Take a moment and think about your favorite teacher of all time... Whomever just came to mind, I'm sure had these two qualities, they made learning fun and made you feel special. Those same two qualities permeate from every character on the show to their students and into every laugh out loud moment of the new hit show Abbott Elementary. I spent 13 years in the classrooms of Gary, Indiana and South Central LA, so as this show is set in an under funded fictional school in Philadelphia let me be the first to tell you this show definitely gets it right. The show is well written, perfectly cast and most importantly, it's funny.
I'm a huge fan of mockumentary comedies. The TV genre was made popular by The Office and allows for a rare personal connection between the characters and viewers as they convey their thoughts via "interview" questions. Abbott Elementary uses this format perfectly as show creator and star Quinta Brunson, plays the bubbly, eternally optimistic, first year teacher Jeanene Teagues.
Ms. Teagues brings the passion and ambition to every episode that all teachers can relate to. I find myself laughing not only at her but how she perfectly displays the naiveté of all young teachers who feel like that no obstacle is too big and that they will go to any length for their students. Being that out of touch with reality in an underfunded public school is definitely a recipe for big laughs, on which Abbott Elementary delivers.
Teachers must learn very quickly the importance of being resourceful and resilient. Abbott Elementary puts these two characteristics front and center as Ms. Teagues navigates the limitations of working in a poorly funded school. Her comical journey includes accidentally shutting off the entire schools power as she tries to change a faulty lightbulb. She follows up that mishap by putting her pride to the side knowing that she will endure unwarranted, yet hilarious insults as she sequesters help from the shows likely breakout star, comedian Janelle James, who plays the self absorbed Principal Ava Coleman. In the episode titled Wishlist, Ms. Teagues turns to the Principal for help making a TikTok video to get donations from her wishlist. The laugh out loud episode highlights James' comedic abilities. While James is definitely bring the laughs in her feature role, the entire cast was perfectly selected and gives the show the much needed authenticity that will keep viewers tuning in.
If you are a parent or a teacher, the characters on this show are people you know. Whether it's someone at your child's school or if you are a teacher, one of your coworkers, anyone tuning in to Abbott Elementary will recognize these characters.
The one and only Sheryl Lee Ralph plays Barbara Howard, the longest tenured teacher in the building. But you and I know her as that teacher you can't wait for your kids to get because "Ms. (Fill In the Blank) Don't Play." She has that magic wand of discipline and does her thing without raising her voice and more than likely her students have the highest scores in the building. The illustrious Sheryl Lee Ralph plays this role to a T, serving as the consistent voice of reason and model for perfection that every young teacher hopes to one day become. Ralph's character intrigues the over zealous Teagues (played by Brunson) who tries to bond with her in hopes to gain insights and be taken under her wing.
The cast also includes the twenty somethings white male teacher who clearly means well but is definitely lost, 6th grade teacher, Mr. Jacob Hill, played by actor Chris Perfetti. In 13 years of teaching I've worked with at least eight Mr. Hill's. Again, Abbott Elementary gets it right. Rounding out the cast is the building sub, Mr. Gregory Eddie played by Tyler James Williams, who starred in Everybody Hate's Chris. Actress Lisa Ann Walter plays Ms. Melissa Schemmenti, the teacher that knows everyone in the city and has the hook up on everything.
Beyond the laughter and personal connections I get from the characters, I am tuning in for what's truly at the heart of the show, how teachers show up for students. Abbott Elementary is definitely a feel good comedy because it allows the audience to see the culture that teachers whose hearts are in the right place build in order to properly serve students. We have all heard the negative statistics that go along with underfunded inner city schools. I know firsthand that those numbers don't represent the true picture of what those teachers deal with everyday as they try to plant the seeds of both hope and limitless potential in students who were born with the odds stacked against them.
Abbott Elementary takes all those things into account as it warms our hearts with laughter as it shines the light on what it is like to be an educator. It also does a masterful job of giving teachers who are trying hard, their well deserved flowers. To Quinta Brunson and crew, on behalf of inner city teachers everywhere, we truly appreciate you...
Abbott Elementary airs Tuesday Nights on ABC (Check your local listing for times in your area.)
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