We’re getting closer to the crossover episodes of Philly-based sitcoms “Abbott Elementary” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” Each show will air one episode with both casts. The “Abbott” episode will air on ABC on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 8:30 p.m. The “Sunny” side of the crossover will run later in 2025.
There’s been a fair amount shared, including that the “Sunny” episode will bring the “Abbott” characters to the bar, and that some of the scenes shot for that episode would never make it past the ABC sensors — and might be too much for “Sunny,” as well (both shows fall under the Disney umbrella).
Just to continue the “crossover” theme, Billy Penn has introduced another partner — artificial intelligence. Yes, we used the year’s biggest tech buzzword (ChatGPT, specifically) to create a story summary for just one episode of the crossover. And … you be the judge —though soon we’ll do a human-driven version of this, asking fans of the shows to share their biggest hopes for the cross-comedy, all-Philly collaboration.
So, here’s AI’s shot at it, which might benefit from the fact that situation comedies are about as formulaic as entertainment gets — you have 30 minutes (22 in the old world of network TV) to tell the story, there’s usually a main storyline and one or more sub-stories, all the characters have to be alive and well at the end. It’s not ground-breaking, but if you squint, you can see Danny DeVito and Janelle James (Frank and Ava on the shows) with a mischievous, opportunistic glint in their eyes as the episode ends.
Title: “Abbott’s Always Sunny Day”
Main Plot (Subplot A – School Fundraiser Chaos)
When Abbott Elementary finds itself in desperate need of new school supplies, Principal Ava decides to team up with local businesses for a school fundraiser. Coincidentally, Charlie, Mac, Dennis, Dee, and Frank of Paddy’s Pub (from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) get wind of this and, in their usual fashion, decide it’s a prime opportunity to promote their bar under the guise of “supporting education.”
The crew from It’s Always Sunny shows up at Abbott with outrageous fundraising ideas, which instantly clash with the school’s more structured efforts. Dee tries to pitch a talent show, hoping to show off her acting chops, while Charlie suggests selling Paddy’s mystery cocktails to “liven up” the event. Meanwhile, Dennis and Frank team up with Ava, hoping to turn the fundraiser into a larger spectacle that could gain media attention, with Dennis envisioning himself as the face of the event.
Things go awry when Mac takes it upon himself to run the bake sale, misunderstanding how allergies work, and Dee’s performance ends in disaster. Despite the chaos, Abbott’s teachers Janine and Barbara attempt to salvage the event, all while navigating the chaotic personalities of the Paddy’s Pub gang.
Subplot B – The Art of Scamming the School
Meanwhile, Gregory and Jacob find themselves entangled in a secondary plot with Charlie and Mac, who have set up an impromptu “business” on school grounds. Charlie believes they can sell what they call “Philadelphia history tours,” offering half-baked and completely incorrect facts about the city. They rope Jacob into the plan, who, being excited about historical education, doesn’t initially realize he’s helping them scam people. Gregory, ever the voice of reason, tries to put a stop to it, but finds himself reluctantly participating, especially when Charlie offers a convoluted (and utterly false) explanation of the Liberty Bell that somehow resonates with the students.
Resolution
In the end, the fundraiser ends in disaster, with the Paddy’s crew inadvertently causing more harm than good, but Abbott’s teachers manage to raise the necessary funds through sheer persistence and creativity. As a parting gesture, the Paddy’s gang tries to make amends by offering the school a free “pizza day” at the bar, which is immediately and firmly declined by Barbara.
The episode wraps up with the teachers and Paddy’s crew agreeing that they’re better off sticking to their own corners of Philly, with Ava and Frank still somewhat convinced they’ve struck gold with their viral fundraising idea.
