Across 17 seasons, It's Always In Philadelphia has too many hilarious recurring jokes to keep track of. The gang each have their own iconic moments, from Mac's ocular patdowns to Dennis devolving into a raving, sleazy sociopath. But Charlie Kelly has one of the best running gags in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and it's been way too long since it returned.
No, it's not Charlie's illiteracy and it has nothing to do with stalking the Waitress. It's Green Man, the bright green costume that covers Charlie from head to toe every time there's a sporting event in Philadelphia. Believe it or not, it's been seven years since we've last seen Green Man in Sunny, and 16 years since Charlie actually wore the costume. That's way too long.
Green Man Is One Of The Funniest Recurring Jokes In It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Green Man facing off against the Phillie Phanatic in It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaMovieStillsDB
Green Man remains one of the funniest and most bizarre jokes ever created by the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia team. The character first appeared in season 3, episode 2, “The Gang Gets Invincible,” when the Philadelphia Eagles hold open tryouts. During the episode, Charlie and Frank join the tailgate party, get high with the McPoyles, and Charlie, in a full green bodysuit, dances wildly in the same spot for the whole day.
Green Man returned in season 4, episode 4, “America’s Next Top Paddy’s Billboard Model Contest,” now a banned It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia episode from streaming platforms due to Dee's offensive impersonations. In that story, Charlie pranks Dee by throwing a volleyball at her, and the footage goes viral on YouTube.
The character popped up again in season 5, episode 6, “The World Series Defense,” where the gang tries to sneak into the World Series. Charlie, dressed once again as Green Man, ends up fighting the Phillie Phanatic and getting pummeled by rowdy Philly fans.
Green Man’s most recent appearance came in the two-part season 13 episodes “Charlie's Home Alone” and “The Gang Wins the Big Game,” where the gang attends Super Bowl LII. But in a cruel twist of fate, Charlie is left behind because he can’t find his Green Man suit, which was actually stolen by Cricket to sneak onto the party bus.
That means it’s been seven years since Sunny last referenced Green Man, since we last heard one of Charlie Kelly's best quotes ("Green Man!") and an incredible 16 years since Charlie actually wore the costume. If there’s any justice in the world (or in Paddy’s Pub), the time has come for Green Man’s glorious return.
How Green Man Could Return In It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Green Man at a tailgate party in It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaFX/FXX
The solution for Green Man’s return practically writes itself. In "The Gang Wins the Big Game," two of the best guest stars in Always Sunny— Jason Kelce and Beau Allen — appear in Charlie’s hallucination, encouraging him to step into a bear trap to help the Eagles win. That surreal cameo already established a link between the Always Sunny universe and real-life Philadelphia sports heroes.
The perfect next step would be to bring Jason Kelce back, this time alongside his brother, Travis Kelce, for another Super Bowl-themed episode. The Kelce brothers are bigger than ever in pop culture and on the field, and having Charlie’s Green Man sabotage the Chiefs’ big moment and somehow wedge a rift between Travis and the now retired Jason.
Alternatively, Sunny could fully embrace the enormous pop. culture moment by infiltrating Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s wedding. Green Man crashing the world’s most publicized ceremony would instantly rank among the show’s all-time great disasters, and I can already imagine Dennis convincing himself that he's the perfect match for Taylor.
Wherever It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia goes next, us Sunny fans are long overdue for another Green Man appearance, one where Charlie Kelly finally dons the suit again before two full decades go by without it. I'll even settle on Green Man guesting on the New Heights podcast.
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Release Date
August 4, 2005
Network
FX, FXX
Showrunner
Rob McElhenney
Headshot Of Charlie Day
Charlie Day
Charlie Kelly
Headshot Of Glenn Howerton
Glenn Howerton
Dennis Reynolds
Directors
Matt Shakman, Fred Savage, Todd Biermann, Daniel Attias, Richie Keen, Randall Einhorn, Heath Cullens, Pete Chatmon, Jerry Levine, Kat Coiro, Megan Ganz, Jamie Babbit, John Fortenberry, Maurice Marable, Kimberly McCullough, Imani Hakim, LP, Tim Roche
Writers
Scott Marder, Rob Rosell, Dave Chernin, John Chernin, Dannah Feinglass Phirman, Danielle Schneider, Conor Galvin, Becky Mann, Luvh Rakhe, Audra Sielaff, Eric Ledgin, Patrick Walsh, Lee Sung-jin, Mehar Sethi, Nina Pedrad, Keyonna Taylor, D. B. Weiss, David Benioff, Elijah Aron, Hunter Covington, Jordan Young, Adam Stein, Chris Romano, Eric Falconer
Creator(s)
Rob McElhenney