Here’s Why ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ Isn’t Really the Longest-Running Sitcom in History
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia made headlines in 2020 when it ed The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet as the longest-running sitcom in history. But as SlashFilm rightly points out, It’s Always Sunny’s spot in the record books should come with multiple qualifiers. Sure, it deserves flowers for longevity, but before we throw a big party down at Paddy’s Pub, let’s throw some asterisks on those accolades.
Asterisk #1: Longest-Running Sitcom (U.S. Edition*)
In the United States, It’s Always Sunny’s 16 seasons qualify it for the top spot in the Hypothetical Book of Sitcom Records. But if we take a more global perspective, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia isn’t even within shouting distance.
Consider Last of the Summer Wine, the long-running BBC comedy that began in 1974 and ran uninterrupted through 2010. That’s 31 freaking seasons — or roughly double the number of It’s Always Sunny seasons. The British comedy, about “a trio of elderly men and their youthful misadventures,” understandably had cast come and go, but its longevity record is astounding.
Asterisk #2: Longest-Running (Live-Action*) Sitcom (U.S. Edition*)
It’s Always Sunny desperately needs its live-action qualifier since animated sitcoms like South Park (26 seasons) would leave the Gang in the dust. One could argue that these animated counterparts don’t qualify as sitcoms, but any of those shows’ descriptions — aren’t they all about dysfunctional families surviving comic misadventures? — apply to It’s Always Sunny as well. The shows have more in common than not.
Asterisk #3: Longest-Running (Live-Action*) Sitcom (By Number of Seasons*) (U.S. Edition*)
A funny thing happened to television shows in the 21st century. The number of episodes produced in any given season reduced dramatically, with some producers claiming multiple “seasons” in a single year. That’s why a show like MTV’s Ridiculousness, despite beginning in 2011, somehow claims that it has 43 seasons under its belt.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia exists in a sitcom era that requires seven to 15 episodes per season. In the Ozzie and Harriet days, sitcoms were expected to churn out 26 to 39 installments every season. Can we really applaud It’s Always Sunny for outlasting every sitcom in history when it has produced 179 episodes to Ozzie and Harriet’s 435? In of comedy produced, It’s Always Sunny hasn’t even gotten halfway to Ozzie’s mark. (Those animated sitcoms also kick Sunny’s ass when it comes to number of episodes.)
None of the asterisks are meant to disqualify It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s status as an all-time great. But like in any sports discussion (turns out some old-time players were pretty good too), recency bias shouldn’t have us handing out sitcom crowns before they’ve truly been earned.
