The trailer for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 16 has revealed a cameo from Bryan Cranston which commemorates his two most famous roles. Bryan Cranston reinvented his image with his performance in Breaking Bad and has since become one of television's most sought-after actors. His appearance in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 16 is therefore impressive in and of itself, but the extra references to Cranston's history make the scene even better.
return of It's Always Sunny's Moyle brothers, but one cameo depicted briefly is perhaps the most notable. During one scene in the trailer, Charlie Kelly (played by Charlie Day) is working as a limo driver and is driving Breaking Bad co-stars Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, much to their displeasure. But the interaction with Charlie also brings another of Cranston's iconic roles into the scene.
It's Always Sunny Season 16 References Both Hal and Walter White
From the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 16 trailer, it is unclear whether Cranston and Paul are playing versions of themselves of their Breaking Bad characters, Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. Regardless, the pair are reunited on screen, celebrating their impressive collaboration on Breaking Bad. This elaborates further, however, when Charlie calls one of the duo "Mr. Malcolm."
Cranston's other most well-known performance is as the lovable but hapless Hal from the beloved sitcom Malcolm in the Middle. It is unclear from the It's Always Sunny trailer whether Charlie is calling Cranston or Paul "Mr. Malcolm," but there is no connection in Breaking Bad to a "Malcolm" so this must be a reference to Hal, a role that arguably gave Cranston his initial wide acclaim. Aside from being a tidy reference to two of Cranston's most famous roles, there are a couple of explanations for Charlie misnaming the stars.
Why Would Charlie Call Cranston Mr. Malcolm?
The simplest explanation for Charlie calling Cranston "Mr. Malcolm" is that Cranston is playing a completely new character named Malcolm in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. While this is a competent reference to Malcolm in the Middle, it is heavily implied in the trailer that Cranston and Paul are playing themselves. One explanation is that Charlie is a fan of Malcolm in the Middle and only knows Cranston from this role. This would be a meta-reference typical of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, as Hal's (and Malcolm's) surname is never officially revealed, so Charlie, as a respectful lime driver, would only refer to Cranston as Mr. Malcolm.
The only other explanation is that Charlie is talking to Paul, and is actually calling him "Mr. Malcolm." This suggests that Charlie thinks Paul is grown-up Malcolm out for a ride with his father, or the man that played him. Only time will tell how these references and scenes will play out in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 16, but it is evident that the scene will celebrate Cranston's (and Paul's) greatest characters. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia will premiere on FX on June 7.