The following article contains spoilers from Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 9, “Volunteers.”Abbott Elementary executive producer Patrick Schumacker reveals why Dennis is barely featured in the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia crossover episode. For its midseason return, Abbott Elementary season 4 staged one of the more bizarre crossovers in TV history. The Always Sunny Gang — Charlie Kelly (Charlie Day), Mac (Rob McElhenney), Dee Reynolds, and Frank Reynolds (Danny DeVito) — are forced by court order to help the teachers at Abbott. Dennis Reynolds (Glenn Howerton) is also there, but he vehemently refuses to take part in the ongoing Abbott documentary. That means he spends most of the episode unseen.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, along with fellow executive producer Justin Halpern, Schumacker broke down the Abbott Elementary and It’s Always Sunny crossover. When asked about why Dennis makes his exit just minutes into the episode, remaining unheard and mostly unseen for the rest of it, the EP explains that Howerton was busy filming the upcoming Netflix series Sirens and his availability was limited. In the quote below, Schumaker also says that Dennis will be featured more when the Abbott Elementary cast guest stars on It’s Always Sunny later this year:
Glenn had a show that he is a series regular on called Sirens. It’s the Netflix show, and it was shooting in New York. He flew in specifically to work on this and had to fly back. We had him for half a day, so we had to build that in. That was one of those ones where we didn’t know if we had him, and so, we had to stay a little bit nimble as far as breaking the story. But he’s very heavy in their episode.
How Howerton’s Absence Is Handled & What It Means For The Crossover
He Still Pops Up A Few Times
The most viewers see of Dennis in “Volunteers,” which is written by Garrett Werner and directed by Randall Einhorn, is when Abbott’s staff meets The Gang. Dennis is not a fan of Abbott Elementary‘s mockumentary style, essentially saying he didn’t give his consent to appear on camera. For the most part, he doesn’t, but the camera does manage to sneak in a few quick shots of him that he hastily tries to avoid. It’s a funny way of addressing the fact that Howerton is busy with his role in Sirens.
Sirens is a dark cult comedy series, which also stars Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, and Kevin Bacon.
There are several great moments in the Abbott and It’s Always Sunny crossover, which makes Dennis’ absence less noticeable. Jeanine (Quinta Brunson) gets along with Dee until she doesn’t. Ava (Janelle James) hits it off with Mac, while most of the other teachers help Charlie learn to read and Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) feuds with Frank. The only one left out, to an extent, is Gregory (Tyler James Williams), as he has a secondary involvement in other stories. He could have mixed it up with Dennis if schedules allowed for it.
Our Take On Dennis’ Absence From The Abbott Crossover
The Episode Is Still A Solid Surprise
The crossover is a great showcase for the Abbott Elementary main cast, which also includes Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, and Sheryl Lee Ralph, and it does a solid job of tamping down The Gang without completely removing their edge. It succeeds in delivering a solid episode, even with Dennis’ absence, and might have even convinced some viewers to check out It’s Always Sunny, which is developing season 17.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
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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.
- Release Date
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December 7, 2021
- Cast
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Quinta Brunson
, Tyler James Williams
, Sheryl Lee Ralph
, Lisa Ann Walter
, Chris Perfetti
, Janelle James
, William Stanford Davis
, Zack Fox
, Courtney Taylor
, Nikea Gamby-Turner
, Josh Segarra
, Mason Renfro
, Jerry Minor
, Larry Owens
, Nate’ Jones
, Lela Hoffmeister
, Vince Staples
, Kimia Behpoornia
, Dillion Blake Allen
, Reggie Conquest
, Kate Peterman
, Keyla Monterroso Mejia
, Benjamin Norris
, Aayden William
, Ben Onyx Dowdy - Seasons
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4
- Story By
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Quinta Brunson
- Writers
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Quinta Brunson
- Showrunner
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Quinta Brunson
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It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a Sitcom and Black Comedy created by Rob McElhenney. It stars Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olson, Glenn Howerton, and Danny DeVito. The series follows a group of friends that own and frequent the Irish bar, Paddy’s Pub, and get into all sorts of troubling adventures.
- Release Date
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August 4, 2005
- Seasons
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16
- Story By
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Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton
- Writers
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Rob McElhenney
, Glenn Howerton
, Charlie Day
, David Hornsby - Streaming Service(s)
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Hulu
- Showrunner
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Rob McElhenney
