One of the few half-hour comedies to hear any good news these days is FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which was just picked up for a third season by the network. Danny Devito has also committed to appear as a series regular for all subsequent seasons. Sunny's third season will consist of 15 new episodes. That's five more than the second, and eight more than the first. Sunny's pick-up is big news in the television industry for reasons that have nothing to do with Devito, FX's fan base or the reputation of barkeeps in Philly. Sunny is one of basic, ad-supported cable's biggest sitcom successes ever, and its pilot episode is the stuff of industry legend. The episode was shot on a digital camcorder and distributed for amounts that have been said to range from $85-$400. That pilot, which picked up steam via the internet, resulted in the show's creators Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney and Glenn Howerton receiving $400,000 from FX to shoot a first season.
The question for many TV comedy writers out there is whether this could be the new way comedy is brought to television - through internet word-of-mouth and basic cable - especially as network's turn more and more to unscripted reality shows and CSI-type procedurals to complete their line-ups. Scrubs and Nobody's Watching creator Bill Lawrence is fretting about the subject on TV Guide Online, and the New York Times reported a couple of weeks ago that United Talent Agency, along with several networks, have set-up offices just to cull the internet for new comedy talent. Sunny is a fun, irreverent show that deserves all kinds of success, but it is also the harbinger of change in an uncertain industry.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-07-2006 @ 3:03PM
meeno said...
Glad to see they picked it up for a third season, this show is pretty funny.
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11-07-2006 @ 3:03PM
rick said...
It's hard to say how this move will affect the industry as a whole, though it's quite easy to say how it will affect me directly: AWESOMELY.
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia is one of the most refreshing, and hillarious comedies in years, grouped together with Arrested Development and both versions of The Office as signs that somewhere out there people still know how to make us laugh.
When did television become so serious anyway?
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11-07-2006 @ 3:11PM
Carissa said...
The irreverant politically incorrect basis of this show kicks ass. It's funny because it doesn't have to deep think it's topics - its just picks up on the vibe of current culture and runs with it, with truth, humor and no fear. Networks will never be able to come to terms with this idea, so they should leave the internet searches to the cable outlets so that we can still have some adult humor in the market that doesn't preach.
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11-07-2006 @ 3:19PM
Jim said...
The show being picked up for a third season is good news. Danny Devito's continued presence is not.
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11-07-2006 @ 3:31PM
SamMalone said...
Third season, does this mean it'll head to Syndication now? I guess it's not unprecedented with Sex and the City having done it, but it could end up on broadcast TV.
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11-07-2006 @ 3:58PM
Jim said...
I could be wrong -- and I probably am -- but I think 100 episodes are required for syndication. It's Always Sunny runs short seasons -- only 10-15 episodes, as I recall.
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11-07-2006 @ 4:23PM
Alex Davis said...
100 episodes are necessary, but some shows like NewsRadio have snuck by with less, although I think Phili has far too less at this point. Phili is the best and funniest sitcom I have seen since NewsRadio and I truly hope it lives a long, full life. Man, 2007 comes new Family Guy, Futurama, and Phili. It'll be a great TV year.
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11-07-2006 @ 4:25PM
Dwacon said...
It is great to see how with a small investment and lots of yankee ingenuity, those guys were able to become network show runners.
But what's up with DeVito ???????????
--
dwacon
www.dwacon.com
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11-07-2006 @ 7:56PM
ooda said...
Personally, I prefer the shows sans De Vito, but the word is that without his involvement (he was/is a fan of the show, and asked to guest), it wouldn't have been renewed for a second season.
All up there are something like 16 or 17 episodes, so as far as syndication goes, we have a good, ah, nine seasons or so to go.
Have they even released the season 1 DVD yet?
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11-08-2006 @ 1:27PM
Bex said...
I'm with everyone else on this one. Hooray Sunny! Danny DeVito- meh. I find the episodes that don't have him to be funnier. Nazi grandfathers beat out run-of-the-mill whore wives any day.
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11-08-2006 @ 8:51PM
Mary said...
woohoo! this is good news. Love this show.
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11-09-2006 @ 1:05AM
maloney said...
hell yeah! I am not a TV person at all, but this show is fantastic. glad to see they kept it.
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11-14-2006 @ 5:59PM
Victoria said...
Great! Does anyone know if seasons 1 and 2 will be released on DVD?
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11-15-2006 @ 10:35PM
Heather said...
i love always sunny. that show cracks me up. i am so glad they get another season. when can i buy the dvd's?
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11-21-2006 @ 6:54PM
Carol said...
Yes, will the DVD of the season 1 be out before Christmas!?!? I have several people I need to buy this for!! HHhheeeelllppp!!!
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1-05-2007 @ 11:49AM
Larry said...
Cudos for the network to pick the show up for a third season.
But the network has to be careful now and not sway away from the original premis of the first season. By adding DeVito last seson which I think was a Good thing has to be fine tuned. HE DID NOT QUITE BLEND IN. There was to much arguing with his character and the orginal characters. The writing seemed to try and feature him instesd of around the entire screw ball plots that made the show popular. The writers should just have him blend in for now until his chaacter is fully formed and the audiance gets to know him. The arguing became anoying at times. (This is not TAXI.)I think their are a lot of people that will agree with me. Please post comments as to if I am right or wrong.
Good Luck for the third Season, I will be watching and I am sure it will be another successful enjoyable season.
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1-08-2007 @ 8:50PM
Melissa said...
I am VERY glad that "Sunny" was picked up for another season. My family, friends & most of my co-workers all have the same off-beat sense of humor, so we all tend to gather at a local bar to watch on Thursdays. It's also spawned "one liners" that will go down in history ("Is it bunchy in the back?", "I do good...!!", among MANY others). Also glad to see it happen to three very normal, very grounded guys. KUDOS.
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