What Is Going on With Charlie’s Hair Situation in the New ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ Trailer?

For reasons we will only understand later this summer, Charlie Kelly now looks like Frank when he wanted to be pure.  

In three weeks, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia will return for its 17th season, further extending its record as the longest-running live-action sitcom in American television history. Over the last two decades, the lives of Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olson and eventually Danny DeVito have changed drastically, along with the appearances of most of the core cast — except for Day. While his co-stars grew more shiny, sleek and manicured as their Hollywood stylists and aestheticians tried to hide the years from their face, Day has pretty much always looked the same, had the same beard and even worn the same shoes.  

As such, Day’s reputation as the most immutable member of the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia cast made today’s release of the official Season 17 something of a jump-scare for fans and stans who had grown attached to his signature hairstyle. Is it possible that, due to his illiteracy, Charlie Kelly misread a sign for a butcher as “barber”?  

In the very opening shot of the trailer, we can see Charlie storm into what I assume is Mac and Dennis’ apartment crowded with complete strangers and declare, “Hello everybody!” in a weird stagey voice while beardless, eyebrowless and most likely sporting a bad wig, possibly the same one that once adorned Frank’s hairless head.   

Then, later in the teaser, we can see a completely cue-balled Charlie sitting next to Mac and Dee in some undisclosed location, with Dee dressed up like she’s a teacher’s assistant at a boarding school and Mac sporting a black wife-beater and some gnarly tan lines.   

Thankfully, the hairless look isn’t the only one Charlie rocked in the trailer, as numerous other scenes show him with the classic unkempt hair and short dark beard that we’ve always associated with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s most beloved abortion survivor. Without any more information, it’s anyone’s guess as to why Charlie went hairless — maybe it’s the side-effects from 40 years of glue-huffing, or a tactical decision to make sliding around in the air ducts easier.  

Whatever the reason behind Charlie’s new look, Olson should thank her lucky stars that her husband McElhenney didn’t have the idea to go bald first — after Fat Mac and Ripped Mac, Bald Mac would be child’s play for him.