By a time a show reaches its fifth season, it’s in an awkward place.  It’s established what made it popular but if it keeps using that established trait, then the show gets stale, it dies, and too many shows avoid this natural selection by either indifferent audiences who don’t want any evolution in their show or by networks who are too scared to replace it with a new show that may not even build up an audience in the first place.

So where does “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” go?  We know it’s meaner than hell, features the most unlikable cast possible, and pushes its characters to unbelievable stupidity.  Well, as it turns out, they can perfect all this and then up their game by having the actors announce that they’ve just mastered comedic performance.  Hit the jump to find out why the newest season of TV’s meanest comedy may be its best yet.

The best thing about the holiday’s is the unexpected surprises. And this one is no different, as I’ve just gotten word the hit FX show “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” has produced a Christmas special and it’s going to be released November 17^th on DVD/Blu-ray! Since this is the first I’ve heard about this holiday themed episode, I’m sure it’s news to a lot of you as well. If you’re curious what it’s about, the synopsis and DVD cover art is after the jump:

While the premise of “Going the Distance”, a romantic comedy about a long-distance relationship starring Justin Long and Drew Barrymore, doesn’t seem appealing to me in any way, I can no longer completely dismiss it as it has now cast “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” star and co-creator Charlie Day and Christina Applegate aboard.  While I think Applegate is terrific (she really held her own against her four male co-stars in “Anchorman”), I’m really psyched about Day co-starring in the film.  He’ll play Long’s best friend while Applegate will play Barrymore’s sister.  No word yet if Day’s character will be addicted to huffing spray paint and doing impressions of Serpico.