TV Preview: FX's 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'

As much as I liked this show when it premiered for its initial seven-episode run, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" has left me pretty cold since then, and the opening of the fifth season -- barring a few fleeting moments -- is no exception.

It's illustrative, in fact, to watch the four "Sunny" episodes that FX made available (the season begins on Sept. 17) alongside the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" DVD that HBO sent along.

Both shows are loud, brash and feature people yelling at each other. But "Sunny" doesn't pay off enough of its gags and seems too enamored with the fact that its key characters occupy their own insular world, blissfully unaware of anyone else's feelings.

The show has also suffered since the addition of Danny DeVito as Frank, the equally self-absorbed dad of Dee (Kaitlin Olson) and Dennis (Glenn Howerton), who run a bar along with their moronic pals Mac (Rob McElhenney) and Charlie (Charlie Day).

Of the new episodes, the premiere sounds the most promising, but the title -- "The Gang Exploits the Mortgage Crisis" -- ultimately proves superior to the show itself. The best comes later, when the younger four try to stage an intervention because of Frank's drinking, but they seem every bit as much in need of help as he does.

"It's Always Sunny" remains a feel-good story in terms of its origins, having been created by McElhenney on what amounts to a shoestring and improbably sold to FX. Shooting quick and cheap, in fact, has been a hallmark of the show's run, exhibiting savvy in producing for a niche audience. And to their credit, everyone seems to have a good time doing the show.

I just wish I had a better time watching it.