What Was Dennis Doing During Abbott Elementary's Crossover With It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia?

The Abbott Elementary and It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia crossover exceeded expectations, but Glenn Howerton's Dennis was suspiciously absent from the majority of the episode. When the shows were confirmed to collide in Abbott Elementary season 4, the news felt like a fever dream. The lovable cast of characters in Abbott Elementary couldn't be more different from the deplorable "Gang" in its FX partner. While It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia is an institution of comedy in its own right, it was unclear how their twisted characters would mesh with the teachers at Abbott.

Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 9, "Volunteers" chose to divide and conquer. Dee (Kaitlin Olson) tries to steal Gregory (Tyler James Williams) from Janine (Quinta Brunson), Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) teaches Charlie (Charlie Day) how to read, and Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) clashes with Frank (Danny DeVito) over raccoons while Mac (Rob McElhenney) tries to trick Ava (Janelle James) into signing their court order papers. ABC's most underrated scripted show lacked one key character, however.

Why Dennis Reynolds Was Missing For Most Of Abbott Elementary's Crossover Episode

The Camera Crew Was Cause For Concern

Charlie Kelly (Charlie Day), Dennis Reynolds (Glenn Howerton), and Frank Reynolds (Danny DeVito) in the Abbott Elementary & It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia crossover

The absence of Dennis Reynolds has both a practical and narrative explanation. When the It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia crew showed up to meet the Abbott teachers, Dennis was quick to ask about the camera crew recording them. Abbott Elementary's mockumentary format is a unique genre shift, since the cameras have a diegetic purpose within the ABC title. In contrast, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia never recognizes its cameras as part of the in-show universe. Dennis refuses to be on camera, claiming he "know[s] quite a bit about filming and consent," and does not want to be seen.

Dennis's line is likely a reference to the drawer in It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia filled with sex tapes he filmed.

Every It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia character even gives their own talking-head interview— save for Dennis. While the rest of the Gang pretends to be the best version of themselves for the documentary crew, Dennis prefers to avoid it entirely. His aversion to being on camera makes sense, considering Dennis has done some of the worst things in It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Rather than put up a front, Dennis tactfully evaded Abbott Elementary's cameras for nearly every scene in the episode. Yet, that's not to say he played no role in the crossover.

Dennis Will Be Important During It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia's Crossover Episode With Abbott Elementary

His Absence Will Be Explained In The Follow-Up

Aside from disliking the documentary crew, Dennis being missing is a clear set-up for the second crossover that will be in It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia season 17. Showrunner McElhenney explicitly confirmed the character's absence wasn't meaningless in a recent interview, vowing that "when you see the 'Sunny' episode, you’ll realize why we did that with Dennis," with Abbott Elementary creator Brunson echoing that "Dennis is the key" (via Los Angeles Times). It’s unclear exactly what Dennis did while the others were wreaking havoc on Abbott Elementary, but the truth will be revealed in due time.

The crossover's second half will be the total inverse of the Abbott Elementary episode. While the Gang was diluted for Abbott Elementary, the Abbott crew will show off the darker aspects of themselves in the gritter It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia setting. No Abbott Elementarycharacter has been able to show the full extent of their character, since the cameras demand a certain performance, but Dennis and the rest of the It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia Gang will be sure to bring out the worst in them.

Source: Los Angeles Times.