Like the most effective TV crossovers, “Volunteers” has a method of highlighting every program’s strengths whereas nonetheless sustaining the tone and formatting of the host present. Within the case of this crossover, meaning the visiting characters from Paddy’s Pub on IASIP have their tough edges barely sanded down for a fruitful, but principally family-friendly journey to Willard R. Abbott Elementary Faculty. The arrival of Mac (Rob McElhenney), Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Charlie (Charlie Day), Dee (Kaitlin Olson), and Frank (Danny DeVito) additionally provides the characters of Abbott Elementary to broaden their comedic horizons a bit.
Mr. Johnson (William Stanford) matter-of-factly stating that his college is called after an outdated racist isn’t uncommon for the tone of the present. What’s, nevertheless, is the outdated racist receiving the information responding with no hint of discomfort. Janine (Brunson) should stage her sport up immensely when Dee expresses a romantic curiosity in Gregory, fully unconcerned by his relationship standing. Watching the diminutive Janine go toe-to-toe with the statuesque (or ostrich-esque) Dee is an actual delight. Equally, Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) will get off an honest-to-goodness ass-eating joke. She goes on to make clear that she is a bear on this situation and will likely be consuming the remainder of Goldilocks too however what a second for ABC’s censors.
WHEN I TELL YOU IM FUCKIN SCRREEEEEAMING😭😂💀Melissa an eater🤭#AbbottElementary
pic.twitter.com/g0snK5lJ0P— Will👁️🅰️Ⓜ️ (@atb__william) January 9, 2025
In fact, this being an precise episode of Abbott Elementary, “Volunteers” is extra about incorporating the Sunny crowd into the varsity’s cheerful orbit. That is simpler mentioned than executed. Frank Reynolds, God bless him, eats grime, will get trapped in a raccoon cage, and sleeps below a piss-soaked blanket. The present additionally doesn’t even make an try to humanize Dennis, with the five-star man asserting that he is aware of “fairly a bit about filming and consent” and ducking away from the cameras. Whereas Dennis’ absence is essentially as a consequence of Howerton’s restricted availability as he’s filming the Netflix collection Sirens, it’s additionally most likely for the most effective. Of all of the Sunny characters’ neuroses, Dennis’ serial killer vibes can be the toughest to introduce into community tv.
Fortunately, It’s At all times Sunny in Philadelphia encompasses a character who has really belonged on Abbott Elementary this complete time. Charlie Kelly’s clear illiteracy has lengthy been one among IASIP‘s funniest working jokes. Whereas the entire present’s gamers are ignorant and undereducated to differing extents, poor Charlie by no means fairly acquired the cling of studying. He was all the time extra excited about matters like milk steaks, hen legislation, and little inexperienced ghouls than books. His incapacity to sound out phrases all the time livens up a scene. (Notice that within the first clip of the next video Charlie is sporting the exact same jacket he ultimately wears on Abbott Elementary.)
Charlie’s illiteracy has grown each funnier and sadder because the present has gone alongside. Whereas the characters had been all 20-somethings when It’s At all times Sunny in Philadelphia started, 4 of the 5 actors in the principle solid are actually pushing 50 years outdated whereas the ageless and sprightly DeVito hit 80 final 12 months. A 47-year-old janitor who can’t learn provides up a a far completely different comedic dynamic than a 25-year-old janitor who can’t learn.
Prefer it typically is, It’s At all times Sunny in Philadelphia was by chance on the innovative with this foolish joke about one among its characters. America is at the moment within the midst of an grownup literacy disaster. In line with a Nationwide Middle of Training Statistics research, one-in-five American adults had been discovered to be functionally illiterate whereas greater than half of American adults learn at beneath a sixth grade stage. Given the expertise and social consciousness of Abbott Elementary‘s writing workers, it was solely a matter of time earlier than the present opted to deal with the literacy disaster. How fortunate had been they then to all of the sudden acquire entry to one among tv’s most beloved illiterate characters!
