It’s Always Sunny meets Abbott Elementary in Season 17’s wild premiere! Discover the shocking crossover, hilarious chaos, and what it means for fans of both hit shows.
Grab your popcorn, because an insane modern sitcom crossover horror movie is about to hit the screen. FX’s cult classic It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is teaming up with ABC’s Emmy-winning darling Abbott Elementary for the much-anticipated beginning of its 17th season, with the fans going absolutely gaga over it.
In an unexpected but clever move, the longest-running live-action sitcom would borrow the brilliance and charm of Abbott Elementary to add some fresh energy to its already chaotic world. Here is everything one should know about this big crossover moment: what to expect, why it matters, and how it could pave the road for sitcom collaboration throughout the coming years.
What Is It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia?
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, often shortened to Always Sunny, is the quintessential cult comedy classic. It first aired in 2005 and follows a series of selfish, morally depraved friends running Paddy’s Pub in South Philly. Over the years, the gang — Mac, Charlie, Dennis, Dee, and Frank — schemed, failed miserably, and somehow never really changed after all.
The show is created by Rob McElhenney (he’s Mac), who is recognized for its dark humor, satirical and unpredictable nature, while avoiding sitcom conventions of ‘evolving.’ With over 170 episodes, the core of the show has established a passionate fanbase and reputation.
What is Abbott Elementary?
Abbott Elementary, created and starring Quinta Brunson, debuted in a pandemic-evolved 2021 and quickly achieved cultural phenomenon. In a mockumentary format (like The Office) and the basic premise of a public school in Philadelphia, the show is about a group of teachers (all with some level of passion) attempting to do their best, while dealing with the lows and perils of a public school and public education system.
Incredible writing, incredible social commentary, incredible heart. Abbott Elementary is not only a multiple-Emmy-winning show, but also appears to have received critical acclaim and taken hold of the hearts of millions – and all in a show that can be described as both hilarious and relatable. Moreover, given the Philly connection we can make less of a stretch in imagining this crossover as somehow less improbable than it first appears.
Why Does This Crossover Seem Genius?
On its surface these two shows could not be more different. One about a group of toxic adults that are gradually spiraling into personal degenerate destruction. One about hope, education, and belonging. But if we look below the surface, the crossover becomes a gnarly and brilliant collision of tone, philosophy, and storytelling.
Here is why this works:
Philadelphia Origins: Both programs originate from Philadelphia. We will see inside jokes, local Easter eggs, and references about the city.
Opposites Attract: In fact, contrasting Abbott’s optimism with Sunny’s cynicism could prove to be comedic success.
Comic Chemistry: These veteran comedic actors. Just picture Janelle James’ Ava sharing the screen with Danny DeVito’s Frank — it practically writes itself.
Freshness for Season 17: Always Sunny has a tradition of taking creative risks. This is possibly the riskiest — and funniest — one yet.
What We Know About the Season 17 Premiere
The producers are keeping the storyline under wraps but there are some details that have leaked or have been confirmed:
Episode Title: “Charter School of Hard Knocks”
While Paddy’s Pub is temporarily turned into a school for a absurd tax evasion scheme by Frank (of course), they accidentally run into the teachers of Abbott Elementary who are there for a field trip or outreach effort.
Guest Appearances from Abbott
Confirmed appearances are:
Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues
Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie
Janelle James as Ava Coleman
Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti
Rumor is that the, not only appeared, but wrote portions of the script to help keep Abbott’s Sources say the cast didn’t simply star in the show — they contributed to the script, perhaps to help keep Abbott’s tone on the air.
Tonal Madness: A docu-style mess?
An out-of-town source told us that Always Sunny plans on a docu-style introduction, similar to the premise of Abbott Elementary, for the premiere. Expect cut-a-ways, interviews in a confessional-style, and crazy different camera styles.
Theories About the Crossover Episode
The internet is really blowing up with theories already. Here’s a mix of the ones we found the most popular — and ridiculous:
1. Mac May Try to Join the School as a PE Teacher
Thinks he is “overqualified” and teaches self-defense… only he’s using WWE moves and injures kids. Classic Mac.
2. Charlie Thinks He Is A Student
Somehow Charlie ends up in a classroom with kids… and he just stays there. Maybe the teacher leaves or no one stops him.
3. Dee vs Ava
Two “queen bees” who are both kings of chaos and narcissism and both are terrible leaderships. We need to see this battle!
4. Dennis Falls for Janine
It’s disturbing because it’s so plausible. Janine sees Dennis is a “charming” volunteer teacher — but we all know he’s not.
5. Frank Donates to the School but is Horrible
Frank wants to donate money to the school but its with shady donations to fund ridiculous underworld deals. The teachers SAY they don’t want it… or maybe they do!
Behind the Scenes: How the Collaboration Came About
According to a Hollywood Reporter interview, the crossover happened due to admiration of one another between showrunners:
Rob McElhenney called Abbott Elementary “the smartest comedy since The Office.”
Quinta Brunson tweeted she would “love to clean up after the Paddy’s Pub gang – or just throw hands with Dee.”
That tweet led to a DM exchange, a Zoom room with the writers, and ultimately, a full episode collaboration.
When & Where to Watch the Season 17 Premiere
Save the date!
Premiere date: July 17, 2025
Where to watch: FX (broadcast) and the next day on Hulu
Episode length: 45 minutes (this is longer than the algorithms for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia would usually generate, thanks to the dual storytelling arcs)
An Event Worth Watching
Whether you prefer to revel in the nihilism of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia or the relatable warmth and absurdity of Abbott Elementary, the crossover appears to be the must-watch TV event of summer 2025.
It’s risky, it’s weird, and that’s very, very exciting.
If the experiment is successful — and the indications are positive — we might be ushering in a new golden age in sitcom creativity; when crossovers will become more than nostalgia, but a great storytelling device.
FAQs
Is the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia / Abbott Elementary crossover real?
Yes! It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s season 17 premiere features an official crossover with Abbott Elementary. The episode features guest appearances from a handful of Abbott’s main cast members, including Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams.
When is Season 17 of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia premiering?
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17 is premiering July 17, 2025, on FX with next-day streaming on Hulu.
Why are Abbott Elementary characters appearing in It’s Always Sunny?
The crossover is a collaborative creative effort between the writers and producers of both shows. The goal is to spark new comedy with new interactions by combining the completely different realities of the wholesome school of Abbott Elementary and the chaotic reality of Paddy’s Pub.
Which Abbott Elementary characters will appear in the crossover?
Confirmed Abbott Elementary characters are:
Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson)
Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams)
Ava Coleman (Janelle James)
Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter)
Is the crossover canon for both shows?
Yes and no. It’s canon for It’s Always Sunny, as it’s their Season 17 premiere. It’s an enjoyable cameo-style crossover for Abbott Elementary. It’s unclear how much this may impact the main story for season 4.