The halls of Abbott Elementary are about to get a lot rowdier as the ABC comedy welcomes the crew from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The crossover episode, titled “Volunteers”, will air January 8, 2025, marking the first time these two Philly-based sitcoms join forces. ABC has released an official teaser and exclusive first-look photos to gear up for this must-see TV event.
In “Volunteers”, Principal Ava (Janelle James) announces a group of volunteers is being sent to help at Abbott, but their arrival throws everything off balance. Abbott’s staff—Janine (Quinta Brunson), Gregory (Tyler James Williams), Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph), Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter), Jacob (Chris Perfetti), and Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis)—find themselves hosting Paddy’s Pub’s iconic proprietors: Dee (Kaitlin Olson), Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Mac (Rob McElhenney), Charlie (Charlie Day), and Frank (Danny DeVito). Unsurprisingly, chaos ensues.
The teaser offers a glimpse of the hilarity in store, set to Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock’s classic It Takes Two. Mac flirts shamelessly with Ava, Mr. Johnson and Frank exchange biting insults, and Dee questions Abbott’s claim to being “the best elementary school in the universe.”
This crossover isn’t just a one-and-done. The It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia side of the story will air later in its own episode, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the events from Paddy’s perspective. Abbott Elementary executive producers Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker shared that the collaboration between the shows was surprisingly seamless.
“All those concerns about the tones clashing disappeared the moment we started filming,” Schumacker said, adding that even audiences unfamiliar with It’s Always Sunny will enjoy the episode. “It works in a vacuum. For Abbott fans, it feels like a guest-star-heavy episode; for Sunny fans, it’s even more layered.”
McElhenney echoed the sentiment, calling the collaboration a unique blend of both worlds. “The Abbott Elementary crossover airs in January, and another crossover episode from Sunny’s perspective will air later in the year,” he said.
The idea for this crossover began as a lighthearted joke, but when Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day visited the Abbott Elementary writers’ room, things quickly became serious. “We hashed out broad ideas, sent beat sheets back and forth, and before we knew it, we were filming,” Schumacker explained. The results, by all accounts, are laugh-out-loud funny.
Tyler James Williams hinted at the humor-packed nature of the episode, saying, “We already average a joke every three seconds on Abbott. This takes it to another level. It feels like it should be illegal to be this funny.”
The crossover is part of Abbott Elementary’s fourth season and is set to air January 8, 2025, at 8:30/7:30c on ABC. Get ready for the chaos, comedy, and unforgettable moments when the teachers of Abbott meet the misfits of Paddy’s Pub.
Catch the teaser now, and let us know what you’re looking forward to in this historic crossover!
