Philadelphia has been the setting for two particularly beloved comedy series — Abbott Elementary and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia — and soon, those shows will cross paths on air for the first time.
Abbott Elementary has just launched its fourth season, and its star Quinta Brunson teased a crossover episode at this year’s Comic Con that she claimed would “change television as we know it.” It’s a bit of an exaggeration, but now we know who that game-changing crossover is with: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
It’s Always Sunny’s Rob McElhenney posted a picture of him, Brunson, and his co-star Charlie Day on the set of Abbott Elementary with the caption “Oh. Hello.” Brunson then shared the same photo with the caption “Season 4 of Abbott Elementary gets real Sunny.” McElhenney followed up with a bevy of photos posted to his Twitter account, including a group shot with himself, Brunson, Day, It’s Always Sunny’s Danny DeVito, and Abbott’s Tyler James Williams and William Stanford Davis.
It’s unknown when the episode will air, but Abbott Elementary executive producers Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker told Entertainment Weekly that the crossover will arrive “possibly the first episode back from the holidays” this winter.
McElhenney previously wrote on Twitter in February that the viral Willy Wonka exhibit in Glasgow was the type of crossover episode he envisioned for the two shows. “A lot of you are saying this feels like an episode of Sunny, but to me it feels more like an [It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia–Abbott Elementary] crossover episode.” Brunson responded on her Instagram Story, writing “Just say the word [Rob McElhenney]. Love you guys.”
Season 4 may have just kicked off for the ABC show, but Abbott Elementary Season 3 made our list of the 15 best TV shows of 2024 so far back in June.
— Rob McElhenney (@RMcElhenney) October 3, 2024