The news thatAbbott Elementaryseason 4 will feature a crossover withIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiasets up a string of potentially great payoffs shared between the two shows. WhenAbbott Elementarycreator and star Quinta Brunson announced that season 4 of the hit sitcom would include a historical crossover, it seemed like the actor/writer might have been joking or playfully exaggerating. However, the show lived up to this promise with the news thatAbbott Elementary’s cast of characterswill somehow meet the gang fromIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiain season 4, despite how unlikely this seems.
Every Abbott Elementary Couple, Ranked Worst To Best
From Janine and Gregory to Jacob and Zach to Melissa and Gary, Abbott Elementary has plenty of couples for viewers to root for (or maybe against).
There are numerous reasons thatAbbott Elementary’s season 4 crossoveris so notable. For one thing, the two shows air on different networks, withIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiabeing an FX property whileAbbott Elementaryis an ABC show. Furthermore,Abbott Elementary’s cheery, family-friendly brand of comedy is firmly PG-rated, whileIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiais infamously one of the darkest sitcoms ever. The show more than earns its TV-MA rating with plenty of outrageous content, so it is both exciting and tough to envision how It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s world will merge withAbbott Elementary.
8Abbott Elementary Needs Some of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s Darkness
The ABC Sitcom Must Embrace The Older Show’s Cynical Sense of Humor
Most of the things viewers will want from theAbbott Elementary/It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiacrossover are specific character interactions and the return of earlier running jokes. However, there is one bigger, more existential tonal change that the newer show must make for the crossover to work.Abbott Elemementary’s crossover needs some of It’sAlways Sunny In Philadelphia’s dark humorfor the episode to work. AlthoughAbbott Elementarygenerally shies away from shock value, outrageous humor is central to the appeal of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. As such, the ABC sitcom must be a little darker than usual.
When the Paddy’s Pub gang arrives in Philadelphia,Abbott Elementaryneeds to make a few concessions in terms of tone. Both shows share a live-action cartoon aesthetic, butAbbott Elementaryis undeniably gentler and warmer. While this is a welcome element of the show’s appeal, crossing over withIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiameans thatAbbott Elementarywill get darker and harsher in this outing. Fortunately, this is a great opportunity for the show. Some ofAbbott Elementary’s funniest moments, like the faculty’s frank conversation about their use of drugs in season 3, hint at this sort of boundary-pushing content.
7Principal Ava And Frank Must Cross Paths
These Braggadocious, Amoral Characters Would Pair Well
Although the show has done a good job of showcasing her softer side in recent seasons, it is worth noting thatAbbott Elementary’s Principal Ava was introduced as a shameless scam artist likeIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s Frank. There is no doubt about the fact that Frank is a far worse person than Ava, but both characters function as a seemingly older, wiser authority figures in their respective shows, even though they are among the most irresponsible and self-centered cast members. Frank and Ava share a mean-spirited willingness to sell out their friends and coworkers alike, and the crossover should address this.
6Abbott Elementary’s Crossover Must Address Its Unlikely Origins
The history-making TV crossover that Brunson promised didn’t come from nowhere. When an infamously dreadful, underwhelming unlicensed event titled “Willy’s Chocolate Experience” attempted to cash in on the popularity of 2023’sWonka, the ensuing viral sensation indirectly led to the crossover.It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiastar Rob McElhenney responded to fans onX(formerlyTwitter) comparing the event to an episode of his series by arguing that, as funny as he found it, he thought the event bore a closer resemblance to anAbbott Elementarycrossover. This prompted a response from Brunson suggesting a possible future crossover between the two shows.
Thus,the origins of theAbbott Elementary/It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiacrossover can be traced back to “Willy’s Chocolate Experience,” and the show should acknowledge this real-life inspiration. The easiest way to do this would be forAbbott Elementary’s season 4 crossover episodeto center on a story of the school’s students attending a mismanaged event staged by the inveterate scammers of theIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiagang. However, if the link isn’t this obvious, the show should still mention this infamous “Experience” and subsequent viral fallout that inadvertently led to this moment in TV history.
5Rickety Cricket Must Return For Abbott Elementary’s Crossover
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s Grim Running Gag Must Make A Comeback
There are a lot of great running gags inIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, but one of the darkest is the fate of Rickety Cricket. Once a seemingly normal priest, the much-maligned Cricket became a human embodiment of the gang’s growing amorality as the show continued. With each new appearance in the series, the long-suffering supporting star endured another gruesome, humiliating, or outright heartbreaking trauma thanks to their influence. Rickety Cricket hasn’t appeared in a long time, so this family-friendly crossover would be a perfectly subversive, unexpected time for him to make a comeback and highlight the gang’s true nature.
4Charlie’s Custodian Skills Should Be Matched By Mr. Johnson
Charlie’s Janitorial Prowess Was The Focus Of A Classic Episode
Despite how greatAbbott Elementary’s Janine and Gregory romanceis, Mr. Johnson is arguably the best breakout character of the show. Viewers might reasonably assume that a show about teachers wouldn’t have a major role for the school’s custodian, butMr. Johnson’s unique personality has made him a fan favoriteand one of the funniest, most unpredictable characters in the series. He has this in common withIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s Charlie, although the comparatively sweet, easily-led Charlie is not a lot like William Stanford Davis’s kooky, self-sufficient custodian. Except, that is, for one commonality.
Chris Perfetti
Jacob Hill
ThroughoutIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s seasons, the recurring phrase “Charlie work” has come to refer to anything dirty, gross, difficult, or objectionable enough for the gang to foist it onto Charlie. Charlie often works as the janitor in Paddy’s Pub and, in season 14, episode 6, “The Janitor Always Mops Twice,”It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiadevoted an entire elaborate film noir parody to this work. As such,Abbott Elementary’s crossover needs to have a showdown between the school’s beloved janitor and Charlie, whose lack of wits and professional acumen are balanced by years of doing the gang’s dirty work.
3The Gang Should Know Melissa’s Unnamed “Guys”
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s Heroes Share Melissa’s Mob Ties
AlthoughAbbott Elementary’s Lisa Ann Walterwas right to suggest that the sitcom should stage a musical episode thanks to its multi-talented cast, it would be ironically difficult to see how the show would get Melissa herself to sing. A tough, no-nonsense character with a string of mob ties that she can barely keep track of,Melissa is the one teacher inAbbott Elementarywho might have links to some serious criminalsdespite her child-friendly job. Melissa often tells her coworkers that she “Has a guy” for everything from acquiring rugs to bribing officials, which sets up a perfect crossover.
Melissa should already have crossed paths with Dennis, Mac, Dee, Frank, and Charlie in the past.
Since theIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiagang are effectively career criminals, whether or not they acknowledge this, Melissa should already have crossed paths with Dennis, Mac, Dee, Frank, and Charlie in the past. Knowing their duplicity, it wouldn’t be a surprise if theIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiagang had double-crossed one of Melissa’s many “Guys” and made an enemy in the process. However, it would be equally funny if the gang were some of Melissa’s guys, and they met the Abbott staff when she called in a favor from them and inadvertently set up the crossover.
2Abbott Elementary Needs To Be Embroiled In One Of The Gang’s Schemes
The Underfunded School Could Be Scammed By The Gang
Speaking of the criminal activities that the older show’s gang constantly undertakes,Abbott itself must become embroiled in a classicIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiascam. WhileAbbott Elementary’s replacement showEnglish Teacheris more suited to this sort of dark twist, it wouldn’t be a real crossover if the school didn’t fall victim to the gang somehow. The characters ofIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiamay end up having to reverse whatever damage they do, but the prospect of Frank, Dee, Mac, Charlie, and Dennis trying to profit off an underfunded school and making Abbott their mark is too perfect.
It makes perfect sense for theIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiagang to somehow take advantage of the school.
This setup fits withAbbott Elementary’s focus on real-life issues like educational underfunding, which constantly causes the characters to make unlikely alliances with shady, disreputable, or otherwise imperfect partners. Melissa sources everything from classroom supplies to school books from nameless mob members, Ava is constantly trying to pull off new get-rich-quick schemes, and Mr. Johnson’s antics make anything possible. As such, it makes perfect sense for theIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiagang to somehow take advantage of the school in this crossover, only for this scam to eventually fail, just like all of their earlier schemes.
1Mr. Johnson And Frank Should Share A Surprise Link
Danny DeVito’s Character Could Already Know Abbott’s Breakout Star
WhileAbbott Elementaryseason 4’s returning guest starsare a funny bunch,the prospect of Mr. Johnson meeting Frank Reynolds might be the funniest thing aboutAbbott Elementary’s upcomingIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiacrossover. Ava and Frank share an arrogant attitude and a desperate desire to get rich, but that is about all they have in common. In contrast, William Stanford Davis’sAbbott Elementarycharacter and Danny DeVito’s repugnant antihero are perfectly matched.
Abbott Elementaryairs on ABC every Wednesday at 9:30pm.
Frank and Mr. Johnson are both prone to outlandish claims and absurd lies (lots of which turn out to somehow be true). As such, it would make perfect sense for the crossover to reveal that the duo already crossed paths in the past and have an existing history. Whether they are best friends or mortal enemies,It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s Frank andAbbott Elementary’s Mr. Johnson need to have an unexpected, but in retrospect, inevitable connection in the crossover.
