Charlie Has Cancer

"Charlie Has Cancer"
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia episode
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 4
Directed by	Rob McElhenney
Written by	Rob McElhenney
Original air date	August 25, 2005
Guest stars
Brittany Daniel & Artemis Pebdani
Episode chronology
← Previous "Underage Drinking: A National Concern" Next → "Gun Fever"
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (season 1) List of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia episodes

"Charlie Has Cancer" is the fourth episode of the American situation comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It aired on August 25, 2005 on the FX Network in the United States. The episode was written and directed by the show's creator Rob McElhenney.

Plot

The episode begins with Dennis stopping by Charlie's apartment to pick up a basketball. Charlie reveals to Dennis that he has cancer. He asks Dennis not to tell the gang, but Dennis does so anyway. Mac and Dennis, feeling sorry for Charlie, decide to find a woman to sleep with him. After a failed search, they approach Sweet Dee for help. Sweet Dee agrees on the condition that she punch Mac in the face. Sweet Dee wants revenge for an earlier incident where Mac punched her in the face at a Christmas Party. Mac explains that she sneaked up behind him and his punch was an instinctual response. Nevertheless, he regretfully agrees to the condition. However, Sweet Dee's help is short-lived as she focuses on training Artemis as a new bartender.

Dennis approaches the Waitress and reveals that Charlie has cancer. Feeling sorry for the pain Dennis must feel, the Waitress and Dennis sleep together. The next day, Mac convinces the Waitress to sleep with Charlie for $250. In the end, it is revealed Charlie was lying about having cancer in order to secure a date with the Waitress. While he feels his plan was successful, Dennis reveals that she was paid $250 dollars to do so.

In a separate storyline, Mac meets a woman named Carmen at Paddy's Pub, whom Dennis reveals is a transsexual. Despite this information, they continue to flirt and eventually enjoy a number of successful dates. Mistakenly, Mac punches Carmen in the face when she sneaks up behind him. Believing they have witnessed a man punch a woman, Mac is chased by two people back to the bar.

Notes

This is the first episode where we see Charlie's apartment, a considerably less cluttered version than in future episodes.

The recurring character Artemis, an acting friend of Dee's, makes her first appearance in this episode. Artemis is played by Artemis Pebdani.

The recurring character Carmen, Mac's transsexual love interest, makes her first appearance in this episode. Carmen is played by Brittany Daniel, who previously starred with Glenn Howerton on the short-lived FOX sitcom That '80s Show

During the episode, Dee's friend Artemis constantly references the movie Coyote Ugly as she auditions for a position at Paddy's Pub. This is a reference to Kaitlin Olson's brief role in the movie.

Music

Dennis can be heard listening to Rick Astley while he is driving in his Range Rover. Later on, the same song is used to overlay a montage of Charlie's date with the Waitress, as well as Mac's date with Carmen. In both instances, the song is Never Gonna Give You Up.