The eccentric comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has spawned many viral memes and quotes over its 15 season run. But one of the most popular and enduring memes comes from the season 7 episode “The Gang Goes to the Jersey Shore”, in which the characters proclaim “we are crab people now!” This bizarre quote struck a chord with fans and sparked an ongoing meme that shows no signs of fading. Let’s take a look at the origins of “we are crab people now” and why it remains a fan favorite.
The Scene That Started It All
In the 2011 episode, Dee, Dennis, Charlie, and Frank head to the Jersey Shore hoping for a wild vacation full of partying and revelry. But a run-in with burglars leaves them stranded without cash or transportation.
After several failed attempts to make money and get home, the gang seeks refuge in a dingy Atlantic City hotel. There they find a family dressed as crabs, who invite them to join in wearing crab costumes and adopting crab personalities.
In their desperation, the gang embraces becoming “crab people.” They don crab suits and begin imitating crab movements. The eccentric scene culminates with them proudly announcing “we are crab people now!” This surreal moment perfectly encapsulated the show’s brand of absurd humor.
How the Quote Went Viral
After the episode aired, the “we are crab people now” scene quickly went viral. Fans latched onto the ridiculous sight of the characters dressed as crabs as well as the bizarre declaration.
Online people began making memes using images of crabs or crab costumes paired with the quote. Videos and GIFs of the scene were shared widely. The meme spread across social platforms like Reddit Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
People especially enjoyed photoshopping the main characters’ heads onto crab bodies. The meme proved versatile with the quote fitting into various scenarios depicting radical transformation.
Why “Crab People” Stuck Around
Most memes enjoy a burst of popularity before eventually fading away But the “we are crab people now” meme has proven surprisingly sticking The scene remains engraved in fans’ memories and the quote still gets regular use,
Several factors contribute to its ongoing relevance:
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Absurdity – The sheer ridiculousness of both the visuals and dialog makes it inherently memorable. The total commitment to becoming crabs highlights the show’s no-holds-barred brand of comedy.
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Relatability – While exaggerated, the gang’s hitting rock bottom and finding identity in a new subculture rings true. The desperation underlying the humor makes their transformation relatable.
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Adaptability – The general sentiment of radical change makes this meme highly adaptable to new situations. It’s easy to substitue other identities in place of “crab people”.
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Re-watchability – The scene itself remains entertaining and fans revisit it often. Each viewing inspires a new wave of memes and jokes.
The perfect storm of absurdity, relatability, adaptability, and re-watch value has enabled “crab people” to stand the test of time.
The Meme’s Lasting Appeal and Influence
More than a decade later, calling back “we are crab people now” remains a quick way for fans to signal their love for the show. It also represents the creative, envelope-pushing comedy that has earned It’s Always Sunny such a loyal following.
The meme’s popularity has seeped into wider pop culture. Even those unfamiliar with the show recognize “crab people” thanks to its viral status. It has inspired everything from Halloween costumes to club nights themed around the meme.
The quote and images have shown up across the internet and beyond. Everything from videos games to music albums have referenced or parodied becoming “crab people.” It remains one of the most recognizable and far-reaching memes born out of It’s Always Sunny.
Crab People Lives On
By fully committing to such an outlandish premise, the It’s Always Sunny team struck comedy gold with the “we are crab people now” scene. The meme it spawned pays tribute to the show’s willingness to take humor to the extreme.
No matter how many new memes emerge, fans keep this early viral hit alive through allusions and references. Over a decade since its premiere, saying “we are crab people now” remains the ultimate way to display Sunny devotion. For true fans, no matter what else changes, deep down, we’ll always be crab people.
Notable Versions of the Meme
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Video edits adding crab sound effects and captions like “Scuttle away awkwardly”
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Image memes replacing “crab people” with other identities like “lizard people”
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Photos of groups in crab costumes referencing the quote
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TV/movie characters edited to look like crabs while saying the line
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Music mixes that sample the audio from the scene
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Comics/artwork depicting the gang as crab people
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common FAQs about the enduring “we are crab people now” meme:
What episode of It’s Always Sunny is the crab people scene from?
The scene comes from season 7, episode 3 “The Gang Goes to the Jersey Shore” which aired in September 2011.
Who originally said “we are crab people now?”
The line is first said by Charlie Day in character as Charlie Kelly after the gang puts on crab costumes.
Where did the crab costumes come from in that episode?
Dee found them being used as decor by a family staying in a rundown Atlantic City hotel room.
How did the meme go viral after the episode aired?
It spread through platforms like Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, and YouTube via image memes, videos, and GIFs of the scene.
Why does the meme remain so popular years later?
The absurdity, relatability, adaptability, and re-watch value give the meme great staying power.
What are some variations of the “we are crab people now” meme?
The quote is adapted to other identities, used in photo edits and costumes, and referenced across various media.
Crab People – A Sunny Phenomenon
The It’s Always Sunny “we are crab people now” meme remains one of the most iconic and enduring viral sensations born out of the series. Over a decade later, the scene still delights fans and inspires new comedic riffs that pay tribute to the classic moment. For Sunny devotees, becoming crab people captures the show’s chaotic spirit – and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Recap[]
11:00 A.M. on a Tuesday
The recession has hit Paddys Pub with the arrival of an RV. Frank decides to hang himself because he lost everything in a ponzi scheme. Having lost his money, he meets Mac. Mac wants their bar to be as efficient as the government, so they fire Frank from the management team and start to roll everything together.
Mac and Dennis start firings at Paddys with Dee after asking her to mix a mojito for them. She proceeds to give them a beer and quits before they can fire her.
Charlie takes Mac to Charlie is fired and put out on the street all at once because Frank rents out the apartment to Dee and himself to start a business in their trailer.
Dennis and Mac drink Amarone at Dave and Busters and then come up with a plan to help Paddy’s Pub during this tough economic time. Dennis in his drunken state, comes up with Paddys dollars. The first person Frank and Dee try to sell knives and a vacuum to cuts his hand within minutes. Frank is so depressed that he tries to hang himself again in the bathroom of their first customer.
Dennis and Mac’s plans don’t work out because Dennis thought Mac knew how the system worked, but Dennis instead says he blacked out at Dave and Busters that night. Frank takes Dee to meet a new business associate who turns out to be Charlie. Charlie has caught crabs that they want to sell, but the plan can’t work because of heavy sewage runoff in the river, even though Charlie says “crabs are sewage proof.”
The episode ends with Frank getting a bailout from the government and becoming rich again, which saves the group.
Synopsis[]
In these hard economic times, Mac and Dennis try to keep the bar open. Frank and Dee start a family business. People who just lost their jobs gather outside the bar.