With Season 17 just around the corner, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has officially become the longest-running live-action sitcom in television history. But few shows have ever had a more humble beginning. Shot for less than $200, the original pilot stands as one of the cheapest — and most unlikely — in TV history. From its DIY origins to its rise as a cult phenomenon, It’s Always Sunny has redefined what a sitcom can be. Irreverent, fearless, and endlessly creative, it’s a show that not only broke the rules but rewrote them — and it’s still going strong nearly two decades later.