‘Abbott Elementary’ set for crossover episode with mystery show: ‘It’ll change TV as we know it’
“Abbott Elementary” is going on its biggest field trip yet next season.
Creator and star Quinta Brunson revealed at San Diego Comic-Con that the ABC comedy series will crossover with another show during Season 4.
“I’m not gonna tell you with who, or with what, or where, or when, but it’s really exciting and I think it’ll change television as we know it,” said Brunson, 34, as the crowd cheered over the weekend.
The actress was joined by co-stars Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Chris Perfetti, Lisa Ann Walter and William Stanford Davis when she shared the exciting news at the show’s panel.
Walter, 60, joked that the crossover is with “House of the Dragon.”
Brunson told Variety that she loved watching the 2006 crossover episode between “That’s So Raven,” “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” and “Hannah Montana” on Disney Channel, called “That’s So Suite Life of Hannah Montana.”
“Those things are what reinvigorate TV viewers, TV watchers, and I think it’s always fun to find ways to reinvigorate our audiences,” she said. “What’s important with ‘Abbott’ is we protect the show. Because it’s a ‘mockumentary’ we have to protect what we’re doing, but to find a way for it to still be possible to do something cool like that.
“It makes me really, really happy. It’s just like an ode to the medium,” Brunson added.
Fans have been speculating which show “Abbott Elementary” is going to mingle with next season.
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” seems to be the best guess, since it’s another Disney-owned comedy series set in Philly.
“If it’s Always Sunny, I hope they have Dennis trying to teach the kids AP Bio,” one fan wrote in a Reddit thread about the crossover news.
“Please be Sunny,” another fan said.
“Does the school visit Paddy’s on a field trip, or does the gang visit an elementary school?” someone else asked.
As further evidence, “Always Sunny” creator and star Rob McElhenney suggested a crossover episode between the two shows back in February.
Responding to a post on X (formerly Twitter) about a viral Willy Wonka-themed pop-up in the UK, he wrote, “A lot of you are saying this feels like an episode of Sunny, but to me it feels more like an @alwayssunny and @AbbottElemABC crossover episode.”
Other shows speculated about for the crossover include “American Idol,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Bear” and “The Simpsons.” They all air on Disney-owned networks or streaming services.
At Comic-Con, Brunson confirmed that Season 4 of the workplace sitcom will have 22 episodes.
Season 1, which premiered in December 2021, had 13 episodes. Season 2 ran for 22 episodes, while Season 3 was shortened to 14 episodes due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
Season 4 of “Abbott Elementary” premieres October 9.
