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• 1 2022-05-02T19:12:09-07:00 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia vs The Office 2 “Philly Proud” vs “Philly Critical” plain 2022-05-17T12:04:18-07:00
  
  
  
  
  
  Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX, 2005 - present) and The Office (NBC, 2005 - 2013) are two different popular comedies that offer diverting perspectives of Philadelphia. Always Sunny can be characterized as proud of Philadelphia in its promotion of Philadelphia compared to other cities, emphasis on landmarks, and embracing of Philly sports culture. The Office, in contrast, is critical of Philadelphia in its disparagement of Philadelphia versus other cities, ironic character supporters, and mockery of the Philly sports culture. Despite being comedies that deal with their subject matter lightly, together they offer a complex view of Philadelphia.
  
  First, Philadelphia is illustrated as old, unexciting, and lacking opportunity. This depiction is highlighted by the contrast between Michael’s lame Philadelphia party versus Ryan’s exciting New York City club. 
  
  The unattractiveness of Philly is associated with antagonist characters (Angela Martin) and plot points (Jim and Pam relationship turmoil). In one clip, you see Angela exclaim - “Philadelphia is full of Rich history!” - demonstrating her support in the city. Angela is traditional and closed-minded so by using her as a supporter of Philadelphia negatively characterizes the city as backwards and non-inclusive. Another poor characterization of Philadelphia characters are through protagonists Jim and Pam, specifically about the relationship in the later seasons. Philadelphia becomes a point of strain in their marriage where Jim is working on his startup which pulls him away from Pam and his family. Philadelphia is vilified as the “false allure of glory and city life in a mid-life crisis” versus being a good husband in Scranton. 
  
  Exemplified by Ryan asking Jim mockingly “How do you live with an [Eagles] franchise this bad?”, the love Philadelphians have for their sports teams is ridiculed in The Office. The pride of Philadelphia sports teams is shared across Always Sunny and The Office but it is mocked in the latter. From 2005 - 2013 (the runtimes of both shows), the Philadelphia sports teams had one of their most successful runs in history including a baseball championship and finals appearances in football and hockey. This success is celebrated in Always Sunny but somehow “forgotten” in The Office.