It's (almost) always sunny in Philadelphia : how three friends spent $200 to create the longest-running live-action sitcom in history and help build a network / Kimberly Potts.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

In the bestselling traditions of Seinfeldia and Top of the Rock comes a fascinating deep dive into the longest-running live-action sitcom in television history, from its humble beginnings to its evolution as a critically acclaimed cult classic comedy .

Charlie, Dennis, Mac, Sweet Dee, and Frank are deplorable characters. They will never mature, become more self-aware, or less self-involved. That is what the creators of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia are committed to--and that's why the show's millions of devoted fans have stuck with the cult comedy hit for over sixteen seasons and counting.

Created in 2005 by stars Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day, unemployed actors with a pair of Law & Order guest appearances as the highlights of their collective resume, the frustrated trio drafted a homemade TV pilot. A few months and $200 later (the cost of videotapes, pizza for their friends who volunteered as extras, and a broomstick to tape their boom mic to), It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia was ready for its network debut. All major parties either passed or were interested but wanted creative control. And then came FX looking to shake up cable TV. Willing to allow McElhenney, Howerton, and Day complete freedom to deconstruct the traditional sitcom, new president John Landgraf agreed to take a chance. No one had any idea how big of a success it would be. With FX's one creative note--the hiring of Danny DeVito--adding the final piece of the puzzle, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has enjoyed a steady climb to high ratings, critical acclaim, and a place in the cultural zeitgeist. Now, how the show and its creators have accomplished this is revealed with this in-depth, behind-the-scenes celebration.

As thoughtful, provocative, and engaging as the show itself, this book also explores how the show has pushed the envelope and used absurdist comedy to explore major societal issues, including the #MeToo movement, LGBTQ+ rights, racism, and more. It also asks, what does the future hold for The Gang? It certainly won't include the characters' personal growth, but the show itself continues to move forward, adding to its dynamic history with each season.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Pop Literacy podcaster Potts (The Way We All Became the Brady Bunch) delivers an encyclopedic history of the FX comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Star Rob McElhenney conceived the show as "a deconstruction of the classic sitcom" and filmed a pilot with friends Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day for less than $200. The trio had few credits and struggled to sell the show until FX president John Landgraf, harboring ambitions to transform the little-known cable channel into "a prime destination for comedy," greenlit the series in 2005. Potts describes how during the penny-pinching production of the first season, McElhenney worked as a waiter after full days on set to make ends meet, and Day wrote scripts on a note pad because he didn't have a computer. The show became a sleeper hit over its first five seasons and established itself as the cornerstone of FX's comedy programming across the subsequent 11 seasons and counting. Though Potts leans heavily on episode summaries, she peppers in plenty of fun behind-the-scenes looks at the show's most beloved moments, including how Day improvised the lyrics to the fan favorite song "Dayman." This will satisfy the show's many devotees. Agent: Laurie Abkemeier, DeFiore & Co. (July)

Booklist Review

Entertainment journalist Potts takes a close look at the popular sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, from its very humble beginnings in the early aughts to its growth into an enduring, 16-seasons-and-counting pop-culture hit. Centered around a group of self-serving proprietors of a dive bar, the show got its start when a trio of struggling writer-actors--Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day--decided to do their own financing to film a pilot for a show set in LA and called It's Always Sunny on TV. When FX greenlit the show for a six-episode first season, they moved it to Philly and eventually expanded the cast, first adding Kaitlin Olson to play Dee, the twin sister of Howerton's Dennis and then, in season two, bringing in screen legend Danny DeVito as Frank, the twins' father. Potts takes a deep dive into the exploits of The Gang, from their most outrageous outings to aging showrunners to the most devoted fans (including one who took a life-sized cardboard cutout of Frank to her prom). A delight for It's Always Sunny lovers.