38 Fun Facts About Hard It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

On what date did It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia premiere on FX?

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia premiered on FX on August 4, 2005, with the episode The Gang Gets Racist; Danny DeVito joined the cast in season two.

Which sitcom did Sunny surpass in December 2021 as the longest-running American live-action sitcom by seasons?

Season 15 in December 2021 gave Sunny 15 seasons, one more than The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, which ran 14 seasons from 1952 to 1966.

Before Kaitlin Olson was cast, who was going to play Sweet Dee?

Jordan Reid, McElhenney's girlfriend at the time, played Dee in the original pilot; after the couple broke up the part was recast with Kaitlin Olson, who later married McElhenney.

What was the working title of the original home-movie pilot?

The home-movie pilot was titled It's Always Sunny on TV, after the a-ha song The Sun Always Shines on T.V.; the gang were then written as struggling actors rather than bar owners.

What was the original concept for the theme song before the actor premise was dropped?

Under the original premise of the gang as struggling actors, the planned theme was a cha-cha version of Hooray for Hollywood; when that premise was dropped the show took a library cue instead.

Who composed Temptation Sensation, the show's theme song?

Heinz Kiessling, a German library-music composer, wrote Temptation Sensation; his cues On Your Bike and Blue Blood also run under the show's scene transitions.

The exterior of Paddy's Pub is shot at which real location?

Paddy's Pub's street exterior is The Starkman Building, Los Angeles, at 544 Mateo Street downtown; the bar interior is a soundstage set.

Which actor played Shelley Kelly, Charlie's father, in season 15?

Colm Meaney played Shelley Kelly, who in season 15 turns out to be Charlie's real father; the Gang spends the season finale carrying his corpse.

How many episodes were pulled from Hulu in 2020 over blackface and racial caricatures?

Five episodes were pulled from Hulu in June 2020 over blackface scenes, among them The Gang Recycles Their Trash, Dee Day and The Gang Makes Lethal Weapon 6.

In which episode is Mac's full name revealed to be Ronald McDonald?

The High School Reunion, a two-parter from late 2011, shows Mac's real name, Ronald McDonald, on his reunion name tag.

Who is Dennis and Dee's biological father?

Barbara tricked Frank into raising the twins because she thought he was richer; Stephen Collins played the philanthropist Mathis.

What was Rickety Cricket's job before the Gang ruined his life?

Matthew Mara was a Catholic priest when the Gang met him again in The Gang Exploits a Miracle; he left the priesthood for Dee and his life fell apart.

Cricket has his legs broken by whom?

The Philadelphia Mafia broke Cricket's legs in the two-part The Gang Gets Whacked, after the Gang set him up to take the fall for their drug dealing.

Which two actors play the McPoyle brothers Liam and Ryan?

Jimmi Simpson and Nate Mooney play Liam and Ryan McPoyle, the milk-drinking brothers introduced in season one's Charlie Got Molested.

Liam McPoyle's season 8 engagement to Dennis's ex-wife is called off after what?

In The Maureen Ponderosa Wedding Massacre the engagement collapses because her ex-husband sleeps with her: Dennis beds Maureen, leaving himself paying alimony after all.

Uncle Jack Kelly, Charlie's lawyer uncle, has a bizarre fixation on the size of what?

Uncle Jack is obsessed with his hands, insisting they are big while hiding how small they are; Andrew Friedman first played him in season one's Charlie Got Molested.

In which episode is the Lawyer, played by Brian Unger, first seen?

The Lawyer debuts in Dennis and Dee's Mom Is Dead, the season three episode in which he reads Barbara Reynolds' will as its executor.

Which singer are Dee and Artemis devoted superfans of?

Dee and Artemis are devoted fans of Josh Groban, the pop-classical singer whose followers call themselves Grobanites.

Which pro wrestler played Da Maniac, the deranged homeless wrestler?

Roddy Piper, the WWF's Rowdy Roddy Piper, played Da Maniac in The Gang Wrestles for the Troops, the unhinged wrestler the Gang recruits for their charity show.

Duncan and Z, Frank's bizarre friends, were met where?

Frank says he met Duncan and Z under a bridge; Z is played by Chad L. Coleman, who was Cutty on The Wire.

Ingrid Nelson, nicknamed Fatty Magoo, grew up to be a successful what?

Ingrid Nelson grew up to be a successful fashion designer with her own boutique; Judy Greer plays her, and Dennis pitches her a dress by modelling it himself.

Why was Dee known as the Aluminum Monster in high school?

Dee was called the Aluminum Monster because she wore a back brace for scoliosis through high school, and classmates mocked the metal frame.

Gail the Snail is related to Dennis and Dee how?

Gail the Snail is their cousin, daughter of Barbara's sister Donna; Mary Lynn Rajskub plays her, and the Gang throws salt to make her leave.

Ben the Soldier is first introduced as what?

Ben the Soldier, played by Travis Schuldt, first appears as Dee's online chat buddy in The Gang Wrestles for the Troops, where she expects a hunk and meets a short man.

In Dee Gives Birth, who turns out to be the father of Dee's baby?

Carmen fathered the baby with sperm she banked before transitioning; Dee carried it as a surrogate for Carmen and her husband Nick.

In Sweet Dee Gets Audited, why does Dennis blow chili powder into Dee's eyes?

Dennis blows chili powder into Dee's eyes because she cannot cry on cue at a fake funeral staged for her invented baby in front of the IRS agent.

Charlie is illiterate, but the show says he can read which language?

In season 15 Charlie finds he can read and write Irish fluently, though he is barely literate in English, and reads his father Shelley Kelly's letters without trouble.

In The Nightman Cometh, which two roles do Frank and Dee get?

Frank and Dee get the Troll and Princess parts in Charlie's rock opera, while Dennis takes the Dayman and Mac the Nightman, adding karate to the part.

Who directed The Nightman Cometh?

Matt Shakman, who directed dozens of Sunny episodes before WandaVision, directed The Nightman Cometh, the season four finale that aired on 20 November 2008.

In The Nightman Cometh, Charlie gives the Waitress a ticket and promises what if she attends?

Charlie promises the Waitress he will never bother her again if she comes; the show turns out to be a disguised marriage proposal, which she refuses on the spot.

Frank has nicknamed Bill Ponderosa what?

Frank calls Bill Ponderosa Pondy; Bill, played by Lance Barber, is Maureen's brother and a willing partner for Frank's worst impulses.

Which season 10 episode follows one elaborate plan to pass a surprise health inspection?

Charlie Work, from season 10, tracks Charlie's elaborate scheme to get Paddy's through a health inspection, shot in long single-take sequences modelled on Birdman.

Glenn Howerton was born in which country?

Glenn Howerton was born in Japan, in Okinawa Prefecture, to American parents; he later played Jim Balsillie in the 2023 film BlackBerry.

Rob McElhenney became co-owner of which football club in February 2021?

Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds completed their takeover of Wrexham A.F.C. in February 2021; McElhenney also co-created Mythic Quest with Charlie Day and Megan Ganz.

Kaitlin Olson played which recurring character on Curb Your Enthusiasm?

Kaitlin Olson played Becky, Cheryl David's sister, across several seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm; she later led the ABC drama High Potential as Morgan Gillory.

Danny DeVito won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for playing which character before Frank Reynolds?

Danny DeVito won a 1980 Golden Globe and a 1981 Emmy as the tyrannical dispatcher Louie De Palma on Taxi; he joined Sunny in the season two premiere.

What is the name of the Gang's brutal homemade board game, introduced in 2011?

Chardee MacDennis, named for the four who play it, debuts in 2011's Chardee MacDennis: The Game of Games, with three levels: Mind, Body and Spirit.

How many episodes did the first season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia run for in 2005?

Season one ran seven episodes, ending September 15, 2005; word of mouth was strong enough for FX to renew it despite low ratings.