‘Always Sunny’ Visits ‘Abbott Elementary’ in Crossover Episode — Now Charlie Day Wants a Sheryl Lee Ralph Buddy Comedy

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[This story contains spoilers from season four, episode nine of Abbott Elementary]

On Wednesday evening, Abbott Elementary came back on our screens with a larger cast than normal, introducing the initial installment of the eagerly awaited two-part crossover with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

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On Wednesday night, we saw more characters than usual in the comeback of Abbott Elementary, as it premiered the first episode of its much-anticipated crossover with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

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Wednesday night marked the return of Abbott Elementary and the debut of an expanded cast, as it unveiled the first part of its long-awaited crossover with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

In the episode titled “Volunteers,” a motley crew from South Philly enters Abbott Elementary School as part of a district program where community members can assist the school. At first, the teachers are thankful when they arrive, and Janine (Quinta Brunson) develops a friendship with Dee (Kaitlin Olson), while Ava (Janelle James) enjoys asserting her authority over Mac (Rob McElhenney).

Mac is more than eager to comply with whatever she requests since it helps her and her Paddy’s Pub Gang complete their court-ordered community service obligation and depart from the west side as soon as feasible. However, when Dee makes a bold attempt to pursue Gregory (Tyler James Williams), disagreements arise between Frank (Danny DeVito) and Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) over a raccoon issue, and Jacob (Chris Perfetti) becomes suspicious that Charlie (Charlie Day) might be a bit unbalanced, they can hardly wait for the school day to end.

Unlike the strained dynamics seen among the characters on ABC and FX shows, collaborating with the cast and team of Abbott Elementary proved effortless for Day, as he shared.

The It’s Always Sunny star and executive producer expressed great joy about being involved, as they welcomed us into their world, a place where they excel so remarkably,” he said. Moreover, he hinted at the possibility of another side-splitting collaboration with an actor from Abbott Elementary.

Down below, Day shares insights with THR regarding the execution of the collaborative episodes, his initial reservations about the concept, and why he anticipates that the upcoming season of It’s Always Sunny could be among their finest.

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Quinta Brunson shared with THR that the idea for this crossover originated from a tweet she sent to Rob McElhenney suggesting, “this could make a funny It’s Always Sunny episode,” to which he replied, “I believe it would be fantastic for Abbott.” From her point of view, how did things progress?

I’ve encountered Quinta, who turned out to be an ardent admirer of the series. Later on, Rob mentioned he had a similar encounter with her where she expressed her enthusiasm for the show. I can’t recall if they talked about it then or if he later texted me about it, but he suggested, “why don’t we try a collaboration?” I was slightly apprehensive due to uncertainty about how many more episodes of It’s Always Sunny we might produce. This year, we did eight episodes, and there’s a possibility that we’ll do another eight next year, which could potentially mark the end of it.

Initially, I had reservations about creating too many episodes that didn’t align with the usual style of “It’s Always Sunny“. Moreover, I was apprehensive about how they would portray our characters, given my long-standing association with them. However, once I decided to trust their ideas and saw potential for excitement, the entire process turned out to be an incredible experience from start to finish. As it often happens, Rob was correct in his assumption.

As a devoted fan, I’m curious about the creative process behind the collaboration. Was there any internal resistance to working together under the same Disney banner? And what was the initial reaction from the network executives when they first heard about this project?

Initially, they both showed an unexpected openness that took me by surprise. This was the easiest part of the whole ordeal. From the start, at least from my perspective (and I can’t vouch for the other side), there was no apparent reluctance or delay.

How did you find entering the writers’ room with the Abbott team, especially since you were transitioning from a series intended for mature audiences to their program suitable for a younger audience?

Originally, I thought about creating a storyline for my character that resembled the movie “Billy Madison.” As we were only invited as guests on their show, I wanted to find a way to support them while keeping our unique style for any fans who might watch. Essentially, I went into the meeting asking, “How can we collaborate with them while staying true to our own program?” Luckily, they grasped our characters’ potential and knew exactly how to incorporate them into their family-friendly show. This collaboration turned out to be surprisingly smooth, even though I’ve spent 20 years working on one show and none on any other. What surprised me the most was how similar it felt, as if we were all just trying to come up with something humorous for our respective shows.

Charlie Kelly seamlessly blended into the Abbott family’s dynamics, with the recurring gag about his illiteracy and eventual literacy journey. Moreover, he added a unique touch by sharing his knowledge of ‘bird law’.

(Grinning broadly) I was absolutely thrilled when they graciously offered me such an appealing narrative! The prospect of revisiting school days had me buzzing with anticipation. It’s been a long-standing idea in my mind, something I’ve tossed around in the Sunny room for what feels like eons, never quite finding the perfect approach. So their enthusiasm to embrace this concept was nothing short of delightful!

What was your initial experience like on the first day of shooting with a fresh team, having worked with your previous group for such an extended period?

As a gamer, it was quite amusing for me since several familiar faces from our show’s crew, who have been with us for years, were involved in this production. The director, Randall Einhorn, a long-time director from Sunny, was at the helm, and Jeff Gonzalez, who studied alongside my wife and got his first script supervising job on It’s Always Sunny, was there too. Meeting new people, especially the talented cast of Abbott, always energizes me. I found myself deeply impressed by their understanding and portrayal of their characters. Sheryl Lee Ralph and I hit it off instantly, creating a funny, unconventional duo that felt like we could star in a buddy comedy. The chemistry between us was electric from the first day of filming.

For each actor, there’s a character who serves as a counterpoint or contrast to them, such as Janine and Dee, Frank and Mr. Johnson, and Mac and Ava working together as a duo in mischief. How did you determine these pairings?

Primarily, it was their space where they interacted, but I’m convinced that the characters from Sunny wouldn’t hesitate to clash with anyone (chuckles). I believe if you swap their positions, they would create disagreements even with someone as revered as Mother Teresa.

How many crossover episodes will there be in total?

Two full episodes are featured. In one episode, we make an appearance on their program, while another identical episode gets a fresh perspective when you watch it on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” However, the version on that show is significantly less suitable for families.

Is this the first time It’s Always Sunny has done a crossover?

I’m convinced about it. This is undoubtedly our initial appearance on any other program. Moreover, I can’t recall any instances where we’ve hosted someone who was a character from another show.

You just wrapped filming in December. What can you tease about your upcoming 17th season?

This season feels exceptionally strong to me. We’ve got Dave Chernin, John Chernin, Rob Rosell, and David Hornsby – some of our longest-serving writers – back in the room, and their contributions have significantly shaped the show over the years. The episodes we’re producing are a blend of the classic, timeless feel of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and something fresh like an “Abbott” crossover, as well as another surprise that I won’t reveal, which breaks the usual mold. All in all, it’s a very exciting season!

Lisa Ann Walter often expresses her sense of belonging in Philadelphia. Could you share your connection to the city, given that you’ve worked there for such an extended period?

Grew up in Philadelphia myself, sharing the same high school alma mater with Rob. Frequently visited the city a couple times yearly to spend time with my grandmother, aunt, cousins. My relatives still reside there, so Philadelphia has always held a special place in my heart and feels like an integral part of who I am. The unique warmth and acceptance the city exudes is unmatched; it’s challenging to put into words, but Philadelphia simply feels extraordinary. There’s no place quite like it, and the people are truly exceptional – I adore the city.

After the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, have you seen it and were there any unexpected moments or victories that delighted you?

I was thrilled about my good friend Adrien Brody, who collaborated with me on the film I directed [Fool’s Paradise] – he couldn’t have been more delightful to work alongside. He even stepped up when it was necessary for him to return for additional shooting. It was truly gratifying to witness him winning an award, especially considering his long career and the ups and downs he’s experienced in the industry. I was genuinely pleased that his hard work was recognized.

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On Wednesdays at 8:30 PM Eastern Time, you can catch brand new episodes of Abbott Elementary on ABC. If you miss it, don’t worry! You can stream it the following day on Hulu.

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2025-01-09 05:25