Unbelievably Brilliant: 10 Mac Plans from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia That Will Blow Your Mind

Summary

Mac has some good ideas throughout

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,

even if most of his schemes don't work out.

Mac's idea to sell novelty "

D*** Towels

"Unlike other failed ideas, the gang's business venture proved to be a successful endeavor.

Mac's interpretative dance routine, which he used to reveal his true self to his dad, was a sincere and impactful plan that facilitated self-acceptance."

Mac, a character in the TV show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, is not known for being one of the more intelligent members of the gang. However, he has come up with some clever plans, albeit with poor execution. Despite their immoral nature, Mac's outlandish ideas occasionally show a spark of brilliance.

Throughout the 16 seasons of the show, Mac has formulated numerous schemes, often in collaboration with his best friend Charlie or roommate Dennis. Despite gaining confidence after coming out as gay, Mac is still viewed by the gang as domineering, delusional, and inept. He has had his fair share of dim-witted moments, such as advocating for "ocular pat-downs" as a security measure or claiming that "science is a liar sometimes." Additionally, he has engaged in morally questionable actions, such as pursuing the waitress and sleeping with Dennis and Dee's mother. However, amidst these terrible ideas, Mac occasionally showcases intelligence, even if his plans ultimately unravel.

10 Faking His And Charlie's Deaths

In season 4 of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Mac decides to stage his and Charlie's deaths in order to evade his recently released father, Luther. Although Mac and Charlie aren't actually in any immediate danger, their initial deception gives the impression that they are. The plan involves clever details such as leaving behind teeth and creating a will, illustrating their resourcefulness. Unfortunately, their attempt falls short of the desired effect, resulting only in a car crash and Mac sustaining a concussion.

9 Training Charlie To Fight In Underground Clubs

In It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 4, Mac and Charlie fake their deaths to avoid Luther, Mac's father, who has been recently released from jail. While it turns out that Mac and Charlie aren't actually in danger, their plan initially creates the illusion of danger as they intentionally lied to keep Luther behind bars. In such a situation, disappearing from public view is a wise move ― and the meticulous steps they take, like leaving teeth behind and preparing a will, demonstrate their cleverness. Unfortunately, Mac and Charlie fail to execute Mac's plan successfully. Instead of creating an explosion, they only manage to stage a car crash, resulting in Mac suffering a concussion.

9 Training Charlie To Fight In Underground Clubs

In the fourth season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Mac comes up with a scheme to fake his and Charlie's deaths so that they can avoid Mac's recently released father, Luther. While Mac and Charlie aren't actually in any immediate danger, their plan initially creates the illusion that they are, as they have intentionally fabricated a story in order to keep Luther behind bars. When faced with a situation like this, disappearing completely is a smart move ― and the attention to detail shown by Mac and Charlie, such as leaving behind teeth and making a will, is quite ingenious. However, their execution of Mac's plan falls short. Rather than causing an explosion, they are only able to stage a car crash, resulting in Mac suffering a concussion.

9 Training Charlie To Fight In Underground Clubs

In the fourth season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Mac decides to stage his and Charlie's deaths as a means to evade Luther, his father who has just been released from jail. Although Mac and Charlie's safety is not actually at risk, their actions initially create the impression of danger, as they have lied in order to ensure Luther remains incarcerated. In a situation like this, disappearing entirely from the radar is a strategic move, shown by Mac and Charlie's attention to detail in leaving teeth behind and making a will. Unfortunately, their execution of Mac's plan falls short. Instead of causing an explosion, their scheme only results in a car crash, leaving Mac with a concussion.

In the season 2 episode of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" titled "Hundred Dollar Baby," Mac and Dennis attempt to transform Charlie into an underground fighter for the purpose of profiting from bets made at ringside. Mac acknowledges that Charlie lacks the ability to "inflict punishment," but due to a history of physical labor and substance abuse, he proves to be quite adept at enduring punishment. Charlie's arrest and subsequent absence from the fight prevent Mac and Dennis' plan from succeeding.

8 Moving Mac's Mom In With Charlie's Mom

7 Buying Dennis A Valentine's Day Present

After Mac's mother, who is an avid smoker, accidentally burns down her own house in season 6, Mac proposes that she moves in with him. However, Dennis comes up with the idea of having Mac's mother live with Charlie's mother instead. Mac immediately embraces the idea and anticipates a scenario reminiscent of the famous sitcom "The Golden Girls," where the two mothers would bond over pursuing men and indulging in delicious cheesecake. Mac puts in his best efforts to encourage the women to establish a harmonious relationship. Eventually, they do form a bond, although Charlie reluctantly acknowledges that their connection is primarily driven by their shared prejudiced attitudes. Nevertheless, Mac's mother finds a new place to call home, and Charlie's mother no longer feels as lonely. This plan proves to be not only one of Mac's most ingenious schemes but also one of the rare instances where things actually work out positively.

In "The Gang Tends Bar" episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 12, Mac surprises Dennis with a Valentine's Day gift, despite Dennis' annoyance with Mac's clingy behavior. It turns out to be a surprisingly thoughtful gesture from Mac, considering his poor ability to understand people. In the episode, Dennis complains about never receiving Valentine's Day gifts from his friends, which Mac takes to heart. Mac presents Dennis with a rocket launcher as his gift, which although alarming, actually moves Dennis to tears and strengthens their friendship.

6 Selling Novelty Towels With Dennis

While Charlie promotes cat accessories in "Paddy's Pub: Home of the Original Kitten Mittens," Mac devises his own entrepreneurial venture: a novelty "D*** Towel" adorned with a cheeky design on the crotch area and a posterior illustration on the opposite side. This humorous concept surpasses Dennis' thong enterprise and Frank's liquor-shooting gun in terms of creativity. Remarkably, this plan also yields tangible results. In the notable episode "The Gang Buys a Boat" ― which is particularly remembered for Dennis' speech about "the implication" ― Mac and Dennis disclose that they managed to generate a profit of $2,500 from the sale of these towels.

5 Opening Up His Own Pool

Another failed business venture unfolds in "Mac and Charlie: White Trash," an episode from season 6 of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Mac and Charlie's ambitious plan to refurbish an abandoned pool quickly falls apart when they find themselves trapped in the pool, arguing over Mac's daily backflip claim. Nevertheless, with careful planning and commitment, Mac and Charlie could have stumbled upon a promising opportunity. The local country club pool has a lengthy waiting list, while the gang's usual public pool is strewn with broken glass. Hence, the nearby deserted pool did present a viable potential.

4 Getting An Office Job

In the episode "Sweet Dee Has a Heart Attack" of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 4, Mac and Charlie decide to apply for a job to secure health insurance. Aside from the obvious benefits of being insured, this job presents an opportunity for Mac to spend more time with his closest friend during work hours. Moreover, leaving Paddy's Pub is a wise move for Mac since he is an inept security guard earning less than minimum wage. Surprisingly, this time it's not Mac who ruins their plan. Charlie's extensive rant about Pepe Silvia and his revelation of burning the mail brings their promising new opportunity to an abrupt end.

3 Making Project Badass Tapes

In an attempt to prove his toughness to his gang, Mac decides to capture his daring feats on camera. He recruits his friends and cousin to assist him in creating a compilation video. Despite receiving little recognition from the group, Mac's approach is actually quite ingenious. Rather than merely recording these moments on tape, uploading them online could have garnered attention for him. In fact, the content closely resembles the early days of YouTube. Mac may have even been ahead of his time. However, the lack of success of his clumsy stunt attempts prevents him from achieving the desired outcome.

2 Playing Both Sides So He Always Comes Out On Top

One of the most memorable quotes from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is when Mac declares, "I'm playing both sides, so that I'll always come out on top," in season 10's "Frank Retires." In this episode, Frank (Danny DeVito) decides to retire from owning the bar, leading to a contentious battle over inheritance. Dennis and Dee assert their status as Frank's legitimate children, while Charlie presents himself as a potential heir (until the mysterious Franquito appears). Mac's cunning decision to support both factions could have secured his favor with the future owner of the bar. Unfortunately, he undermines his own strategic move by revealing his secret plan to everyone.

1 Planning A Dance Routine To Come Out To His Dad

One of the most heartrending moments in season 13's "Mac Finds His Pride" of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia showcases a rare instance of sincerity. Mac's interpretative dance routine serves as a means for him to convey his struggle with and acceptance of his sexuality to his dad, Luther. Despite Luther's rejection and departure, Mac's performance allows him to embrace himself and helps the gang's father figure, Frank, to gain a better understanding of him. This particular plan ends up impacting Mac and the gang on a much deeper level.