Abbott Elementaryexecutive producer Patrick Schumaker reveals that one character almost had a shared backstory with anIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiamainstay. The ABC sitcom focusing on the trials and tribulations of the teachers of a Philadelphia public school began airing its fourth season in October 2024 and returned from a brief hiatus with the first part of a crossover withIt’s Always Sunny. In “Volunteers,” Abbott welcomes themain characters ofIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiato the school as teaching aides to work off a community service charge.
Following the airing of “Volunteers,” Schumaker revealed toIndieWirethat earlier ideas for theIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiacrossover featured a shared history between two key characters.Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) and Frank Reynolds (Danny DeVito) were originally envisioned to have a connectiondating back to their school days, where the pair would have been rivals in earning the affection of Shadynasty. Shadynasty first appeared inIt’s Always Sunnyseason 7 as a former flame of Frank’s in the 1960s'. Schumaker said:
We did at one point have a whole backstory between Frank and Mr. Johnson that they did know each other. It was that they went to high school together. They dated the same woman who was a canonical character in ‘Sunny,’ this character Shadynasty. That ended up falling away just as a function of, ‘Hey, we can’t tell that story. Maybe let’s save it for another time.’21 and a half minutes is not a lot of time to tell a story.
We were pretty judicious, but we still were able to put in some things that were maybe a little bit more out there for a typical ‘Abbott’ episode. Mr. Johnson, Gregory, and Frank’s story, for instance, is not something that you would see on a typical episode of ‘Abbott’ with Frank getting caught in the trap covered in piss-soaked pelts. We were able to do it lightly.
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While it could have provided plenty of humor, the two shows' established continuity for Mr. Johnson and Frank likely wouldn’t have allowed this storyline to work.Abbott Elementaryhas provided several hilarious and wildly disconnected details about Mr. Johnson’s origins, and they indicatehe isn’t quite the same age as Frank. This means that Mr. Johnson likely wouldn’t have been in school when Frank’s romance with Shadynasty began in the ’60s, before his descent into a life of shady dealings and criminal activity.
As such, the implementation of Mr. Johnson and Frank’s shared history with Shadynasty would have meant one character’s life would have received a major retcon. However, with the idea being an incredibly early concept, the details could’ve been refined to fit both characters' pasts, be it a change in time or character. However, with Schumaker stating the idea had been left aside, the idea isn’t canon to either shows at this point of time. Nevertheless, it showshow deeply the writers of bothAbbott ElementaryandIt’s Always Sunnywere committed to connecting their shows.
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Great Care Was Taken To Combine Both Shows
Though it would provide theAbbott Elementaryepisode with a fun connection toIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s past, it is undeniable thatthe decision would have left fans of the latter scratching their heads. It’s a reference that would only appeal to those familiar withIt’s Always Sunny. As such, it is better that the first crossover episode instead chose to focus on Mr. Johnson and Frank’s battle with the raccoons over a shared history.
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Furthermore, it is clear that the creatives of both series took their care to ensure thatthe crossover remained faithful to each characterdespite both shows' drastically different tones. This included centering Charlie’s (Charlie Day) arc on his inability to read and Dennis (Glen Howerton) being reluctant to appear in the documentary format, thus making any contradictions unlikely to make it through the writing process. However, withAbbott Elementary’s filming crew absent from the second crossover set to air inIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiaseason 17, there may still be an opportunity to see the characters in a new light.
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.
