Season 5
Aired	September 17, 2009 - December 10, 2009
Channel	FX
Watch Season Five Episodes: Amazon - Blu-ray - DVD - iTunes - Reruns
Seasons: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8

The fifth season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia aired in the fall of 2009 on FX. It ran for 12 episodes and one hour-long Christmas special released on DVD on November 17, 2009. Both the season and the Christmas special are available for purchase on DVD, Blu-ray, and iTunes.

Contents 1 Recap 2 Cast 3 Episode List 4 Notes 5 Comments

Recap

The gang deals with the economic crisis, from attempting to exploit the mortgage crisis to dealing with the impact of the Great Recession on Frank's fortune.

The gang is also up to its usual schemes: attempting to get out of traffic tickets, as well as to sell Paddy's Pub-related merchandise. They also follow up on last season's musical to put on another show: this time, a wrestling show for the troops.

The gang also struggles with their dating life. The Waitress announces her upcoming wedding, causing Dee to panic. Mac and Dennis become concerned that Charlie will be lost without the Waitress to stalk, so they introduce Charlie to the world of online dating. Dennis explains to the gang how his dating system works, although they don't get it. Finally, Dee starts corresponding with a soldier online, who eventually comes to Philly and turns out to be in a wheelchair.

Frank decides that he doesn't know how much time he has left in the world, so decides to get really weird. He becomes a slobbering drunk, attempts to hang himself after losing all his money, has sex with Artemis while she puts bacon bits in her hair, and tries to sleep with the same women as Dennis (but only after Mac has had a shot at them). Frank also dresses up as a trash man when he develops a wrestling personality for the troops. He decides he wants to see the Grand Canyon before he dies, and so the gang goes on a road trip.

Cast

Main

• Glenn Howerton as Dennis Reynolds
• Kaitlin Olson as Deandra Reynolds
• Rob McElhenney as Mac
• Charlie Day as Charlie Kelly
• Danny DeVito as Frank Reynolds

Recurring

• Mary Elizabeth Ellis as The Waitress
• Artemis Pebdani as Artemis
• Brian Unger as The Lawyer
• Travis Schuldt as Ben Smith
• Lynne Stewart as Bonnie Kelly
• Sandy Martin as Mrs. Mac
• Andrew Friedman as Uncle Jack
• Gregory Cummins as Luther Mac

Episode List

		"The Gang Exploits the Mortgage Crisis"	September 17, 2009
		Directed by: Randall Einhorn - Written by: Becky Mann & Audra Sielaff Frank, Mac, and Dennis try their hand at real estate. Dee arranges to be a surrogate mother. Charlie tries his hand at law.

		"The Gang Hits the Road"	September 24, 2009
		Directed by: Fred Savage - Written by: Charlie Day & Glenn Howerton The Gang tries to expand their horizons by going on a road trip to the Grand Canyon.

		"The Great Recession"	October 1, 2009
		Directed by: Fred Savage - Written by: David Hornsby Mac and Dennis try to keep the bar afloat in the tough economic times; Frank starts a family business with Dee; newly poor people gather outside the bar.

		"The Gang Gives Frank an Intervention"	October 8, 2009
		Directed by: Fred Savage - Written by: Scott Marder & Rob Rosell Dee, Dennis, and Charlie attempt to stage an intervention on Frank, who they feel is no longer fun to drink with. Meanwhile, Frank attempts to bang Aunt Donna, who Mac is also interested in banging.

		"The Waitress Is Getting Married"	October 15, 2009
		Directed by: Fred Savage - Written by: Charlie Day & Glenn Howerton The Waitress is getting married; Dee, jealous that she's beating her to the altar, tries to derail the wedding. Charlie reluctantly tries online dating.

		"The World Series Defense"	October 22, 2009
		Directed by: Randall Einhorn - Written by: David Hornsby The Gang describes the trials and tribulations they went through during Game 5 of the World Series, hoping that the judge will clear them of all the citations they received.

		"The Gang Wrestles for the Troops"	October 29, 2009
		Directed by: Randall Einhorn - Written by: Scott Marder & Rob Rosell The Gang puts on a wrestling show for the returning troops. Meanwhile, the soldier Dee has been chatting with online is not what she expected.

		"Paddy's Pub: Home of the Original Kitten Mittens"	November 5, 2009
		Directed by: Randall Einhorn - Written by: Sonny Lee & Patrick Walsh When a merchandising convention comes to town, the gang tries to develop marketable products in an attempt to build the Paddy's brand.

		"Mac and Dennis Break Up"	November 12, 2009
		Directed by: Fred Savage - Written by: Scott Marder & Rob Rosell Mac and Dennis decide to spend some time apart; Charlie lends his feline expertise to help Dee find her cat.

		"The D.E.N.N.I.S. System"	November 19, 2009
		Directed by: Randall Einhorn - Written by: David Hornsby & Scott Marder & Rob Rosell Dennis reveals his foolproof system for seducing any woman to the rest of the gang, but they don't grasp the concept.

		"Mac and Charlie Write a Movie"	December 3, 2009
		Directed by: Randall Einhorn - Written by: Glenn Howerton & Rob McElhenney When Dee gets a part in the new M. Night Shyamalan film, Mac and Charlie seize a chance to pitch their movie script.

		"The Gang Reignites the Rivalry"	December 10, 2009
		Directed by: Randall Einhorn - Written by: Charlie Day & Dave Chernin After being banned for 10 years from a local drinking competition appropriately named "Flipadelphia," the gang tries to reignite their old rivalry with another local bar.

		"A Very Sunny Christmas"	November 17, 2009
		Directed by: Fred Savage - Written by: Charlie Day & Rob McElhenney Mac, Charlie, Dennis, Dee, and Frank embark on a holiday adventure filled with stolen toys, childhood videos, naked elves, and a bloody run-in with Santa Claus.

Notes

• That's the first season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia with the picture format 16:9 (though it was shot
  in 480p - it wouldn't go to high-def until next season).
• Like Season 4, this season has 13 episodes. However, A Very Sunny Christmas makes this season unique in two ways: the episode was sold direct to DVD and didn't air, and it was also a special double episode.