It’s not common for a live action series to get a season 17, but “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is definitely not a run of the mill show. The gang over at Paddy’s Pub are also not your run of the mill bar owners and in a special treat, the season 17 premiere set the festivities off with a crossover starring R-Rated versions of some of your favorite characters from the mega-popular Philadelphia based series “Abbott Elementary”. The ‘Always Sunny’ gang kicked off their 17th season with a double episode, but it was episode 1 (the ‘Abbott’ crossover) that felt like the whole team was at their best.
Episode 2 was by no means a slouch though as Frank (Danny DeVito) ends up in a very compromising position that throws each member of the gang into a hilariously unpredictable tailspin. Both episodes will undoubtedly bring longtime fans fond memories of the gang in their old days and stand out as highlights in the more modern era of the show. As this season marks 20 years the series has been on the air, it definitely feels like ‘Always Sunny’ is pulling out every trick in the book to keep old and new fans entertained and laughing at their weird, twisted storylines. Warning, beyond this point there are spoilers for the two episode premiere of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”.
As this season marks 20 years the series has been on the air, it definitely feels like ‘Always Sunny’ is pulling out every trick in the book to keep old and new fans entertained and laughing at their weird, twisted storylines. “
Episode 1701, which was forebodingly titled “The Gang F***s Up Abbott Elementary”, started off by revisiting the “Abbott Elementary” crossover that had already occurred in the spring, but let us know that there was a whole bunch of additional footage of the gang at the school that wasn’t used in Abbott’s episode…and it also let us know that the usual pleasant language used by the teachers and staff at the school was going to have an ‘Always Sunny’ edge to it as Principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James) drops an s-bomb on us. The ‘Always Sunny’ side of the crossover starts with an introduction to a storyline never seen on the ‘Abbott’ side…Frank wants to rob the school of it’s copper piping.
The rest of the gang come up with their own assorted schemes . from Dee (Kaitlin Olson) trying to become the star of the documentary being shot at the school, to Dennis (Glenn Howerton) using his chemical knowledge to make a boutique coffee service to Charlie (Charlie Day) and Mac (Rob Mac) wanting to recruit players for a basketball team and create a boy and, there is a lot cooking in this episode. We do wish that there was more follow up from the feud between Mr. Johnson (William Stanhope) and Frank, but other than that, the episode really sings. “Abbott Elementary” creator and star Quint Brunson, who plays Janine Teagues drops an F-bomb and C-bomb shockingly early in the episode as she shares her reaction to learn that Dee wanted to steal her man and her spotlight in the documentary. Hearing the sometimes obnoxiously cheerful and hopelessly naive teacher use such dirty language is jarring to hear but rewarding at the same time.
The gang also has a memorable dive into a conspiracy theory laden rabbit hole due to the younger students not knowing about 9/11 which eventually led them to do a revamp of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” until their hopes for a platinum album were dashed when they found out Fall Out Boy had already done a remake. The episode ends with the gang tricking the staff at Abbott to come down to their bar while Frank robs the school blind of it’s copper until Ava reveals that he actually saved them money. We do wish there was a little more Frank in the episode, but Dee carried a lot of the slack with her superior intense outbursts while Dennis’ desire to keep a low profile was predictably derailed early on.
Overall, two amazing shows delivered us two great episodes in those crossovers, but episode 2 was also a very fun watch. The episode kicks off with Frank admiring a cake show where they make cake into anything until they find an invitation to a fancy party that Frank threw away. Just when the gang decides to go to the formal gala, Frank seemingly drops dead. We later find out that Frank is in a coma, but the guys decide to go to the gala anyway, while Dee stays with a near death Frank and his hospice nurse, hilariously (and quickly) going through all the stages of grief in a deranged ‘Always Sunny’ style. The guys navigate the world of rich elites until they find an unhinged guy who inherited his father’s fortune and takes them on a journey deeper and deeper into his own drug addiction.
While the guys ultimately figure out that maybe Frank was right about rich people and their events, Dee gets through her grief just in time to pull Frank’s plug. The guys don’t want to do it until a mostly unexpected twist comes – comatose Frank was actually a cake. ‘Always Sunny’ is stellar at tying together mundane plot details, but this one was next level. The gang finishes up the episode by eating cake Frank and being grateful for his influence.
All in all, both episodes his some very funny highs and managed to skirt predictable lows…even in their 17th season. We literally have no clue what’s in store for the rest of f the season, but at the very least we’re loving how this installment has kicked off and hopeful for more top tier episodes like this.
What do you think? Are you up to date on ‘Always Sunny’ or a casual watcher? Did yo use the premiere? We’re you hoping for a completely different storyline for the ‘Abbott’ crossover? Did cake-Frank have you fooled too?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
