"IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA" on January 4, 2017 (photo: FXX Network) — “IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA” January 4, 2017 (photo: FXX Network)

UPDATE 1/9/17: “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” returned in a big way, delivering the most-watched original telecast in FXX history with its Season 12 premiere, titled “The Gang Turns Black.” On a Live+3 basis, the season premiere (January 4, 10-10:32 PM) was the network’s highest-rated original telecast in Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54 and Total Viewers. On the night of its premiere the telecast also ranked among the Top 5 basic cable programs among Adults 18-34 (#2) and Adults 18-49 (#5). Among Adults 18-49, the Season 12 premiere increased +7% over the Season 11 premiere (1.14 million vs. 1.06 million), and increased +16% over the Season 11 average (1.14 million vs. 981,000). Among Total Viewers, the Season 12 premiere increased +5% over the Season 11 premiere (1.41 million vs. 1.34 million), and increased +16% over the Season 11 average (1.41 million vs. 1.21 million). Sunny returns with an all new episode Wednesday night at 10 PM.

The original announcement of the now history-making episode follows below…

The Season 12 premiere of FXX Network’s celebrated comedy series “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” returns with the all-new episode, “The Gang Turns Black,” in which the group of misfit friends, Mac (Rob McElhenney), Charlie (Charlie Day), Dee (Kaitlin Olson) and Frank (Danny Devito), find themselves face-to-face with their black alter-egos played by Anthony Hill as “Black Mac,” A.J. Hudson as “Black Charlie,” Leslie L. Miller as “Black Dee,” and Farley Jackson as “Black Frank.”

The episode, which promises to be full of “singing, dancing and insane antics in a special musical extravaganza,” airs on January 4, 2017.

“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” initially premiered on FX on August 4, 2005. It moved to FXX for its ninth season. It was created by Rob McElhenney, who developed it with Glenn Howerton. It is executive produced and primarily written by McElhenney, Howerton, and Charlie Day. The series follows the exploits of “The Gang,” a group of self-centered friends who run the Irish bar Paddy’s Pub in South Philadelphia. The series completed airing its eleventh season on March 9, 2016, and is renewed for a twelfth season that will premiere tomorrow, January 4, 2017 with the episode “The Gang Turns Black.”

Watch a promo for the season 12 premiere below:

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia