The Poster Memorabilia blog

Hanging Out with the Sunny Philly Gang

A Hall H homecoming for the gang — and one fan's proof that Paddy's Pub fandom is anything but niche.

By an anonymous Hollywood insider

People always get weirded out when I say that It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is my comfort show. They probably expected me to say either Friends, How I Met Your Mother, or Seinfeld, and I like those shows too, but “Sunny” will always be my favorite. No show is like it anywhere else on TV.

I get why others don't get it. The humor isn't for everyone, and they don't mind getting into controversy for a good joke. I'm not the “wokest” guy you'll know, but even I scrunch up my face a bit when I see them go there. This show isn't for the faint of heart, I'll just say that.

But I love it! I find them relatable, or know people who are just like them. I enjoy their dynamic, and it really feels like they're just a couple of friends getting into trouble. And I love how they commit to the bit, even when it means getting into humiliating situations.

I'm glad the show stood the test of time, and it's still going strong after 20 years. If that's not a mark of a great series, then what is? With every generation, the gang gets a new legion of fans. It couldn't have happened to a more deserving TV friend group.

When I went to see them at Comic-Con in 2013, I witnessed the fandom in person. I don't have many friends or colleagues who like the show, so I always thought it was just a niche series that only its fans know. But I was wrong. I swear the hall could've been a Marvel panel with how crowded it was.

“I swear the hall could've been a Marvel panel with how crowded it was.”

The panel also marked the cast's return to Comic-Con after a year's hiatus. The cast first appeared at the event in 2008, but they started doing it more consistently in 2010. For some reason, they skipped 2012 and eventually returned in 2013, much to the delight of us fans.

It was only a one-year skip, but fans couldn't help but get wild when they showed up again. I'm definitely one of them, too. Part of it is that 2012 was the first year I went to Comic-Con and they weren't there. Another is that I was adamant about getting their autographs after missing them the year before.

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As you can see, I did get it, but the best part was finally seeing them in person. I've been a fan of theirs since season 1, so it was a huge deal for me to see them in real life. Because they're so good in the series, part of me thought they were slightly similar to their characters in real life, even if only a little, but I was wrong.

Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, and Danny DeVito were nothing like their “Sunny” characters. They were just as funny, but in a totally different way. They seemed like actual good people in real life, which is a testament to their acting talents.

More than 20 years later, I'm still watching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I don't think I'll ever stop, and I hope they don't stop making it, too. They deserve to last as long as The Simpsons, and both shows are comedy gold!

Some things you watch. This one you keep.

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