“Abbott Elementary” is about to get a bit sunnier and a tad sassier.
The hit ABC sitcom is joining forces with the cast of FX’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” for a two-part crossover that’s sure to bring plenty of belly laughs.
The collaboration commences with Season 4, Episode 9, of “Abbott Elementary,” airing Jan. 8, and will continue with a follow-up episode of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” expected to air in the show’s upcoming Season 17.
With Part 1 of the Philadelphia-centric crossover premiering tonight, here’s everything you need to know to tune in and what to expect from the episode.
Where to watch tonight’s ‘Abbott Elementary’ episode, featuring ‘It’s Always Sunny’ cast
Part 1 of the “Abbott Elementary” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” crossover coincides with the midseason premiere of “Abbott Elementary.” The shows air on different networks but share the setting of Philadelphia.
The episode will air live on ABC and will be available to stream on Hulu Jan. 9 at 5 a.m. ET.
When does the crossover air?
Gilles Mingasson / Disney
Part 1 of the “Abbott Elementary” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” crossover will air on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.
What will happen in Part 1 of the crossover?
According to a description of the episode, Ava (Janelle James) “announces the school district is sending a group of volunteers to help out at Abbott.” Unfortunately, “things don’t go as planned” when they arrive.
A trailer for the episode, titled, “Volunteers,” gives a glimpse into the amusing antics that occur during the crossover.
When Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson) welcomes the volunteer group to her school, Dee (Kaitlin Olson) sarcastically says, “Is that what this is?”
Elsewhere, Mac (Rob McElhenney) seemingly puts the moves on Ava, saying, “Let me know if there’s anything you need and I mean anything.”
The two teams don’t seem to get along very well, as evidenced by one scene where janitor Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) tells newcomer Frank (Danny DeVito) he’s “trash.”
“Coming from the sheriff of trash,” Frank retorts.
What has the cast said about the crossover?
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, McElhenney said he and Brunson were eager to do a two-part crossover.
“I think that’s what we keyed in on very early. That would be the most fun because we get to play the same characters in the tone of ‘Abbott,’ and they get to play the same characters from ‘Abbott’ in the tone of ‘Sunny.’ That’s what will allow us to satisfy the authenticity of each show but then also stretch and do something different,” he said.
When will the crossover episode of ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ air?
Part 2 of the crossover will air at a later date since production on Season 17 of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” recently finished, per the Los Angeles Times.
When determining which episode would air first, McElhenney said it made the most sense to start with “Abbott Elementary.”
“I think just by nature of the schedule. In some ways, you look at the ‘Abbott’ episode, and it stands on its own, and it’s so great, and it’s a fully realized story,” McElhenney said.
But the “It’s Always Sunny” episode will cast the episode — and its jokes — in a new light.