Summary
I’m worried about the future ofIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, especially after one of the stars gave a disappointing update about one of the show’s most successful spin-off entities. Debuting on FX in 2005,It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiahas become one of TV’s best (and longest-running) live-action comedies. The dark misadventures of self-professed jerks Dennis, Dee, Mac, Charlie, and Frank have taken them to hilarious places, all while satirically poking fun at the issues of the 21st century. WhileIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiahas been renewed for season 17, I’m curious about the future beyond that one.
Beyond Danny Devito’s consistently busy schedule, the rest of the stars have been broadening their horizons over the years to tackle other kinds of films and shows. In the past, they’ve been able to juggle those commitments withIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiaand still deliver some of the funniest episodes of the show, even if this was one of the reasons years could pass between new seasons. However,the recent update about theIt’s Always Sunny Podcastand why it’s been discontinued has me worried a similar reasoning could be used to justify the ending of the long-running comedy.
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Why The It’s Always Sunny Podcast Is Being Put On Hold
The confirmation that theIt’s Always Sunny Podcasthas been discontinued due to the cast’s increasingly busy schedulehas me concerned that the same reasoning could doom the long-term future ofIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Even compared to other podcasts dedicated to reexamining TV shows, theIt’s Always Sunny Podcastearned a massive audience eager to watch every new episode. I was among them, with my long-time love for the series easily shifting over to the podcast. The natural rapport between Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney, writer Megan Ganz, and their guests was often hilarious, enlightening, and interesting.
However, the podcast was increasingly impacted by the busy schedules of everyone involved. Some episodes of the podcast leaned into this with “replacements” for the missing cast members.The podcast was formally put on hold in 2023. Although this was initially announced as a hiatus,Crackedreported how Howerton confirmed the podcast’s endingTake Off Your Shoespodcast. According to Howerton, they’ve moved on from the podcast and even taken down the dedicated podcast space because “It just became logistically difficult to get the three of us in a room together and we didn’t want to do it on Zoom.”
What Else Has The It’s Always Sunny Cast Been In Lately
The ending of theIt’s Always Sunny Podcastdoes make sense. Beyond Danny Devito,the stars ofIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiahave grown increasingly famous as the show continued, with each of them taking lead roles in assorted projects over the years. Charlie Day had frequent appearances in big-budget movies likeHorrible BossesandPacific Rim, while Glenn Howerton and Kaitlin Olsen earned acclaim for their lead roles inA.P. BioandThe Mick. However, all four stars have been seen more frequently in other projects, which seems to be leading them away fromIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Kaitlin Olsen (Dee)
Hacks,High Potential
Glenn Howerton earned rave reviews inBlackBerryand will star in the upcoming Netflix limited series,Sirens. Kaitlin Olsen earned an Emmy nomination for her performance inHacksand is the star (and producer) ofHigh Potential. Charlie Day made his directorial debut with 2023’s comedyFool’s Paradiseand is involved in upcoming films likeHoney Don’t!andThe Super Mario Bros. Movie 2. Rob McElhenney stars in and executive producesMythic Quest(along with Day), andco-owns the Welsh football club Wrexham A.F.C. alongside Ryan Reynolds— with the Emmy award-winningWelcome to Wrexhamfollowing the pair and the team.
Why I’m Worried It’s Always Sunny Might Be Winding Down
All of these other projects have been interesting creative decisions for the stars ofIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and I’m ecstatic that they’re getting to showcase their versatility. The entire cast is incredibly talented, and it’s great to see them earning accolades elsewhere. However,I’m afraid the sheer time commitment needed to balance all those other projects might give the cast a reason to endIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiaas they did the podcast. In theory, this could be like when Dennis was quietly given in-universe reasons to be absent for episodes while Howerton was onA.P. Bio.
However, if all of the show’s cast has similar other commitments, production onIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiamight become much harder. Realistically, there’s only so much they can each fit into their schedule. If the filming of a podcast where they just hung out and talked about the show was too hard to pull off,then actually producing a TV show under those circumstances will likely be even harder. It might ultimately give the cast a reason to end the show, giving everyone more time to shift their focus away from the Gang and to other shows and movies.
I Really Don’t Want It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia To End
I loveIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and I really don’t want to see it end. The show has remained impressively consistent for sixteen seasons. If anything, the show has only improved with age, as episodes like season 13’s “Mac Finds His Pride” and season 15’s “The Gang Carries a Corpse Up a Mountain” highlight the dramatic elements the cast can bring to the series. While it’s clear everyone involved in the production ofIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphialoves the show, I’m afraid that the cast might have reached the point where the series can come to a close.
I’ll still root for Devito, Howerton, Olsen, McElhenney, and Day’s other projects to succeed because I’ve developed a strong appreciation for them. However,it’ll still be sad to see theGang close Paddy’s Pubfor the final time. I became a fan of the show in 2006 during the second season when I was a teenager, and the show has been a fixture for over half my life. While the rising successes of the cast are the best possible reason to end the show, I’ll still be heartbroken if that’s whyIt’s Always Sunny inPhiladelphiacomes to a close.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Cast
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a television series that premiered in 2005, chronicling the chaotic lives of four self-involved friends running an Irish pub in Philadelphia. Their misguided decisions and skewed perspectives often result in amusing and uncomfortable situations, complicating their professional and personal relationships.
