14 Fascinating Insights About It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

The only reason to draw a parallel between the morally ambiguous bar owners in FXX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and the tranquil 1950s atmosphere of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet is this: With its 13th season debuting on September 5 and a 14th season already confirmed, It's Always Sunny is on the verge of matching Ozzie as the longest-running live-action comedy series in TV history.

Ahead of this achievement, the Paddy’s Pub crew must navigate their 13th season while avoiding the consequences of gasoline sniffing. Discover intriguing details about the show’s past, its alternate-reality Dee, and how the production nearly endangered the legendary Danny DeVito.

1. THE PILOT WAS MADE FOR JUST $100.

In 2004, series creators Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day, who were relatively unknown at the time, produced a pilot titled It’s Always Sunny on TV. The story revolved around three aspiring actors vying for the role of a cancer patient. Created more as a showcase than a refined production, the low-budget episode was filmed on video for under $100. After pitching it to various networks, they gained the backing of FX president John Landgraf, who allocated $400,000 for a professionally shot pilot with a full crew. (The setting was later shifted to the dive bar Paddy’s Pub in Philadelphia.)

2. ROB MCELHENNEY WORKED AS A WAITER DURING THE FIRST SEASON.

Even with FX’s support, Sunny operated on a budget one-third the size of a standard network sitcom. Financial constraints were so severe that the cast shared a single trailer. Rob McElhenney’s earnings from the season were so modest that he had to keep his job as a waiter at a West Hollywood café, working there after filming wrapped each day.

3. DEE WAS ORIGINALLY PLAYED BY SOMEONE ELSE.

The initial camcorder pilot lacked both the bar setting and Kaitlin Olson, who now portrays “Sweet” Dee Reynolds. The role of Dee was originally played by Jordan Reid, McElhenney’s then-girlfriend, who was anticipated to continue in the series after FX picked it up. However, Reid revealed that her breakup with McElhenney led to her replacement. Before Olson was cast, Saturday Night Live star Kristen Wiig was considered for the role. Olson later married McElhenney.

4. DANNY DEVITO RESCUED THE SERIES.

Following a short six-episode debut season, Sunny failed to impress critics or achieve commercial success. Due to poor ratings, FX insisted the show bring in a well-known actor to boost interest for its second season. Danny DeVito, who was acquainted with FX’s Landgraf, agreed to meet with McElhenney. After discussing the series—and acknowledging his children were fans—DeVito signed on to play the role of the eccentric Frank Reynolds.

5. HULU PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SAVING THE SHOW.

Although DeVito’s involvement kept the show afloat, ratings remained modest. It wasn’t until FX made episodes available on DVD and the streaming platform Hulu that audiences began to discover the series, propelling it to become one of Hulu’s most-watched shows. The growing popularity of reruns eventually led Comedy Central to invest $33 million to secure the rights.

6. THE LIVE MUSICAL WAS UNPLANNED.

In 2009, the cast embarked on a six-city tour for a stage adaptation of the season four episode "The Nightman Cometh." This production, akin to Always Sunny: The Musical, featured original songs written by the trio, with Charlie (played by Day) trying to woo the Waitress (portrayed by Day’s real-life wife, Mary Elizabeth Ellis) through music. The tour originated after a West Hollywood nightclub mistakenly advertised a full-scale production instead of just a few performances.

7. MCELHENNEY ENVISIONED EVERYONE GAINING WEIGHT.

Fans of Sunny know that Rob McElhenney, typically in good shape, intentionally gained 50 pounds for the show’s seventh season. This was his way of challenging the idea that TV actors always become more attractive over time. To achieve his rounder, seal-like look, he consumed 5000 calories daily, focusing on nutritious foods like chicken and vegetables, with occasional indulgences like ice cream. McElhenney initially proposed that the entire cast gain weight while DeVito would slim down significantly, but the idea was unanimously rejected.

8. FRED SAVAGE DIRECTED MULTIPLE EPISODES.

Despite his wholesome image from The Wonder Years, Fred Savage has directed several episodes of Sunny and is credited as a producer. Savage pursued the opportunity because he saw his own flaws reflected in the characters, as he explained to NPR. McElhenney brought him on board partly to settle a personal curiosity about whether Savage truly loved Becky Slater or if Winnie was his one true love.

9. MCELHENNEY AND KAITLIN OLSON OWN A REAL PHILADELPHIA BAR.

When some of McElhenney’s high school friends suggested buying a bar, he and Olson decided to invest in Mac’s Tavern, a Philadelphia sports bar that launched in 2010. The menu features items like Mac’s chili and Sweet D’s turkey BLT. In 2017, the bar’s management publicly called out a couple on Facebook for dining and dashing.

10. THE GREEN MAN IS A REAL THING.

Or rather, green men. Charlie Day revealed to Vice in 2010 that his character’s green Lycra suit, worn during sporting events, was inspired by a friend of McElhenney’s who wore a similar outfit to Philadelphia Eagles games. The show’s influence even led to two Vancouver hockey fans showing up to games dressed as the Green Man.

11. GLENN HOWERTON DREAMED OF PLAYING SUPERMAN.

Before Sunny debuted in 2005, Glenn Howerton attended numerous auditions. One of these was for Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns, the 2006 film that ultimately cast Brandon Routh. Howerton revealed to CHUD.com that he also tried out for the role of Peter Quill in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Currently starring in NBC’s A.P. Bio, there were concerns that Dennis might be absent from future Sunny episodes. However, he is confirmed to appear in most of the 13th season.

12. A RUSSIAN VERSION EXISTS.

Discovered by Reddit and Philadelphia’s City Paper in 2014, It’s Always Sunny in Moscow is a Russian adaptation of the series. Translated via Google, the show’s description reads: “Four young protagonists… They attended school together. They run a pub called ‘Philadelphia,’ but it barely makes any money. Their dreams of love and wealth crumble due to their selfishness, laziness, and stupidity.” The adaptation ran for 16 episodes.

13. THEY NEARLY ENDANGERED DANNY DEVITO.

DeVito has always been game for whatever the show throws at him, whether it’s getting tangled in a playground coil or crawling out of a couch naked. However, his willingness to go along with anything has occasionally caused issues. During a season 11 scene where the cast held hands underwater, DeVito, described by Charlie Day as "buoyant," had to be weighted down to stay submerged. While the rest of the cast resurfaced easily, DeVito got stuck halfway and needed safety divers to help him out. The incident reportedly left him so frustrated that he left the set for the day.

14. THEY’RE FILMING ON THE SEINFELD SOUNDSTAGE.

For over 10 years, Always Sunny was filmed on a Fox studio lot in California, with exteriors shot in Philadelphia. For the 13th season, production moved to a Studio City lot, where McElhenney noted their stage was once used for Seinfeld. In an Instagram video, he highlighted a plaque near the entrance commemorating the site’s storied past.