Will Fans Finally See ‘Ronnie the Rat’ in ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ Season 15?
It’s been two long years since we hung out with the gang at Paddy’s Pub. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia aired the last episode of season 14 in November of 2019. The coronavirus (COVID-19) put a damper on plenty of filming projects, and the FXX TV show was one of them.
Now there’s a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. We already know the show is coming back for its 15th season. Plus, we know it’s already begun filming, thanks to a TikTok from Rob McElhenney. Now there’s a chance we may finally get to see Ronnie the Rat.
‘Ronnie the Rat’ was Mac’s nickname in high school
In It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 7, Episode 12, ‘The High School Reunion,’ it’s revealed that Mac’s (Rob McElhenney’s) full name is Ronald McDonald. Understandably, he prefers to go by Mac instead to avoid comparisons to McDonald’s mascot. However, there’s another nickname he wants to avoid getting brought up, and that’s Ronnie the Rat.
Mac was a drug dealer in high school. Due to his tendency to always rat out fellow drug dealers, he was given the nickname Ronnie the Rat. While there are several storylines to follow about the gang’s old high school ways, there’s a point where Mac gets annoyed at a fellow classmate for bringing in counterfeit drink tickets. He rats him out, ultimately living up to his nickname.
Rob McElhenney’s TikTok post is what clued us into a potential flashback to his ‘Ronnie the Rat’ days
McElhenney has shared numerous tidbits of information about the upcoming season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In August 2021, he revealed season 15’s premiere episode title, ‘2020: A Year in Review.’ More recently, he shared photos on Instagram of the cast filming in Ireland for an episode or two.
On Sept. 29, 2021, posted a TikTok with the caption, “If you lived in 1996 you definitely bought weed from this guy.” Clad in a turquoise and purple Charlotte Hornets Starter jacket, gold chain, diamond studs, and beeper in hand, McElhenney looks at the camera, checks his beeper, and turns to walk away.
The official Always Sunny Twitter account reposted the video and referred to him as Ronnie the Rat. Hopefully, fans will get a glimpse of Mac’s past in the upcoming season.
‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ Season 15 will hopefully premiere in 2022
There’s no word on the premiere date for the upcoming season. However, with filming already underway, 2022 is a reasonable guess. Fans are pumped for new episodes. Glenn Howerton believes it could be one of the best seasons yet. Howerton plays the role of Dennis Reynolds and also serves as one of the executive producers and writers for the show.
Howerton recently made an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers and said, “I think I can honestly say this season of ‘Sunny’ is probably going to be our best in many years.” Howerton took a break from writing for the previous two seasons but is back in the writing chair for season 15.
Fans of the show can find previous episodes on FXX. They’re also available on Hulu.
