The Gang tries to reignite a flip cup rivalry with a bar called Molly's, but their efforts backfire when they fail to recruit a team and their instigator Frank goes rogue. The episode ends with them forcing a chant that feels hollow, realizing the rivalry is dead.
Set List
Interiors Paddy's Pub, Art Sloan's bar, Delta Omega Lambda fraternity house, bathroom
Exteriors Fraternity house lawn
Placement
- Fifth season episode 12
- Late in the season, after the gang has established their dynamic
- One of several episodes where the gang fails at a competition
References
Film References
- GGood Will HuntingfilmCharlie tries to imitate Matt Damon's character by asking a college question about Gordon Wood.
Callbacks
- References to the gang poisoning the rival team ten years ago (S01E02)
- Dee's failure in flip cup in 1998 is mentioned
- Mac's claim of being a fraternity legend is a recurring boast
Tropes used
- Gang tries to relive past glory
- Failed recruitment montage
- Frank's unhinged schemes
- Dee's incompetence under pressure
Tropes subverted
- The rivalry is not reignited; the other bar owner doesn't care
- The fraternity kids are not impressed by Mac's legend status
- Charlie's Good Will Hunting plan fails completely
Threads planted, where they pay off
- Frank's tax fraud scheme echoes his later financial crimes
- The gang's inability to compete foreshadows their general incompetence
Production file
- Written by Dave Chernin and Charlie Day, directed by Randall Einhorn, aired December 10, 2009 on FX to an unrecorded number of viewers.
- Season 5, episode 12 of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Scene by scene
Scene 1
Frank's Skinny Jeans
Paddy's PubScene Summary
- Frank wears skinny jeans and the gang mocks him.
- Dennis and Charlie enjoy Frank's ridiculous look.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Frank enters in skinny jeans, Mac says he looks ridiculous.
- Dennis says he gets enjoyment from Frank's parade.
- Frank thinks he looks sexy.
Color Host notes
- Establishes Frank's desire to be young and hip.
- Sets up the gang's dynamic of mocking each other.
Scene 2
Flipadelphia Announcement
Paddy's PubScene Summary
- Dennis announces the ban on Flipadelphia is lifted.
- The gang explains the flip cup tournament and their rivalry with Molly's.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Dennis says the ban is lifted and they're back in.
- Mac and Charlie chant 'Flipadelphia'.
- Dee asks what Flipadelphia is, Dennis explains it's a flip cup tournament.
Color Host notes
- Introduces the central competition.
- Reveals the gang poisoned the rival team ahead of.
Scene 3
Dee's Redemption Attempt
Paddy's PubScene Summary
- Dee wants to be on the team but is reminded she choked in 1998.
- She claims she's been practicing and is given a chance.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Dee says she's their number four, Charlie says she choked.
- Dee says she's been practicing, Dennis says she can redeem herself.
- Dennis suggests throwing gas on the rivalry fire.
Color Host notes
- Highlights Dee's past failure and desire for redemption.
- Sets up her later incompetence.
Scene 4
Confrontation at Molly's
Art Sloan's barScene Summary
- The gang goes to Molly's to reignite the rivalry.
- They threaten poison and Dee urinates on the bar.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- The gang enters and taunts the owner Art Sloan.
- Dennis threatens poison in the water, Art is not intimidated.
- Dee urinates on the bar, Art calls the cops.
Color Host notes
- Shows the gang's aggressive tactics.
- Art's indifference subverts their expectations.
Scene 5
Dee's Practice Failure
Paddy's PubScene Summary
- Dee fails to flip cups during practice.
- The gang kicks her off the team and she is replaced as instigator.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Dee fails to flip, everyone yells at her.
- Mac says she has bison fingers, Dee denies.
- Dennis says she's off the team, Frank is made instigator.
Color Host notes
- Dee's incompetence is played for laughs.
- Frank's role as instigator is established.
Scene 6
Recruiting at the Frat House
Delta Omega Lambda fraternity houseScene Summary
- Mac and Dennis go to recruit frat kids but are disrespected.
- Frank joins and gets zapped with a stun gun.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Mac enters the frat house, sees a pledge being zapped.
- Mac asks to join in, gets zapped himself.
- Frank tries to recruit, gets zapped and kicked out.
Color Host notes
- Mac's legend status is deflated.
- The frat kids are portrayed as disrespectful savages.
Scene 7
Charlie and Mac's Failed Good Will Hunting
Fraternity houseScene Summary
- Charlie and Mac try to impress frat kids with paint and a movie reference.
- They are kicked out and fail to recruit.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Charlie and Mac get painted by frat kids.
- Charlie tries to pull a Good Will Hunting, fails.
- They are kicked out and lament not going to college.
Color Host notes
- Charlie's plan is absurd and fails.
- Highlights their lack of education.
Scene 8
Frank's Revenge Schemes
Art Sloan's bar and bathroomScene Summary
- Frank cuts a shower curtain and does Art's taxes to get revenge.
- The gang forces a rivalry chant that feels forced.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Frank cuts the shower curtain so people see Art's junk.
- Frank does Art's taxes to get him audited.
- The gang chants 'Rivalry' but it feels forced.
Color Host notes
- Frank's schemes are petty and long-term.
- The episode ends with a hollow victory.
Verbatim lines
Flip, flip, Flipadelphia!
You choked under pressure in '98.
I'm a legend over there.
What's your major, dude? Economics. Oh! Bet you're reading a lot of Gordon Wood, huh!
I've created a masterpiece.
This feels forced.
Sources: It's Always Sunny Wiki 路 transcript saved locally (tv-scripts corpus) 路 trope/callback data from the AlwaysSunny trope index