- Stars of both comedies revealed the crossover was coming earlier in the year
- Episode will mark Abbott Elementary’s midseason return
- Stars of the series came together to suggest the crossover themselves
Fans of Abbott Elementary and It’s Sunny in Philadelphia are already hyped for the crossover episode of the comedies – and now we know they don’t have long to wait to see it.
Midseason return
The episode with air on Wednesday, January 8 at 8.30pm ET on ABC, and will be the midseason return for Abbott Elementary’s fourth season.
The special episode will be on directly after the debut on Shifting Gears, a new comedy starring Tim Allen and Kat Denning.
Meanwhile It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is expected to be back on FX sometime in 2025, for what will be its 17th season – scripts are currently being finalised.
Rob McElhenney broke the news on X (which everyone still calls Twitter) about the crossover back in October by posting an image of himself alongside co-star Charlie Day and Abbott Elementary’s star/co-creator Quinta Brunson outside the studio for the school-based comedy.
Rumors – as well as cryptic clues – about a crossover had been circulating for some time. McElhenney and Brunson had both hinted at plans for two shows to come together but had never specified which ones.
Organic idea
In October, Abbott Elementary co-showrunners Patrick Schumacker and Justin Halpern told The Wrap that the idea for the crossover episode originated from McElhenney and Brunson themselves and not from “some marketing person’s gross desire for synergy.” Halpern said the two had got talking about it at industry events they had attended.
But while we now know when the episode can be seen, we still don’t know what the plot will be, or how the characters from the shows will meet. Cast and crew are keeping tight-lipped about the episode, and we will likely not find out until we all sit down and watch it.
