Today marks 20 years of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - a show I've watched almost every single day for the entire two decades it's been on air.
I included at least 16 references to Sunny in my latest book Letters to Our Robot Son (there was over 50 in the first draft - and the references are part of a bigger, unrevealed secret in the story).
Amanda and I fall asleep each night watching the show; with the TV timer on. I’ve seen every episode many dozens to hundreds of times. We quote it constantly.
Despite following the worst people imaginable, Sunny is a rare bastion of hilarious, decent and positive LGBTQIA+ stories.
Series creator @robmac once said that of all the depraved shenanigans the show has exhibited, their one regret was the treatment of a trans character all the way back in season one (which was, by the standard two decades ago, still miles above all other storytelling of trans people). The show doubled down to give that character, Carmen, a great multi-seasonal arc.
Rob’s character Mac goes on his own queer journey in the show - one that took twelve and a half seasons to realise. This alone might be one of the most authentic portrayals of queerness ever captured on screen, because it embraces the long, slow, complicated journeys many of us go on in finding ourselves.
The payoff a season later with “the dance” is one of the most beautiful moments ever seen on television and still brings me to tears.
Seeing the Paddy’s Pub family squabble and scream and scheme and get one over on one another reminds me of the household I grew up in - I feel at home watching Sunny.
Here’s to 20 more years of the gang!
@kaitlinolson @robmac @charlie_day@glennhowerton @dannydevito
