The following article contains spoilers from Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 9, “Volunteers.“Abbott Elementaryexecutive producer Patrick Schumacker reveals why Dennis is barely featured in theIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiacrossover episode. For its midseason return,Abbott Elementaryseason 4 staged one of the more bizarre crossovers in TV history. TheAlways SunnyGang — Charlie Kelly (Charlie Day), Mac (Rob McElhenney), Dee Reynolds, (Kaitlin Olson), and Frank Reynolds (Danny DeVito) — areforced by court order to help the teachers at Abbott. Dennis Reynolds (Glenn Howerton) is also there, but he vehementlyrefuses to take part in the ongoing Abbott documentary. That means he spends most of the episode unseen.
In an interview withEntertainment Weekly, along with fellow executive producer Justin Halpern, Schumacker broke down theAbbott ElementaryandIt’s Always Sunnycrossover. 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 thatHowerton was busy filming the upcoming Netflix seriesSirensand his availability was limited. In the quote below, Schumaker also says thatDennis will be featured morewhen theAbbott Elementarycast guest stars onIt’s Always Sunnylater 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 ofAbbott Elementary’s mockumentary style, essentially saying hedidn’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 inSirens.
The crossover is a great showcase for theAbbott Elementarymain 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.
There are several greatmoments in theAbbottandIt’s Always Sunnycrossover, whichmakes 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.
What Is Sirens, Howerton’s Upcoming Netflix Show, About?
It Has Quite An Ensemble Cast.
Sirenstakes shape as Devon (The White Lotusseason 2 star Meghann Fahy)believes her sister Simone (House of the Dragon’s Milly Alcock) has an unsettling relationship with her boss,the charismatic socialite Michaela Kell (played by Oscar winner Julianne Moore). Simone finds that her boss' luxurious life is intoxicating, but Devon has other ideas, believing it’s time for an intervention. The story is told over a single weekend, unfolding at the Kells' fancy estate, and it doesn’t go quite as planned.
Howerton will play Ethan Corbin II. Described as a dear friend of the Kells and a life-long bachelor, he frequents the Yacht Club but may be going through some money troubles since his trust fund is vanishing fast. The cast ofSirensalso includesMaXXXine’sKevin Bacon, as the husband of Moore’s character, in addition to Josh Segarra, Felix Solis, Trevor Salter, Britney Oldford, Lauren Weedman, Jenn Lyon, Erin Neufer, and Emily Borromeo.
Segarra and Weedman both have recurring roles inAbbott Elementary, playing Manny and Melissa’s sister Kristen.
Theproject hails from creator Molly Smith Meltzer,based on her playElemeno Pea. Meltzer previously created the 2021 miniseriesMaid. Consisting of ten episodes, and based on Stephanie Land’s memoir,Maidstarred Margaret Qualley as a young mom who begins working as a maid after leaving an abusive relationship. The performance led to an Emmy nomination for Qualley, becoming the fourth most-watched Netflix for its year, and shining a spotlight on a supporting ensemble that included Nick Robinson, Anika Noni Rose, Tracy Vilar, Billy Burke, and Andie MacDowell.
Kevin Bacon
Peter Kell
Althoughno release date has been announced forSirens, production was underway in New York as of July 2024. It sounds somewhat similar to Fahy’s last Netflix seriesThe Perfect Couple, which also thrived on secrets and had a beach backdrop. It could also be a fitting role for Howerton, who excelled withthe dark comedyBlackberry.
Our Take On Dennis' Absence From The Abbott Crossover
The Episode Is Still A Solid Surprise
The crossover is a great showcase for theAbbott Elementarymain 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 was one of the lingering questions going into the episode, but the balance is handled fairly seamlessly.
“Volunteers” succeeds as a solid episode, even with Dennis' absence, and might have even convinced some viewers to check outIt’s Always Sunny, which is developing season 17 for a release later in 2025. But after the Abbott staff had mostly negative interactions with The Gang, it will be fun to see how the second part of the crossover evolves the dynamic.
Abbott Elementaryseason 4 airs on Wednesdays at 8:30 PM ET on ABC.
Abbott Elementary
Cast
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.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a television series that premiered in 2005, chronicling the chaotic lives of four self-involved friends running an Irish pub in Philadelphia. Their misguided decisions and skewed perspectives often result in amusing and uncomfortable situations, complicating their professional and personal relationships.
