What Happens in Part 1?

The anticipation for Abbott Elementary and It’s Always Sunny crossover episode has been building up among the fans of both shows for months, and Part 1 of it is finally here. Aired as Season 4 Episode 9 of the ABC series, the inaugural chapter of the crossover follows the teachers at the eponymous school as they try to get along with an unusual group of local volunteers.

Here is what happens in the Abbott Elementary and It’s Always Sunny crossover Part 1.

What happens in Abbott Elementary and It’s Always Sunny crossover Part 1?

The title of the Abbott Elementary and It’s Always Sunny crossover Part 1 is “Volunteers,” referring to the gang from the FXX series: Mac (Rob McElhenney), Frank (Danny DeVito), Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Charlie (Charlie Day), and Dee (Kaitlin Olson).

The idea of a crossover between these sitcoms is undeniably strange. However, the episode embraces that strangeness and lets the characters from Always Sunny be their edgy, outlandish selves in the setting of Abbott Elementary, which is inherently earnest.

In the course of the episode, it becomes apparent that the characters from It’s Always Sunny are not volunteers. They are at the Willard R. Abbott Elementary School as part of 100 hours of court-mandated community service. Despite this big reveal, the teachers at the elementary school ultimately let the other group stay.

Dee initially gets along well with Janine (Quinta Brunson), until the former sets her eyes on Gregory (Tyler James Williams), the latter’s boyfriend. It eventually takes a direct rejection from Gregory for Dee to stop, but then she starts to believe that Gregory must be interested in men.

Meanwhile, Charlie learns to read, and Dennis successfully hides from the documentary crew. Frank quarrels with Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) over the school’s raccoon problem and surprisingly finds a friend in Gregory. As for Mac, he plays a pivotal role in Ava (Janelle James) getting funding from the golf course developers.

When will Abbott Elementary and It’s Always Sunny crossover Part 2 come out?

Abbott Elementary and It’s Always Sunny crossover Part 2 is slated to be released as an episode of Abbott Elementary’s 17th season. According to McElhenney, it will depict the same series of events as Part 1 but “through the prism of” It’s Always Sunny and it will come out “four or five months” after Part 1 (via Rolling Stone).