Created by Rob McElhenney.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia first premiered on August 4, 2005.
Distributed by 20th Television.
Series Review
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia remains a daring, filthy comedy that still shocks and rewards. The Gang’s selfish, absurd schemes fuel the laughs and the show never softens its edge.
Early seasons set the tone. Seasons one through four found voice and momentum as the characters became sharper and meaner.
Middle seasons grew bolder. Seasons five to twelve include fan favorites that mixed elaborate callbacks with peak physical comedy.
Later seasons experiment more. Seasons thirteen onward vary in taste but often return to wild, risky ideas while giving the show room to breathe.
Standout episodes still land like gut punches. The cast remains fearless, committed and perfectly tuned to the writers’ nastiest impulses.
If you love dark comedy and chaotic characters this series is essential. If you do not, the show will likely offend.
Either way it still feels original and defiantly alive. It remains one of TV’s boldest shows.
Ratings
• IMDb: 8.8/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
• Google Audience Score: 91% liked this TV show.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Actors
Charlie Day as Charlie Kelly
DOB: February 9, 1976.
Bio: Actor, comedian, writer, and producer best known as one of the co-creators and stars of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Raised in Rhode Island, Day studied at Merrimack College before pursuing acting and comedy.
He began with stage and indie work before breaking through with Sunny, a show he co-created alongside Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerton.
Role: Charlie Kelly is the illiterate, eccentric, and wildly unpredictable co-owner of Paddy’s Pub.
A janitor by choice and a schemer by instinct, Charlie is equal parts childlike and unhinged.
He’s known for bizarre logic, improvised songs, rat-bashing, and his obsessive relationship with “the Waitress.”
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1-17 (177 episodes).
What to Expect: Physical comedy, offbeat songs, strange schemes and a heart that sometimes peeks out from under the chaos.
Favorite Things: Day has spoken about his love of writing, improvisation, and pushing boundaries in comedy.
Notable Works: Horrible Bosses, Pacific Rim, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Fist Fight.
Rob McElhenney as Ronald “Mac” McDonald
DOB: April 14, 1977.
Bio: Actor, writer, producer, and director best known as the co-creator and star of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Raised in Philadelphia, McElhenney studied briefly at Temple University before pursuing acting.
After early guest roles in shows like Law & Order and Lost, he developed Sunny in 2004 on a shoestring budget, which became one of TV’s longest-running live-action comedies.
Role: Ronald “Mac” McDonald is the self-proclaimed bouncer and “sheriff” of Paddy’s Pub.
Obsessed with toughness, martial arts, Catholic guilt, and his fluctuating masculinity, Mac provides both satire and surprising emotional arcs, especially in later seasons where his struggles with faith and sexuality add depth to the comedy.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1-17 (177 episodes).
What to Expect: Physical transformations for comedy, overconfidence, memorable one liners and chaotic fight choreography.
Favorite Things: McElhenney has expressed his love for long-form storytelling, collaborative comedy, and creative risks.
He also enjoys fitness, soccer, and pushing boundaries in TV comedy.
Notable Works: Mythic Quest (producer/creator), Welcome to Wrexham.
Glenn Howerton as Dennis Reynolds
DOB: April 13, 1976.
Bio: American actor, writer, producer, and director best known as the co-creator and star of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Born in Japan to American parents and raised in multiple states due to his father’s military career, he later studied at the Juilliard School in New York City, graduating with a degree in drama.
Role: Dennis Reynolds, often considered the most dangerous member of the gang, is a narcissistic, manipulative, and disturbingly calculating character who believes himself to be an “alpha male.”
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1-17 (177 episodes).
What to Expect: Deadpan menace, razor sharp delivery and scenes that make you laugh and squirm in equal measure.
Favorite Things: In interviews, Howerton has shared his passion for writing, character work, and collaboration with the Sunny cast.
Notable Works: A.P. Bio, BlackBerry, The Strangers.
Kaitlin Olson as Deandra “Sweet Dee” Reynolds
DOB: August 18, 1975.
Bio: American actress, comedian, and producer with a career rooted in improv and sketch comedy.
After graduating from the University of Oregon with a degree in theatre arts, she moved to Los Angeles where she became a member of The Groundlings, honing her improvisational skills.
Role: Deandra “Sweet Dee” Reynolds, the self-proclaimed actress and voice of reason, is perpetually disrespected by the gang.
Dee is ambitious but untalented, desperate for recognition, and often the target of cruel jokes.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1-17 (177 episodes).
What to Expect: Painful pratfalls, savage comebacks and unexpected vulnerability when the writers choose to reveal it.
Favorite Things: Olson has spoken about her love for improv, the importance of physicality in comedy, and balancing her acting career with family life.
Notable Works: The Mick, Flipped, Finding Dory.
Danny DeVito as Frank Reynolds
DOB: November 17, 1944.
Bio: American actor, director, and producer with a career spanning over five decades.
He studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York before breaking through as Louie De Palma on the hit sitcom Taxi (1978–1983), a role that earned him both critical acclaim and an Emmy Award.
Role: Frank, the filthy, selfish father figure who bankrolls Paddy’s Pub and lowers the moral bar for everyone.
DeVito’s timing and willingness to go extreme are a big reason the show found a larger audience.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 2-17 (169 episodes).
What to Expect: Deadpan nastiness, impulsive schemes and the kind of comic nastiness only DeVito makes look effortless.
Favorite Things: DeVito talks about filmmaking, producing and choosing projects that let him play outrageous characters.
Notable Works: Taxi, Batman Returns, Matilda, Romancing the Stone.
Mary Elizabeth Ellis as The Waitress
DOB: May 11, 1979.
Bio: American actress, comedian, and writer known for her sharp comedic timing and ability to ground even the most absurd situations.
A graduate of Southern Methodist University, Ellis has built a steady career in both television and film.
Role: The Waitress, Charlie’s perpetual crush and frequent target of the Gang’s schemes.
She is written as exasperated, emotionally guarded and surprisingly complicated.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1-17 (38 episodes).
What to Expect: Wry, deadpan responses to absurd situations and occasional complicated turns that reveal she is more than just a prop.
Favorite Things: Ellis values character work and has discussed doing grounded performances amid the show’s chaos.
Notable Works: Perfect Couples, The Grinder, Santa Clarita Diet.
David Hornsby as Matthew “Rickety Cricket” Mara
DOB: December 1, 1975.
Bio: American actor, screenwriter, and producer with a career spanning comedy, drama, and animation.
A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama, Hornsby has worn many hats in Hollywood, from acting and voice work to writing and producing.
Role: Rickety Cricket, a former priest turned tragic wreck because of the Gang.
Cricket’s decline is one of the series’ most sustained running gags and emotional shocks.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 2-17 (26 episodes).
What to Expect: Increasingly desperate and grotesque physical comedy with touches of real pathos.
Favorite Things: Hornsby has spoken about his love of collaborative comedy writing, character-driven humor, and longform storytelling that pays off over years.
Notable Works: How to Be a Gentleman, Mythic Quest.
Artemis Pebdani as Artemis Dubois
DOB: August 2, 1977.
Bio: Iranian-American actress and writer celebrated for her fearless comedic energy and memorable supporting roles.
Raised in Texas, she studied at Southern Methodist University before building a career in both theater and television.
Role: Artemis, an eccentric actor and Dee’s wannabe pal.
She shows up in the Gang’s weirder schemes and often steals scenes with weirdly specific obsessions and method performance choices.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 1-17 (18 episodes).
What to Expect: Wild, unhinged improvisations and over-the-top acting choices that make ordinary scenes unforgettable.
Favorite Things: Pebdani has expressed her passion for bold, risk-taking performances and ensemble-driven comedy.
Notable Works: Scandal, Big City Greens, Masters of Sex.
Lance Barber as Bill Ponderosa
DOB: June 29, 1973.
Bio: American actor best known for his versatile television career, often playing offbeat, larger-than-life characters.
A graduate of Kellogg Community College and later The Second City in Chicago, Barber honed his comedic skills in improv before moving into TV and film.
Role: Bill Ponderosa, a once popular high school athlete who devolves into debauchery and bad decisions.
His turns are equal parts tragic and absurd.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 6, 8-13 (11 episodes).
What to Expect: Self-destructive behaviour, gross-out jokes and scenes that push physical comedy limits.
Favorite Things: Barber has spoken about improv and the joy of long-running TV roles.
Notable Works: Young Sheldon, The Comeback, Gilmore Girls.
Catherine Reitman as Maureen Ponderosa
DOB: April 28, 1981.
Bio: American-Canadian actress, writer, producer, and director. She is the daughter of acclaimed filmmaker Ivan Reitman and actress Geneviève Robert, and sister of director Jason Reitman.
Catherine trained at the University of Southern California before building a career that spans comedy and drama.
Role: Maureen Ponderosa, Dennis’s ex who undergoes increasingly surreal transformations and often fuels the Gang’s worst instincts.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 6,7,8,10,11 (7 episodes).
What to Expect: Bizarre character arcs, extreme physical comedy and memorable guest scenes.
Favorite Things: Reitman often discusses her passion for writing and producing comedy that centers on authentic female experiences.
Notable Works: Workin’ Moms, Black-ish.
Mary Lynn Rajskub as Gail the Snail
DOB: June 22, 1971.
Bio: American actress, comedian, and writer best known for her versatile comedic timing and ability to elevate quirky supporting roles into unforgettable characters.
She studied art before shifting into performance, building a career in alternative comedy through stand-up and sketch.
Role: Gail the Snail, Dennis and Dee Reynolds’s unsettling cousin, is one of the most bizarre recurring characters in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 5, 9, 13, 16 (4 episodes).
What to Expect: Weird mannerisms, cringe humor and committed physical bits.
Favorite Things: Rajskub continues to perform stand-up comedy, often drawing on personal experiences with a self-deprecating, sharp style.
Notable Works: 24, Punch-Drunk Love.
Sandy Martin as Mrs. McDonald (Mac’s mom)
DOB: March 3, 1949.
Bio: American actress, playwright, and director with a career spanning over five decades.
She began her career in New York theater before transitioning to film and television, where she became known for her distinctive presence and ability to bring quirky, lived-in authenticity to her roles.
Role: Mrs. McDonald, Mac’s eccentric mother who appears in several family-based episodes and fuels Mac’s backstory.
Seasons & Episodes: Season 2-6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16 (16 episodes).
What to Expect: Dry, deadpan one-liners, chain-smoking, and an unbothered, world-weary attitude.
Favorite Things: Martin has a long-standing passion for theater, having founded and directed productions in New York early in her career.
Notable Works: Napoleon Dynamite, Big Love, Vendetta l.
More actors
• Anne Archer as Barbara Reynolds
• Judy Greer as Ingrid Nelson
• Geoffrey Owens as Donovan McNabb (cameo)
• Andrew Friedman as Charlie’s Uncle Jack
• Marshall Manesh as Ranjit
• Stephen Collins as Bruce Mathis
• Gregory Scott Cummins as Luther McDonald
• Mather Zickel as Lawyer (The Ponderosa’s attorney)
• David Zdunich as Liam McPoyle
• Nate Mooney as Ryan McPoyle
• Kyle Davis as Lil’ Kevin
• Brittany Daniel as Carmen
• Charlene Amoia as Wendy
• Josh Stamberg as Ben the Soldier
• Seann William Scott as Country Mac
• Ziah Colon as Stacy Corvelli
• Ben Smith as Wally the Bartender
• Gillian Jacobs as Jen the Truther
• Dolph Lundgren as Thundergun (cameo)
• Andrew Friedman returns as Uncle Jack
• Mindy Kaling as Cindy
• Jesse Plemons as Liam’s cousin
• Scott Bakula as himself
• Rhea Perlman as Gladys
• Mindy Sterling as Woman at the Gym
• Ethan Embry as Shadynasty’s brother
• Jorge Garcia as Fergal the Ogre
• Colm Meaney as Shelley Kelly (Frank’s old war buddy)
• Artemis Pebdani reprising Artemis
• Bryan Cranston as himself (cameo)
• Aaron Paul as himself (cameo)
• Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues
• Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard
• Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie
FAQ – It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia TV Series
What are some iconic episodes to start with?
While hilarious throughout, fan-favorite episodes often include “The Nightman Cometh”, “Charlie Work”, and “The Gang Gets Held Hostage”.
A best-of list from Entertainment Weekly provides a great starting point.
Is It’s Always Sunny really the longest-running sitcom?
Yes, it holds the record as the longest-running live-action American sitcom, thanks to its steady cast.
Where is the show filmed?
Although set in Philadelphia, most interior scenes are filmed in Los Angeles. The exterior of Paddy’s Pub is a real building on Mateo Street in LA.
Some later seasons feature international settings, Season 15’s “Ireland arc” was actually shot in California and digitally altered.
Was Glenn Howerton tempted to leave the show?
Yes, before Season 12, Howerton nearly quit due to creative burnout.
However, his co-stars encouraged him to continue, and he stayed on for subsequent seasons, stepping back from writing but remaining on screen.
More on NYPost
What made the Abbott Elementary crossover so memorable?
In a creative gambit, the Sunny Gang appeared in Abbott Elementary on January 8, 2025, followed months later by It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia airing their side of the event on July 9.
Conclusion
In conclusion, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is not just a sitcom – it’s a cultural phenomenon that has redefined dark comedy on television.
With its fearless writing, outrageous characters, and unapologetic humor, the series pushes boundaries while still managing to stay fresh after so many seasons.
Each chapter of the show reflects both its willingness to evolve and its refusal to compromise on what makes it unique – the Gang’s chaotic chemistry.
For fans of edgy, no-holds-barred comedy, this series is a must-watch.
It proves that sometimes the most outrageous stories deliver the sharpest truths.