Sunny Season 17 Posters Slammed As Bad AI Art

The official promo material for the upcoming season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia seems to have encountered a common AI hurdle: generating human hands.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia may be about to enter its AI era. Next time Mac drags a giant bloody crucifix into Paddy’s Pub, we are going to make sure to check the number of fingers on Jesus.

This July 5th, the longest-running live-action sitcom in American TV history will return after its longest-ever hiatus, nearly two years after we watched Dennis seemingly dispatch a certain tech mogul in a rage fantasy during the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 16 finale. Season 17 is set to open with the second half of Always Sunny’s crossover special with Abbott Elementary. In this, we will hear the Gang’s side of the story from the ABC sitcom’s mid-season premiere “Volunteers” and finally figure out what nefarious scheme Dennis was up to while skulking around off-camera.

Season 17 Hype Derailed by AI Art Allegations

But while the hype train for Season 17 should be full-steam ahead, earlier this week, FX revealed the official posters for the upcoming season of Always Sunny. These images quickly spread throughout the show’s online fandom as long-time followers pointed out that the promotional artwork has the soulless sheen often associated with AI-generated “artwork.” This has sparked concerns about potential anti-art cost-cutting measures in the FX marketing department.

Stupid science bitches couldn’t even make a decent poster.

Fans Point to Telltale AI Signs

While neither FX nor Disney have officially commented on the creation process for the controversial posters, many believe the telltale signs of AI art are undeniable. These include the notoriously difficult-to-render weird hands, exaggerated and uncanny facial expressions, and a distinct plastic-y lighting. This aesthetic makes everything look vaguely reminiscent of that infamous Grubhub ad. Furthermore, the poster's sloppy, mangled, and oversaturated appearance has led to speculation that the AI prompt might have been something like, “Put the Paddy’s Pub Gang in a Disney-animated Hieronymus Bosch homage.”

Community Backlash on Social Media

The sentiment was similar over on the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia subreddit, where fans reacted strongly to what they perceived as AI-generated "slop." One fan dubbed the official poster, “the gang lets A.I. do the show for them.”

Another user questioned the decision, asking, “These are terrible. Why couldn’t they do this as a photo shoot? I can’t imagine anybody who doesn’t know Sunny seeing this on Hulu and thinking it looks like a good show that’s worth watching. It’s going to turn so many potential new fans away.”

A further comment lamented, “This is dreadful. The way Mac is grabbing Dee by the hair/head is ... awkward. And overall just a low-rent effort obviously generated by A.I.”

Questions About Creator Awareness and AI Embrace

Many fans expressed dismay, wondering how the creators of their favorite comedy could allow the franchise to resort to AI art. While it's unlikely that Rob McElhenney or his collaborators were directly involved in the poster's creation, some point to what they see as a disturbing precedent. Earlier this year, both Glenn Howerton and Kaitlin Olson reportedly reposted a video from an Instagram AI account that depicted the Gang as unsettling, lifeless babies—content that Ongo Gablogian might call "derivative bullshit."

Lingering Fears About AI's Role in the Show's Future

The hope among fans is that this type of "soulless, job-destroying, and hideous AI garbage" does not make its way into Season 17 or any future part of the series. However, a lingering, morbid fear exists that It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia might already have contingency plans involving AI, perhaps even for how the show will continue after Danny DeVito eventually passes away.