The gang’s back! Watch all of ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ online
One of television’s funniest comedic ensembles is still going strong. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is currently in the midst of its fifteenth season. This FX show made history when the season was announced in May 2020, making it the longest-running live-action comedy series in American TV history.
Yet beating out The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet for the record isn’t enough for the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia gang. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the new season is tackling the issues that we’re all facing in this changing world. This comedy series has never been known to shy away from life’s tough questions, which is why it’s a perfect watch for this moment.
Created by Rob McElhenney & Glenn Howerton, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has ostensibly changed the format of sitcoms. The show brought a dark irreverence to TV comedy at a time when that wasn’t the norm. In doing so, Sunny influenced much of the comedy we enjoy today. Let’s examine how it did so & how you can watch this groundbreaking series online.
The origins of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
The story of how It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia came to be is truly remarkable. Three of the show’s stars, Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, and Rob McElhenney, all met while they were finding their footing as actors in Hollywood. The concept of Sunny emerged from a short film idea that Howerton & McElhenney wrote together.
With regards to the short film idea, McElhenney said, “a friend came over to another friend’s house to get sugar, and the friend tells him he has cancer, and all the guy can think about is getting his sugar and getting out of there.” This idea was then shot as a pilot using digital cameras in the actors’ homes. It was It’s Always Sunny on TV.
The myth is that the gang shot the pilot on a budget of only $200. After filming the pilot, McElhenney, Howerton, and Day showed the episode to various studios. FX Network was the first one to bite & ordered the first season. Despite getting picked up, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia was made for less than a third of the television standard budget for each episode.
Kaitlin Olson joined the show to play the character of Sweets Dee & the show began production. Early episodes were still shot on handheld digital cameras. Sunny was pitched as a show about struggling actors, but FX decided to change that. After the first season, FX was concerned by low ratings & suggested adding Danny DeVito so that more people would watch the show.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s legacy
When describing the show, Jonathan Storm of the Philadelphia Inquirer said, “It’s like Seinfeld on crack.” FX themselves eventually adapted this into It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s tagline. Sunny has been named as one of Entertainment Weekly’s “26 Best Cult TV Shows Ever”. The series’ nihilistic humor has undoubtedly inspired much of the comedy out today.
In 2019, the BBC claimed that It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is the best U.S. sitcom. They applauded the fact that the show has a broad range of emotions to explore. Yet where can you actually watch Sunny?
How to watch It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia online
You can watch It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia if you have a premium subscription to Hulu. The show is also available to watch with premium subscriptions to YouTube TV & Sling TV. You can also watch Sunny with a subscription to fuboTV. There’s also plenty of clips & compilations available online that you can watch for free.
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It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is in its historic fifteenth season on comedy gold. To catch up on the series, there are plenty of streaming services where you can watch this hugely influential show. What’s your favorite moment from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia? Let us know in the comment section!
