The story and the show could not have existed if two talented American actors had not taken up this project. Among the masterminds, was a native of the City of Brotherly Love, who later gave the series its current name. Read more about the details of the sitcom’s history, its plot and the process of filming, including the places used for this in Philadelphia, on philadelphia-trend.
The beginning of the story and its plot
Once, the actor Rob McElhenney wrote a short script for a new sketch about two friends. One of them learned that his friend had cancer, when he came to ask for sugar. After taking it, he left. Glenn Howerton, a native of Philadelphia, liked the comedy story. Charlie Day later joined them and they thought about making a television series instead of separate episodes.
The debut movie was called It’s Always Sunny on TV, dedicated to the composition of the Norwegian band a-ha. In an interview with the American mass media, Glenn said that he heard this song during training.
Enthusiasts conducted the creative process at home and the pilot version was filmed on a digital video camera. The production cost two hundred dollars. However, even this did not prevent the television studio FX Network from buying the first season. The powerful holding expanded the budget of the episodes to more than four hundred thousand dollars and even professional cameras appeared. However, at the same time, the plot of the series changed to such an extent that the name had to be changed. Glenn accepted the founders’ corrections but stood his ground on the name. They found a Solomonic solution thanks to his Philadelphia origin. Thus, he suggested renaming the sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It revealed the story of the relationship of the pub workers in the City of Brotherly Love.
The debut season of the sitcom was shot in the city but did not bring great success to the project managers. Rob and Glenn were advised to add more recognizable actors to boost the picture’s ratings. This is how the legendary native of the neighboring state of Pennsylvania, Danny DeVito, appeared in it.
The plot of the series is based on the life of The Gang. It is a group of friends who suffer from social phobia but, at the same time, manage the Irish bar Paddy’s Pub. Their small enterprise is located in the south of the oldest city in the United States of America. There, friends and owners of the bar devote more time to adventures than to work, as usually happens in sitcoms. They plot, drink, argue with each other and with other townspeople, etc.
In the summer of 2023, the sixteenth season of the series was released, making it one of the longest running in America. During this time, the multi-episode sitcom about the residents of Philly has received mixed reviews from critics and viewers. Some dislike the current show because of its dark humor, others vice versa.
Philadelphian locations that were filmed
Despite the plot and title, the show was filmed not only in Philadelphia. Surprisingly enough for fans of this project, even the restaurant that appears in each of the series is located in Los Angeles.
As for filming in the first capital of the United States of America, it is worth noting such locations as Lincoln Financial Field, Penn’s Landing, Benjamin Franklin Bridge, Boathouse Row, Logan Square, 30th Street Station, etc.
Citizens Bank Park also appeared in the series. Scenes on the ice of the local rink were filmed there. Another interesting place is Bruce Mathis’s Office and Arts Bank – the University of the Arts. There the characters played by Danny DeVito and Rob McElhenney took part in another adventure.
The main characters stopped before the trip to buy furniture, a cassette and a punching bag for their friend from gypsies at the Italian market.
At the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, fellow adventurers fought to have their bar declared a Historic Site for its role in the American Revolution.
Especially interesting for tourists who are fans of this show is the Swann Memorial Fountain, located in Logan Square. It really becomes incomprehensible when you remember how one of the characters peed there…
