In S05E11, Mac and Charlie attempt to pitch a movie script to M. Night Shyamalan after Dee gets a role as a corpse extra. Their chaotic brainstorming devolves into a violent, pornographic action film starring Dolph Lundgren, which they present to a baffled Shyamalan, who dismisses them.
Set List
Interiors Parking garage stairwell, Paddy's Pub, film set tent, film set street
Exteriors Film set street
Placement
- Fifth episode of season five
- Part of the Gang's recurring attempts to break into entertainment
- Follows Dee's failed acting career arc
References
Film References
- TThe Sixth SensefilmReferenced for its twist ending; Mac misremembers the twist.
- SSlumdog MillionairefilmUsed to describe M. Night Shyamalan's background.
- TThe Fifth SensefilmThe title of the Gang's script, a pun on The Sixth Sense.
People
M. Night ShyamalanpersonThe director Dee is working for; the Gang tries to pitch to him.
Dolph LundgrenpersonThe actor they want to star in their movie.
Bruce WillispersonMentioned in relation to The Sixth Sense twist.
Callbacks
- Dee's acting ambitions from earlier seasons
- Mac and Charlie's delusional self-confidence
- Frank's crude behavior
Tropes used
- The Gang's harebrained scheme
- Misunderstanding of Hollywood
- Escalating absurdity in brainstorming
- Dee getting humiliated
Tropes subverted
- The Gang thinks they can pitch a movie, but their script is incoherent
- Dee expects a featured role but ends up a corpse
- Frank's involvement makes things worse
Threads planted, where they pay off
- Sets up Charlie's later writing attempts in 'Charlie Work'
- Echoes the Gang's failed creative projects
Production file
- Written by Glenn Howerton and Rob McElhenney, directed by Randall Einhorn, aired December 3, 2009 on FX to an unrecorded number of viewers.
- Season 5, episode 11 of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Scene by scene
Scene 1
Stairwell Story
Parking garage stairwellScene Summary
- Charlie tells a boring story about getting locked in a stairwell.
- Mac and Charlie argue over storytelling technique.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Charlie narrates a mundane encounter with a security guard.
- Mac criticizes Charlie's storytelling.
- Frank rubs his greasy fingers on Dennis's phone.
Color Host notes
- The scene establishes the Gang's delusion that they are great storytellers.
- Frank's animalistic behavior contrasts with Dennis's tech obsession.
Scene 2
Dee's Big News
Paddy's PubScene Summary
- Dee announces she got a part in an M. Night Shyamalan movie.
- Mac and Charlie decide to write a script to pitch to Shyamalan.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Dee reveals her role as a featured actress.
- Mac and Charlie volunteer to write a movie.
- Frank offers to be Dee's agent, she declines.
Color Host notes
- Dee's excitement is undercut by the Gang's immediate co-opting of her opportunity.
- The phrase 'Slumdog Millionaire' shows their shallow understanding of Indian culture.
Scene 3
On Set
Film set tentScene Summary
- Dee learns she is a corpse extra.
- Mac and Charlie start brainstorming their script.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Dee is told she is a corpse and sent to a tent.
- Mac and Charlie decide Dolph Lundgren is the star.
- They brainstorm a scientist who fights crime with his brain and brawn.
Color Host notes
- The assistant's condescension mirrors the Gang's own treatment of others.
- The brainstorming is chaotic and unproductive.
Scene 4
The Twist
Film set streetScene Summary
- Charlie suggests a twist: the scientist is actually a dog.
- Mac and Charlie argue over the dog idea.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Charlie proposes the scientist runs on all fours.
- Mac rejects the idea of a half-dog scientist.
- They settle on a man who can smell crime ahead of it happens.
Color Host notes
- The 'twist' is absurd and nonsensical.
- Their inability to agree mirrors their lack of writing skill.
Scene 5
Frank and Dennis Join
Film set streetScene Summary
- Frank becomes Dennis's agent and gets him a part.
- Dennis offers to produce the script.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Frank gets Dennis a role as an extra.
- Dennis agrees to be a producer.
- They demand a cooler meeting place.
Color Host notes
- Frank's manipulation shows his greed.
- Dennis's apathy is played for laughs.
Scene 6
The Pitch
Film set streetScene Summary
- The Gang pitches their movie to Shyamalan.
- Dennis adds a sexual element to the story.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Mac and Charlie pitch 'The Fifth Sense'.
- Dennis suggests full penetration scenes.
- Shyamalan is unimpressed and leaves.
Color Host notes
- The pitch is a disaster, highlighting their incompetence.
- Dennis's 'sexual punch-up' is crude and inappropriate.
Scene 7
Typing Troubles
Film set streetScene Summary
- Mac and Charlie struggle to type their ideas.
- They try to recruit a Pakistani extra as a writer.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Charlie can't type fast enough.
- They consider hiring a secretary.
- They approach a Pakistani extra, assuming he's good with twists.
Color Host notes
- Their racism is played for awkward comedy.
- The typing struggle underscores their lack of preparation.
Scene 8
Corpse Scene
Film set streetScene Summary
- Dee is covered in blood as a corpse.
- Frank gets a subtle makeup look.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Dee complains about too much blood.
- Frank is paired with her as a husband corpse.
- The director calls for action.
Color Host notes
- Dee's humiliation is total.
- Frank's manipulation gets him a better deal.
Verbatim lines
You weren't even paying attention to us, dude. All you were doing was playing on that stupid phone.
I just got a part in an M. Night Shyamalan movie.
What if his entire head is just one big nose? Write that down!
We show it. We show all of it. Because what's the one major thing missing from all action movies these days, guys? Full penetration.
He smells crime again. He's out busting heads. Then he's back to the lab for some more full penetration.
That is the most brilliant movie I've ever heard in my life.
The Sixth SenseSlumdog Millionaire
Sources: It's Always Sunny Wiki 路 transcript saved locally (tv-scripts corpus) 路 trope/callback data from the AlwaysSunny trope index