The long-awaited crossover between two of Philadelphia’s favourite shows, “Abbott Elementary” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” is officially happening.
Rob McElhenney, the mastermind behind “It’s Always Sunny,” excited fans when he posted pictures from the “Abbott Elementary” set on Thursday. The snapshots featured him alongside Quinta Brunson, the creator and star of “Abbott,” as well as familiar faces from both series, including Charlie Day, Danny DeVito, Tyler James Williams, and William Stanford Davis.
Both hit comedies are set in the heart of Philadelphia, and over the summer, Brunson hinted that a crossover episode might be in the works, although she remained tight-lipped about which show it would involve. “Deals are being made, that’s all I’ll say,” Brunson shared with Variety at the time. She hinted that the collaboration would “stir things up” and create one of those “memorable TV moments” that she feels are missing from today’s entertainment. “Anything that keeps the culture of exciting TV alive is something I’m all for, and I think this crossover will be that kind of fun TV,” Brunson added.
A Philly Comedy Crossover with Abbott Elementary and It’s Always Sunny
The idea of merging the two shows has been floating around for some time. Back in February, McElhenney playfully referenced both series while joking about a viral debacle at “Willy’s Chocolate Experience” in Glasgow, which had disastrous results. “Some of you say this feels like a Sunny episode, but to me, it feels more like a crossover of @alwayssunny and @AbbottElemABC,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Brunson responded to the playful exchange by sharing a screenshot of McElhenney’s post on Instagram, adding, “Say the word, Rob. I love you guys.”
Fans won’t have to wait long to see the collaboration come to life. The fourth season of “Abbott Elementary” debuts on ABC on October 9 at 9:30 p.m., while “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is gearing up to film its 17th season later this year.
Though the two series may focus on different worlds—”Sunny” follows a group of dysfunctional friends running an Irish pub, while “Abbott” highlights the everyday trials of teachers at a public school—both manage to capture the unique spirit of Philadelphia. Despite being produced by separate studios, Warner Bros. TV and FX Productions, the shows share a common home under Disney’s networks, airing on ABC and FXX respectively. This upcoming crossover is poised to bring the humour of both shows together in an unforgettable event.
