The gang goes to Abbott Elementary!
The highly anticipated crossover episode of “Abbott Elementary” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” blends the raunchy, NSFW style of the FX show with the witty, family-friendly romp.
The episode begins with “the gang” — Charlie (played by Charlie Day), Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Mac (Rob McElhenney), Dee (Kaitlin Olson) and Frank (Danny DeVito) — arriving at the West Philadelphia public school to serve as volunteers. But the Abbott crew immediately realizes something is “off” with the group and, as it turns out, the gang’s help is actually court-ordered community service.
“Is it a crime to dump 100 gallons of Baby Oil in the Schuylkill” River? Mac asks after the group is confronted. Charlie adds: “And 500 ‘Paddy’s Pub’ T-shirts?”
Dee tops off the crime spree, adding: “And a Cybertruck?”
Principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James) decides to let the rowdy group stay, much to the dismay of some of the teachers. And, in true sitcom form, “things don’t go as planned.” The episode marks the first of a two-part arc, with the second installment of the crossover set to take place on “It’s Always Sunny” — though no premiere date has been announced yet.
Rob McElhenney and Janelle James on “Abbott Elementary.”Gilles Mingasson / Disney
The episode stayed true to both shows, proving that opposites do attract. Fans of the South Philly misfits will see them wreaking havoc on the public school while the West Philly team works to rein them in. Frank finds an enemy in Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) as the pair helps Gregory (Tyler James Williams) in the school garden. Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) take Charlie under their wing after learning he may have missed a few important elementary school lessons. Meanwhile, Janine (Quinta Brunson) butts heads with Dee when she learns the newcomer has a crush on Gregory — “So it’s a competition then,” Dee says.
“I see he likes big feet,” Dee quips at Janine’s expense. “Good, mine are enormous.”
McElhenney has teased the crossover episode for months on social media, sharing photos with Abbott creator and star Brunson and both casts in the familiar public-school hallways. Brunson told The Hollywood Reporter that the idea for the crossover initially came from a post on X.
“So Rob McElhenney, there was something online that he saw that someone sent him and said, ‘This would make a funny “It’s Always Sunny” episode,’ and he retweeted it and said, ‘I think it would be a great “Abbott” episode,’ and that kind of sparked us talking,” she said.
“They represent a part of South Philly, and we represent a part of West Philly that is very real, and it wasn’t a long walk for these characters to interact. It just made sense immediately. And when it came to us that easy, we were like, ‘Yeah, we have to do this.’”
