TheAbbott ElementaryandIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiacrossover lived up to its hilarious hype, but the ABC mockumentary also added in some Easter eggs for fans of the FX sitcom. The crossover event hadAbbott Elementary’s wholesome cast of characterscrossing paths with the nefarious"Gang"fromIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, characters that are irredeemable and proud. While The Gang was certainly toned down forAbbott Elementary’s TV-PG audience, their criminal behavior was not overlooked entirely.
In fact, theIt’s Always Sunny In PhiladelphiaandAbbott Elementarycrossovereven separated The Gang into“heroes”and villains. While the family of Dennis Reynolds (Glenn Howerton), Deandra“Dee”Reynolds (Kaitlin Olson), and Frank Reynolds (Danny DeVito) all had some sort of antagonism during the episode, Ronald"Mac"McDonald (Rob McElhenney) and Charlie Kelly (Charlie Day) ended up helping the Abbott crew solve their problem— through blackmail, of course. The Gang would never help someone above board. While the plot was entertaining,a few key references toIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiamay have flown under the radar on a first watch.
6Janine Compares Dee To A Bird
The Running Gag From It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia Becomes Janine’s Insult
Dee and Janine (Quinta Brunson) initially form a great bond, but nothing goes smoothly for long when Sweet Dee is involved. After striking an unlikely friendship,Dee sets her sights on Gregory(Tyler James Williams). Even after Janine politely informs Dee that she and Gregory are dating, Dee misconstrues the conversation as a challenge.
The conflict was already funny, but Janine’s first instinct being to compare her to a bird was the cherry on top.
The two get into an argument soon after, whereJanine calls Dee a“bird-a— bird"as an insult.It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiahas likened Dee to a bird for years, with one flashback even replacing her with an ostrich. The conflict was already funny, but Janine’s first instinct being to compare her to a bird was the cherry on top.
5Melissa And The Gang Root For The Eagles
The Gang’s Passion For The Team Was At The Center Of Multiple It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia Episodes
Lisa Ann Walter’sMelissa has mob connections inAbbott Elementary, which made it impossible for her not to already know the Gang. Before remembering Paddy’s Pub,Melissa placed them at“a fight at an Eagles game.”It made perfect sense for Melissa to share their overzealous sports fandom.
Abbott Elementary EP Explains Why Dennis Is Barely In Always Sunny Crossover Episode
Abbott Elementary executive producer Patrick Schumacker explains why Dennis is nearly absent from the It’s Always Sunny crossover episode.
The Eagles have been mentioned many times inIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, with episode plots surrounding the team itself. From catching a game to trying to join the team, the Gang has a history with The Eagles. Melissa bringing them up was a nice, subtle callback.
4Charlie Tells Barbara His Interests, Including Milk Steak
It’s An Iconic Callback To Charlie’s Dating Profile
Charlie had a particularly exciting subplot in theAbbott Elementarycrossover. Sheryl Lee Ralph’sBarbara takes it upon herself to help Charlie with his illiteracy. At the end of the episode, Charlie even has a“Moving Up”ceremony to celebrate his new Kindergarten-level reading skills.
Barbara asked about his interests, to which Charlie mentioned Milk Steak. One ofCharlie’s most iconic scenes inIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiais his dating profile set-up.His answers were gibberish, from saying“magnets”are his hobby to insisting his favorite food is“milk steak.”The show elaborated on the dish later, with brave viewers recreating the milk-boiled meat and"raw"jelly bean garnish at home.
3Dee Alludes To Her Ill-Fated Time At Penn
She Fails To Mention Her Arson
Janine and Dee get off to such a great start when Dee says they share an Alma Mater: University of Pennsylvania. This touches onAbbott Elementary’s own running joke of Janine humblebragging about going to Penn. However, Dee’s experience there was chaotic and short-lived.
The episode “Volunteers” fromAbbott Elementaryhas a rating of 8.8 onIMDB.
WhatDee neglected to tell Janine is that she never finished college at Pennbecause Dee set her roommate on fire. In what was one ofthe worst thingsIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s Dee has ever done, she burned her roommate alive for“copying”her. Omitting this is what led Janine to look past her red flags at first.
2Honorable Mention: Jacob Nearly Name-drops The Sitcom
The Screen Cuts To Black And Interrupts Him
The final scene before theIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphiatalking heads shows theAbbott Elementarycast walking out together. Jacob (Chris Perfetti) goes on an optimistic rant, withhis last words being“It’s always sunny in—”before the screen cuts to black. If he weren’t interrupted, he obviously would have finished with“Philadelphia.”
Many TV shows break the fourth wall for a quick laugh, but Jacob’s deadpan delivery made the moment hilarious.
This may not be a true easter egg, but the tongue-in-cheek mention of the other show’s title was amazing. ManyTV shows break the fourth wallfor a quick laugh, but Jacob’s deadpan delivery made the moment hilarious. Abruptly cutting him off was infinitely better than allowing him to finish.
1Charlie’s Expertise In Bird Law Saves The Day
A Long-Time Joke Becomes A Winning Blackmail Strategy For Ava
Bird Law is a meme that perfectly sums upIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s Charlie. It starts off as another nonsensical fixation for the character, but it becomes unexpectedly helpful for Abbott Elementary. Principal Ava (Janelle James) even uses his reading on protected birds to get the school a new scoreboard.
Abbott Elementary’s It’s Always Sunny Crossover Puts A Pivotal Plot On Pause
While Abbott Elementary’s It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia crossover episode was hotly anticipated, this outing did delay the show’s best new story.
What is written off so often as a quirkyCharlieismturned into a solution to the episode’s overarching issue. Mac helping Ava blackmail the golf course was the perfect resolution, and Bird Law being howAbbott Elementarygot the upper hand was incredible. Charlie is often seen asIt’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s dumbest member, but he truly saved the day in the crossover.
Abbott Elementary
Cast
Abbott Elementary is a mockumentary comedy series centered around a group of dedicated teachers at a struggling public school in Philadelphia. The show highlights their efforts to overcome bureaucratic challenges and underfunding, while showcasing their commitment to making a positive impact on their students' lives.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a television series that premiered in 2005, chronicling the chaotic lives of four self-involved friends running an Irish pub in Philadelphia. Their misguided decisions and skewed perspectives often result in amusing and uncomfortable situations, complicating their professional and personal relationships.
