Comedian Danny DeVito’s fantastic performance as the eccentric but lovable Frank Reynolds in a hilarious comedy sitcom. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia helped skyrocket the show’s popularity and success thanks to the character’s unique oddity and endlessly quoted one-liners.
Debuting in the season two opener, Frank has since become a fan favorite among viewers as he has been responsible for many of the show’s most iconic and ludicrous moments. Some of the best interactions with Frank sometimes happened before the opening credits even started rolling. Here are ten of Frank’s best cold openings that helped kick off these episodes on a fun high note.
10 Frank Gives Himself Presents - “A Very Sunny Christmas” (season 6, episode 13)
It’s Christmas in Philadelphia, and the gang tries to appear jolly during the holidays. However, DenisGlenn Howerton) and Di (Caitlin Olsen) are not too happy when they see their ex-father-in-law Frank arrive on the scene, decked out in the luxurious gifts they’ve always wanted for themselves.
When Frank clumsily stepped out of his expensive Lamborghini in yellow overalls, the audience knew they were in for a crazy and hysterical Christmas episode. This opening perfectly sets the comedic tone and how Frank’s wacky antics will take center stage during the Gang’s celebration.
9 Frank’s Introduction - “Charlie Goes Cripple” (season 2, episode 1)
The four original Gang members try to hastily leave the bar to avoid Frank, who arrives determined to rekindle their relationship with their estranged children, Dennis and Dee. However, during their escape, Frank appears right in front of Dennis’ car, causing him to accidentally reverse-crash into Charlie (Charlie Day.)
What could be better than showing up out of nowhere and causing problems right away? This introduction, although very brief, makes Frank a new and interesting addition to the group’s dynamic, and also foreshadows his possible mischievous behavior.
8 Frank Prepares for a New Day - “Being Frank” (season 11, episode 6)
Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of Frank Reynolds is like? After another night of heavy partying, Frank awakens from a drunken daze to find Dennis calling him for one of the Gang’s next close-ups. Despite being barely conscious, he eventually prepares for a new day.
In an interesting visual style change for the show, this opening, along with the entire episode, is shown entirely from Frank’s point of view as he goes through the day and interacts with one of the Gang’s many schemes. It also gives insight into Frank’s thought process, how he treats each member of the gang and how he tries to help in any way he can.
7 Frank & Charlie: Sewer Dwellers - “Dee’s Having a Baby” (season 6, episode 12)
Frank and Charlie inform the group that they found hundreds of unopened letters that Dee threw away while they were digging through the sewers. However, Dennis and Mac (Rob McElhenney) are more interested and outraged by the fact that these two men are just casually hanging out in a dark and disease-infested sewer for fun.
The “Terrible Two” is on full display in this opening, as Frank and Charlie’s quirky, co-dependent friendship has landed them in yet another of their awkward and ridiculous situations. DeVito and Day’s ability to keep a straight face when their characters are just casually talking about roaming the sewers is both amusingly and impressively a showcase for the acting talents of the two comedic stars.
6 Frank Wants to Marry Roxy - “Frank’s Pretty” (season 7, episode 1)
The gang becomes very uncomfortable when Frank begins a romantic relationship with a very rude sex worker named Roxy (Alanna Ubach.) However, things get even more complicated as Frank plans to make Roxy his new wife.
From his tumultuous marriage to his late ex-wife Barbara (Ann Archer) to his on-and-off relationship with free spirited girlfriend Di Artemis (Artemis Pebdani), it is clear that Frank’s relationship history has become complicated. However, his brief but somewhat cordial relationship with Roxy in this cutscene and the episode as a whole is a really interesting concept, as their romance shows Frank in a somewhat more sensitive and positive light.
5 Frank crashes into Dennis’ car - “Reynolds vs. Reynolds: Cereal Defense” (season 8, episode 10)
Frank’s memory impairment now forces him to rely on Charlie’s makeshift navigation tapes to guide him to the Gang’s bar, Patty’s Pub. However, when one day he gets distracted while fixing one of these tapes on the road, he accidentally crashes into the back of Dennis’ Jeep, who was driving to work with a bowl of cereal in hand.
It’s a strange but memorable opening that shows how Frank’s confusion and recklessness cause more unintentional chaos than usual. It’s also a fun introduction to the funny episode where Frank and Dennis fight each other to decide who pays for the repairs, since the only damage to Dennis’ car was that he spilled cereal during the accident.
4 The Wolf Cola Incident - “Wolf Cola: A PR Nightmare” (season 12, episode 4)
When his money laundering shell company Wolf Cola becomes a big seller in Boca Raton, Florida, Frank begins to celebrate his newfound business success in style. Unfortunately, however, he later discovers that he had mistakenly read the buyer’s name and inadvertently submitted his products for approval by a hostile terrorist organization.
Frank has made many mistakes during his business ventures over the years, but confusing an African-based terrorist group with a Florida beach town ranks pretty high on the list of the worst mistakes one can ever make. This scene hilariously communicates to viewers that when Frank Reynolds makes a mistake, he does it in spectacular fashion.
3 Frank “mourned” his ex-wife - “Dennis and Dee’s mother is dead” (season 3, episode 3)
Frank enters a bar celebrating the disturbing announcement that his contemptuous ex-wife Barbra has died during a botched operation. While Barbra’s kids, Dennis and Dee, are visibly shaken by this terrible news, Frank instead decides to enjoy the moment by lighting a cigar and offering everyone some champagne.
Give Frank the opportunity to turn a serious and dramatic revelation into a dark comedic situation. His apathetic and cheerful attitude towards the realization that his ex-wife had died indicates that their difficult marriage was one made in hell.
2 Frank Lives on the Edge - “The Gang Meddles with Frank” (season 5, episode 4)
Frank, for no particular reason, decides to get out of control and go on a booze-fueled mission to become as rude and depraved as possible. The gang, for the most part, support his antics until Frank tricks them into taking the Gang to a beach party, but the party is revealed to be Uncle Dennis and Dees’ funeral.
It’s the iconic opening to an iconic episode that highlights DeVito’s comedic acting and the character’s memorable oddity. From beginning to end, this scene lets the audience know that Frank has hit rock bottom but is enjoying every moment.
1 Frank Goes Air - “Gun Fever Too: Still Hot” (Season 9, Episode 2)
After scaring off several muggers on the streets with an unregistered firearm, Frank becomes a local hero and goes on live news to talk about his harrowing ordeal. However, the interview quickly turns into absurdity when Frank pulls out the same two pistols as part of a much-needed visual display.
Viewers unfamiliar with the series may look to this outlandish cold opening as the perfect introduction to a fun, darkly comedic and unabashedly quirky world. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. DeVito’s hilarious delivery and quoted lines make this scene one of the show’s most iconic Frank-related moments.
Source: Collider
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