‘Abbott Elementary’ earns gold star for spirited first season
Photo Courtesy of People
It’s time to stop binging “The Office” – a new mockumentary sitcom has entered the ring and is well on its way to dominating the genre. “Abbott Elementary,” a series following a group of passionate teachers in a struggling Philadelphia public school, has brought a new life to comedy on television that hasn’t felt the same impact since “Modern Family” ended. Created by and starring Quinta Brunson (“A Black Lady Sketch Show”), “Abbott Elementary” is set up for success with Brunson’s strong comedic sense to back it.
The series follows young, bubbly teacher Janine Teagues, played by Brunson, as she navigates being a teacher in an underfunded school, building relationships with her fellow teachers at Abbott Elementary and learning to come into her own as an individual. Fellow teachers include Melissa Schemmenti played by Lisa Ann Walter (“The Parent Trap”), Barbara Howard played by Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Moesha”) and Jacob Hill played by Chris Perfetti (“In The Dark”).
Tyler James Williams (“Everybody Hates Chris”) plays Gregory Eddie, a new teacher at Abbott who is likely to throw a wrench in Janine’s current relationship, based on the longing glances he sends her way in every episode. Gregory’s awkward confessionals and knowing glances to the camera can rival Jim Halpert’s glance on “The Office” any day. Running the school is the unqualified principal but highly qualified survival and TikTok expert Ava Coleman, played by Janelle James (“Central Park”). It is very rare to find a TV show where every character is likable – but it’s impossible not to love everyone at Abbott. From Barbara’s constant flow of wise advice to Ava’s brutal one-liners, all the characters are utterly perfect.
“Abbott Elementary” is the funniest show on TV right now, and it has very few rivals. The series gets a grade of A+ for the pure heart and humor that was poured into it. Brunson’s comedy is thoughtful and nuanced, and each actor has such great synergy with one another that makes the series feel much less disjointed than other sitcoms. It doesn’t have humor that hits you on the head and beats you to death – rather it is a subtle comedy that catches you by surprise. The series, in its basic form, isn’t super complex and out of the ordinary – a public school struggling financially and relying heavily on the efforts of teachers is basically every public school in America. What makes this simple setting so entertaining to watch is how the series finds comedy in the everyday struggles. The show somehow turns classic elements of public schools like broken lightbulbs and anti-drug assemblies into some of the most entertaining moments to watch.
Despite its comedic nature, “Abbott Elementary” isn’t without its serious moments. One of the highlights of the first season was learning more about Janine beyond the cheerful teacher persona she has with her students and coworkers. Her rocky history with her mother starts to unravel as viewers see the impact of the stress of being a mother figure for her students.Seeing the layers of Brunson’s character start to peel back is exciting to follow along, and it makes viewers anticipate more character development in future episodes of the series.
In only its first season, “Abbott Elementary” is quickly solidifying itself as a sitcom at the level of shows like “Parks and Recreation” and “The Office.” The Season One finale of “Abbott Elementary” airs Tuesday, April 12, but there is no need to worry, as the series has already been renewed for a second season. Keep an eye out for “Abbott Elementary” – when it ends, this will become the show we are nostalgic for and binging nonstop.
