Glenn Howerton reveals the behind-the-scenes struggle that nearly ended his iconic role on America’s longest-running comedy series
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Glenn Howerton’s plan to leave “It’s Always Sunny”: Inside Story
Glenn Howerton almost walked out of his famous show! In a recent 20th anniversary panel, the star and co-creator revealed how many doubts he had about continuing “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”
What was the breaking point?
“I was worried we had peaked,” Howerton said about his thoughts during season 12. He felt like he was stuck in a box.
“I wanted to do more things,” he explained of his frustration, which was forcing him to consider leaving the hit FXX comedy.
Exit Strategy
Remember when Dennis moved to North Dakota to become a father? This wasn’t a random plot twist—it was potentially Howerton’s escape route since he had landed the lead role in NBC’s “A.P. Bio.”
After the Season 12 finale, fans were confused about whether Dennis (and Howerton) would return.
The gang did not let us go
Rob McElhenney jokingly said that there were “a lot of moments” when Howerton wanted to leave the show, but the team “didn’t let him go… because of the implication.”
His solution was very simple: keep Dennis writing in the show and wait for Howerton to come back.
Show’s Magnetic Pull
Despite wanting to explore other opportunities, Howerton didn’t stay away for long.
“I was finding myself giving you opinions on episodes,” he told his co-stars. “I needed to come back and get my hands dirty.”
Though he stepped away from the writing team for seasons 13-14, “Sunny’s gravity” eventually pulled him back for full participation.
No plans to stop now
While “A.P. Bio” ended after four seasons, “It’s Always Sunny” continues to grow as TV’s longest-running live-action American comedy.
Season 17 will release on July 9, and season 18 is already in development.
In McElhenney’s words, he has a simple checklist: “Are we still having fun, are we growing creatively, and is the audience still there?”
Till now, all the boxes have been checked.
