Why It’s Always Sunny Characters Will Change For Abbott Elementary Crossover Explained By Rob McElhenney (& It Makes Perfect Sense)

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia and Abbott Elementary stars and creators Rob McElhenney and Quinta Brunson each tease how their casts will alter their characters in their upcoming crossover episodes. McElhenney has portrayed the often conflicted bouncer of Paddy’s Pub in his, Charlie Day, and Glenn Howerton’s darkly comedic sitcom for seventeen seasons, with an eighteenth confirmed. Meanwhile, Brunson created and stars in Abbott Elementary as second-grade teacher Janine Teagues of the often struggling titular school, with the show currently airing season 4.

With their surprising first crossover set to air on January 8 with Abbott Elementary season 4’s “Volunteers,” McElhenney teased to the LA Times how the series’ mockumentary format led to It’s Always Sunny cast making surprising character changes. In the Abbott Elementary portion of the crossover event, McElhenney teased that the gang would be putting up their best behavior for the documentary, which allows them to remain authentic and in character. These allowed the series’ cast to stay true to their core elements in the setting, even if certain traits are hidden away:

That’s what allowed for us to still be authentic and step into the world of “Abbott” because these characters are going into a school and they’re constantly monitored by cameras, so they would put on an act. If we’re not acting the way that our “Sunny” characters would, it’s because we know we’re being filmed and we’re putting it on the show. We might not use the same language. We might not make our intentions so obvious or known. We might not be wearing our id on our sleeves. Conversely, when they came over to us, we thought it would be fun to see what their characters would be like when the bell rings and the cameras are not on them.

Brunson further teased a similar scenario for the cast of Abbott Elementary, hinting that the school staff may let their hair down and show a less-often-seen side when compared to their typical portrayal in the Always Sunny season 17 portion of the event, adding surprising new layers to their characters. Check out Brunson’s tease below:

Our documentary is being filmed because they’re seeking funds for their school. So you’re going to put, probably, a better version of yourself. Then there are some characters who fit the same in both worlds, like Melissa and Ava, because they’re never really putting on for the camera. I think they’ve done something so masterful, not giving anything away, just with Dee [Olson’s character]. To me, when I first read it, I was like, “This adds another layer to all of this, that if you are a fan of both shows, you are going to have the time of your life.”

What These Teases Reveal About The Always Sunny/Abbott Elementary Crossover

Paddy’s Pub Is Not A Safe Place For Young Audiences

For the Abbott Elementary episode, a change in the tone of the It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia cast is unsurprising since the long-running sitcom is rated TV-MA. This is in contrast with Abbott Elementary, which has typically received a TV-PG rating save for certain episodes. Furthermore, when looking at the Gang’s list of deeds across the show’s seventeen seasons, it is hard to deny that the group poses a major safeguarding risk, making their appearance in a school all the more unlikely.

As such, it is likely the Abbott Elementary side of the crossover will see the gang attempting to pull off another con, but audiences will see them through the lense of the strangers they typically meet in-universe, as opposed to knowing every insight of their days, for better and worse. For longtime Always Sunny viewers, however, much of the humor may likely be derived from where the cracks in their facade begin to form, showing their truly horrible selves.

Our Thoughts On Abbott Elementary’s It’s Always Sunny Character Changes

New Perspectives On The Cast Could Help The Crossover Stand Out

Part of what made It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia and Abbott Elementary’s crossover a surprise was the tonal chasm between each show. Despite the definite growth and development of its cast over the years, the Paddy’s Pub gang is beloved by audiences for how horrible they are, and the show has always pushed against sitcom acceptability with its darker humor.

Related

8 Things We Want To See In Abbott Elementary & It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia Crossover

Now that we know Abbot Elementary and It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia are doing a crossover episode, there’s a lot that viewers want to see.

However, McElhenney’s explanation shows that, despite having to fit within the limitations Abbott Elementary offers, the gang will remain faithful to who they are. Furthermore, with Brunson teasing another side to the Abbott staff in their It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia season 17 appearances, many may be eager to see what their favorite teachers are like outside of school hours or perhaps get a chance to react to the depravity Paddy’s Pub and its staff regularly offers and indulges in.

Source: LA Times

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It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a Sitcom and Black Comedy created by Rob McElhenney. It stars Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olson, Glenn Howerton, and Danny DeVito. The series follows a group of friends that own and frequent the Irish bar, Paddy’s Pub, and get into all sorts of troubling adventures.

Release Date

August 4, 2005

Seasons

16

Writers

Rob McElhenney
, Glenn Howerton
, Charlie Day
, David Hornsby

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu

Directors

Matt Shakman
, Fred Savage
, Daniel Attias
, Randall Einhorn
, Richie Keen
, Todd Biermann

Showrunner

Rob McElhenney

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