“The Gang Gets Two More Seasons”
11 seasons deep at this point, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia hasn’t missed a beat since 2005. With over a decade on television, the improv-heavy sitcom continues to find inventive and imaginative ways to stay fresh and creative. So FXX doesn’t want to change a thing. With a twelfth season already in-the-cards and set to premiere in early 2017, the station has also given seasons 13 and 14 a go. And with this new development, the Rob McElhenney-created dark comedy makes TV history.
According to Deadline, Always Sunny will match The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet for longest-running live-action comedy series ever. Granted, these aren’t The Simpsons numbers. Their animated Fox counterparts is currently on season 27, with a 28th season already greenlit. Nevertheless, it’s an impressive feat, especially with a show with such humble beginnings. Once a meager passion project shot on a camcorder between McElhenney and fellow co-stars/writers Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day, it soon launched an avid cult following and revamped Danny DeVito’s career after he joined in season two. It’s the stuff of dreams, really.
“If anyone doubts the power of a camcorder and a dream, just look at It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which was a DIY backyard pilot when Rob, Charlie and Glenn brought it to FX and will go down in TV history as one of the most loved and enduring comedies,” Nick Grad, co-president of original programming for FX Networks and FX Productions stated. “Few shows make it this far or have such devoted fans, and we owe it all to the creative vision and great humor of the creators and cast who keep Sunny fresh and inventive every season.”
The fate of Always Sunny has been cast in doubt for a few years now, with rumors suggesting it would end since around season 10. Also causing concern among fans were recent reports about McElhenney transitioning into filmmaking with a Minecraft adaptation and Figment, a family-friendly action-adventure movie set up with Legendary Pictures. Of course, with these new developments, any speculation has been thrown to the waist-side. There’s still no word yet on where these two films stand.
Though the gang is known for their pranks, this is no April Fool’s Day joke. The show is here to stay, and it’s a sunny day indeed for fans. Still cloudy, however, is the fate of Man Seeking Woman, which aired directly after. FXX has yet to announce a third season for the high-concept millennial sitcom.
