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Abbott Elementary: A deep dive into its success and character evolution
The rise of ‘Abbott Elementary’
Over its three seasons, Abbott Elementary has garnered significant acclaim, winning four Emmy Awards and securing 20 nominations, with nine nods for the upcoming 2024 ceremony on September 15. The show’s success can be attributed to its “very specific and very real” cast of characters, as highlighted by series star Chris Perfetti. The ABC sitcom, created by actress and writer Quinta Brunson, has resonated with audiences due to its authentic portrayal of life in an underfunded Philadelphia public school.
The magic of mockumentary
Perfetti believes that the mockumentary format allows the show to delve deeply into the lives of its characters. “The mockumentary lets us rest on investing in the real lives of these people. I think if [the characters] were more caricatures, it’s just not a sustainable thing,” he said. Perfetti praised Brunson’s writing, noting that it felt “so real and so smart,” and that Brunson has done much of the legwork in creating these relatable characters.
A night of celebration and reflection
At an Emmy FYC event at the Paramount Theater in Los Angeles, the Abbott Elementary cast and crew, including Tyler James Williams, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, William Stanford Davis, Patrick Schumacker, Justin Halpem, Randall Einhorn, Brunson, and Perfetti, gathered to discuss their journey leading up to the show’s highly anticipated fourth season.
Exploring character depth
Abbott Elementary follows a group of dedicated educators who defy all odds to help their students succeed. One standout episode, “Mother’s Day,” provided a deeper look at the character Gregory Eddie, played by Williams. Williams expressed his excitement about Season 3, stating that it allowed for more exploration into Gregory’s life beyond his role as the comedic “straight man.”
“‘Mother’s Day,’ man, that was a fun one,” Williams said. “I got a chance to finally get my whole episode with this one, and I love this about long-form TV, right? You get to see these characters evolve in really dynamic ways over short periods of time, but then also over long periods of time. That episode, to me, explained a lot, for him, and gave me an opportunity to just nudge that growth a little bit. Season 3 has seen the most growth we’ve seen with Gregory thus far, and that’s why it’s one of my favorites.”
Fun facts and behind-the-scenes
Williams shared a fun fact about his personal life, revealing that he is attempting to start his own garden. “Previously, I have killed every plant that has come into my house, so pray y’all,” he joked. Interestingly, Gregory’s on-set garden is very real and grows fruits and vegetables that the crew takes home, thanks to Randall Einhorn. The garden includes watermelons, cilantro, and lots of kale.
Unveiling new sides of characters
In the new season, audiences got to see a different side of Barbara Howard, portrayed by Sheryl Lee Ralph. A memorable scene involved a drunk, shoe-losing Barbara. “I do not know why Quinta loves a drunk Barbara,” Ralph mused. Brunson interjected, “It’s so funny!” Ralph continued, “And she just loses her shoes all the time. I’m just happy that the wig stays on straight. She’s not one of those drunks that loses their shoes and then the wig ends up backwards. I love Barbara because I’m starting to see all these different layers peel away from this woman… I’m intrigued by her because it makes me think of every one of my favorite teachers and I just wanted to know, what were they hiding?”
Ava Coleman: A layered character
Janelle James, who plays the overbearing principal Ava Coleman, shared her initial experience with the character. Some reviewers initially wrote off Ava due to her bullishness. However, James knew there was more to Ava than her antagonistic attitude. She has been delighted to see critics “eat their words,” having earned three Emmy nominations herself.
“I read [the pilot] and I said, ‘This lady is it, and they will see,'” James said. “I knew that from the first episode, and so it’s been a joy again to see people come around and see people see how layered the character is and carry both sides of her humanity.”
Watch the full conversation
For those interested in diving deeper into the discussion, you can watch the full conversation here.
Abbott Elementary continues to captivate audiences with its heartfelt storytelling and richly developed characters. As the show heads into its fourth season, fans eagerly await to see how these beloved characters will continue to evolve and surprise us.
