# So Anyway I Started Blasting > So Anyway I Started Blasting is a 2013 reaction meme from *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* showing Frank Reynolds pulling pistols, used for depicting sudden reckless responses. "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. ## Origin 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, 2013[2]. 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 direction[1]. 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 group[2]. The post received more than 6,500 reactions, 1,000 comments, and 1,000 shares within two months[2]. - **Platform:** Television (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) - **Creator:** Josh Davis (earliest known meme post), Rob McElhenney & Glenn Howerton (show creators), Danny DeVito (actor) - **Date:** 2019-09-01 ## 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 force[2]. 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 arguments[3]. ## 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 weeks[2]. That same day, Redditor kr_SB shared the image on r/HistoryMemes, earning over 7,400 upvotes in the same period[2]. A *Naruto*-themed edit by Redditor ItchiUcha also landed over 2,100 upvotes on the same date[2]. The format spread quickly through Reddit in the following weeks, with notable posts appearing across r/IASIP, r/dankmemes, and other communities[2]. 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 scene[3]. ## How to Use 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 ## 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 reputation[1]. 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 work[1]. 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 device[1]. 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 focus[1]. 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 online[1]. ## 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 absurd[1]. - The meme took over six years to go viral after the episode first aired in 2013, not catching on until September 2019[2]. - The earliest known meme post came from a Facebook shitposting group, not Reddit, despite Reddit being where it gained its widest spread[2]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is "So Anyway, I Started Blasting"? It's a reaction image meme featuring Frank Reynolds from *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia*, played by Danny DeVito, casually describing how he fired two pistols at robbers. The captioned still image is used to represent reckless or disproportionate responses to problems[2]. ### Where did "So Anyway, I Started Blasting" come from? The quote comes from the *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* season 9 episode "Gun Fever Too: Still Hot," which aired on September 11, 2013[2]. It became a meme in September 2019 when Josh Davis posted the first known version in a Facebook shitposting group[2]. ### What does "So Anyway, I Started Blasting" mean? The meme is used as a reaction to situations where someone responds with excessive, misdirected, or chaotic force. It can also be used as a humorous non sequitur in conversations[3]. ### How do you use "So Anyway, I Started Blasting"? Pair a scenario describing a problem or confrontation with the captioned image of Frank Reynolds. The joke relies on the contrast between the situation and Frank's wildly overblown response[2]. ### Is "So Anyway, I Started Blasting" still popular? The meme got a boost in 2023 when *It's Always Sunny* season 16 aired an episode that doubled down on Frank's gun antics[1]. It's still recognized and used, though its peak viral period was late 2019. ### Who plays Frank Reynolds? Danny DeVito portrays Frank Reynolds, who is widely considered the most memed character on *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia*[1]. ### Why did the meme take so long to go viral? The episode aired in 2013, but the meme format didn't emerge until September 29, 2019, over six years later. This kind of delayed virality is common with sitcom screenshots that only get "discovered" as meme material long after broadcast[2]. ### What episode is the meme from? It comes from "Gun Fever Too: Still Hot," season 9, episode 13 of *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia*[2]. ### Did the show reference the meme? Not directly, but season 16's "Frank Shoots Every Member of the Gang" (2023) expanded on Frank's gun-wielding tendencies in a way that acknowledged the character's meme status[1]. ## References 1. [It’s Always Sunny Season 16 Just Doubled Down On An Iconic Frank Meme]() 2. [So Anyway I Started Blasting - Know Your Meme]() 3. [Wicked (2024 film)]() 4. [So Anyway I Started Blasting - Urban Dictionary]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/started-blasting Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library