Latest news with #It'sAlwaysSunnyinPhiladelphia
Mint
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Why the crossover episode is a lost art
Five sociopaths arrive at an underfunded black school. Which Philadelphia sitcom does that plotline belong to? It's right up the alley for Abbott Elementary, the school in question, but the sociopaths are ones we know (and occasionally love) from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In a first-of-its-kind crossover, the Sunny gang arrives as court-mandated volunteers at Abbott Elementary, and we get two episodes out of the hijinks: Abbott Elementary, season 4, episode 7, and the 17th season premiere of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The chaos is immediate. The Sunny gang instantly hijack the proceedings. Charlie's criminal illiteracy, Frank's ghoulish opportunism, Dee's delusions of grandeur… they're all too strange, too outrageous, too far out for the optimistic and well-meaning Abbott Elementary ensemble. Charlie shines brightest—as the dimmest—by struggling to read basic words on the board, and he gets a full literacy arc. Under Barbara's determined tutelage, armed only with a picture book about Pennsylvania bird species, he begins to read out loud. Meanwhile the rest of the gang is characteristically up to more nefarious schemes—from stealing boyfriends to stealing copper wire—though Dennis does exhibit significant coffee-making skill and attention to detail. The Abbott Elementary character who really shines is the principal, Ava. Oblivious and self-serving enough to fit in alongside the Always Sunny gang, Ava really holds her own in these crossover episodes. The real wow moment comes when the Abbott ensemble is trying to be optimistic about the future of Philadelphia. This is where Jacob casually starts saying, about the city, 'It's always sunny.." before fading to black. Delightful. There was a time when the television crossover was a regular thing. A night to be circled in red pen, when sitcom characters wandered into other sitcoms, and entire universes bent around the joy of colliding worlds. It was silly, it was contrived, and it was joyous. It began as a programming gimmick, evolved into network synergy, and eventually died out. It apparently started with I Love Lucy's 1957 episode Lucy and Superman, where George Reeves appeared as Superman to crash Ricky's birthday party, arguably the first fictional crossover between two TV characters or shows. Crossovers started regularly in the 1960s, when networks realised that viewers loved seeing their favourite characters in different—but still favourite—surroundings. The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres and Petticoat Junction were rural comedies by creator Paul Henning that would trade guest appearances. This laid the groundwork for Norman Lear's 1970 shows where All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Maude and Good Times together became a social-satire shared universe, so to speak. Crossovers became events in the 1990s. The Golden Girls, Empty Nest and Nurses were all struck by the same storm across three consecutive shows. NBC scripted a blackout across the storylines of New York shows Friends, Mad About You and Madman. These became a bonus for primetime viewers watching the episodes back to back. Back in India, we had Shah Rukh Khan showing up on TV superhit Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin. Then, audiences fractured. Appointment viewing gave way to binge-watching. Shared universes became the domain of corporate-owned superhero franchises, where crossovers felt less like surprise and more like brand obligations. With streaming services hoarding shows into silos, and creators guarding tonal consistency, the classic crossover became extinct. Today, most shows live on different platforms, with conflicting production teams, incompatible styles, and little incentive to play nice. It's hard to imagine Ted Lasso appearing in The Bear—though that might finally help the latter qualify as a comedy. In the linear TV era, scheduling crossovers across shows that aired on the same night made sense. But streaming changes that, with audiences watching one show at a time—on their own time. Without simultaneous airtime, crossovers feel orphaned, confusing, or simply unnecessary. The network synergy has vanished, with broadcasting rights divvied up across platforms. Therefore, the Abbott Elementary and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia crossover makes no sense. Abbott is a workplace comedy with heart and hope. Sunny is a nihilistic satire featuring the most despicable people in Philadelphia. One is set in an underfunded school. The other in a perpetually empty Irish bar. Abbott Elementary is made mockumentary-style, with characters talking to an implausible documentary crew. The Always Sunny gang talks only to each other. It shouldn't work. And yet it does. The crossover revitalises both sitcoms. It makes characters we already know stand out even more when placed next to other characters we know. It is chaos and heart, irreverence and sincerity, two sitcoms running headlong into each other without smoothing the edges. In doing so, Abbott Elementary and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia bring the crossover back from the dead—not as nostalgia, but as reinvention. A TV tradition, long thought obsolete, made vivid once more by the very absurdity of its return. There is one genuine gasp. The crossover features Abbott Elementary's wholesome heroine Janine saying something so foulmouthed it feels scandalous. This says a lot about how provocative the It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia gang remain, even in their 17th season. 'Crazy white people hit different," says Ava, justifiably freaked out. That's not a bad reminder. Some of us longtime viewers are so used to the outrageous Sunny shenanigans that it helps to see them through a fresh pair of eyes. Even fictional ones. Raja Sen is a screenwriter and critic. He has co-written Chup, a film about killing critics, and is now creating an absurd comedy series. He posts @rajasen.
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
The 10 best comedy series to see before you die, according to the Herald's entertainment team
Seinfeld (1989-1988) Jason Alexander and Jerry Seinfeld on Seinfeld. A series that's essentially about nothing doesn't seem like the right grounds for a comedy masterpiece, but thanks to Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld's impeccable writing, Seinfeld stands as (in my opinion) the best sitcom of all time. Spawning unforgettable pop culture references like Festivus and 'yadda yadda yadda', this show takes the concept of social normality and turns it on its head, letting the intrusive thoughts win every time and creating some of the funniest situations ever seen on screen. It paved the way for sitcoms to come, no matter how bad or good they ended up being. – MH Friends (1994-2004) Friends became iconic to a generation over its 10 seasons. The comedy series about six friends living and learning in New York City gave us the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, and Matthew Perry and became iconic to a generation over its 10 seasons. It was an easy watch, kept us laughing and ultimately gave us the endings we wanted. There was a character everyone could relate to, with every 90s girl declaring themselves a Rachel, Monica or Phoebe. As a Monica, I neatly put this on the list while declaring she should have ended up with Richard. – JM It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-Present) Andy Buckley, Danny DeVito, Kaitlin Olson, and Charlie Day were among the cast in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. At its core, this is a show about very bad people doing very bad things ... and boy, is it wild to watch. Danny De Vito is having the most fun he's ever had on screen playing a gremlin of a man who eats cat food for breakfast, and the rest of 'the gang' are equally despicable. Crimes are committed, psychopathic traits encouraged, and there's no filter when it comes to the moral depravity at play, but it's both a cautionary tale and a raucous romp. This show lets its characters' inner demons out in a cathartic and hilarious fashion, unlike any other show seen on screens, and deserves a spot on the list for proving that surreal comedy does have a place on TV. – MH The Office UK (2001-2003) Rickey Gervais as David Brent. Photo / BBC It was The Office that started it all, with the deeply unlikable David Brent at the helm of the show. It was its own brand of sharp comedy, and it pioneered the mockumentary-style show. In typical British comedy style, it offered us far fewer character arcs than were later seen on the US version, far less warmth and not an ounce of American cheese. But Ricky Gervais as Brent showed us a show could be grotesque, offensive, get it all wrong, fluorescent lit, set in Slough, and we would still all follow along. - JM The Inbetweeners (2008-2010) The Inbetweeners is the ultimate coming of age comedy. While The Office, Black Books, Blackadder, and The IT Crowd paved the way for British comedy, The Inbetweeners cemented it in modern pop culture history. Still as relevant as ever in the TikTok age, this series about growing up has just the right amount of gross-out humour and heart to make it appealing as a comedy series. While the actors for Will, Simon, Jay, and Neil may have grown up, their spirited mishaps and quotable quotes (some too rude to share here) will continue to stay in the minds of comedy buffs everywhere for years to come. Just make sure you read up on British slang before watching to get the full comedic effect. – MH The Office US (2005-2013) The Office US featured Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute, Jenna Fischer as Pam Beesly, Steve Carell as Michael Scott, B.J. Novak as Ryan Howard and John Krasinski as Jim Halpert. Photo / NBCU Photo Bank The softer US iteration of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's series gave us Steve Carell as Michael Scott and plenty of beautiful and horrific characters to follow – I still detest Toby more than any character, ever. But The Office US gave us the UK Office with optimism, and more unforgettable moments and quotes than virtually any other show. Pam and Jim's love story is elite. Dwight's character is unmatched, and Michael finding love with 'the hottest girl in the world' warmed even the coldest of hearts. Dunder Mifflin forever. – JM The Simpsons (1989-Present) The dynamic of our favourite yellow family, The Simpsons, never gets old. Photo / Fox A best comedy series list isn't complete without the longest-running American animated comedy series ever, and The Simpsons has stood the test of time for good reason. It continues to reflect the world we live in, satirically touching on relevant issues with just the right tone and style to still entertain. The dynamic of our favourite yellow family never gets old, and new and legacy characters create an iconic world worthy of the movie and theme park rides it spawned. To this day, we are still waiting for the next opening credit couch gag, and will no doubt continue to look forward to it. – MH New Girl (2011-2018) Seasons 2-4 of New Girl were lessons in elite comedic timing. While the series starts slow, and season 1 of the Fox show can be considered anything but its best, seasons 2-4 of New Girl were lessons in elite comedic timing, perfect casting and characters who seamlessly feed off each other. The greatest TV friendship of all time sits in the form of Nick and Schmidt, Winston's mess-arounds will forever live rent-free in my head and Jess (played by Zoe Deschanel) and Nick's fiery (literally) love story reminds us that sometimes your person comes in the form of your best friend. – JM Veep (2012-2019) Veep, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, was over the top but scarily real. Scarily real, yet ludicrously over the top, this political satire from the genius mind of Armando Iannucci acts both as a warning and an expose of just how stupid politics can be. With some of the best comebacks and one-liners ever constructed, this show paints fictional US politician Selina Meyer (played by the superb Julia Louis-Dreyfus) as an unfiltered, morally despicable clown who will do everything and anything to retain power – and the result is rib-shatteringly hilarious. What makes the show even better is its supporting cast, who bend to the will of Meyer, often at their own expense, resulting in a circus of errors that leaves viewers in hysterics. – MH Derek (2012-2014) Ricky Gervais in a scene from Derek. Photo / Netflix Ricky Gervais as Derek could easily be misconstrued by pictures or even trailers. But Derek is one of the most beautiful characters in comedy history, showing us that kindness and believing in others are undervalued qualities. The gullible Derek, who works in a retirement home, shows us through the lens of humour, shows us that despite all odds, it's possible to find the good in everything. The cast of Kerry Godliman, Karl Pilkington, Barry Martin and Brett Goldstein (of Ted Lasso fame) turn a high-risk storyline into a comedy masterpiece. – JM Mitchell Hageman joined the Herald's entertainment and lifestyle team in 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist for Hawke's Bay Today. Jenni Mortimer is the NZ Herald's chief lifestyle and entertainment reporter. Jenni started at the Herald in 2017 and has previously worked as lifestyle, entertainment and travel editor.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac Slide (Tackle) Into Eva Longoria's ‘Necaxa' Trailer
Welcome to Necaxa. On Wednesday, FX revealed the trailer for Eva Longoria's Necaxa series, a spinoff of Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac's Welcome to Wrexham. More from The Hollywood Reporter Filming Underway on Season 2 of Netflix's 'Geek Girl,' Layton Williams Joins Cast Netflix Earnings Preview: Price Hikes, AI and Cash Flow in Focus Venice Unveils VR Interactive Lineup We'll go over this 'Rob Mac' thing one more time. The actor and co-owner (along with Reynolds) of the Wrexham AFC team formerly known as Rob McElhenney grew weary of folks mispronouncing his name. So the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-creator (with Glenn Howerton) and star legally changed his name to Rob Mac — and we all just have to be cool with that, OK? Anyway, this isn't about those guys (though they are executive producers on Necaxa). At least, it isn't until they infiltrate the Necaxa trailer trying to speak Spanish. Let's let Eva handle this one, fellas. 'Football in Mexico is a language,' Longoria introduces the trailer. 'It's the national language.' And one that she actually speaks, Rob. Necaxa, which hails from FX and Disney+ Latin America and follows the Liga MX's Club Necaxa, is described as 'a gripping bilingual docuseries chronicling a turbulent, transformational time marked by staff shake-ups, career-defining injuries and the relentless grit of a football team determined to defy expectations and deliver hope to its city of Aguascalientes, Mexico.' 'Once a powerhouse in Mexican football, Club Necaxa has spent decades navigating instability including relocations and near-constant reinvention,' the series description continues. 'Though its legacy has flickered in and out of the national spotlight, a passionate core of diehard supporters continues to believe, clinging to the dream that their beloved 'Rayos' will one day rise again.' Other executive producers on the program include Cris Abrego, Rachelle Mendez, Nicholas Frenkel, Jackie Cohn, George Dewey, Alex Fumero and Diana E. Gonzales. Necaxa is produced by Hyphenate Media Group (Eva's company), More Better Productions (Rob Mac's), Maximum Effort (Ryan's) and 3 Arts Entertainment. Necaxa premieres on Aug. 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on FXX, with episodes available to stream the next day on Hulu and available on Disney+ internationally. Each of the first three Thursdays will see a pair of new Necaxa episodes rolled out — the final four episodes will come out one per week after that until the (TV show's) season finale on Thursday, Sept. 18. Watch trailers below, available in English and in Spanish. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mirror
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Wrexham owner's 'heartbreaking' transfer bombshell after player's statement
One of Wrexham's co-owners has opened up on the emotional impact of parting ways with a star player this summer following the club's promotion to the Championship Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney has shared his heartache upon discovering the exit of a beloved player through social media. The Welsh club has bid farewell to a number of key players since their triumphant rise to the Championship in April. The most notable departures included seasoned goalkeeper Mark Howard and experienced forward Steven Fletcher. Last month, it was also revealed that Wrexham 's star striker Paul Mullin would be moving to Wigan Athletic on a season-long loan after losing his place in the team under manager Phil Parkinson last term. McElhenney, who is in the process of legally changing his name to Rob Mac, has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of parting with players who have significantly contributed to the club's achievements. The actor and co-creator of 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' disclosed that he learned of one squad member's summer departure only after reading about it on X, previously known as Twitter. Speaking on the Pardon My Take podcast, McElhenney expressed his surprise after not being informed by Parkinson about the player's release but stood by the decision made by the ex-Bolton and Sunderland manager. The 48-year-old said: "I found out one of my favourite players was released from the team this year. I found out via Twitter and I was just as shocked as he was. It was his statement, and the manager hadn't told us yet. "He talked to the player, which is what he should have done, the player talked to his teammates and then put out a statement, which is his right to do. My heart was broken and I did not see it coming. "The players will often play themselves out of a job. This happened with a few of our players where they gave their hearts, their souls and their effort and helped us get promoted. "For that, us, the club and the town are eternally grateful. But what winds up happening is, you go up a league, and maybe they're 36 or 37 years old, and you need somebody who's 21 or 22. They accept that, but it still doesn't make it easy and it's not fun." Wrexham were competing in the National League when McElhenney and Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds initially purchased the club in February 2021. The North Wales side has since secured three consecutive promotions, with the Hollywood duo helping propel the team into the second tier. During the interview, McElhenney revealed how he first approached Reynolds about joining his quest to acquire a football club. He also shared the cautionary words he received from his wife, Kaitlin Olson, before reaching out to the Canadian. "I went back recently and I found the original email that I sent to him where I laid out the idea and what I wanted to do," McElhenney said. "Originally, I was going to do it on my own and ask Ryan if he wanted to be a sponsor with Aviation Gin as the front of kit sponsor. "The more I thought about it, the more I realised that he's such an entrepreneur. He's globally famous, whatever he touches seems to turn to gold and if I could potentially include him as a partner, that could take this thing into the stratosphere. "I remember asking my wife about it, and I said, 'Caitlin, what do you think about me asking Ryan to be a full partner on this?' She said, 'I don't know. I guess it depends on whether your ego can take sharing the screen with Ryan.'". Sharing the secret behind their ownership success, he added: "We were honest from the very beginning, and we went in with our hearts on our sleeves and said, 'We don't know anything about football.' I was not even a fan of the beautiful game up until five years ago, and now I'm horrifically addicted." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'. But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in... Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year.
Wales Online
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Wrexham owner heartbroken after manager didn't tell him his favourite player was leaving
Wrexham owner heartbroken after manager didn't tell him his favourite player was leaving One of Wrexham's Hollywood co-owners has opened up on how he was devastated to learn of the departure of a key player via social media, reflecting on the emotional impact Rob McElhenney, who co-owns Wrexham with Ryan Reynolds, has revealed his shock over a player's departure (Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images ) Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney has revealed how he was left heartbroken after learning about the departure of one of his favourite players via social media. The Red Dragons have said goodbye to several stars since securing a third consecutive promotion to the Championship in April, including stalwart goalkeeper Mark Howard and veteran striker Steven Fletcher. Meanwhile, it was announced last month that Wrexham talisman Paul Mullin would be joining Wigan Athletic on a season-long loan after falling out of favour under manager Phil Parkinson last season. McElhenney, who recently filed to legally change his name to Rob Mac, has now opened up on the emotional impact of saying goodbye to players who have been a key part of the club's success. The It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia actor and co-creator said he only discovered one team member was leaving this summer after reading about it on X, formerly known as Twitter. Speaking on the Pardon My Take podcast, McElhenney added that he was not informed of the impending exit by Parkinson beforehand but defended the approach taken by the former Bolton and Sunderland boss. The 48-year-old said: "I found out one of my favourite players was released from the team this year. I found out via Twitter and I was just as shocked as he was. It was his statement, and the manager hadn't told us yet. "He talked to the player, which is what he should have done, the player talked to his teammates and then put out a statement, which is his right to do. My heart was broken and I did not see it coming. Article continues below Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney has opened up about the challenges of running a football club (Image: Chris Jackson/PA Wire ) "The players will often play themselves out of a job. This happened with a few of our players where they gave their hearts, their souls and their effort and helped us get promoted. "For that, us, the club and the town are eternally grateful. But what winds up happening is, you go up a league, and maybe they're 36 or 37 years old, and you need somebody who's 21 or 22. They accept that, but it still doesn't make it easy and it's not fun." Wrexham were playing in the National League when McElhenney and Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds first bought the club in February 2021. The North Wales outfit has since enjoyed three promotions in a row, with the two actors helping to lift the team into the second tier. During the interview, McElhenney lifted the lid on how he approached Reynolds about joining his bid to buy a football club. He also discussed the warning he received from his wife, Kaitlin Olson, before contacting the Canadian megastar. Watch Welcome to Wrexham season 4 on Disney+ This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more from £4.99 Disney+ Get Disney+ here Product Description Welcome to Wrexham is back on Disney+ for a fourth season. Fans can watch the series with a £4.99 monthly plan, or get 12 months for the price of 10 by paying for a year upfront. "I went back recently and I found the original email that I sent to him where I laid out the idea and what I wanted to do," said McElhenney. "Originally, I was going to do it on my own and ask Ryan if he wanted to be a sponsor with Aviation Gin as the front of kit sponsor. "The more I thought about it, the more I realised that he's such an entrepreneur. He's globally famous, whatever he touches seems to turn to gold and if I could potentially include him as a partner, that could take this thing into the stratosphere. "I remember asking my wife about it, and I said, 'Caitlin, what do you think about me asking Ryan to be a full partner on this?' She said, 'I don't know. I guess it depends on whether your ego can take sharing the screen with Ryan.'" Article continues below Highlighting the key to their success as owners, he added: "We were honest from the very beginning, and we went in with our hearts on our sleeves and said, 'We don't know anything about football.' I was not even a fan of the beautiful game up until five years ago, and now I'm horrifically addicted."
