| Creator: | Quinta Brunson |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Num Seasons: | 3 |
| Num Episodes: | 49 |
| List Episodes: | List of Abbott Elementary episodes |
| Theme Music Composer: | Maker |
| Producer: |
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| Cinematography: |
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| Editor: |
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| Camera: | Single-camera |
| Runtime: | 22 minutes |
| Network: | ABC |
Abbott Elementary is an American mockumentary sitcom television series created by Quinta Brunson for ABC. It stars Brunson as Janine Teagues, a perpetually optimistic second-grade teacher at the underfunded Abbott Elementary, a fictional predominantly Black school in Philadelphia. The ensemble cast includes Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
The series premiered on December 7, 2021, and was met with critical acclaim and strong viewership numbers on Hulu and other delayed viewing methods.[1] The show has been nominated for 24 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning four including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Brunson. Abbott Elementary has also won three Golden Globe Awards, with acting wins for Brunson and Williams and the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy in 2023. In January 2023, the series was renewed for a third season consisting of 14 episodes, which premiered on February 7, 2024, with a two-episode premiere. Three days after the third season premiere, it was also renewed for a fourth season, which will premiere on October 9, 2024.[2]
Willard R. Abbott Elementary School is a predominantly Black Philadelphia public school where a documentary crew is recording the lives of teachers working in underfunded, mismanaged schools. Conditions at the school are harsh and most teachers quit after their second year. Optimistic second-grade teacher Janine Teagues is determined to help her students despite the circumstances. She works with awkward, good-intentioned history teacher Jacob Hill; no-nonsense kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard; second-grade teacher Melissa Schemmenti, Barbara's close friend who has questionable connections. They are joined by new school principal Ava Coleman - who is tone-deaf, unqualified, and uninvested - and recent substitute hire Gregory Eddie, who was rejected when applying for the position of principal.
See main article: List of Abbott Elementary episodes.
Brunson said that her mother's 40-year career as a schoolteacher inspired her to create Abbott Elementary, named after Joyce Abbott, one of her elementary school teachers.[5] The series is set in Brunson's hometown, Philadelphia. She said that Barbara Howard (played by Sheryl Lee Ralph) is based on her mother.
On September 3, 2020, an untitled workplace comedy pilot starring Brunson landed a put pilot commitment at ABC with Brunson, Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker serving as executive producers.[6]
In February 2021, ABC gave the project an official pilot order, originally with the title of Harrity Elementary.[7] In May, the project was given a series order under a new name of Abbott Elementary.[8] [9] Filming for the first season began on August 16, 2021, in Los Angeles, California, and concluded on November 5, 2021.[10] [11] In August, three crew members tested positive for COVID-19 but production was not impacted.[12]
The first season premiered on December 7, 2021,[13] [14] and concluded on April 12, 2022, consisting of 13 episodes. On March 14, 2022, just before the first season was set to conclude, the series was renewed for a second season.[15] According to a tweet made by Quinta Brunson, the first day of filming for the second season began on July 18, 2022. On July 21, 2022, ABC ordered the second season of 22 episodes, giving it a full-season order.[16] The second season premiered on September 21, 2022.[17] On January 11, 2023, ABC renewed the series for a third season.[18] In May 2023, the Writers Guild of America strike occurred which impacted on the production of third season.[19] On November 10, 2023, ABC picked up the series for a full third season of 14 episodes.[20] The third season premiered on February 7, 2024, with a two-episode premiere.[21] Three days after the third season premiere, it was also renewed for a fourth season.[22]
In March 2021, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, and Sheryl Lee Ralph were announced to star in the series alongside Brunson.[23] In November of the same year, William Stanford Davis was confirmed to recur as Mr. Johnson, the janitor.[24] Brunson portrays Janine Teagues, the optimistic second-grade teacher who leads the series and its ensemble. Williams portrays Gregory Eddie, a substitute first-grade teacher who harbors a crush on Janine. James portrays Ava Coleman, the school's inept principal. Walter portrays Melissa Schemmenti, a second-grade teacher alongside Janine. Perfetti portrays Jacob Hill, an awkward history teacher, and Ralph portrays Barbara Howard, an old-school kindergarten teacher whom Janine looks up to.
In an interview with Insider, Brunson revealed that her character of Janine Teagues was originally planned to be just a side character in the series, as a staff member of Abbott. During the initial visions of the series, Barbara Howard was meant to be the "driving force" of the series.
In July 2022, just months prior to the series returning for its second season, it was announced that Davis would be promoted to series regular for the season.[25] Additionally, a week before the season premiere it was announced via The Wrap that the season would see the introduction of various recurring guest stars, including Lauren Weedman as Kristen Marie, Leslie Odom Jr. as Draemond Winding and Keyla Monterroso Mejia as Ashley Garcia,[26] all of whom appeared within the first eight episodes of the season.
The second season also featured a cameo from Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty in the premiere episode, which garnered a large amount of online attention. When asked by the National Hockey League, executive producer Patrick Schumacker stated that Gritty's appearance in the series was "a long time coming." He revealed that Gritty was originally due to appear in one of the early episodes of the first season, but scheduling conflicts delayed the cameo.
The series does not use any original music or score written or recorded for it, instead using pre-existing and/or library music, often used as diegetic music (or source music), often performed "live" by cast members. The previously released song, "Hold'em", performed by Maker, was used as its main title theme.[27]
In the US, the show airs on ABC and streams on Hulu with next-day availability and Disney+ through the Hulu content hub added by Disney in early 2024. The show also streams on Max after each season completes its broadcast. In Australia and New Zealand the show was first released on Disney+ under the Star content hub on February 16 as a Star Original with a 6 episode premiere with new episodes weekly before airing in several countries in Europe such as UK, France, Italy and Germany.[28] [29]
In Canada, the series airs on Global, with episodes available to stream on the Global TV app the next day.[30] The first two seasons are currently available to stream on Disney+ under the Star content hub.
The series has average scores of 99% on Rotten Tomatoes [31] and 83 on Metacritic.[32]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an approval rating of 98% with an average rating of 8.3 out of 10, based on 45 reviews. The site's critical consensus said, "Abbott Elementary earns top marks for its empathetic yet sidesplitting critique of the U.S. education system, plus some extra credit for a deftly handled will-they-won't-they dynamic."[33] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 80 out of 100 based on 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[34]
Angie Han of The Hollywood Reporter said "[it] works well enough to deliver a consistent good time — and I suspect that given time, Abbott Elementary could blossom into something truly special". Han also said the first episodes "[are] a willingness to deal with class head on, while also finding humor in the characters' situations", and concluded that Abbott Elementary is "crowd-pleasing."[35]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season has received an approval rating of 100% with an average rating of 9 out of 10, based on 23 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads, "Class is back in session and the plucky teachers of Abbott Elementary remain an absolute delight, with creator/star Quinta Brunson's savvy and sweet sensibility honed to perfection."[36] Meanwhile, Metacritic has reported an average rating of 88 out of 100, based on ten reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[37]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the third season has received an approval rating of 100% based on 10 reviews. The site’s critical consensus reads, "Abbott Elementary has done its homework on sitcom longevity, finding fresh complications for its ragtag band of educators while deepening them as well-rounded people rather than comical caricatures."[38] Meanwhile, Metacritic has reported an average rating of 82 out of 100, based on seven reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[39]
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Film Institute Awards | 2023 | Top 10 Television Programs | Abbott Elementary | [40] | |
| AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | 2023 | Best Actress (TV/Streaming) | Sheryl Lee Ralph | [41] [42] | |
| Best TV Series | Abbott Elementary | ||||
| Artios Awards | 2023 | Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Television Pilot and First Season Comedy Series | Wendy O'Brien | [43] | |
| 2024 | Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Television Comedy Series | [44] | |||
| Astra TV Awards | 2022 | Best Broadcast Network Series, Comedy | Abbott Elementary | [45] | |
| Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy | Chris Perfetti | ||||
| Tyler James Williams | |||||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy | Janelle James | ||||
| Sheryl Lee Ralph | |||||
| Best Directing in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy | |||||
| Best Writing in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| 2023 | Best Broadcast Network Series, Comedy | Abbott Elementary | [46] [47] | ||
| Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy | Tyler James Williams | ||||
| William Stanford Davis | |||||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy | Janelle James | ||||
| Lisa Ann Walter | |||||
| Sheryl Lee Ralph | |||||
| Best Directing in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy | Randall Einhorn | ||||
| Best Writing in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| 2024 | Best Broadcast Network Comedy Series | Abbott Elementary | [48] | ||
| Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Comedy Series | Chris Perfetti | ||||
| Tyler James Williams | |||||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Comedy Series | Janelle James | ||||
| Lisa Ann Walter | |||||
| Sheryl Lee Ralph | |||||
| Best Directing in a Broadcast Network or Cable Comedy Series | “Party” directed by Randall Einhorn | ||||
| Best Writing in a Broadcast Network or Cable Comedy Series | “Career Day” by Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | Bradley Cooper | ||||
| Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Tatyana Ali | ||||
| Astra Creative Arts TV Awards | 2023 | Best Casting in a Comedy Series | Abbott Elementary | ||
| Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | Leslie Odom Jr. | ||||
| Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Ayo Edebiri | ||||
| Taraji P. Henson | |||||
| Black Reel Television Awards | 2022 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Abbott Elementary | [49] | |
| Outstanding Actress, Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy Series | Tyler James Williams | ||||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy Series | Janelle James | ||||
| Sheryl Lee Ralph | |||||
| Outstanding Directing, Comedy Series | |||||
| Outstanding Writing, Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Outstanding Guest Actor, Comedy Series | Reggie Hayes | ||||
| Orlando Jones | |||||
| 2023 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Abbott Elementary | [50] | ||
| Outstanding Lead Performance, Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Outstanding Supporting Performance, Comedy Series | William Stanford Davis | ||||
| Janelle James | |||||
| Sheryl Lee Ralph | |||||
| Tyler James Williams | |||||
| Outstanding Directing, Comedy Series | |||||
| Outstanding Writing, Comedy Series | Ava Coleman | ||||
| Jordan Temple | |||||
| Outstanding Guest Performance, Comedy Series | Zack Fox | ||||
| Taraji P. Henson | |||||
| Orlando Jones | |||||
| Leslie Odom Jr. | |||||
| Outstanding Makeup & Hairstyling | Alisha L. Baijounas & Moira Fraizer | ||||
| Critics' Choice Awards | 2023 | Best Comedy Series | Abbott Elementary | [51] | |
| Best Actress in a Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Chris Perfetti | ||||
| Tyler James Williams | |||||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Janelle James | ||||
| Sheryl Lee Ralph | |||||
| 2024 | Best Comedy Series | Abbott Elementary | [52] | ||
| Best Actress in a Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Janelle James | ||||
| Sheryl Lee Ralph | |||||
| Dorian Awards | 2022 | Best TV Comedy | Abbott Elementary | [53] | |
| Best TV Performance | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Best Supporting TV Performance | Janelle James | ||||
| 2023 | Best TV Comedy | Abbott Elementary | [54] | ||
| Best TV Performance - Comedy | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Best Supporting TV Performance - Comedy | Janelle James | ||||
| Sheryl Lee Ralph | |||||
| GLAAD Media Awards | 2023 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Abbott Elementary | [55] | |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2023 | Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy | Abbott Elementary | [56] | |
| Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series – Comedy/Musical or Drama | Tyler James Williams | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series – Comedy/Musical or Drama | Janelle James | ||||
| Sheryl Lee Ralph | |||||
| 2024 | Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy | Abbott Elementary | [57] | ||
| Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Golden Trailer Awards | 2023 | Most Innovative Advertising for a TV/Streaming Series | "Traveling Teachers Lounge with Scholastic" (ABC) | [58] [59] | |
| Best Viral Campaign for a TV / Streaming Series | Abbott Elementary at SDCC 2022 (ABC) | ||||
| Gotham Independent Film Awards | 2022 | Breakthrough Series – Long Form | Abbott Elementary | [60] | |
| Outstanding Performance in a New Series | Janelle James | ||||
| Humanitas Prize | 2022 | Comedy Teleplay | Quinta Brunson | [61] | |
| ICG Publicists Awards | 2023 | Television Showman of the Year | Quinta Brunson | [62] | |
| Maxwell Weinberg Award for Television Publicity Campaign | Celia Sacks & Sarah Teicher | [63] | |||
| Independent Spirit Awards | 2023 | Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series | Quinta Brunson | [64] | |
| Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series | Janelle James | ||||
| Sheryl Lee Ralph | |||||
| Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards | 2023 | Best Contemporary Make-Up in a Television Series, Television Limited or Miniseries or Television New Media Series | Alisha L. Baijounas, Jenn Bennett, Constance Foe, and Emilia Werynska | [65] | |
| Best Contemporary Hair Styling in a Television Series, Television Limited or Miniseries or Television New Media Series | Moira Frazier, Dustin Osborne, and Christina R. Joseph | ||||
| 2024 | Best Contemporary Make-Up in a Television Series, Television Limited or Miniseries or Television New Media Series | Alisha L. Baijounas, Emilia Werynska, Jenn Bennett, and Constance Foe | [66] | ||
| MTV Movie & TV Awards | 2023 | Best Comedic Performance | Quinta Brunson | [67] | |
| NAACP Image Awards | 2023 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Abbott Elementary | [68] | |
| Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television) | |||||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Tyler James Williams | ||||
| William Stanford | |||||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Janelle James | ||||
| Sheryl Lee Ralph | |||||
| Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series | |||||
| Quinta Brunson | |||||
| 2024 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Abbott Elementary | [69] | ||
| Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Tyler James Williams | ||||
| William Stanford | |||||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Janelle James | ||||
| Sheryl Lee Ralph | |||||
| Outstanding Guest Performance | Ayo Edebiri | ||||
| Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series | Brittani Nichols | ||||
| Ava Coleman | |||||
| Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | 2024 | Favorite Family TV Show | Abbott Elementary | [70] | |
| Favorite Female TV Star (Family) | Janelle James | ||||
| Quinta Brunson | |||||
| Peabody Awards | 2023 | Entertainment honorees | Abbott Elementary | [71] | |
| People's Choice Awards | 2022 | The Show of 2022 | Abbott Elementary | [72] | |
| The Comedy Show of 2022 | |||||
| The Female TV Star of 2022 | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| The Comedy TV Star of 2022 | |||||
| 2024 | The Comedy Show of the Year | Abbott Elementary | [73] | ||
| The Female TV Star of the Year | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| The Comedy TV Star of the Year | |||||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | 2022 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson, Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker, Randall Einhorn, Brian Rubenstein, Scott Sites, and Jordan Temple | [74] [75] | |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Tyler James Williams | ||||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Janelle James | ||||
| Sheryl Lee Ralph | |||||
| Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| 2023 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson, Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker, Randall Einhorn, Brian Rubenstein, Jordan Temple, Brittani Nichols, Josh Greene, and Scott Sites | |||
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Tyler James Williams | ||||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Janelle James | ||||
| Sheryl Lee Ralph | |||||
| 2024 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson, Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker, Randall Einhorn, Brian Rubenstein, Scott Sites, and Jordan Temple | [76] | ||
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Tyler James Williams | ||||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Janelle James | ||||
| Sheryl Lee Ralph | |||||
| Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series | Randall Einhorn | ||||
| Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | 2022 | Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series | Wendy O'Brien | [77] | |
| 2023 | Wendy O'Brien and Chris Gehrt | [78] | |||
| Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling | Moira Frazier, Dustin Osborne, and Christina Joseph | ||||
| Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Taraji P. Henson | ||||
| 2024 | Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series | Wendy O'Brien and Chris Gehrt | [79] | ||
| Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling | Moira Frazier, Dustin Osborne, and Christina Joseph | ||||
| Producers Guild of America Awards | 2023 | Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy | Abbott Elementary | [80] | |
| Satellite Awards | 2024 | Best Comedy or Musical Series | Abbott Elementary | [81] | |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | 2023 | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson | [82] | |
| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson, William Stanford Davis, Janelle James, Chris Perfetti, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, and Tyler James Williams | ||||
| 2024 | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson | [83] | ||
| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Quinta Brunson, William Stanford Davis, Janelle James, Chris Perfetti, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, and Tyler James Williams | ||||
| Television Critics Association Awards | 2022 | Program of the Year | Abbott Elementary | [84] | |
| Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | |||||
| Outstanding New Program | |||||
| Individual Achievement in Comedy | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Janelle James | |||||
| 2023 | Program of the Year | Abbott Elementary | [85] | ||
| Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | |||||
| Individual Achievement in Comedy | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Janelle James | |||||
| 2024 | Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | Abbott Elementary | [86] | ||
| Individual Achievement in Comedy | Quinta Brunson | ||||
| Writers Guild of America Award | 2023 | New Series | Quinta Brunson, Ava Coleman, Riley Dufurrena, Justin Halpern, Joya McCrory, Morgan Murphy, Brittani Nichols, Kate Peterman, Brian Rubenstein, Patrick Schumacker, Justin Tan, Jordan Temple, and Garrett Werner | [87] | |
| Comedy Series | |||||
| 2024 | [88] |