Sunny” Returns with Wild “Abbott Elementary

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The long-running sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, set to make its comeback for season 17 this summer, has been away for two years since the last season ended. However, fans were pleasantly surprised when characters from the show, including Mac, Charlie, Dee, Dennis, and Frank, appeared on Abbott Elementary in a special two-part crossover episode back in January 2025. The eagerly anticipated crossover segment from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is promised to be even more explicit and in keeping with the TV-MA series’ style. Now, fans finally have a premiere date…or at least a premiere timeframe.

According to a chat with The Wrap, Rob McElhenney – co-creator and star of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – disclosed that the series is set to resume around June. Notably, he shared that the season opener will be the second part of a crossover with Abbott Elementary, providing viewers with a unique perspective by depicting the episode’s events from the Gang’s viewpoint. Furthermore, audiences can anticipate witnessing a more adult-oriented version of the Abbott Elementary characters, reminiscent of the toned-down portrayal of It’s Always Sunny characters on ABC. McElhenney explained to The Wrap that it is essentially the same narrative presented from the Sunny characters’ perspective and utilizing footage they couldn’t use while producing the show.

McElhenney shared with fans that they would catch a glimpse of what the character Dennis, played by Glenn Howerton, was up to during the segment of Abbott Elementary when he wasn’t on screen. In the Abbott Elementary episode, Dennis is mostly absent and can be seen behind the camera crew due to Howerton only being able to film one day for the crossover because of his obligations to film the Netflix series Sirens. From a character perspective, this made sense since the episode “Making Dennis Reynolds a Murderer” revealed that Dennis doesn’t have a good experience in documentary settings and also because the character has a history of multiple sexual offenses, which make him an ill-suited character for the series.

It is Still Sunny After 20 Years

Back in 2024, at San Diego Comic-Con, a collaboration between my beloved shows, Abbott Elementary and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, was first hinted at. Given that both series are broadcast on Disney subsidiaries and are set in the vibrant city of Philadelphia, this team-up seemed fitting. The initial crossover episode was a smash hit, garnering 8.05 million total views across various platforms, which was a significant milestone for Abbott Elementary and an impressive ratings high for the characters from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Although we have to wait six months between episodes, it’s a delightful surprise for me as a Abbott Elementary fan to catch up with those characters during the summer while the series takes its break. Coincidentally, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is about to kick off its eight-episode season run.

1) It’s hard to imagine that “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” has been on air for 20 years and how far it has progressed, considering it’s now the longest-running American sitcom ever with 17 seasons. Even though some of the actors like Kaitlin Olson (on ABC’s “High Potential”) and Rob McElhenney (on Apple TV’s “Mythic Quest”) have other obligations, they still regularly reappear at Paddy’s Pub each year. Although the upcoming crossover episode with “Abbott Elementary” is exciting, there will no doubt be many more laugh-out-loud episodes to anticipate.

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2025-01-30 23:04