Glenn Howerton Has a “Mind Meld” With the It’s Always Sunny Gang

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Caution: This discussion may reveal details about the premiere episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17, titled ‘The Gang Disrupts Abbott Elementary,’ aired on FXX on July 9.

In the show “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” the question “What is Dennis Reynolds up to?” often leads to an unsettling response.

The character portrayed by Glenn Howerton, who owns the bar and has been depicted for 20 years, has a questionable past involving surreptitiously recording intimate moments with women, harboring inappropriate fantasies about his twin sister’s skin, and generally being a troublemaker capable of swiftly transitioning from calm to furious. In the first episode of a two-part crossover between It’s Always Sunny and ABC’s Abbott Elementary, titled “Volunteers,” which aired in January, Dennis was largely absent, avoiding the documentary crew from Abbott due to past experiences with being filmed and limited availability on set because of his role in another production, Sirens. Six months later, in the season-17 premiere of It’s Always Sunny, titled “The Gang Fs Up Abbott Elementary,” we learn more about what Dennis was doing during their week of volunteering at the school. It turns out that he was making coffee for the teachers using lab equipment, which is surprisingly harmless. This aligns with how Howerton often incorporates aspects of his own life into Dennis’ character, such as his dislike of Teslas and now, his passion for quality coffee, a trait reflecting Howerton’s personal standards for his java.

Howerton, who oversees the series’ annual blooper reel, explains why he suggested the scene: ‘I’m quite particular about coffee, so when I came up with that pitch, it was because of that.’ He admits his setup isn’t as elaborate as Gale’s in Breaking Bad, but he emphasizes his high standards. ‘I’m extremely choosy,’ he says. ‘I just found it amusing to imagine Dennis noticing a minor issue and deciding to fix it, even though others might not notice or care.’ He often finds himself getting caught up in small details like this.

In the show “Abbott Elementary,” written by Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, and Keyonna Taylor, Dennis is seen doing various things such as brewing coffee, trying to form a boy band with kids, and rewriting a song with Charlie. I was part of the team that came up with these ideas during our writers’ room session for this episode. As far as I recall, it was either me or someone else who suggested we create a new version of “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” but when we realized Fall Out Boy had already done their own version, everyone found it hilarious that we were so upset about being beaten to the punch by them on everything. This idea struck me as particularly amusing because it added an unexpected element of rivalry between our characters and Fall Out Boy.

In the mockumentary style of Abbott Elementary and It’s Always Sunny, the filming is quite flexible. You don’t stick to specific spots; it’s all handheld and improvised, which allows for a lot of creativity. My character, Dennis, is self-conscious about being filmed, so there was a lot of playfulness with where we placed the cameras. Since everyone else seems to forget about the cameras, I often call attention to them, creating a running commentary. The fun part was also forgetting at times and discovering blind spots for Dennis, where he doesn’t realize his actions might be ridiculous. For instance, when auditioning the kid for our boy band or making coffee, my character didn’t think these were bad things to do, so there was no need to hide from the cameras in those moments.

In a particular scene within the boy band, Frank expresses the need for an attractive member, causing Dennis to initially show surprise before adopting a neutral expression, as if in that instant he recalls the presence of the camera. This gives the impression that he’s quickly adjusting his reaction for the lens.

When asked about your portrayal of Dennis, you’ve said that when he’s angry, you don’t act out anger; you genuinely feel it. In the moment Fall Out Boy announced they remade “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” how deeply did you tap into that fury?

In this scenario, we focus on the intensity with which we embody our characters and apply that to the show’s writing in general—providing characters with absurd desires, but making them genuinely yearn for those things. When portraying Dennis, I immerse myself so deeply that it becomes instinctual. When playing different characters like Jack in “A.P. Bio,” the challenge lies in avoiding repetition, especially when the character shares similarities with Dennis. The enjoyment of playing Jack was finding fresh ways to express frustration and anger, as well as being the straight man in absurd situations. I relished this challenge because it allowed me to explore new territories, as I’m accustomed to Dennis’s reactions and they come naturally due to years of practice. It’s like a divine inspiration taking over—I feel more like a medium channeling something rather than consciously acting.

In this episode, the chaotic conversation involving the conspiracy theories serves as a highlight of a typical gang dialogue. They egg each other on, they argue, they interrupt one another. As actors, how do we prepare for such a lively exchange?

Over time, I’ve learned what to say to elicit the funniest response from Kaitlin, Charlie, Rob, or Danny. When Charlie sets me up, I know what he’s aiming to extract from me. It has become so instinctive. We’re like a comedy troupe – think of the Harlem Globetrotters – we communicate without even needing to communicate. There’s a unique connection that forms among the five of us when we’re on set together. We play ping-pong with each other. It’s like a game where I don’t know if I’m going to hit it to the right or to the left, and you have to be ready to catch the ball wherever it lands. We can guide the scene in any direction we choose. That unpredictability, constant improvisation, and scene alterations contribute to the show feeling spontaneous and unrehearsed, because it is and isn’t.

Do you recall if anything in that particular scene was ad-libbed, apart from the names of the terrorists? The scripted parts included those, as well as our emphasis on not forgetting 9/11, a promise we made and now seem to be breaking. The rest was more flexible, improvised.

I found the 9/11 discussion fascinating, as I believe “It’s Always Sunny” has often incorporated political themes into its humor, even though it’s not typically classified as a politically-driven show. For instance, episodes like “The Gang Goes Jihad,” or when Dennis begins podcasting and is taken aback by the existence of two ongoing wars, demonstrate this. Does your perception of the series align with this view? Personally, I see it more as a satire of the extremes that politics can bring out in people, regardless of the topic at hand. In this specific instance, the characters all present themselves as ardent patriots, but their displays of patriotism sometimes lead to appalling behavior.

It’s often observed that many passionate nationalists may not fully grasp the essence and original intentions of their country. Some people hold an unusual definition of patriotism. While it’s absolutely patriotic to never forget events like 9/11, different patriots might question the official account, sometimes without much provocation, and they might believe that uncovering the truth behind it is the most patriotic course of action. This paradox amused me in the joke – we go from deeply mourning the reality of 9/11 to questioning if it was a hoax altogether.

The coffee break stirred up thoughts about how Dennis from It’s Always Sunny often appears as though he could live a normal life if he desired, but instead, he prefers to stay at Paddy’s Pub without putting in any effort. I find that admirable. This scene brings to mind the idea that perhaps this character could escape his chaotic life and troublesome companions if only he weren’t his own nemesis. Perhaps a more tranquil existence is possible for him, but it seems destined to be elusive. Just like my character did at the conclusion of season 12, when he attempted to start anew in North Dakota with a woman and child, only to find himself back at the bar after mere moments. It’s evident that these individuals are kindred spirits who will inevitably be drawn back together.

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2025-07-10 22:54