Abbott Elementary Fans Crave a Crossover with Another Cult Sitcom – Would It Work?

Summary

• There is a more prominent sitcom set in Philadelphia that Abbott's fans would love to see the show cross over with.
• The two sitcoms have nothing in common except location.
• There's a very logical storyline that could see the two shows cross paths.

Currently, ABC's Abbott Elementary is one of the most popular comedies on television, boasting a solid 8.2 rating on IMDb. The fly-on-the-wall show, which follows the staff at the titular Philly school, immediately won over audiences when it premiered in late 2021. But as popular as the sitcom is, it has nothing on another cult comedy set in the city - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

The FX sitcom debuted in 2005 and went on to become the longest-running comedy show on American television. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which centers on a gang of four friends, terrible people you wouldn't want in your life, who run a dilapidated bar in the city, has spanned a whopping sixteen seasons so far, with at least two more installments planned. Sure, the only thing IASIP and Abbott Elementary have in common is the location. But fans of both shows still want a crossover between the two sitcoms. The more important question is, how would it work?

The Difference in Tone

There can't be a crossover between It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Abbott Elementary for one simple reason – the tones of the two sitcoms don't match. The ABC mockumentary is a lighthearted, mostly positive show that also addresses many social injustices, especially in public education. AE's characters are kind and caring, and most importantly, despite their flaws, they are extremely likable.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's characters, on the other hand, are horrible people with no redeeming qualities, which makes them fun to watch but difficult to sympathize with. The humor of the two sitcoms is also very different. While Abbott Elementary is full of jokes, brilliant one-liners and puns, and amusing situations, IASIP's comedy is more ridiculous and relies on making viewers cringe. In this sense, a crossover would be a collision of two worlds. But what if it were?

A Crossover Idea

Since most of Abbott Elementary takes place inside the school, it's a terrible idea to put the IASIP gang anywhere near it. But on the ABC sitcom, the teachers do visit other places from time to time. In the most recent, fifth episode of season 3, Gregory and Jacob went to a bar together. Next time, it could be Paddy's Pub from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, where characters from both shows could have a hilarious interaction. Maybe Jacob and Mac could even have a thing for each other...

Unfortunately, that's just wishful thinking at this point. So let's see what happens at Abbott Elementary for the rest of Season 3. Episode 6 will be released on March 10th.