The drama in Tell Me Lies season 3 has been intense, with Lucy and Stephen back to their old toxic ways and secrets bubbling beneath the surface at Baird College. But hidden inside all that tension is a fun nod for fans of another long-running series. eagle-eyed viewers spotted a quick moment in episode 6 that connects the Hulu drama to the world of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
The Easter egg appears during a quiet scene featuring Pippa and Diana, who have been developing a secret relationship this season. The reference is brief but very specific, and it actually fits perfectly with the show’s timeline and themes.
The Scene Where It Appears
In episode 6 of Tell Me Lies season 3, titled “I Don’t Cry When I’m Sad Anymore,” Pippa (Sonia Mena) and Diana (Alicia Crowder) share an intimate moment while watching television on a laptop. For anyone paying close attention, the audio gives away exactly what they are watching. The show playing in the background is It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and not just any random episode .
The specific episode is “The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis,” which originally aired in September 2008. This detail matters because the college timeline in Tell Me Lies takes place during 2009, making the choice accurate for the period . The show has always been careful with its music and cultural references, and this Easter egg continues that attention to detail.
For those unfamiliar, “The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis” comes from season 4 of the long-running comedy. In the episode, Mac comes up with a terrible plan to take out bank loans, buy a large amount of gasoline, and sell it later at a higher price. Meanwhile, Dee and Frank follow their biological father to see how he spends money that once belonged to Dennis and Dee’s mother . It is classic It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia chaos.
Why the Connection Works
On the surface, a dark romantic drama and a absurdist comedy might seem like strange bedfellows. But there is actually a solid reason why this reference makes sense. Both shows center on characters who are stuck in cycles of bad behavior.
The gang at Paddy’s Pub in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia never really learns from their mistakes. They hatch terrible schemes, fail, and then move on to the next bad idea without any real growth. The characters in Tell Me Lies share a similar pattern, especially Lucy and Stephen . They keep returning to each other despite knowing how destructive their relationship is. Lucy hurts people around her while chasing Stephen, and Stephen operates like what actor Jackson White once called a “super villain” .
Showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer has expanded the world beyond just Lucy and Stephen this season, giving more screen time to characters like Pippa and Diana . Their relationship offers something different. They are actually trying to break free from the toxic cycles that trap the other characters. Showing them watching a show about people who never change adds a layer of irony to the moment.
The Easter egg also works as a subtle commentary. Tell Me Lies uses the comedy playing in the background to highlight how its own characters are similarly incapable of escaping their worst impulses . It is a smart touch that rewards attentive viewers without distracting from the main story.
Where to Watch Tell Me Lies Season 3
The third season of Tell Me Lies premiered on January 13, 2026, with two episodes dropping on Hulu . New episodes have been arriving every Tuesday since then. The series stars Grace Van Patten as Lucy Albright and Jackson White as Stephen DeMarco, alongside Spencer House, Sonia Mena, Catherine Missal, Alicia Crowder, Branden Cook, and new cast members including Iris Apatow and Costa D’Angelo .
For viewers in the United States, all episodes are available on Hulu. Subscriptions start at $11.99 per month or can be bundled with Disney+ for $12.99 per month . Viewers in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia can also access the show through various streaming platforms that carry Hulu content or through local distributors who license the series.
The season 3 finale is scheduled to premiere on Tuesday, February 17, at 12 a.m. ET on Hulu . However, there is bigger news attached to this date.
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Tell Me Lies Is Ending With Season 3
Just hours before the finale was set to drop, Meaghan Oppenheimer confirmed that episode 8 will serve as the series finale. The creator and showrunner posted on Instagram on Monday, February 16, letting fans know that the show would not return for a fourth season .
“This was always the ending my writing team and I had in mind, and we are insanely proud of it,” Oppenheimer wrote. She explained that the strong audience response made the team consider whether there was another way to continue the story. “Ultimately we felt it had reached its natural conclusion” .
Oppenheimer also shared her goal of protecting the quality of the show and giving viewers the best experience possible. “I am very grateful that we are able to tell a complete story with an intentional ending — a privilege very few shows get,” she added .
The finale is titled “Are You Happy Now, That I’m on My Knees?” The official description teases, “A scandal erupts at Baird College. When shocking truths come to light, consequences follow for everyone” . With secrets involving Stephen, Lucy, Diana, Bree, and the rest of the friend group, the episode has a lot to wrap up.
Based on the novel by Carola Lovering, Tell Me Lies has followed the toxic on-and-off relationship between Lucy and Stephen from their college days in the mid-2000s to a wedding eight years later. The show has built a dedicated fanbase thanks to its messy characters and unpredictable twists.
Oppenheimer signed off her message with gratitude to fans and a tease of more stories to come. “Thank you for loving our show. We are excited to bring you more stories in the near future” .
For now, viewers can catch up on all three seasons before the final episode arrives. And when watching season 3, keep an ear out during that quiet moment between Pippa and Diana. The sounds of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia playing in the background are easy to miss, but they add a clever layer to a show that knows its characters all too well.
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