10 More Underhyped Shows That Blew Everyone Away
3. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia might be the most unlikely success story on this list. Created by stars Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day, the series was originally titled It's Always Sunny On TV, and was shot for nothing on some digital cameras in the trio's own apartments.
After some gruelling pitches and major rewrites (the original premise was centred on three out-of-work actors, but this was too similar to other shows of the time), the trio got FX onboard for one properly financed season of the retitled It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia.
The budget was still crazy low, mind, and FX was worried the dark tone, controversial jokes and low production design would ruin things right out the gate.
Come the second season, though, when the studio introduced Danny DeVito to the main roster and McElhenney, Howerton and Day had some time to refine their characters, the show's dark humour, sociopathic characters and urgent pace proved a hit with audiences, so much so that it's been renewed up to its eighteenth season.