The Emmys Continue To Snub The Greatest Sitcom Of All Time, That Needs To Change
Despite running on a major premium cable channel for over 16 seasons and counting, FX’s It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia has somehow never received an Emmy award. The series has received 3 nominations from the academy, each for Outstanding Stunt Coordination For A Comedy Series but Always Sunny has never been recognized as the comedic, dramatic, and cultural powerhouse that it is.
The creators of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia have referenced this with a meta episode about winning awards, as well as a recent appearance on the Emmy’s in which the entire main cast united on stage to present the award for Outstanding Talk Series.
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia Since 2005
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia has been airing new episodes since 2005, and garnered millions of viewers worldwide in the two decades since it was first developed. The show has spawned countless memes and cultural references, including some which transcend viewership of the actual series.
Yet, when it comes to being recognized by their peers at the academy, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia has been repeatedly ignored and disrespected.
The Gang Tries Desperately To Win An Award
All the way back in 2013, an episode titled “The Gang Tries Desperately To Win An Award” was released, in which the characters of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia wonder aloud why they’ve never been selected for the local bar awards.
At first, the gang insists that they don’t care about awards and that ceremonies of this kind are stupid, though this emotional front quickly melts away as each member demands recognition for their hard work.
Eventually, the characters, and therefore the creators, reconcile that It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia isn’t meant to win awards, due to the abrasive nature of the writing and the low-brow humor the show is based on.
Award-Worthy Performances
Still, Kaitlin Olson has submitted herself to literal torture for the good of the show, sinking into a bog, suffering injuries from performing physical comedy, and even genuinely allowing her co-stars to waterboard her in place of using movie magic.
Glenn Howerton is a Juilliard-trained professional, whose comedic chops and staggering facial acting have grounded the show to an insane premise on multiple occasions.
Charlie Day gave a heart-wrenching performance in It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia‘s season 15 finale that is worth a dozen Emmy’s alone, in which he cries for his estranged, deceased father whom he had only just met while on a trip to Ireland.
Obsessed Fans
While It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia‘s longevity doesn’t necessarily command recognition from the Academy Awards, it does demonstrate that the show is well-liked by a massive audience.
It is surprising that the many, many fans who obsess over It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia enough to make the companion podcast number 1 on all platforms have been continually ignored by Emmy voters, in favor of middle-of-the-road shows that do nothing to experiment with the artistic format of television or elevate the medium in any way.
Bigger Cultural Impact
The Big Bang Theory has over a dozen Emmy awards, while Everybody Loves Raymond has received 15 wins with 69 nominations.
While there’s nothing inherently wrong with either of those shows, you’d be hard-pressed to find a television viewer with a pulse who believes they are more transformative, interesting, or impactful to culture than It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.
Always Sunny In Philadelphia Should Win
One day It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia will win a prestigious award of some kind, as the show has had too powerful an impact to be swept under the rug forever. Whether the show is appreciated in its own lifetime, or given a symbolic win like the Lifetime Achievement Award still remains to be seen.
