The Epic Finale of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's Season 16 Leaves Fans in Hysterics

WARNING! Spoilers ahead for episode 8 of season 16 of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia!

Dennis' storyline in the season 16 finale of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia closely resembles a real experience that actor Glenn Howerton went through. The show often incorporates the real lives and experiences of its actors, including their family members and personal events. In episode 8, titled "Dennis Takes a Mental Health Day," Dennis' struggles with his rental car, the fictional "Tsuma," mirrors Howerton's own frustrating encounters in real life. Despite facing various obstacles, such as losing his phone and dealing with Tsuma customer service and the company's president, Dennis manages to keep his cool throughout the day. These experiences add another layer of frustration to the character, as they are directly inspired by Howerton's own reality.

Dennis' Tsuma Story Reflects Glenn Howerton's Real Experience With A Tesla

Glenn Howerton made headlines in 2022 for encountering similar problems with his Tesla as Tsuma's errors in the season 16 finale of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Like Tsuma's app-based issues, Howerton couldn't drive his keyless Tesla due to a malfunctioning fob, forcing him to leave his car in a parking garage for over 24 years. Business Insider reports that there is a backup method to access a Tesla by connecting the driver's phone to the car, but Howerton had no service in the garage. Initial attempts to tow the car were unsuccessful as Howerton couldn't activate the Tesla's "Transport Mode."

During an episode of the Always Sunny Podcast with his co-stars Charlie Day and Rob McElhenney, Howerton expressed his frustration, saying it "sent [him] into a rage." Similar to an episode in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 16, episode 8, where Dennis has trouble reaching Tsuma's customer service, Howerton's problems escalated when he attempted to contact Tesla's support team. After reaching out to Tesla's sales department, they eventually connected him with the support team, and Howerton unleashed his anger on an employee. Unlike Dennis in the season 16 finale, who gruesomely rips out the heart of the Tsuma president, Howerton's frustrations were expressed verbally.

Glenn Howerton's "Rage" Comment Makes It's Always Sunny's Tsuma Story Ironic

Glenn Howerton's response to his Tesla experience, which he described as sending him into a "rage," perfectly aligns with his character Dennis. However, in It's Always Sunny season 16, his anger never escalates to explosive levels. In the episode "Dennis Takes a Mental Health Day," the audience anticipates that Dennis will explode in a rage, similar to his memorable "Golden God" Land Rover speech in season 10, as each minor frustration builds up. Surprisingly, the irony unfolds when Dennis never overtly expresses anger. Instead, it is revealed that the entire episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia was a fabrication by Dennis, serving as a mechanism to suppress his rage and lower his blood pressure at will. The sources for this statement are Business Insider and Always Sunny Podcast.