerly buys into the idea, but when things get serious, he insists that Dee must respond to everything with “yes, chef,” “no, chef,” “corner, chef,” and so on, because “that’s how it’s gotta be.” It’s like they stepped straight out of “The Bear” set!
As a huge fan of Christopher Storer’s “The Bear,” this episode is hands-down the funniest parody/tongue-in-cheek tribute I’ve seen, clearly crafted with love. Charlie and Frank sweating buckets from constantly munching on peppers while tirelessly working is pure insanity. It’s the kind of laugh-out-loud moment “Always Sunny” has been delivering for 20 years. You might think the gang’s ideas would’ve run dry by now, but they’ve nailed it once again. The episode spirals into glorious chaos with Dennis and Mac mimicking EMTs, Dee recklessly speeding on her bike and crashing into pedestrians, and the chef duo getting high on their own “ingredients,” all underscored by the Gypsy Kings’ spicy “Bamboleo.” In the end, everything comes together perfectly and crashes spectacularly in true “Always Sunny” fashion—exactly how we like it!
Opinions may vary, but as a longtime fan of the sitcom, this episode instantly became a classic for me. Not just for its homage to “The Bear,” but for proving the gang can still innovate, keeping things fresh while pushing the irreverent, dark humor they championed 20 years ago even further. A fan-favorite character, absent for nine years, makes a triumphant return with a stellar performance. In the end, it all comes full circle, proving “Always Sunny” still has plenty of gas in the tank and isn’t ready to call it quits. Hats off, chef!
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