Glenn Howerton Finally Opens up About Almost Quitting ‘Always Sunny'

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia will come to an end someday. It is inevitable. Time comes for us all. And, unlike the voice actors for The Simpsons, they can’t be replaced by new actors again and again, pushing that show to one hundred seasons (it’s gonna happen, y’all. I don’t like it, but it’s gonna happen.). The Gang from Paddy’s Pub will one day put away their denim chickens and dick towells and move on to other projects. I don’t like that either, but only for selfish reasons. I’d be happy if the show went on until everyone is in their 80s (even if one person already is). But only if they all want to keep doing it.

The show is celebrating its 20th anniversary, which is great, and also makes me want to throw up. I started watching it when I was in “college.” That’s something I don’t need a number set to. Regardless, the anniversary lines up with the release of its 17th season, so the Gang is doing press. They gathered for a panel about the show, and, given the huge benchmark, it was brought up that Glenn Howerton almost left the show five seasons ago. It was even worked into the show, because the five-star man behind Dennis didn’t want to “wear out their welcome.”

“I was worried that maybe, we had sort of peaked or something, and I just was like, you know, we’ve been doing this for a long time, and I think I was also anxious,” the actor noted to laughs. “I had not figured out yet how to stretch myself and be able to do other things that I wanted to do with my career outside of the show … I was aching to do other things, and so I was starting to feel a little boxed in, frankly.” Howerton did, and has done other things. AP Bio, in which he starred as a rude and jaded high school teacher, was criminally underrated. Now, he’s on the Netflix hit Sirens. He’s found a balance.

He always loved the show that made him. He explained that he “never lost any appreciation for the show,” but acknowledged that it would have a shelf life. “I just thought like maybe we should, and then they were like, ‘We don’t want to end it,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, well I can’t stop you.’” Say what you will about Rob Mac’s name change (and I’m sure you will), it sounds like he helped keep Howerton tied to the show. He told the crowd that “there were so many moments” that Glenn tried to quit, but they “just won’t let him because of the implication.” But they “just kept writing it and kept writing him in [the show].”

Mac explained, “And we’re like, he’s just gonna eventually say he’s coming back. That’s what happened.” Here we are, years later, and Glenn is still firmly a part of the show (and y’all, doesn’t he look incredible in a beard?). A show that, I believe, has gotten better and better. That’s part of why I think it can go on as long as they want. I’m always impressed with how they keep it not only fresh but inventive and fun. It is nowhere close to wearing out its welcome, and I don’t know if it ever will (for me).