‘I Wanted to Quit’: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Star Reveals Near Exit

by

One of television history’s most beloved sitcoms owes much of its success to having a flawless cast. Each actor contributes something unique and indispensable to the show, as demonstrated by Glenn Howerton, who portrays Dennis Reynolds. Fortunately, he didn’t leave the series, which would have been a significant loss.

At the Season 17 premiere and 20th anniversary event of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” at the Paley Center, all the main cast members were present. Rob McElhenney (Howerton) had expressed concerns about potentially leaving after Season 11, fearing that the show might overstay its welcome. He also mentioned that he felt he was missing out on other opportunities due to his involvement in the series.

He explained that he didn’t leave because he had other commitments, contrary to popular belief suggesting he went off to study AP Bio or similar. He clarified to his colleagues, in fact, before the start of season 12, that he felt weary about overstaying our welcome. He worried that perhaps they had reached their peak and he was simply anxious.

Howerton explained, “I hadn’t found a way to diversify my career beyond the show while still pursuing other interests. I felt a bit constrained and yearned for more. To be honest, I didn’t dislike the show; it held great value. However, I thought maybe it was time for a change. They responded by saying they didn’t want to conclude it. So, I guess I can’t prevent that.

Despite not participating in the writers’ room during Seasons 13 and 14, Howerton chose to stay on with the series as an actor. The rest of the team assumed that Howerton’s temporary departure would be short-lived, so they didn’t write a farewell scene for Dennis. Instead, they continued to include Dennis in fresh episodes, and eventually, Howerton decided he didn’t want to part ways with the show.

The Show Would Never Be the Same if Any of the Stars Left

He stated, “If any of us were to depart, it would disrupt the balance.” Essentially, he was comparing our group to a finely tuned machine. Removing one part wouldn’t result in the same functionality. This isn’t meant as a boast about his or anyone else’s importance, but rather an acknowledgement that each member plays a crucial role in maintaining the harmony and effectiveness of the whole.

As a devoted fan, I’m excited to share that the show features Rob McElhenney portraying Ronald “Mac” McDonald, Kaitlin Olson bringing “Sweet Dee” Reynolds to life, Charlie Day embodying the character of Charlie Kelly, and more!

The seventeenth season of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is set to debut on Wednesday, July 9, on FXX. If you can’t wait to watch it live, you can stream the new episodes on Hulu the very next day.

Read More

2025-07-04 04:20