Latest news with #CharlieDay
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘It's Always Sunny' Is Only Getting Better With Time
In addition to all of the creative superlatives we can lay on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia as it approaches the 20th anniversary of its debut in August, the FX comedy has provided perhaps the greatest return on investment in television history. The series' original, unaired pilot episode — made largely because stars Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, and Glenn Howerton weren't happy with the roles they were getting — cost maybe $200, with the bulk of that covering the price of videocassettes. One hundred and seventy episodes and counting later, Sunny itself is still going strong, and the three friends and co-star Kaitlin Olson are all now staples in either film or other television series. That 200 bucks has built a big enough fortune that McElhenney is today a part owner, with Ryan Reynolds, of a Welsh football club that's the subject of another successful, acclaimed FX show, Welcome to Wrexham. How did a scruffy comedy about five of TV's all-time-worst human beings last this long and do so well? In part by embracing the awfulness of the Gang, in part by being much smarter than they are. More from Rolling Stone Frank Reynolds Is the Next 'Golden Bachelor' in 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' Season 17 Trailer 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' Little People Collector Set Drops Online: Find It in Stock Here Charlotte Nicdao 'Grinds All Night' in 'Mythic Quest' Fourth Season Trailer Sunny's debut in the summer of 2005 didn't suggest that either longevity or greatness were in the offing. FX scheduled it after another new comedy, Starved, about an eating-disorder support group, which seemed to be the channel's higher priority. (Today, the most memorable thing about Starved is that it gave Sterling K. Brown his first series regular role, a decade before This Is Us.) The premiere, 'The Gang Gets Racist,' had the rough shape of the show Sunny became — Charlie (Day) says the n-word, but only when quoting a new Black acquaintance; Dennis (Howerton) is excited by the attention he gets when Paddy's Pub becomes a gay hotspot while Mac (McElhenney) is dismayed with the new clientele — but also seemed to be holding itself back from letting the Gang become truly despicable. It was the arrival of sitcom legend Danny DeVito as the businessman father of Dennis and Sweet Dee (Olson) that not only got the show a second season, but also helped provide a necessary commitment to dark comedy. Frank's presence created a dirtbag feedback loop: The more he came to enjoy the Gang's worst behavior, the worse they began to behave, and the funnier and more pointed Sunny became. It's staggering to try to rank the Gang's worst offenses. Persuading a priest to give up the collar, leading him to become an unhoused crack addict? Burning down various people's homes and businesses? Torturing a little person out of a mistaken belief he was a leprechaun? The implication that Dennis is a sexual predator and/or a serial killer? The magic trick is that Sunny gradually learned how to distinguish its POV from the characters', showing empathy not only for the Gang's victims, but also the Gang itself. It's hard to imagine the show today putting a slur for a developmentally disabled person into an episode title, which happened in a Season Three installment about Dee dating a rapper with a childlike demeanor. (That one's now best remembered for a subplot about the guys launching separate rock bands, which eventually led to the beloved 'The Nightman Cometh' musical episode.) When Mac finally came out of the closet in Season 12, the joke was never that he was gay, but about him being just as clueless as when he was pretending to be straight; the following year ended with a shockingly poignant interpretive-dance number he performed for his homophobic inmate father. The longer Sunny has stuck around, the more it's been willing and able to pull off experiments like that, or 'The Nightman Cometh,' or Season 10's 'Charlie Work,' which was presented as an unbroken take detailing everything Charlie does to keep the bar functioning while the rest of the Gang is focused on misguided schemes. The show has become endlessly memeable, to the point where people who have never watched one minute of it can recognize Charlie ranting in front of a murder board; it's just a lot funnier if you've seen the actual episode ('Sweet Dee Has a Heart Attack'), where the Gang gets office jobs for the health insurance, and Charlie becomes convinced there's a company-wide conspiracy about a man named Pepe Silvia. Then there are the gags that should make no sense — Charlie donning a neon-green body stocking at sporting events, calling himself 'Green Man,' or Frank becoming obsessed with a rum-soaked ham during a trip to the Jersey Shore — yet work perfectly because it's clear the Gang doesn't think like normal humans do. Even with a recent crossover with family-friendly Abbott Elementary, Sunny hasn't gone soft — Season 16 included an episode called 'Frank Shoots Every Member of the Gang.' But it increasingly feels free to surprise amid the Gang's usual felonies and misdemeanors. McElhenney likes to joke that the secret to being the longest-running live-action sitcom in TV history is that each season is short. Over 16 seasons, they've made only 170 episodes — fewer than I Love Lucy made in six. But most classic comedies were running on fumes by the time they'd produced half as many installments as Sunny has. It's a show that, after two decades, still demonstrates a level of ingenuity, insightfulness, and perseverance that would feel completely foreign to the Gang. The older they get, the worse the Gang is. For Sunny itself, it's the opposite. Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Best 'Saturday Night Live' Characters of All Time Denzel Washington's Movies Ranked, From Worst to Best 70 Greatest Comedies of the 21st Century Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘It's Always Sunny' Star Charlie Day Didn't Want to Do Rob Mac's ‘Abbott Elementary,' ‘Golden Bachelor' Crossovers
As 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' enters its 17th season after nearly two decades, its team of writers/stars (Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton and Rob Mac) has become a well-oiled machine. They'd have to be to keep one of the longest-running sitcoms of all time on the rails – but that doesn't mean they always see eye-to-eye. 'Sunny's' double crossover with 'Abbott Elementary' and 'The Golden Bachelor' was one of these times. More from TheWrap 'Love Island USA' Star Cierra Ortega Agrees With Decision to Remove Her From the Show: 'I Am Not the Victim' 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' Season 17 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Stream? Former Clinton Adviser Calls Gen Z 'Useful Idiot Generation' for Support of Mamdani, Socialism | Video 'Ballard' Cast and Character Guide: Who's Who in the 'Bosch' Spinoff? In a joint interview with Danny DeVito for the LA Times, Charlie Day talked about the two big crossovers included in Season 17. While Rob Mac (neé Rob McElhenney) was a significant proponent of the crossovers, Day initially struggled to get on board. 'Rob has these really big ideas, like buying a soccer team,' Day joked in the interview. 'He wanted to do this 'Abbott' crossover, and he wanted to do this 'Golden Bachelor' episode. To be perfectly frank, I didn't really want to do both. I think you can do one or the other. The 'Golden Bachelor' thing I thought was funny, but I was like, maybe we could just do the 'Sunny' characters' version of it. But to his credit, those are the things that people latch onto and are talking about.' The 17th season of 'Always Sunny' opens with the second half of a crossover they began this year on 'Abbott Elementary.' The first episode, which aired in January, saw the 'Abbott' crew react to the 'Sunny' gang as court-mandated volunteers at the school. By 'Sunny' standards, the group's antics were relatively tame, with Glenn Howerton's sociopathic Dennis Reynolds almost entirely absent from the episode. The 'Always Sunny' half of the crossover, titled 'The Gang F***s Up Abbott Elementary,' airs Wednesday as part of a two-episode premiere — and will likely be a bit less calm. According to the LA Times interview, the gang will have their crossover with 'The Golden Bachelor' in the season finale of 'Always Sunny.' A trailer for the show's 17th season showed glimpses of this episode, in which Frank joins 'The Golden Bachelor' in a quest to find his own Hawk Tuah analog, here named 'Cock Chewa.' Her catchphrase? 'Chew on that thang!' You can watch the Season 17 trailer below. 'I had no idea what they had in mind at first because I must admit, I'm not a 'Golden Bachelor' watcher,' DeVito said in the interview. 'Once I got there and figured out what they had up their sleeve, I just went with it big time. Being Frank is really wonderful, I must say. It gives you the opportunity to do a lot of things that you wouldn't. And they push the envelope and come up with all these crazy things, and I go along with it, and from the time my feet hit the ground, when I get there, I'm smiling.' Day noted that these kinds of riffs are not his favorite aspect of 'Always Sunny.' Two crossovers, he said, was more than he intended to have in a single season. Mac disagreed. 'I tend to like when we're not doing the pop culture references as much, but then we have a big back-and-forth and we argue,' Day said. 'And then when we land on it, the second we agree to do it, then I'm always all-in, as is Rob. So then we're both writing together and saying, well, what's the best version of how to do this?' But with a seasoned comic actor like DeVito in the cast, however, Day said it's easier to make ideas like this work. 'Rob and Glenn and I spend weeks and months really digging in and arguing and pushing each other out of our comfort zones in all sorts of directions. And then towards the end, we're all invested in the same thing. And what really makes it work is that Danny comes in and gives it a hundred percent,' Day said. 'Really, if Danny wasn't so supportive, it would be really challenging. But pretty much everything we bring to you, Danny, you say, 'OK, I'm going to make this work.' 'Golden Bachelor' was a perfect example. We had a lot of arguments about how to do that, whether to do it. And then once we committed to it and tried to write what we thought was the best version of it we could, Dan, you come in and just sell it in a way that it needs to be sold.' 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' Season 17 premieres July 9 on FXX and will be available to stream on Hulu. The post 'It's Always Sunny' Star Charlie Day Didn't Want to Do Rob Mac's 'Abbott Elementary,' 'Golden Bachelor' Crossovers appeared first on TheWrap.
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India.com
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
‘It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia' Returns With Season 17: Double Premiere, Bold Crossovers, As Fans Remember Late Actress Lynne Marie Stewart
New Delhi: FX's longest-running live-action comedy 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' is back with its 17th season, premiering July 9 on FXX at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. The new episodes are available for streaming the following day on Hulu. Double Episode Premiere and Weekly Rollout Season 17 begins with a two-episode premiere on July 9, followed by weekly episodes through August. The release schedule is as follows: Episode 1 and 2 - July 9 Episode 3 - July 16 Episode 4 - July 23 Episode 5 - July 30 Episode 6 - August 6 Episode 7 - August 13 Episode 8 - August 20 Crossover Episodes Spark Creative Debate The season kicks off with a much-talked-about crossover with ABC's Abbott Elementary, followed by an episode inspired by The Golden Bachelor. In a candid interview with the LA Times, co-creator and star Charlie Day revealed some behind-the-scenes tension over including both crossovers. 'To be perfectly frank, I didn't really want to do both,' Day said. 'I think you can do one or the other. The 'Golden Bachelor' thing I thought was funny, but I was like, maybe we could just do the 'Sunny' characters' version of it.' Despite initial hesitations, Day praised co-creator Rob McElhenney's 'big ideas' and said he ultimately embraced the creative process once they reached a consensus. 'The second we agree to do it, then I'm always all in, as is Rob. So then we're both writing together and saying, well, what's the best version of how to do this?' he added. The Gang Is Back - and So Is the Mayhem All five core cast members return for Season 17: Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, Kaitlin Olson, and Danny DeVito. The trailer has already stirred excitement across social media, with fans speculating that Frank Reynolds, DeVito's iconic character, is set to take centre stage this season. 'From the looks of it, I think Frank is going to dominate this season,' wrote one fan on social media (formerly Twitter). Remembering Late Lynne Marie Stewart Amid the excitement, fans are also mourning the loss of Lynne Marie Stewart, who portrayed Charlie's peculiar and endearing mother, Bonnie Kelly. Stewart passed away earlier this year at the age of 77. Many fans expressed hope that she would have a chance to appear in Season 17 before her passing. 'I hope Lynne Marie Stewart at least got to be a part of this season before her passing,' one tribute read. 'RIP.' What's Next? Now in its 17th season, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia continues to evolve while staying true to its core, sharp satire, absurd plots, and relentless in-fighting among The Gang. With crossovers, cultural commentary, and personal storylines, the new season aims to strike a balance between bold experiments and the classic chaos fans love. Watch the Trailer here: Season 17 is currently airing on FXX, with episodes streaming on Hulu the following day.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
After 20 Years, Danny DeVito Says ‘It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' Is ‘I Love Lucy' on Acid
'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' has cemented its place in TV history as the longest-running live-action sitcom ever. In honor of 20 years and 17 seasons, Glenn Howerton, Rob Mac, Kaitlin Olson, Charlie Day and Danny DeVito took part in a PaleyLive 20th Anniversary Celebration at the DGA Theater in Hollywood on Tuesday, where they opened up about their FXX show's legacy. More from TheWrap 'The Sandman' Season 2 Review: Netflix Fantasy Braces for a Subversive, Mesmerizing Conclusion Television Academy Foundation Launches 'Access: Behind the Screens' Program With 'Overcompensating' Team How Peacock Hopes to Spin 'Love Island USA' Audience Into Brand-Partnership Gold Netflix Tops Strategic Counsel 'Must Keep TV' List for 6th Consecutive Year 'I feel like we've gotten away with murder. It sounds cheesy, but I feel seen,' Howerton told TheWrap. 'As writers, we've poured our heart and soul into the show and it really is a reflection of our sensibility as work as satirists. The fact that it's been so widely accepted for so many years and still continues to be watched by younger folks is very validating.' 'It's unheard of and extraordinary,' Day said. 'It's a gift horse, and for some reason I don't look in its mouth — that's what they say. I don't know what the gift horse will do to you, but I don't look in its mouth.' Meanwhile, DeVito compared the show to another sitcom staple on the red carpet. 'When I met the guys and Kaitlin, I knew that I was joining something special. And I was right and we've had fun ever since,' he shared. 'Every season is like base-jumping — you just let go and soar, just have an amazing time and ride the waves. The dialogue, the situations … I was a big fan of 'I Love Lucy,' and this is like 'I Love Lucy' on acid. I get to do it all.' Olson also had fond memories of meeting her co-stars. 'I never felt like an outsider, I felt welcomed from the audition. They were so generous with their laughing at everything that I did — all of them, but Glenn specifically just thought I was so funny and always made me feel so welcome,' she said in a post-screening panel. 'I felt like we were a team from the beginning and we all had the same sense of humor. I still, to this day, feel like the luckiest person in the world.' 'We love each other and we love spending time with each other and we love laughing. I never laugh more than when we're in the writers' room, on set or in the editing room,' Mac (née McElhenney) elaborated onstage. 'There have been many times throughout this season when I've found myself crying with laughter. And how often do you get to do that as a 36-year-old man?' He continued, 'We recognize that we're asking people to spend 30 minutes of their day with us. We take that very seriously, so we're going to do everything we possibly can to deliver on the promise of the show.' 'I think the fans know more about the show than we do at this point,' Day also admitted, while Howerton added: 'At this point, we've done so many episodes that it's hard for even us to keep track of what we've done and what we haven't done. Sometimes, I feel like the fans know the show better than we do.' DeVito agreed: 'It's all about the fans. Our fans out there are rabid and I love them and they can tattoo my face anywhere they want.' The Paley Center for Media's PaleyLive 20th Anniversary Celebration event also featured an early screening of the Season 17 premiere — also known as the other half of the show's 'Abbott Elementary' crossover. But which other sitcom would the gang like to work with next? Well, both Day and Howerton had the same answer: 'What We Do in the Shadows.' Meanwhile, DeVito had nothing but praise for the ABC series, saying, 'That was a great experience, working with the 'Abbott' people.' 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' Season 17 premieres July 9 on FXX. The post After 20 Years, Danny DeVito Says 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' Is 'I Love Lucy' on Acid appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘It's Always Sunny' Star Glenn Howerton Wanted Series to End: ‘I Was Aching to Do Other Things'
After 20 years and 17 seasons, it's tough to imagine a world where 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' isn't on television, but there was a point where one member of its reliable ensemble — which consists of Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney (aka Rob Mac), Kaitlin Olson, and Danny DeVito — almost bowed out. At the July 1 PaleyLive 20th anniversary panel (via People), Howerton revealed that prior to the start of Season 12, which broadcast on FXX in 2017, he told the creative team, 'Look, I just don't want to wear out our welcome.' 'I was worried that maybe we had sort of peaked or something, and I just was like, you know, we've been doing this for a long time. And I think I was also anxious,' Howerton said. 'I had not figured out yet how to stretch myself and be able to do other things that I wanted to do with my career outside of the show… I just hadn't figured out how to do that yet. I was aching to do other things, and so I was starting to feel a little boxed in, frankly.' More from IndieWire Quinta Brunson Signals That 'Abbott Elementary' May End Soon: 'Our Show Is Very Time-Consuming' Hollywood Remembers Julian McMahon, Star of 'Nip Tuck,' 'Charmed,' 'Fantastic Four' - 'A Clown Disguised as a Matinee Idol' The cast was insistent, saying that they did not want the show to end. He simply said, 'Oh, well I can't stop you.' 'And then Seasons 13 and 14, I came back as an actor but I wasn't in the writers' room.' Howerton had made appearances in many other series, including 'The Mindy Project' and 'Fargo,' but after he 'figured out how to do that' — meaning juggle additional projects — he would take on such hefty assignments as the sitcom 'A.P. Bio' and films like 'The Hunt' and 'Blackberry.' Meanwhile, 'It's Always Sunny' kept going, and so did he. '[They] just kept writing it and kept writing him in,' McElhenney said, the show's official creator. 'And we're like, he's just gonna eventually say he's coming back. That's what happened.' 'It's Always Sunny' will drop its first two episodes of its 17th season, which will contain eight episodes, on July 9. Its season premiere will include the highly-anticipated second part of a crossover event with fellow Philadelphia-set sitcom 'Abbott Elementary.' An episode of that series with guest appearances from the entire 'Sunny' cast aired on ABC in January. Watch the Season 17 trailer below: Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
