Posted in: American Gods, Current News, Editor's Picks TV News, Movies, Recent Updates, Starz, TV | Tagged: a very sunny christmas, american gods, fx, fx networks, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, mad sweeney, neil gaiman, pablo schreiber, ricky falcone, starz, television, tv

Before They Were 'Gods': Pablo Schreiber's Life Wasn't 'Always Sunny'

Side Note: If the headline I submitted is the one you're reading, then I need to confess that I was prouder of that headline more than I had any right to be. If that's not the headline I submitted that you're reading, then clearly I was prouder of my headline more than I had any right to be.

So welcome back to another edition of Before They Were 'Gods', where we pull back the curtain on some of the past projects of the cast and crew connected with American Gods and give them their proper due. Since we're still a little while off from any major Season 2 news, it's a little something to help you pass the time until then and kick some major ass in the next Gods debate you find yourself in.

One thing's for sure: while they may not all be winners, our Gods folks still shine through.  But just to be clear? No judgments. I say that so there's never any confusion about this being done out of love and with the intent to "laugh with" and not "laugh at" in every way possible.

We all know Pablo Schreiber as Mad Sweeney, Gods' resident angry leprechaun who's trying to both live-down his growing, begrudging guilt for his role in Mr. Wednesday's (Ian McShane) manipulations of the lives of Shadow (Ricky Whittle) and Laura (Emily Browning); and get his good-luck mojo back before he ends-up straddling any more broken glass. C'mon, guys…we've all been there…that takes its toll on one's cojones. Schreiber's run of quality television roles didn't start there, though: his roles as troubled dock worker Nick Sobotka in HBO's The Wire or as disturbing prison guard George 'Pornstache' Mendez in Netflix's Orange Is The New Black grabbed the attention of critics and show fans alike. In fact, Schreiber currently has six projects either completed, filming or in some level of production.

But I'd be remiss if I didn't remind all of you fine folks of the important role Schreiber's Ricky Falcone played in bringing a little holiday cheer to the denizens of Paddy's Pub (whether he liked it or not) in 2009's It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas.

So it turns-out that Mac's (Rob McElhenney) "sweet holiday memories" of Christmas with the family were actually altered and repressed memories of robbing other families at Christmas. Mac's dad Luther (Gregory Scott Cummins) made that their annual "family tradition" and convinced Mac that's how the real Christmas worked: taking stuff from others while they're asleep. As anyone who's familiar with the show knows, this had to be some deeply ingrained s–t when it takes Charlie (Charlie Day) of all people to bring Mac back around to reality. So what do Mac And Charlie do when they feel like there's a "wrong" that needs to be righted? Oh, they'll right it…and sweet baby Jesus help anyone who gets in their way.

I'm going to avoid spoilers because this is definitely worth watching for yourselves, but Mac's "road to salvation" involves returning a stolen Omnibot, a malicious, near-deadly encounter with a department store Santa and convincing Ricky Falcone that his life's been a tragedy ever since his toy was stolen…whether Ricky wants to believe it or not.

Because Ricky comes to understand one of the things we've grown to love and appreciate about Charlie, Mac, Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Dee (Kaitlin Olson) and Frank (Danny DeVito) as he's yelling at them out of his bedroom window in the middle of the night: for these lovably narcissistic sociopaths, it's always about The Gang first.

Even if it means caroling to people against their will in the middle of the night…

Pablo Schreiber's Ricky Falcone will always hold a special place in the pantheon of important characters from It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. If that's not a good enough reason, then at least watch it out of respect for Schreiber's sweet 'do, which automatically qualifies him to lead every single pop-alternative-rock band from the early-to-mid 1990's and early 2000's.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas is available on Hulu and other streaming services.

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