If there’s one thing the internet loves in a meme, it’s a chaotic character brandishing firearms and firing at everything in sight… at least when it's on TV. Enter Frank Reynolds, played by the inimitable Danny DeVito, from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
This short, gun-toting oddball not only steals the spotlight in the gang's hijinks but also in the meme world, thanks to one line:
“So anyway, I started blasting.”
For fans of the show, it’s Frank at his finest—unpredictable, hilarious, and absurd. But for the wider internet community, it’s become a go-to reaction for everything from political debates to minor inconveniences.
From Frank’s “pieces” to Reddit gold: How a chaotic moment became a legendary meme.
The origin story: Frank’s firepower
The line “So anyway, I started blasting” comes from a 2013 episode titled, Gun Fever Too: Still Hot, where Frank Reynolds appears on a local news show advocating gun ownership. With his usual charm, Frank tells a story about how he once fought off robbers, proudly whipping out two guns mid-broadcast to reenact his heroic, and slightly incompetent, self-defense.
“My guns! Anyway, I started blasting—Pow! Pow!” he exclaims, demonstrating just how little accuracy mattered to him as he missed every shot. The absurdity of the scene, combined with Frank’s matter-of-fact delivery, created comedic gold that resonated well beyond the episode’s end credits.
Meme explosion: The 2016 debut
Although the episode first aired in September 2013, the meme took its time to hit the spotlight. It wasn’t until July 17, 2016, that a Frank Reynolds fan account on YouTube uploaded the clip, sending it on its way to internet immortality.
By then, the short video had already amassed millions of views, solidifying itself as a go-to reference for chaotic energy. From there, it made its way onto Reddit, quickly finding a home in gun-related threads because, let’s face it, if anyone embodies the term “reckless gun enthusiast,” it’s Frank Reynolds.
The memification: From ducks to 2019 viral status
In September 2018, the meme took another turn when it collided with a classic Looney Tunes moment: the “duck season, rabbit season” debate between Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. With Frank now filling in as the “blaster” in that debate, the meme added a new layer of absurdity. However, it wasn’t until late 2019 that it reached its peak popularity.
A captioned still image of Frank with his guns spread like wildfire across Reddit, quickly becoming a top-tier reaction meme. By then, the meme had outgrown its It’s Always Sunny roots, now being used as a reaction for everything from frustrating political arguments to those times when you just can’t resist the urge to solve a problem with metaphorical (or actual) “blasting.”
Frank’s continued love affair with firearms
Frank Reynolds and guns go hand-in-hand, or rather, gun-in-hand, throughout It’s Always Sunny. His trigger-happy tendencies culminated again in the show's sixteenth season when Frank accidentally shoots both Dennis and Dee in the episode, Frank Shoots Every Member of the Gang.
True to form, Frank’s gun-related antics refuse to fade, cementing his status as one of TV’s most recklessly lovable characters.
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“So anyway, I started blasting” may have begun as a ridiculous moment in an already absurd show, but it has since evolved into a cultural touchstone. Whether you’re dealing with everyday frustrations or reacting to someone’s wild opinion, Frank’s chaotic energy is right there with you, ready to start blasting. After all, who wouldn’t want to channel a little Frank Reynolds when things go off the rails?
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