It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005–)

What is It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia About?

The three owners of a Philadelphia-based Irish pub belong to a group of five friends “the gang” who have arrogant and egotistical personalities, yet their intellect can be called into question, time and time again.

As Charlie, Dennis, Mac, Dee, and Frank navigate their lives and attempt to keep the bar running despite its failings, the gang takes part in schemes related to fame or money, which always end up going wrong and creating a hearty laugh for us as viewers.

Our Honest It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Review

The dark humour and unapologetically bold presentation of unspeakable topics are what make It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia unique in every way. It’s not just a comedy. And it isn’t just presenting crude humour for the sake of it. The TV show is actually a smart reflection of life’s uncomfortable moments, which are emphasised for comic effect.

When we watched It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (IASIP), we instantly thought of the 90s sitcom, Seinfeld. The humour of IASIP is reflected in episodes such as the one where Seinfeld’s home is burglarised and, when he finds himself in competition with George to get a new apartment, they settle it with an odds and evens game. And in one of the episodes in season 13, IASIP directly copies a Seinfeld scene from “The Contest” episode. Charlie takes on the role of quirky Kramer and Frank becomes George, while Mac and Dennis are both Jerry and Dee is Elaine.

What Do the Critics Think of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia?

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia isn’t just funny. It’s smart too. Here’s what the critics have said about this TV show:

• “They’re schemers and cheats, irresponsible citizens with zero regard for their fellow man. And this, of course, is why the show is so funny.” – Casey Broadwater.

• “You can imagine they sit in the writers’ room and think, “OK, what supposedly taboo subject can be made jokes about?” But what I love about the show is that it never seems to be trying to be outrageous. It has a casual effortlessness about it, and it’s always funny. It’s never shocking just for the sake of being shocking.” – Eric D. Snider.

• “The show is seemingly low budget, but a great deal of heart is poured into every scene.  The obvious chemistry between cast members only makes the comedy all that much better and classic.” – Michael P. Dougherty.

What Awards and Nominations did It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Receive?

The fact is that It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is highly critically acclaimed. This is notable when you watch it through streaming services, even though it might appear slightly crude and present dark humour in an unapologetic way. It ranked at the top of the BBC’s list of Best US Sitcoms in 2019 and seventh on Entertainment Weekly’s 26 Best Cult TV Shows Ever in 2024.

When it comes to its awards and nominations, though, it’s definitely up there and deserves the ones it has won. It earned the 2011 Satellite Award’s Best Television Series or Musical, and the 2016 People’s Choice Award’s Favorite Cable TV Comedy. It was also nominated by the Primetime Emmy in 2013 for the Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series or a Variety Program.

Cast & Crew of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Fun Facts About It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

• Initially, Dee Reynolds was going to be a level-headed character who controlled the chaos, but Kaitlin Olson suggested she become part of the sketchy schemes the gang gets involved in. 

• Danny DeVito’s children really enjoyed watching the first season. Because of this, the comedy genius and legendary actor decided to sign on for an initial 10 episodes, joined in the second season, and then transitioned to become a regular cast member.

• After being renewed for season 18, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia became the cable television comedy that has run the longest. That means there are 190+ episodes!
  
• The pilot for the TV show was so low budget that it cost only 85 USD to shoot. The crew spent the budget mostly on tapes for the camera.
  
• According to Charlie Day, the actor who plays Charlie in the series, the opening credits sequence is the cheapest credits ever, having been shot on a digital camera as they drove around Philadelphia.
  

Themes of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Viewers can’t help but notice that selfishness is one of the most notable themes in IASIP. That, combined with the characters’ absolute lack of empathy, is where the comedy comes from. Such themes are instantly seen in season one, when Frank Reynolds (Dennis and Dee’s father) tells them, “Try this on for size. Your mother’s dead. Well, she’s not dead. We’re getting a divorce.”

But there is another important motif in the series, which is satire. IASIP holds a mirror up to society and satirises political correctness, showing us the challenges we navigate in the real world.

How Does It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Compare to Rob Mac’s Other Work?

Rob Mac isn’t the sole director of IASIP, but he plays a major role in the show’s creation. His work is similar to his 2020 TV series Mythic Quest, where fast-paced dialogue, occasional extemporising, and comedic riffs between characters make the series hilarious to watch.

Mac also appeared in Latter Days, a comedic movie in which a flirtatious, gay man falls in love with a Mormon missionary. The moral crises in this movie and banter between the characters remind us of IASIP – just as the TV show satirises real life issues, so too does Latter Days.

Iconic Scenes from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Behind-the-Scenes Trivia

The It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia cast, DeVito, Kaitlin Olson, and Rob Mac tell us more about the behind-the-scenes moments and the show’s popularity:

• Working with the executive producer, Nick, Rob Mac had a lot of freedom with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. They were able to create the show they wanted to and included the bar because the characters would have their days free to get into sticky situations.

• Throughout her recent career, Olson’s husband, Rob Mac, helped her a lot. Working with him, she finds it fascinating to watch him calmly make decisions even after taking a lot of input from those on the set. 

• DeVito was instantly amused by the show. He had just one condition before signing up, and that was that the character he plays needed to be organic. He wanted to know that his involvement wouldn’t be “something that was not just Danny DeVito coming into a show”. He considered that Frank “was a good character” and became part of the show.
  

What’s the Soundtrack Like for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia?

Tracks in the score for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia are lighthearted and calm in their tone. The orchestra that plays the track Temptation Sensation by Heinz Kiessling produces a melody that is the antithesis of the schemes and controversial actions of the gang.

The same is true for the Blue Blood track by Heinz Kiessling, which reminds us that the dark humour throughout the series is also satirical.

Best Quotes from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

• “Does that sound like a man who needs to be in a hospital?”. – Dennis denying that he needs medical help after there is a spike of the flu virus in the city.

• “News flash, a**hole! I’ve been hearing it the entire time!” – Dennis expressing his frustration at living with Mac and admitting he hears a noise in the apartment that he initially claimed didn’t exist.

• “Well, first of all, through God all things are possible, so jot them down. And yeah. Yeah, I had a difficult time there.” – Mac explaining to his therapist that through god he was able to gain and then lose weight rapidly.

• “Can I offer you a nice egg in these trying times?” – Frank attempting to fix a disastrous evening by offering Charlie’s date an egg as a “nightcap”.
  
• “Look at that door, dude. See that door right there? The one marked ‘pirate’? You think a pirate lives in there?” – Charlie asking Dennis whether a pirate lives behind a locked door having confused the word “private” with “pirate” due to his illiteracy.
  
• “D” as in “Deliver me from this!” “E” as in “Engage with human.” “N” as in “nightmare”! “N” as in “nightmare”! “I” as in “Is this real?!” “S” as in “Somebody help me!” – Dennis spelling his name to customer service and expressing his rage during his mental health day.
  
• “Why don’t I strap on my job helmet and squeeze down into a job cannon, fire off into Job Land, where jobs grow on jobbies?” – Charlie sarcastically explaining that he lacks marketable skills and therefore cannot quickly find a job.
  
• “I’m not gonna be buried in a grave. When I’m dead, just throw me in the trash.” – Frank expressing his own views on being buried.
  
• “Oh, look at me! The millionaire who goes to see doctors!” – Charlie expressing the fact that he lacks money to get medical care from the American healthcare system.
  
• “That sounds wrong, but I don’t know enough about stars to disprove it.” – Mac doubting Charlie’s claim that burning waste is good for the environment.
  
  

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