Aside from Rickety Cricket, it’s hard to think of a supporting character more important to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia than The Waitress. She began as the apple of Charlie Kelly’s stalking eye, then went on to get engaged to a man who was trying to screw her over, have issues with her alchoholism, banish Charlie from her life only to realize she needs him, try to have Charlie’s baby and then leave him for a sex doll molded after Dennis. She has no friends, no email, and gets stuck in a bog at one point. It would all be tragic were it not for the incredible comedic performance of Mary Elizabeth Ellis.
Ellis, who is married to Charlie Day (who plays Charlie Kelly), has been a recurring character on the show since day one and delivers fantastic comedic performances every time. It’s a character that could easily be overshadowed by the leads in a lesser show, but she not only holds her own, she often steals the scenes she’s in with her incredible timing and ability to match the energy of Paddy’s Pub. There’s a moment she smiles when Dennis decides to dance with her in a season three episode that is so goddamn funny it will just randomly pop into my head sometimes. But she isn’t relegated strictly to Always Sunny guest appearances.
She has been working in film and television since the early 2000s, even sharing a pre-Always Sunny appearance with Charlie on Reno 911, where they played inbred twins (because, of course). Now, she co-stars with Ted Danson in the Michael Schur-created Netflix show A Man on the Inside. The show has received critical acclaim, and since it was announced that Danson’s wife, Mary Steenburgen, will be appearing in the show’s second season, people have been wondering if Charlie Day will make an appearance as well. He’s just waiting for the call.
“I would love to be on her show, but I know they just wrapped their second season. I’ll have to keep my fingers crossed for a third,” Day recently explained to People. The outlet pitched the idea of Day appearing as a senior citizen (since the show’s first season took place in a nursing home), and he seemed playfully enthusiastic about the idea, saying,. “I’ll do it. I could do sort of a limp — whatever they want. I’ll show up.”
Day didn’t stop there. He took a moment to praise Ellis (as he should) and the attention the show is bringing to her impressive talents. “I mean, it’s just the greatest thing,” he explained. “I, of course, adore my wife, and she’s a fantastic actor. Everyone knows her from Sunny and loves her on Sunny, but she’s been in all these great things, like Licorice Pizza, and she’s incredible in that.” He appears in loving awe of his wife and her opportunities, finishing by saying, “Mike Schur is such a great showrunner. And obviously, to get to work with Ted and this year Mary Steenburgen, I’m really excited that she got that opportunity and that she’s getting introduced to a whole new audience.”
It doesn’t surprise me that Day is a wife guy, but it is nice to hear. He’s right that Ellis is incredible in everything she does, and that she has a life outside of Always Sunny. Now, more people will become familiar with her work, and, eventually, it may lead them to her spending a magical night on a Jersey Shore beach with Charlie, only to reveal that she was on Ecstasy the whole time and doesn’t remember a thing.
