The series about the faculty at an inner-city Philadelphia grammar school trends every week on Twitter, has a 100% Fresh Critic Rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is the first-ever ABC comedy on ABC quadruple its premiere episode’s ratings since its initial airing, thanks to fans finding it largely on digital platforms. So people really like it. Why? For starters, people are calling it “The Office but with Black people” (although others are already urging their fellow fans to stop doing that). It’s an easy comparison to make, as Abbott Elementary is done in a similar mockumentary style. And the creator, writer and executive producer of Abbott Elementary, Quinta Brunson, knows it. “I feel like those comparisons are, for the most part, out of love,” she said in January 2022. “They’re good-faith comparisons. The Office… first of all, it was one of the biggest shows on television, and so it makes sense to be compared to it.” However, she’s confident her show goes beyond an Office copy.“The comparisons make total sense, but I believe by the end of the season, it’ll be determined that what you’re seeing on Abbott, you can’t get anywhere else,” she explains. The truth is, the show is almost perfect in its timing for today’s cultural landscape. It almost seems like a real documentary about teachers (funny teachers at that) and there’s a strange, nostalgic feeling one can get when watching Abbott Elementary, starting with the most obvious thing: The COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t exist on the show. There’s not a mask to be seen, and when teachers at Abbott gather round the TV to watch Action News, it’s not to see debates about masks or boosters; they’re watching to calm down, support local news and check out Jim Gardner (a real Philly news anchor). You can also argue that, after months of “Zoom school” for kids, parents have found a newfound respect for the people who educate their children, and Abbott Elementary gives them an outlet for that appreciation and a window into that world. At hte same time, with so many employees in other professions working remotely these days, people miss their work friends–hanging out with the cast of Abbott Elementary scratches that itch a bit. Every character is someone you know right now in real life, not hotshot lawyers, genius doctors or wacky pranksters. They talk about the Philadelphia Eagles, the local news anchor, baking ziti, TikTok and Chipotle. The situations they find themselves in are situations you’ve likely experienced: Ever had a bad boss? Had to learn new tech for work? Felt burnt out in your career? Stayed in a lackluster relationship? Started a new one? So have they. The show feels like a time to see friends–and not new friends, because you know these people. Plus, “there are a lot of real-life Philadelphia mentions and references,” Brunson says. “Some of them are so deep, in fact, that you just will not get them unless you are from Philadelphia. And I thought that was OK because I think that gave our show even more soul and even more heart.” And the teachers and staff still seem to like what they do. “This is the first female teacher character in a comedy who has been portrayed in a positive light, and who is realistic, like a well-rounded person, in a very long time,” says Mary Dalton, a professor who studies how educators are portrayed in popular culture. One reason for that? Teagues’ own mom was a kindergarten teacher for 40 years. “I put a lot of my mom’s real-life experiences into this show and modified them a little bit,” Brunson has said. “I think a lot of it is based on what I’ve seen in my mom’s years of teaching, and then we incorporated a lot of the more modern stuff.” The teachers and staff at Willard Abbott Elementary also deal with all-too-real inner-city problems without becoming too dismal, which can be hard for shows about the inner city. They’re underpaid teachers working in an overwhelming and underfunded situation; the principal has even brought in a camera crew to show the realities of inner-city school life (which is the in-show explanation for the Office-style interviews.) Lack of supplies is a constant concern, as are the issues their students have to deal with. Poignant moments come unexpectedly; when viewers discover the surprisingly heart-wrenching reason Janine is so focused on new rugs for her classroom, it’s unexpected but feels completely believable. The cast is very aware of the real issues that lie beneath the comedy they’re making. “If this show can move the needle a little bit and get us closer to a reasonable funding package for teachers and educators in public schools around the country, then we did something other than just make you laugh,” says Tyler James Williams, who plays Gregory. As the country is becoming more diverse, more diverse TV shows and films make sense–and Abbott Elementary, set in an inner-city school, reflects that diversity. “I just could not think of many workplace sitcoms with Black leads,” explains Brunson. “Most of the recent ones, there is one Black person, or a Black person and another person of color in the workplace, but not predominantly. Whereas where I’ve come from, most of the workplaces were composed of predominantly Black people, and I wanted to reflect that… I just thought it would be unique to do that. So I’m happy that people feel that, feel seen, and are enjoying watching this different version of a workplace sitcom.” Another reason for the show’s success is that it’s just funny at a time when people need a reason to laugh. And luckily, the show doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. “I would love to be able to make this show for a very long time because I enjoy making it and I enjoy being with these people,” Brunson says. “I enjoy our crew, our writers room, [and] honestly, the partnership we have with WB and ABC. It’s really respectful and strong. And for all those reasons, I would like to continue to make this show and tell these stories with these teachers, for sure. So hopefully it can just keep going.” Keep reading to find out more about Abbott Elementary Season 1 (for starters: is it based on a real school?), how you can fast-forward Janine and Gregory’s sure-to-come romance, which actress also wanted the part of Ava, which cast member has already cooked for everyone and who the real Willard Abbott is.
What is Abbott Elementary about?
The show is about the life, work and loves of the teachers and staff at the fictional Abbott Elementary School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Is Abbott Elementary a real school?
No, it’s completely made up, although the stories are loosely based on the experiences of Quinta Brunson’s educator mom and her own school experiences as a kid.
Who was Willard Abbott?
The fictional school is named after a fictional Willard Abbott. However, the school is really named after a combination of two real people: Will Smith and Quinta Brunson’s middle school teacher, Joyce Abbott. “[Brunson] was an awesome student,” Abbott has said. “Sometimes she was too hard on herself—she was so driven for excellence.” Brunson called Abbott before the show, but they weren’t reunited until Jimmy Kimmel surprised Brunson on his show.
Where is Abbott Elementary filmed?
With all the homage paid to Philly, it’s surprising that the show isn’t taped there–or anywhere on the East Coast. It’s filmed in and around Los Angeles, California.
Is Abbott Elementary like The Office?
The comparisons to The Office are many–from the Roy/Pam/Jim love triangle to the ineptness of Ava, who reminds many of Michael Scott. The mockumentary format is similar as well, but the direction of the show and the real-life situations on the show make it different from its comedy predecessor.
Who is Abbott Elementary’s Quinta Brunson?
Brunson seems to have come out of nowhere, right? However, you’ve likely seen her around the internet. Early in her career she became known for clips like “The Girl Who’s Never Been on a Nice Date” and memes like “People Be Gay," catching the eye of Buzzfeed. She started appearing in their videos and they ultimately made her one of their youngest development partners. “I was cutting my teeth on what it took to create television shows,” she says. “I didn’t formally go to school for this, so it was like on-the-job training.” She was one of Forbes “30 under 30” and co-starred on HBO’S A Black Lady Sketch Show and other TV shows. Like Will Smith, Brunson was “West Philadelphia, born and raised,” Discovering many SNL stars trained at Second City (the improv theater) in Chicago, she was soon dipping out on her Temple University education and heading to Chicago for classes there. A teacher encouraged her to take a writing class, but since Brunson had not shared any of this with her parents, she didn’t have the cash–so the teacher paid for it. “That was the defining moment of, like, Okay, I will be doing this for the rest of my life,” Brunson remembers. “No one had ever given me money to do something I was good at before!” Brunson’s Abbott character Janine is a relatively new, optimistic teacher with a really bad sense of personal sartorial style (she’s “trying her best at Target,” Brunson says). She’s self-deprecating, but also comfortable with herself–mostly. Right now, Janine has a boyfriend who lives at her place, drives her car and eats her food–literally. In true Janine form, she refuses to give up on him, even though he’s unemployed and has been trying to break into the rap game for almost a decade. She wants to make a difference in the lives of her students and sometimes goes too far, but always has the best of intentions.
Who is in the AbbottElementary cast?
Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie
Williams plays Greg, the substitute teacher. He’s the kind of person who doesn’t like to get involved, although he’s highly competent; we find out in episode one that he interviewed for the principal position–and got it, but viewers discover that Ava blackmailed the superintendent into getting the job instead. Being new to the school, he isn’t used to “Reverse-y Toilet” or any of the wacky things that happen there. Like Jim from TheOffice, he casts withering and exasperated looks at the camera whenever something strange happens. And for someone who doesn’t want to get involved at the school, he secretly tends the school garden for two of the other characters. He’s also secretly sweet on Janine. There’s very Jim/Pam/Roy setup happening, and we’re all looking forward to Greg and Janine’s first romantic moment. Can’t wait? Williams and Brunson have already locked lips in the “Rome and Julissa” sketch on A Black Lady Sketch Show back in 2019. Williams was hand-picked for the role. “I was like, ‘Wow, Tyler would be perfect for this.’ And I realized I was writing with Tyler in mind anyway,” Brunson explains. “So I hit him up and told him, ‘Hey, I have this show that I’m making, and I really think you’d be good for this role.’ I explained it to him a little bit, and he was basically like, ‘I’m down.’” The son of an NYPD sergeant who last attended in-person school in sixth grade because of his acting career (you may remember him as Chris in Everybody Hates Chris!), the 29-year-old-Williams is tickled by interacting with kids now. “I don’t have any kids so I don’t interact with children this much on a daily basis," he’s said. “It’s wild to see how quickly you become attached and you feel responsible for the period of their life that you have them and guiding and helping along their journey.”
Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard
Tony Award nominee Sheryl Lee Ralph has a regal presence wherever she shows up, whether that’s in films like Sister Act 2 or on TV shows like Moesha. And her Barbara Howard character is deeply caring, stern when needed and deeply committed to teaching. It’s easy to see how Brunson’s own kindergarten teaching mom has made its way into Barbara’s character; Janine even calls Barbara “mom” quickly in the first episode. Howard does have flaws; she’s so proud that she hides when she can’t grasp the new technology the teachers have to learn–with hilarious results. “I knew before that I wanted to be a part of the show because of Quinta Brunson,” Ralph recalled in a January 2022 interview. “I met Quinta on a series called A Black Lady Sketch Show and it just seemed to me like she was studying me, and I was like, “Oh, this is wonderful. This young artist thinks I’m something special.” Turns out, Brunson really wanted her for the Barbara role. “Once I read the script, I really loved the character of the principal. And I said, “Give me a shot at the principal.” She was like, “No, absolutely not. You are Mrs. Howard. We need a queen and you are her.” She may be tiny, but she is truly mighty as our creator. Quinta Brunson—that’s a name to remember.”
Janelle James as Ava Coleman
In a cast filled with strong personalities and great characters, if there’s one breakout star of this show, it’s Janelle James, who plays Abbott’s principal, Ava. James, a stand up comedian, is “HONORED that I’ve been given another platform for people to hear me laugh at my own jokes,” she tweeted in January 2022. James says she’s not surprised that people have really responded to Ava. “She’s hilarious and such a great character; that’s why I auditioned for her in the first place,” she told HuffPost. “AbbottElementary is a good show—we’ve made a good show, and it feels great… I knew it was a good show, and I just wanted to be involved. So, I went into my virtual audition with that energy.” The character often has some of the funniest lines of the whole show. “This is it y’all!” she says when Janine accidentally knocks out power to the building, wearing a headlamp. “This is the end times!” When Janine passes out, her first response is “she’s pale like a zombie. You know they eat the hottest people first, let me back my tasty a** up.” She arranges student files by who has the sexiest dad, calls social media her “art,”, and says “normally I encourage cheating but girl, you gots to let me know.” She’s hilarious. James knows people love to hate her character. “Oh, Ava’s absolutely a villain, not even halfway, but she’s a true and total villain,” she says. “She’s not trying to be a good person; there’s no faking it either. You take it or leave it. But that’s who she is and I love that about her. Yes, there are times when she makes me cringe. She’s mean. I’ve said that while reading the scripts. But this is why it’s fun to do and what drew me to her.” “Janelle is just doing her character so d**n well that, you know, people are getting mad at her!” Brunson says. “I chuckle about it. It’s a sign of success to be so good at the role that people are like, Oh my God, I can’t stand her. It’s really cool to have a controversial character on shows right now. I’m putting her in the same category as Shiv Roy [from HBO’S Succession].” James’ standup work can be seen on Netflix and she’s also written for Showtime’s Black Monday. She’s done some voice work for Apple TV’s Central Park as well. She also has a podcast called You in Danger, Gurl, where she talks about crazy dates and relationship red flags, among other things.
Chris Perfetti as Jacob Hill
Many times when there’s been teachers shown in inner-city schools, the white teacher is the one who makes a real difference. However, on Abbott Elementary it’s not that simple. Chris Perfetti’s Jacob Hill is idealistic and earnest in a way that matches Janine’s; they’re the only two new teachers who have stuck around in a while. In the first episode, he’s pumped that RachelMaddow retweeted him; he’s taught in Africa, supports local news and looks for ways to recycle anything. But Perfetti’s Jacob is also overeager and still a bit unsure of himself. Perfetti says that the role came to him years ago; Brunson described Jacob as “the best friend that you didn’t know you needed,” he said earlier this month. “And she was very upfront about describing all of his attributes and flaws, saying that he’s an incredibly ferociously loyal and well-intentioned person, but often at his own demise. And I think of him now as a social puppy. He’s an overachiever and a nervous wreck and a Shakespearean clown.” Making Jacob the butt of jokes would be an easy way for the show to get laughs, but his character is fleshed out too. He always helps Janine, gets picked on by his students but eventually turns their teasing into history lessons, and impresses Barbara with gardening and bossa nova music. Perfetti has been seen in films like The Night Of and Crossbones, and has made appearances on shows like What We Do in the Shadows.
Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti
If you grew up in the Northeast, you know someone like Melissa Schemmenti. She always “knows a guy” and seems like the kind of aunt that would heckle hot guys at the beach with you. “I’m gonna have to make a ziti” she says when she calls in a favor from a friend (Walter has also made ziti for the cast and crew)–when Janine knocks out power, her main concern is her branzino. But she’s also a fantastic teacher, earning one of the few apologies from Janine we’ve seen yet. She also has a thing for the vending machine guy but don’t make a big deal about it ok? “I was like, how’d they write me?,” Walter said about first reading the role. “Without it being like, ‘Oh, we’re basing this on you, Lisa.’ My mom’s family is Sicilian. For decades, she was a school teacher in a downtown D.C. public school…. I’m just channeling my family for real.” You might remember Walter as Chessy from The (Lindsay Lohan) Parent Trap or as Bobbie in the JenniferLopez film Shall We Dance.
When will Abbott Elementary Season 2 start?
The show debuted as a mid-season starter in December. There’s no word yet on whether the show has scored a second season; however, because of the show’s success, it’s easy to think that the gang will get a proper Season 2 kickoff next fall.
How can I watch Abbott Elementary?
You can watch Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC. You can also watch on ABC.com and on Hulu the next day. Next, HBO Max Has Renewed The Sex Lives of College Girls for Season 2! Here’s Everything We Know So Far
