Charlie Kelly and Mac McDonald are characters in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. They are childhood best friends, coworkers, and former co-owners of Paddy's Pub.
Early History[]
During their childhood, it became a tradition for Charlie and Mac to throw rocks at trains on Christmas morning.[5x13] The two both attended St. Vincent's Elementary School, where Mac became a somewhat devout Catholic.[1x7] In high school, Mac dealt drugs while Charlie was their 'class clown'. This earned them some popularity amongst their peers, but they were still generally looked down upon. With Mac being widely considered an "asshole" and a narc, his status was kept in-tact almost solely by the fact he had ratted out the competition and thus was the only remaining drug dealer. Charlie's strangeness, coupled with his willingness to do anything asked of him (such as huffing markers or eating inedible things) and the fact that he was not a threat when it came to sleeping with his classmates' girlfriends gained him some approval, however, he and Mac were still given derogatory nicknames ("Ronnie the Rat" and "Dirtgrub").[1x3][7x12][7x13] Charlie and Mac also tried out for the wrestling team, which caused a ringworm outbreak in the school, as they had been passing it back and forth.[7x12]
Charlie and Mac met Dennis and Dee Reynolds in high school. Charlie, Mac and Dennis had few friends outside of their trio, though at some point headed a gang called the "Freight Train" along with Psycho Pete, and also befriended Schmitty (who at some point lived with Charlie, though things fell apart and he was kicked out of an early iteration of The Gang). Mac and Charlie spent most of their time in high school hanging out with Dennis under the bleachers and behind dumpsters,[7x13] or huffing glue in Charlie's mom's basement.[1x3]
After high school, Mac and Charlie worked at a roller rink together, and Charlie briefly helped Mac deal drugs before the two purchased Paddy's Pub, along with Dennis.[15x3]
Season One[]
Charlie and Mac team up with the intent to specifically befriend black people at a nearby college campus, hoping to prove to The Waitress that Charlie is not racist. The two end up getting into a physical altercation when Mac decides to take Charlie's wallet to see if he still kept a picture of the Waitress inside it.[1x1] After Charlie happens upon Nazi memorabilia owned by Dennis and Dee's grandfather, he calls Mac to try and sell it. They ultimately fail when the museum refuses to take any of it, and they burn everything in the alley behind Paddy's.[1x6] The two talk about their upbringing in Catholic school, showing a bond formed at a young age.[1x7]
Season Two[]
When Charlie is entrusted with Frank's money, he and Mac go on a spending spree.[2x4]
Season Four[]
Following Dennis sleeping with the Waitress,[1x4] Charlie considers Mac to be his best friend. However Mac, believing that Charlie smashed his Project Badass tapes, also plans to sleep with the Waitress to get back at him. This is due to a misunderstanding, as Mac later finds out, and Mac, Charlie, and Dennis resolve to all be best friends to prevent further complications.[4x4]
Fearing that Mac's father's release from prison means he's going to find and kill them, Mac and Charlie fake their deaths by crashing Dee's car into a wall, and camp out on the roof of Paddy's.[4x5][4x6]
Season Five[]
Mac decides to have Charlie try a variety of fruits that he's never eaten before. He barters with a vendor for a pear, which Charlie dislikes.[5x2] Fearing that Charlie will become unhinged when he learns that the Waitress is getting married, Mac and Dennis attempt to set Charlie up on a dating site. Despite their coaching, it goes horribly wrong.[5x5] Mac and Charlie attend a frat party and are painted by a pair of women. They are chased out when members of the frat realize that they are there, and join the rest of the gang in getting their revenge.[5x12]
Season Six[]
In ‘Mac’s Big Break’, Charlie and Mac are listening to the Preston and Steve Show on the 99.3 FM WMMR radio station. Upon answering a trivia question correctly, Mac wins the opportunity to take a shot from center ice at the upcoming Philadelphia Flyers game. Charlie and Mac devote the following few days to practicing for Mac’s big shot. Charlie teaches Mac how to ice skate, which results in a training montage that is set to the tune of ‘Push It To The Limit’ by Paul Engemann. At the Flyers game, Charlie accompanies Mac onto the ice. Mac takes his shot, which he nails. The crowd cheers, chanting his name. However, it turns out that - while entering the rink - Mac had slipped on the ice and knocked himself out. Charlie takes Mac’s shot for him, which he misses. The pair encourage each other by saying that the video of Mac’s fall will likely go viral, making him a sports legend.