I’ve never seen an episode ofAbbott Elementary, but as a long-time fan ofIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, I was bummed by the crossover.It’s Always Sunnyseason 17’spremiere features the second half of the crossover, the first of which aired on ABC in January. With both shows notably set in Philly, it’s undoubtedly a fun idea.
The mainIt’s Always Sunnycastreturns for the series, with seventeen seasons over twenty years, making it the longest-running sitcom of all time.It’s Always Sunnyis a series known for pushing boundaries with its comedy, frequently crossing the line with five banned episodes. This raises the expectations when they do a mash-up with a network TV series.
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s Crossover Episode Restrained The Gang Too Much
The It’s Always Sunny Cast Was Tamer Than Usual
My primary issue with theIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiahalf of the crossover is that the Gang felt restrained. I can understand the rules of network TV changing their characters for theAbbott Elementaryhalf, butthe FX portion was marketed as the R-rated half, seemingly teasing something wild.
Let’s take Dennis, for example, who’s likely the worst in theIt’s Always SunnyGang morally. He’s a sociopath who’s committed a variety of heinous sexual crimes both on and off-screen. Of course, doing something like that at an elementary school would be crossing the line in the case of either show, but these are the inherent stakes.
TheAbbott Elementaryside of the crossover barely showcased Dennis, as he claimed he was trying to avoid the mockumentary “cameras.” This left amystery behind forIt’s Always Sunnyto solve, suggesting he was doing something sinister. Yet, the second part of the crossover reveals he was in a chemistry lab making coffee.
Abbott Elementarycharacters were appalled by them, but they didn’t really cause conflict or inflict any damage.
Whenever theIt’s Always SunnyGang is around, the audience can expect something terrible to happen. This is a group of individuals who have ruined people’s lives with no remorse, time and time again.Abbott Elementarycharacters were appalled by them, but they didn’t really cause conflict or inflict any damage. Everyone just thought they were weird.
The R-Rating Allowed The Abbott Elementary Crew To Let Loose
A great TV crossover incorporates the strengths of both shows, andmy main critique of this episode was that it didn’t imposeIt’s Always Sunny’schaotic will. That said, theAbbott Elementarycast was allowed to enjoy new freedoms, and from what I could tell, they really flourished with the material.
Abbott Elementaryis an Emmy-winning comedy series that’s obviously found success with its formula, but network TV comes with restraints. Even as someone who isn’t a fan of the show, it was enjoyable to see them let loose onIt’s Always Sunny.
