More than 21 years after its debut, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia remains one of television’s most successful cult comedies, continuing its historic run as the longest-running American live-action sitcom by seasons.
The FX and FXX series first premiered on August 4, 2005, with a simple concept centered around a dysfunctional group of friends running an Irish dive bar in South Philadelphia. What started as a low-budget comedy shot on handheld cameras has grown into one of the most recognizable comedy franchises in modern television.
The series stars Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson and Danny DeVito as “The Gang,” the chaotic owners of Paddy’s Pub.
The comedy continues to attract viewers in 2026, after Season 17 aired in 2025 and Season 18 entered development. Streaming has also helped the show maintain momentum years after its television debut.
Actors Rob McElhenney, Danny DeVito, Kaitlin Olson and Glenn Howerton are seen filming scenes of season 12 of 'It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia' sitcomPhoto by Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images
According to Rotten Tomatoes, the sitcom currently holds a 94% Tomatometer score and a 91% audience Popcornmeter score. The site describes the series this way: “Depraved underachieving might look easy, but for the egocentric Mac, Charlie, Dennis, Frank and Dee, it's an art form.”
The review summary adds that the characters are “a group of degenerates who loves nothing more than to scheme, conspire, and mostly revel in each other's misery.”
The series was created by Rob McElhenney and co-developed by Glenn Howerton. Early on, the show faced major challenges because of its tiny budget and unknown cast.
The Guardian described the series’ difficult beginnings by writing: “The success of It’s Always Sunny was never guaranteed. It was born only a few months after YouTube, shot on a handheld camera, had a budget of practically nothing and featured a motley crew of out-of-work actors.”
The publication also noted that the sitcom arrived during a major shift in television comedy in 2005, alongside hit shows like The Officeand How I Met Your Mother.
The show’s premise focused on “the exploits of an idiotic, narcissistic group of friends running an Irish dive bar in South Philly who scheme, betray and trick each other – or unfortunate strangers at every turn.”
Over time, the comedy became known for its dark humor, outrageous schemes, and complete refusal to soften its characters. Critics frequently referred to the show as “Seinfeld on crack,” a nickname that followed the series throughout its rise in popularity.
The arrival of Danny DeVito during Season 2 became one of the biggest turning points in the sitcom’s history. The show’s staying power has also been boosted by its cast members finding success outside the series.
Recently, TV Guide ranked It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia among “The 43 Best TV Shows on Hulu Right Now.” The outlet also praised Kaitlin Olson while discussing her ABC procedural series High Potential.
TV Guide wrote: “The great Kaitlin Olson (her other show, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, is also on this list) stars in this ABC procedural as Morgan Gillory, a single mother with an IQ of 160.”
Olson has portrayed Dee Reynolds since the sitcom’s first season. Her performance became one of the defining parts of the series as the character evolved into one of the gang’s most chaotic personalities.
Streaming platforms have also introduced the comedy to younger audiences. In December 2025, Disney announced that the series had surpassed one billion streaming hours on Disney+ during 2025.
The sitcom’s influence now stretches beyond television through live performances, books, podcasts and crossover episodes. A crossover with Abbott Elementary aired in 2025 and brought another wave of attention to the long-running comedy.Even after more than two decades, the series continues receiving praise for maintaining its original style. With Season 18 already underway, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia continues proving why it remains one of the most enduring comedy series in television history.
Related: 1975 Hit Comedy Film, Famously Ending After Funding Crash, Ranked No. 1 ‘Most Rewatchable Movie of All Time’
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