Take the best elements from Seinfeld and Arrested Development and you have It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Combining the social-degenerate-buddy formula (three men, one woman) with the beyond-dysfunctional-family element, Philadelphia creates scenarios that are so hysterical, wrong, appalling, familiar, embarrassing, uncomfortable, and entertaining, the show is addictive like staring at a car wreck when you know you shouldn't, but you just can't look away; it's invigorating like a fresh, loud, wake-up slap on the face. The writing, the quick timing, and the performances are so natural, one wonders if anyone is even acting (but hopes to heaven they are). Danny DeVito joined the cast in the second season, in one of the best roles on TV. DeVito is "Frank," the buddy dad that just wants to be part of the gang, the dad that looks good on paper, but the experience for his kids is more like taking care of a vicious dog that isn't potty-trained. Three of his four talented cohorts (Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, and Rob McElhenney) not only star in the series, but write it as well. Thanks to their new take on old themes and a willingness to stretch the boundaries of appropriateness and exploit the audiences' inner insecurities, originality is back on TV.--Rachel Moss

Beyond It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Groundbreaking TV: Arrested Development

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More from Danny DeVito

Stills from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Seasons 1 & 2

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - Seasons 1 & 2

• It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Season 3
• Flight of the Conchords - The Complete First Season
• 30 Rock - Season 1
• The Office - Season Three
• Arrested Development - The Complete Series (Seasons 1, 2, 3)
• Superbad (Unrated Widescreen Edition)
• The Office: Season Four
• Dexter - The First Season
• How I Met Your Mother - Season Two
• Knocked Up (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

The characters are absurdly idiotic and ridiculously hysterical. LOVE IT. Every actor brings a unique quality to their character and the characters are like none you've ever seen before on TV or in a movie. As for the DVD version, I was extremely happy with the Bonus Features, such as outtakes and a few Behind the Scenes featurettes. I loved watching the hilarious outtakes and you even get to see snippets from the original pilot episode they shopped around to the networks as well as Kaitlin Olson (Sweet Dee)'s audition footage. This show consistently makes me SCREAM with laughter just about every episode. I only wish there were MORE.

This box set, though, with the first two seasons: plenty of episodes worthy of being watched again and again. Season 4: okay, but it's no longer a must-watch-right-away. But for the most part Season 2 was a winner, though, to me, there were a few less 5-star episodes and more 4-star ones, the opposite of Season 1. . The introduction of Danny DeVito in Season 2 playing Dennis and Dee's dad worried me a bit. Abortion, child abuse, cancer: subjects all dealt with a sort of South Park subversiveness except without the animation.

The first episode approached the ideas of race and stereotype so hilariously and with such an element of truth that I was ready to declare this my favorite new series. They are that funny. Pair that with four quirky, lovable, bar-owning twentysomething characters who were almost Seinfeldian in their self-absorption, and you have a great show. Funny to be sure, but not cutting edge anymore. Though a little over the top, there was still an aspect of realism to it that made the comedy all the edgier, all the smarter. The third season was over and done with by the time I discovered "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." This box set arguably contains the best season which, for me, is the first.

And then it nowhere near approached, for me, the marginal disappointment of Season 3, for that tinge of realism that made the first two seasons' episodes so on-the-spot funny and edgy was all but gone and almost, but not quite, became outrageousness just for the sake of outrageousness.

In some ways it is difficult to describe and understand if you have not seen this gem of comedy. I had heard of the series previously but was only convinced of buying it after seeing an intervewi with the actress. What a suprise: this is a somewhat lesscorrect version of Friends meets My Name Is Earl. It also tackles the strange love men sometimes has for guns ets. This series revolves around 4 friends who run a bar in Philadelphia and who go through a variety of difficult but extremely funny and often extravagant situations. I agree that this may not be correct at all since this series has no respect for conventional moarl issues such as lying about having cancer, discovering a friend's grandfather was a nazi.

Love it,quote it, and laugh your way to the bank. I forgot what it felt like to laugh until I saw this gem of a show. Pay the money for this.

Every joke is a screamer and with 17 episodes in this DVD set, you'll be sure to have countless laughs. Buy this DVD set today. Dennis, Dee, Mac, Charlie, and Frank team up to create a great comedy for television. Never mind the price.