The Epic Crossover Event between “Abbott Elementary” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”
The highly-anticipated crossover between ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” and FX’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” just got even more exciting. In a recent announcement, it was confirmed by Variety that the teachers from “Abbott” will not only be appearing on “Sunny” but the characters from “Sunny” will also be making an appearance on “Abbott” in a two-episode event.
Earlier this month, Quinta Brunson, the creator and star of “Abbott,” along with Rob McElhenney, star and co-creator of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” revealed the collaboration between the two shows. This special episode was hinted at by Brunson during San Diego Comic-Con and has now become a reality. Both shows are set in Philadelphia and air on Disney-owned networks, making this crossover a natural fit.
The cast of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” including McElhenney, Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Kaitlin Olson, and Danny DeVito have already filmed their scenes for the “Abbott” episode. Kaitlin Olson shared the news of the crossover on the red carpet at Variety’s Power of Women event, expressing her excitement for both casts to merge in each other’s worlds.
Lisa Ann Walter, who plays Melissa Schemmenti on “Abbott,” revealed that she requested scenes with Kaitlin Olson’s character, Dee Reynolds. When asked about her requests for the crossover, Olson mentioned she was excited to explore a different side of their characters in the bar setting, which they couldn’t do at school.
The crossover episode featuring “Sunny” characters on “Abbott” will air first, with Charlie Day’s character having a significant storyline. Executive producers Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker shared their experience of collaborating with the “Sunny” team and how they overcame initial concerns about the tones of the shows blending together seamlessly.
As for what the “Sunny” team has in store for the “Abbott” characters on their show, it remains to be seen. Season 17 of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is currently in production, with a planned return in 2025. The show has had to navigate around the busy schedules of its stars, including Kaitlin Olson and Glenn Howerton, who are working on other projects.
