So Anyway I Started Blasting — Definitive template of Frank Reynolds holding two pistols with iconic 'So anyway, I started blasting' caption.

So Anyway I Started Blasting

2013reactionclassic

Published March 10, 2026 · Updated March 12, 2026

Also known as: Anyway I Started Blasting

"So Anyway, I Started Blasting" is a reaction image meme from the TV series *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia*, based on a scene where Frank Reynolds pulls out two pistols on live television while recounting how he fought off robbers. The quote comes from a 2013 episode but didn't take off as a meme until late September 2019, when it spread rapidly across Reddit and Facebook as a reaction image for situations involving reckless or disproportionate responses.

always sunny memes reaction memes catchphrase memes image macro memes delayed virality memes

Overview

The meme uses a captioned still image of Frank Reynolds, played by Danny DeVito, sitting in what appears to be a TV news studio. In the scene, Frank is enthusiastically defending gun ownership by describing how he fought off intruders by blindly firing two pistols. The frame captures DeVito mid-delivery with a casual, almost proud expression, which makes it perfect for situations where someone responds to a problem with wildly excessive or misdirected force2.

The format typically pairs the image with a setup describing a scenario, followed by Frank's quote as the punchline. It works both as a straightforward reaction image and as a template where the "blasting" can be metaphorical, covering everything from sending too many texts to overreacting in arguments3.

Origin & Background

Platform
Television (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)
Key People
Josh Davis, Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, Danny DeVito
Date
2019-09-01

The source scene comes from "Gun Fever Too: Still Hot," the thirteenth episode of *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* season 9, which premiered on September 11, 20132. The episode tackles gun control as a theme, opening with Frank Reynolds appearing on a local TV news station. Frank advocates for gun ownership by telling a story about confronting two robbers, during which he pulls out pistols on live television and delivers the line "Anyway, I started blasting," explaining that he fired indiscriminately in the robbers' general direction1.

Despite the episode airing in 2013, the scene didn't become a meme for over six years. On September 29, 2019, Facebook user Josh Davis posted what is considered the earliest known meme version in the "It's Always Sunny Shitposting" Facebook group2. The post received more than 6,500 reactions, 1,000 comments, and 1,000 shares within two months2.

How It Spread

The day after Davis's Facebook post, on September 30, 2019, Redditor DannyHallam posted a version to the r/IASIP subreddit, where it picked up over 3,300 upvotes in two weeks2. That same day, Redditor kr_SB shared the image on r/HistoryMemes, earning over 7,400 upvotes in the same period2. A *Naruto*-themed edit by Redditor ItchiUcha also landed over 2,100 upvotes on the same date2.

The format spread quickly through Reddit in the following weeks, with notable posts appearing across r/IASIP, r/dankmemes, and other communities2. The meme's appeal came from its flexibility. Any situation involving a disproportionate, reckless, or chaotic response could be paired with Frank's casual delivery. History memes, gaming memes, political humor, and everyday life situations all found uses for the template.

The quote also entered casual internet vocabulary. Urban Dictionary entries describe it as something people drop into dead conversations for comic effect, a non sequitur that works purely because of how absurd Frank's delivery is in the original scene3.

Platforms

RedditTwitterDiscordMeme communities

Timeline

2019-09-01

The "So Anyway, I Started Blasting" meme from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia spread rapidly across Reddit and Facebook as a reaction image for situations involving reckless or disproportionate responses.

2019-09-29

Facebook user Josh Davis posted what is considered the earliest known meme version of "So Anyway, I Started Blasting" in the "It's Always Sunny Shitposting" Facebook group.

2019-09-30

Redditor DannyHallam posted a "So Anyway, I Started Blasting" version to the r/IASIP subreddit, where it picked up over 3,300 upvotes in two weeks.

View on Google Trends

How to Use This Meme

The standard format pairs a setup with the reaction image:

1

Describe a situation where someone faces a problem, challenge, or confrontation

2

Add the captioned image of Frank Reynolds with "So anyway, I started blasting" as the response

3

The humor comes from the gap between the situation and Frank's wildly disproportionate reaction

Create Your Own

Cultural Impact

*It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* itself acknowledged the meme's legacy in season 16. The second episode of that season, "Frank Shoots Every Member of the Gang," aired in 2023 and directly expanded on Frank's gun-toting reputation1. The episode's entire plot revolves around Dennis and Dee trying to take Frank's gun away after he shoots both of them, doubling down on the exact character trait that made the original meme work1.

Screen Rant noted that while the show had never directly commented on the meme before, the season 16 episode "makes the meme even better" by fully committing to Frank's reckless firearms use as a central plot device1. Frank's gun had been a recurring prop since season 2, popping up in nearly every season, but "Frank Shoots Every Member of the Gang" was the first episode since "Gun Fever Too: Still Hot" to make it the main focus1.

The meme also fits into Danny DeVito's broader status as one of the most memed actors on the internet. Frank Reynolds is widely considered the most memed character on the show, and the "blasting" quote is among his most recognized lines online1.

Fun Facts

The episode "Gun Fever Too: Still Hot" is actually the second gun-themed episode of the series, a sequel to an earlier episode also called "Gun Fever"1.

Frank Reynolds is described as having "medically certified donkey brains" within the show's canon, which makes his gun ownership even more absurd1.

The meme took over six years to go viral after the episode first aired in 2013, not catching on until September 20192.

The earliest known meme post came from a Facebook shitposting group, not Reddit, despite Reddit being where it gained its widest spread2.

Derivatives & Variations

Variations with similar chaotic action phrases

A variation of So Anyway I Started Blasting

(2019)

Context-specific versions of the meme

A variation of So Anyway I Started Blasting

(2019)

Combinations with other reaction formats

A variation of So Anyway I Started Blasting

(2019)

Frequently Asked Questions