It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia ended Season 17 with one of its funniest yet most emotional episodes, “The Golden Bachelor Live,” which featured a posthumous appearance by the late Lynne Marie Stewart, best known as Charlie’s (Charlie Day) mom, Bonnie.
The episode also included a heartfelt tribute showing her best moments on the show. Before this farewell, the storyline focused on Frank (Danny DeVito) as the Golden Bachelor on ABC’s reality show. Frank made quite an impression on host Jesse Palmer, rejecting most of the potential matches.
When producers realized they couldn’t move forward without giving in to Frank’s demands, they brought in Cock Chewa (a Hawk Tuah-inspired character played by Audrey Corsa). Frank was eager to pick Cock Chewa as the winner but was required to meet another contestant, Sam (Carol Kane, DeVito’s Taxi co-star), a poultry heiress from Atlantic City, New Jersey. Sam was clearly a better romantic fit for Frank, but he still entertained the younger influencer, Cock Chewa.
During the home visit, Frank met a fake family before returning to Paddy’s Pub, where the rest of the gang—Mac (Rob McElhenney), Dennis (Glenn Howerton), and Dee (Kaitlin Olson)—planned a distraction to stop him from choosing anyone by inviting Bonnie to dinner.
Fans know Frank and Bonnie share a complicated past, which made his decision harder. When Sam confessed her feelings but saw Frank’s uncertainty, she decided to leave. A note from Frank reading, “Dunzo. – Frank,” confirmed her decision to walk away.
In the final choice between Bonnie and Cock Chewa, Frank realized he couldn’t choose either over Sam. He ran to the bus station in the rain to reunite with her. As Willie Nelson’s “Always on My Mind” played during their kiss, a title card appeared with the words, “For our sweet Lynne…”
This was followed by a touching montage of Stewart’s funniest Bonnie moments, ending with another title card that read.
… We’ll love you forever. In Loving Memory of Lynne Marie Stewart.
Another card with Stewart’s picture followed, which read
Stewart passed away in February 2025, and this episode serves as her last on-screen appearance. She had portrayed the character since Season 1, which premiered 20 years ago. She appeared in 19 episodes as Charlie’s mom. Beyond It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Stewart was also well known for roles in Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Laverne & Shirley, and Night Stand, among other projects.
Source: TVinsider