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Abbott Elementary and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia crossover

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"Abbott Elementary and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia crossover"
Crossover event
Part 1: Abbott Elementary
Episode title"Volunteers"
Episode no.Season 4
Episode 9
Directed byRandall Einhorn
Written byGarrett Werner
Original air dateJanuary 8, 2025 (2025-01-08)
Episode chronology
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Abbott Elementary season 4
List of Abbott Elementary episodes
Part 2: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Episode no.Season 17
Episode chronology
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17
List of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia episodes

A two-part fictional crossover event between the ABC workplace comedy Abbott Elementary and the FXX black comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia was produced for broadcast in 2025. The two episodes tells the same story, but through the viewpoints of their own characters. The crossover began on Abbott Elementary with the ninth episode of the fourth season, "Volunteers", that aired on January 8, 2025. The second part is expected to air in mid-2025 in the seventeenth season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

The crossover was first conceived after Quinta Brunson and Rob McElhenney, the respective creators of Abbott Elementary and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, met at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards and joked that their shows should crossover. Conversations continued later in the year before being pitched to The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger, where it became a reality. The popularity of both series led to it being considered one of the most highly-anticipated crossovers.

Production

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Development

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Brusnon and McElhenney, creators of Abbott Elementary and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, respectively, conceived an idea for the crossover after meeting at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards.

In January 2024, Quinta Brunson, creator of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) workplace comedy Abbott Elementary, and Rob McElhenney, creator of the FXX black comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, met at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards. The two stated to each other that they were fans of each others series and joked that they should make a crossover episode.[1] This concept was furthered following the unlicensed Willy's Chocolate Experience when McElhenney, responding to comments from viewers, stated the situation felt like an Abbott and Always Sunny crossover. Brunson also shared this sentiment by reposting McElhenney's tweet to her Instagram story.[2] Conversations continued during ABC's 2024 upfronts when the two formed a premise.[1][3] The idea was then pitched to Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, who was "very into it."[4]

Brunson teased in July at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con that the then-upcoming fourth season of Abbott would have a crossover with another series. She confirmed no further details at the time, but it was suspected that it would be with a program owned by Disney such as The Bear, The Simpsons, Grey's Anatomy, or It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.[5] In October, it was officially announced that it would be with the seventeenth season of Always Sunny.[6] Although the two programs air on different networks, both of them are owned by Disney[7] and are set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[8] Later that month, it was also revealed that the crossover would actually be two parts, with the first part taking place on Abbott and the second part on Always Sunny.[9]

Writing

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Initially, it was a concern that the tone of each series would conflict with each other.[10] Abbott is family-oriented show while Always Sunny is traditionally aimed at adults. Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day visited the Abbott writers' room so that the storyline could be developed. Writing for the seventeenth season of Always Sunny took place in late-2024. Beat sheets and outlines were emailed between the two series until the scripts were complete.[9] The first part was written by Garrett Werner.[11]

To properly tell the events of the crossover it was decided that both episodes would tell the same story but from different perspectives.[12] McElhenney explained that this aspect particularly succeeded with the darker tone of Always Sunny's characters, because the mockumentary format of Abbott allowed them to act differently than they traditionally would without sacrificing the authenticity, because they knew they were being recorded. He further elaborated that the same reasoning worked in reverse for the Abbott characters, because they aren't being filmed during the Always Sunny episode, which allows a new side to be shown.[13] Despite this, both episodes tell stand-alone stories.[1]

Casting

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When the crossover was first announced, it was reported that Always Sunny stars McElhenney, Day, and Danny Devito would appear in Abbott.[14] Once filming began, it was confirmed that Kaitlin Olson and Glenn Howerton would also be crossing over.[15] The five portray Ronald "Mac" McDonald, Charlie Kelly, Frank Reynolds, Dee Reynolds, and Dennis Reynolds.[16]

Filming

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Scheduling conflicts caused difficulties in filming the crossover as Abbott's fourth season had already begun filming while Always Sunny was still in pre-production. Additionally, Olson was filming High Potential for ABC and Howerton was filming Sirens for Netflix.[17] Some "NSFW" improvisational scenes had to be cut from the Abbott episode.[18] The Abbott part of the crossover had concluded filming by October 25, 2024. At that time, production on the seventeenth season of Always Sunny had recently begun.[9]

Release and reception

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Broadcast

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The first part of the crossover aired on ABC on January 8, 2025, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time.[19] McElhenney stated that the second part would air "four or five months" after the first part.[4]

Critical response

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Prior to it airing, many entertainment outlets considered the crossover to be a highly-anticipated event.[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Zuckerman, Esther (January 3, 2025). "The gang goes to 'Abbott': How Quinta Brunson and Rob McElhenney made a crossover episode". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  2. ^ Coleman, Ryan (October 3, 2024). "Abbott Elementary's top secret crossover episode revealed to be with It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  3. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 1, 2024). "Upfronts 2024: Pilot Buzz & Other Development Updates In Another Atypical Broadcast Cycle". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Carr, Mary Kate (January 4, 2025). ""Dennis is the key" to the Abbott Elementary/Always Sunny crossover, creators say". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  5. ^ Jackson, Angelique; Bechara, Diego Ramos (July 28, 2024). "'Abbott Elementary' Season 4 Secrets, Crossover Episode Guesses and Will Ava Find Somebody to Match Her Freak?". Variety. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  6. ^ Hughes, William (October 3, 2024). "That Abbott Elementary/It's Always Sunny crossover episode is somehow actually happening". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  7. ^ Schneider, Michael (October 3, 2024). "'Abbott Elementary' Sets Crossover Episode With 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'". Variety. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  8. ^ Garner, Glenn (November 17, 2024). "Quinta Brunson Reveals 'Abbott Elementary' & 'Always Sunny' Crossover Details". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c Jackson, Angelique; Schneider, Michael (October 25, 2024). "'Abbott Elementary' Crossover With 'It's Always Sunny' Expands as Teachers Will Crash Gang's Bar in Two-Episode Event (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  10. ^ Schneider, Michael (October 9, 2024). "'Abbott Elementary' Producers Tease 'It's Always Sunny' Crossover and This Season's Gentrification Storyline". Variety. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  11. ^ "Abbott Elementary - WGA Directory". Writers Guild of America, West. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  12. ^ Garner, Glenn (January 4, 2025). "Quinta Brunson Reveals Which 'It's Always Sunny' Character They "Had To Keep Away" From 'Abbott Elementary' Kids". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  13. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (January 4, 2025). "When 'Abbott' Met 'Sunny': Quinta Brunson and Rob McElhenney on Their Odd-Couple TV Crossover". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  14. ^ Campione, Katie (October 3, 2024). "'Abbott Elementary' To Cross Over With 'It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia' In Season 4". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  15. ^ DeVore, Britta (October 18, 2024). "Worlds Collide in 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' and 'Abbott Elementary' Crossover Image". Collider. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  16. ^ Piña, Christy (December 31, 2024). ""The Gang" From 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' Brings Chaos to 'Abbott Elementary' in Crossover Promo". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  17. ^ Seitz, Loree (October 9, 2024). "'Abbott Elementary' EPs Say NSFW Parts of 'Always Sunny' Crossover Will 'Never Make It to ABC'". The Wrap. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  18. ^ Gularte, Alejandra (January 7, 2024). "It's Always Sunny Takes a Field Trip to Abbott Elementary". Vulture. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  19. ^ Shafiq, Saman (January 2, 2025). "'Abbott Elementary,' 'It's Always Sunny' crossover episode: Release date, time, cast". USA Today. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  20. ^ Attributed to multiple sources: