Parents' Guide to

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

By Lucy Maher, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Irreverent comedy for older teens only.

TV Comedy Central , FX , FXX Comedy 2005
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 14+

Based on 19 parent reviews

nicolh98
nicolh98 Parent of 5, 12 and 16-year-old
August 20, 2022
age 14+

Good Comedy, But for adults

A great show, but for mature audiences. The main characters to simply put it are "bad" people, alcoholics, at points addicts, manipulative, racist and almost everything-phobic at points. The jokes are funny, plot lines are enjoyable (despite almost always being ridiculous to some extent) but it is definitely not intended for younger audiences. I would say it's best for older teens (16/17+) or at least mid-teens (~14) with adult supervision, and some episodes might not be fit for the lower age bracket at all anyways. Definitely a comedy geared towards adults though, half the jokes would've still gone over my head when I was 18.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
AJP58
AJP58 Adult
June 5, 2022
age 17+
Hilarious sitcom but is absolutely not for kids. It follows a group of alcoholic, morally reprehensible friends and the situations they get themselves into. Sex references galore, one character is a sociopath who treats women terribly and he blurs the line when it comes to consensual sex. Implied incest between some characters. Constant strong language and alcohol/drug use. Fantastic show that provides social commentary while making you laugh, but keep your kids away from it. The content here can easily be misconstrued by younger kids.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 19 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In FX's IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADEPHIA, four self-involved friends from high school who all work in a neighborhood bar attempt to balance their professional and personal lives. Each week, the core foursome stumbles from one bad situation to another while putting the spotlight on social faux pas and moral questions including pedophilia, bribery in politics, gun ownership, and taking advantage of the elderly.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (19 ):
Kids say (43 ):

The show began as a $200 digital camera project that was later sold to FX by executive producers/writers/stars Glenn Howerton (That '80s Show, Must Love Dogs), Charlie Day (Law & Order, Third Watch) and Rob McElhenney (A Civil Action, Wonder Boys) who play Dennis, Charlie, and Mac, respectively. Dennis' sister, Dee, is played by Kaitlin Olson; Danny DeVito joined the show in its second season as Dennis and Dee's dad, Frank (marking DeVito's first regular TV role since Taxi).

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's humor comes from the offbeat scenarios in which the friends find themselves; the humor is dark and adult, and none of the characters are particularly admirable. For example, when Charlie's ex-girlfriend informs him that he's the father of her child, it inspires Charlie to attend a pro-choice rally in the hopes of meeting another woman. In another episode, Frank returns to tell Dee and Dennis that he and their mother are divorcing. Frank proceeds to call his wife a "whore mother" who is "on vacation banging one of the boys she hangs out with." Younger viewers might find the physical hijinks funny, but the writing and subtle jabs at society's hang-ups will fly right over their head.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about relationships. Why is it important to love and respect your parents, siblings, sons, and daughters? How can family members smooth over differences? Is it easier to confront/get mad at family members than friends? Why or why not?

  • Families can also talk about the issues raised by the show. What is the show trying to say by dealing with sometimes-controversial topics in a funny way?

TV Details

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