In a heartfelt revelation during the 20th anniversary of ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’, Glenn Howerton shared his near departure from the beloved series. Let’s dive into his insights and the dynamics of the cast.
Glenn Howerton Reflects on Nearly Leaving ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’
“I wanted to quit,” Glenn Howerton revealed during the 20th anniversary celebration of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The actor shared his feelings with a sold-out crowd at the Paley Center for Media’s event at the Directors Guild of America theater in Hollywood, alongside costars Rob Mac, Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olson, and Danny DeVito.
Concerns About the Show’s Longevity
Howerton explained that there was a “misconception” that he wanted to leave It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia for A.P. Bio, the high school sitcom he starred in from 2018 to 2021. “But no, I told the guys before we started working on Season 12, ‘Look, I just don’t want to wear out our welcome,'” he recalled.
The actor expressed his worries, saying, “We’d been doing this for a long time. I was anxious and felt boxed in, wanting to explore other opportunities in my career.” Despite his concerns, Howerton never lost appreciation for the show and suggested it might be time to end it. However, when Mac and Day insisted, “We don’t want to end it,” he resigned himself to their decision.
The Dynamics of the Cast
Mac humorously noted, “There were so many moments where Glenn has tried to quit, and we just won’t let him because of the implication.” This referenced a memorable scene from the episode “The Gang Buys a Boat.” Day confirmed, “We would never do [the show] without him.” DeVito added, “I never thought you were gonna quit,” amidst lighthearted banter.
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Returning to the Writers’ Room
Howerton mentioned that it didn’t take much persuasion to return as an actor, and soon he wanted to participate in writing again. “I couldn’t just let them have all the fun in the writers’ room,” he said, wanting to contribute his ideas. Mac added that they planned to ignore Howerton’s quitting desires, knowing that the show’s gravity would eventually pull him back in.
Celebrating 20 Years of Comedy
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is celebrating its 20th anniversary on August 4. The series has aired 16 seasons and 170 episodes, with Season 17 premiering on July 9 on FXX and Hulu, continuing its crossover with Abbott Elementary. The show holds the record as the longest-running live-action comedy in TV history, with three Emmy nominations for stunt coordination.
