The final season of Workaholics has multiple scenes, episodes and Easter eggs based on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. While the most obvious examples include a Paddy’s Pub shirt and ‘Top Gun style’ volleyball scene, the season has other similarities to the booze-fueled antics of the Always Sunny gang.

The cast members from Always Sunny and Workaholics are apparently friends, so it makes sense that the Workaholics guys would work in some of their favorite concepts during their final season. Some fans have long desired a crossover episode between the two shows, but Easter eggs like Ders’ shirt may be as close as we ever get.

Earlier in the third episode, Monstalibooyah, the guys hit the beach for a ‘Top Gun style’ volleyball scene that’s extremely similar to the volleyball scene from Always Sunny. I’m not saying there should only be one Top Gun style volleyball scene in the world, but it’s hard to top the scene from Always Sunny, even in homage.

Episode 4, Bill & Tez’s Sexcellent Sexventure, has some striking similarities to a season 11 episode of Always Sunny, Being Frank. Bill becoming the ‘Transportationer’ is still pretty great, but the concept is definitely similar to the Always Sunny episode told from Frank’s point of view (which is a take-off on Hardcore Henry). The episode isn’t totally the same, as it isn’t shot in first-person, but it’s close enough to feel like it could have been inspired by the idea.

Additionally, the fourth episode has Bill envisioning himself beating the crap out of the guys, before snapping out of it and responding pleasantly. I’m not claiming this concept was originated by Always Sunny, but they definitely used it in the Suburbs episode and The Gang Saves the Day.

Episode 5, Faux Chella, screams one thing to me: The Maniac! While the episodes are different, bringing in Chuck Liddell will always remind me of Always Sunny having “Rowdy” Roddy Piper guest star on several episodes. Sadly, Liddell’s cameo in Workaholics doesn’t quite live up to the time Johnny Drama stole Liddell’s parking spot in Entourage, but it’s pretty good.

Episode 6, The Most Dangerless Game, feels like it was inspired by several Always Sunny episodes, most obviously Mac and Dennis: Manhunters. The episode is full of ‘implications’ that would make Dennis Reynolds proud, although these implications aren’t sexual in nature… I think? (pancake batter?)

The scenario, an ill-gotten, all-expenses-paid vacation to a cabin in the woods, is precisely the type of situation the gang would get themselves into, and then work themselves deeper into by doing something like assuming the rich CEOs are planning to hunt them for sport. The episode even includes a Predator (1987) reference. A classic choice at Mac and Dennis’ Tuesday night, movie night.

Episode 8, Termidate, is another episode that feels Always Sunny-esque. Specifically, The Gang Group Dates and The Gang Goes on Family Fight. For some reason, Blake just happens to have a VHS tape handy to get the guys out of an awkward situation at a party. That one time the guys were on a dating reality show… that they haven’t mentioned in six seasons.

Moving past the slightly inept setup, the episode has Blake saying absurdly inappropriate stuff on national TV, exactly like the Always Sunny game show episode, although Blake’s character is unbelievably annoying and Dee is just…

Without knowing who wrote what in a show, it’s impossible to really say what inspired each episode, but I definitely see similarities between season 7 of Workaholics and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. After running for twelve seasons, and perpetrating a number of plans and schemes never before seen on TV, it’s little wonder that Always Sunny is starting to influence other comedies.

I’m sure other Always Sunny fans noticed the overt hat tips in season 7 of Workaholics, but I felt inclined to list all of the references and similarities I could find, just in case. If I missed anything, feel free to let me know in the comments.

Watch Workaholics on Hulu or Always Sunny on Netflix or Hulu

Related Reading

Workaholics Season 7 Recap: Monstalibooyah, Whatever That is…

Workaholics final season begins with a predictable prank war

Workaholics waves an appropriately hazy and affectionate goodbye