It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has achieved a tie with Supernatural for the second-most perfect seasons on Rotten Tomatoes. The FX comedy now boasts nine seasons with 100% scores, trailing only The Simpsons.
The 9-Season Tie Between Sunny and Supernatural
The FX series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has reached a critical milestone by debuting its 18th season to a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. According to the report, this achievement brings the show to a total of nine perfect seasons, placing it in a dead heat with the long-running series Supernatural. This streak is particularly impressive given that It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is the longest-running live-action comedy in television history.
The recent success of the 18th season represents a significant rebound for the series. As the report notes,the previous 17th season held a score of 84%, making the return to a perfect rating a testament to the show's enduring quality after 21 years on the air. The series continues to find a massive audience, currently ranking as one of the most popular titles on both Hulu and Disney+.
The Simpsons' 10-Season Lead and the 2019 Scoring Gap
While It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is climbing the ranks, The Simpsons still holds the ultimate record with 10 perfect seasons. However, the gap between the two shows is more about historical data than current critical consensus. The Simpsons has not registered an official Rotten Tomatoes critic score since its 31st season earned an 80% rating in 2019.
This disparity highlights a broader trend in television criticism where legacy animated series often struggle to maintain the same level of critical scrutiny as live-action comedies. While The Simpsons remains a cultural titan, the lack of recent official scores suggests a decline in critic engagement. This creates a unique window for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia to claim the top spot, as the bar for The Simpsons has effectively remained frozen for several years.
Will Season 19 Secure the Record for Paddy's Pub?
The path to the top depends on whether FX officially renews It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia for a 19th season. If the series is renewed and maintains its current critical momentum, it could surpass the 10-season record held by The Simpsons. Given the popularity of the current season on streaming platforms, a renewal is seen as highly probable.
However, a few specific variables remain unknown. It is unclear if FX has a definitive end date in mind for the series or if they intend to push for the record. Furthermore, while The Simpsons is already renewed through season 40 (expected in 2028), it remains to be seen if critics will return to reviewing the show in numbers sufficient to generate a new official score for the upcoming 38th season.
One Rotten Review and the Struggle for Season 36
The current vulnerability of The Simpsons is evident in its recent, albeit unofficial, critical reception. For instance, season 36 of The Simpsons received only one review on Rotten Tomatoes, and that single review was "rotten." Similarly , season 37 only garnered two reviews—both fresh—which was not enough to trigger an official score from the platform.
This lack of critical volume suggests that The Simpsons is no longer the primary target for professional television critics in the way it was duuring its golden era. In contrast, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has seen three of its last four seasons rated at 100%, suggesting that the Gang's antics at Paddy's Pub are resonating more strongly with modern critics than the residents of Springfield.
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