The promo trailer for theAbbott ElementaryandIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiacrossover has dropped, and anticipation surrounding the upcoming special is only building. When lead actress and creator Quinta Brunson (Janine) first confirmedAbbott Elementaryseason 4 would include a crossover event, speculation ran wild over what show the workplace mockumentary would cross paths with.Abbott Elementary’s talented cast of characterscould work in a variety of settings, but the Philadelphia-based show will instead be welcoming guest stars into the school. Yet whileAbbott Elementaryis filled with heartwarming moments, its crossover partner is anything but wholesome.
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, the longest-running sitcom in American history, is known for its dark humor and morally questionable characters.The show is the direct antithesis ofAbbott Elementary,but the contrast is what will make the crossover episode so interesting. Ahead ofIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiaseason 17, the “Gang,” consisting of Dennis Reynolds (Glenn Howerton), Deandra “Dee” Reynolds (Kaitlin Olson), Ronald “Mac” McDonald (Rob McElhenney), Charlie Kelly (Charlie Day), and Frank Reynolds (Danny DeVito) will visit the elementary school as “volunteers.” The small glimpse released already spells wonderful chaos for fans of both franchises.
7Mac Gives Ava A Taste Of Her Own Medicine
A Flirty Scene Turns The Tables On The Principal
One of the most memorable moments from the crossover trailer is Mac interacting with Abbott’s principal, Ava Coleman (Janelle James). The first time we see them together, Mac is chatting with her in the teacher’s lounge where he flirtatiously tells her to let him know if she needs “anything… and [he] mean[s] anything.” The teaser then cuts to her stunned expression. Mac’s demeanor in the clip is ironically reminiscent of Ava flirting with an uninterested Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams) from season 1 onward. ThoughAva needs a romance inAbbott Elementaryseason 4, Mac is not a real candidate.
Longtime fans ofIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiaalso know that Mac has come out as gay multiple times throughout the series. While he’s had sex with women in the past, he makes it clear on numerous occasions that he is a queer man.Mac being gay inIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiais thankfully never the punchline of the joke, but it does make his flirty tone with Ava amusing thanks to the irony. The clip of Ava being on the receiving end of a halfhearted advance is a wonderful role reversal that is sure to get better with context.
6Charlie Interacts With The Veteran Teachers
The Most Childish Character Is Paired With The Oldest
Charlie is regarded as one of the most chaotic characters fromIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, which makes his appearance in an elementary school astonishing from the jump. What makes his role in the crossover even better is the teases of him interacting with Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter). While anIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiatheory speculates Charlie is a secret genius, his character over the last 20 years has been a man with no critical thinking skills. Ironically,Charlie likely has the same amount of impulse control as Barbara’s kindergarten students.
However, this unlikely pairing could change Charlie for the better.Frank and Charlie have a close bond inIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, with Frank acting more like a father to Charlie than his legal children, Dee and Dennis. But Frank is undeniably deplorable and a terrible role model. While it’s unlikely that anyIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiacharacter would willingly accept tools to better themselves, spending a day with the tough Melissa and pious Barbara could force Charlie to experience completely different perspectives that go against his cohorts and their petty enabling.
5Dennis Is Comically Evasive
The Narcissist Ironically Avoids The Camera
Dennis is one of the most unsettling characters inIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia,which calls into question why he would voluntarily step foot into Abbott Elementary in the first place. It makes sense that in the few moments that he appears in the trailer, he looks uncomfortable. The first clip shows him walking away while covering his face, and the last clip of the trailer shows him pretending to check his phone while he quickly flees the room. While there could be an underlying reason for him avoiding everyone, it’s fascinating even without the proper context.
While the others in the Gang will likely put on an act for the cameras, Dennis seems to prefer avoiding them altogether. Whether his problem extends to the Abbott personnel themselves remains to be seen, but his dodgy nature in the trailer alone raises alarm bells for those familiar with his personality.Dennis has done some of the worst things inIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiahistory, with an eerily calm mask hiding his bad tendencies when he’s around others. It’s possible that his evasiveness is a consequence of his trying to hide his true nature from the Abbott teachers.
4The Two Sitcoms' Tones Hilariously Clash
The It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia Crew Brings Abrupt Humor
The opening line of the crossover trailer sets the tone for what’s to come: the upbeat vibe ofAbbott Elementaryis cut by the cynical comedy ofIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.When Janine welcomes the volunteers, Dee makes a snide comment about the state of the school that wipes the smiles off of the Abbott crew’s faces. While very little of the episode’s plot is actually alluded to, there’s a sense of brewing pandemonium in every frame.It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiais a show fundamentally about bad people, which hilariously clashes with the heroic team at Abbott.
The trailer including moments of the Gang jarring Abbott workers means that, whileIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s sense of humor is necessarily toned down, it isn’t gone completely. When navigating a crossover between shows that are so vastly different, it’s crucial to maintain both identities while finding a way to make them mesh. Having the terrible people ofIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiavolunteer at an underfunded elementary school is a punchline in and of itself, but the teaser already provesAbbott Elementaryhas done the work to let both sides shine, dissonance and all.
3Mr. Johnson Fights With Frank
The Custodian Knows Trash When He Sees It
While manyIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiafans were excited to see Charlie interact with Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) due to them both being janitors, the trailer instead teases an instant antagonism between the latter and lowlife Frank. Their first interaction shown is the custodian insulting Frank, with another iconic line added to the list ofMr. Johnson’s best quotes inAbbott Elementary. Later on in the promo, Frank appears to be hiding from the cleaner, peeking out from behind Gregory as Mr. Johnson makes the universal hand signal for “I’m watching you.”
What makes this clear disdain so intriguing is that Mr. Johnson could be the retribution Frank deserves.Frank receives no punishment inIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, despite him being the catalyst for some of the Gang’s most dastardly schemes. WhileDeVito and Davis are comedy gold in the mere seconds seen,Mr. Johnson as a character could be the rude awakening that Frank has had coming to him since he joinedIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiaseason 2. In fact, if the group is planning on scamming Abbott, Mr. Johnson could save the day by seeing straight through Frank.
2Dee Tries To Get Too Friendly With Gregory
Her Lack Of A Moral Compass Means She Has No Reservations
While Mac plays off Ava’s former inappropriate advances on Gregory,Dee gives Gregory a blast from his own unreciprocated past.Dee shares Ava’s tendency to objectify men as soon as she sees him, but the leading lady ofIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiatakes everything to the extreme. Gregory and Janine beingthe best couple inAbbott Elementarywon’t deter Dee in the slightest, since she regularly commits horrible acts without remorse. While her character is diluted forAbbott Elementary’s TV-PG audience, it doesn’t stop Dee from approaching Gregory with her bra visible and a sultry smile.
Kaitlin Olson has been subverting herIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiarolefor months now, so seeing Dee Reynolds back on screen feels almost uncanny. Aside from having no concept of boundaries, Dee is a very aggressive person who can add tension to any scene she’s a part of. Her fixation on Gregory, the most timid of the Abbott family, is a curse for him but especially demonstrates the contrast between the two shows' main characters. It’s not a question of if Dee will cross a line during the episode; it’s merely a matter of how.
1The Gang Acknowledges The Camera Crew
The Mockumentary Format Makes For Great Fourth-Wall Breaks
TheAbbott Elementarycamera crew has been a character of its own in the past, but outsiders will have a much stronger reaction to it that only emphasizes the already humorous moments of breaking the fourth wall. WhileAbbott Elementaryhas joked about its mockumentary formatbefore, the Gang comes from a scripted show with no diegetic purpose for its cameras. Whether it’s Dennis hiding his face from the camera operators or Charlie staring directly into the lens, the trailer only scratches the surface of how the unruly characters will have varying reactions to being recorded.
TheIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiacharacters appearing in a mockumentary offers the unique opportunity to explore different aspects of roles that have been around since the early 2000s. Though the main actors have branched out over the years at differing levels of success, Olson’s recent foray into drama has suggested her new showHigh Potentialproves it’s time forIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiato end. However, with thisAbbott Elementarycrossover event exposing the Gang to an entirely new audience, it seems the satirical sitcom is still in its prime.
Abbott Elementary
Cast
Abbott Elementary is a mockumentary comedy series centered around a group of dedicated teachers at a struggling public school in Philadelphia. The show highlights their efforts to overcome bureaucratic challenges and underfunding, while showcasing their commitment to making a positive impact on their students' lives.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a television series that premiered in 2005, chronicling the chaotic lives of four self-involved friends running an Irish pub in Philadelphia. Their misguided decisions and skewed perspectives often result in amusing and uncomfortable situations, complicating their professional and personal relationships.
