A Very Sunny Christmas 

Dennis and Dee decide to teach Frank a lesson "A Christmas Carol"-style, and Mac and Charlie learn some shocking things about their childhood Christmas traditions.

Director:

Fred Savage

Writers:

Rob McElhenney (developer), Glenn Howerton (developer)

Stars:

Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Charlie Day	...	Charlie Kelly
Glenn Howerton	...	Dennis Reynolds
Rob McElhenney	...	Mac
Kaitlin Olson	...	Dee Reynolds
Danny DeVito	...	Frank Reynolds
David Huddleston	...	Eugene Hamilton
Gregory Scott Cummins	...	Luther
Sandy Martin	...	Mac's Mom
Lynne Marie Stewart	...	Charlie's Mom
Pablo Schreiber	...	Ricky Falcone
Ryan Michelle Bathe	...	Woman Office Worker
Mike Beaver	...	Man Office Worker
Derek Waters	...	Toy Store Clerk
Mark Povinelli	...	Tiny
Preston Bailey	...	Young Mac

Storyline

After years of being mistreated by Frank during the holiday season when he buys gifts for himself, Dennis and Dee decide to teach him a lesson by contacting his old business partner, Eugene, for help to make the mean-spirited and nihilist Frank see the Christmas spirit of giving, rather than taking. Meanwhile, Mac and Charlie reflect on their childhood Christmases, and realize that they were not as joyous and wonderful as they remembered: from Mac remembering being taught by his career-criminal parents how to break into people's houses to steal their Christmas presents, to Charlie remembering his single, boozed-out, coked-up mother inviting a slew of "Santas"/clients over to her house.

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Plot Keywords:

younger version of character | christmas | christmas spirit | christmas present | business partner | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Derek Waters, who writes/directs/stars in the TV show "Drunk History" makes an appearance as the store clerk at the mall Charlie and Mac try to buy a toy from.

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Goofs

When Frank is laying in the hospital bed the camera point of view changes a few times, during this Frank's foot is covered by a blanket and then uncovered after each pan.

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Quotes

Dennis Reynolds: If you guys love Christmas so much, why do you always wait until the last possible minute to put up the Christmas decorations? It is the day before Christmas.
Mac: That's our tradition.
Charlie Kelly: Yeah, that's what we do. We drink a lot of eggnog. We pass out. And then we don't put anything up, so we do it at the last minute.
Mac: Yeah, then we wake up at Christmas and celebrate by throwing rocks at moving freight trains.
Dee Reynolds: Why would grown men throw rocks at trains?
Mac: Why wouldn't we throw rocks at trains? It's beats ...
[...]

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Connections

References Fable II (2008)

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Soundtracks

O Little Town of Bethlehem
(uncredited)
Written by Phillips Brooks and Lewis H. Redner
Arranged by Henry Stuck

User Reviews

So many of my favourite scenes are from this episode

So many of my favourite always sunny scenes are from this episode, Truly captures the Christmas Sprit

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 December 2010 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

20th Century Fox Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

43 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1