Quinta Brunson’sAbbott Elementaryhas accomplished a lot with only three seasons under its belt, including establishing the continued existence of one popular 2000s sitcom trope that I thought was long gone. The ABC TV series premiered in December 2021 and was an immediate hit. With strong ratings (particularly coming from Hulu and other secondhand, delayed viewing services) and critical acclaim, it was clear thatBrunson had created the next great network TV sitcom.Now,Abbott Elementaryis going into its fourth seasonand is showing no signs of slowing down.
Abbott Elementaryhas won three Emmy Awards — Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Sheryl Lee Ralph and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for “Pilot” in 2022, and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Quinta Brunson in 2023. It’s also up for seven more Emmys in 2024.
The cast ofAbbott Elementaryincludes Brunson as Janine Teagues, Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie, Janelle James as Ava Coleman, Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti, Chris Perfetti as Jacob Hill, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard, and William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson. With a cast this talented, hilarious and complex characters, and exciting storylines, it’s understandable whyAbbott Elementaryhas been quite the success for ABC. Plus,Brunson’s series utilizes a classic sitcom trope that has worked for many popular comediesthat have come before it — it’s filmed like a documentary.
Abbott Elementary Proves The Mockumentary Sitcom Style Still Works
Network TV Mockumentary Sitcoms Were All The Rage In The 2000s
Mockumentary sitcomswere quite popular in the 2000s.Many of the most renowned comedy series from that time period (likeThe Office,Parks and Rec, andModern Family) utilized the mockumentary style,and now,Abbott Elementaryhas revived it and made it popular once more. Given the reputation of mockumentaries, it makes sense why comedies would want to build on the trope’s acclaim to thrive. Unfortunately, few have tried to replicate its success (untilAbbott Elementary).
[Abbott Elementary] has created the ideal balance between characters staring into the camera and characters acting out their days as if a camera crew isn’t nearby.
Perhaps sitcoms likeThe OfficeandParks and Recdepended too much on the mockumentary trope, and other shows have been too afraid to try to perfect the style. However,Quinta Brunson’sAbbott Elementaryhas made it work. The ABC series has created the ideal balance between characters staring into the camera and characters acting out their days as if a camera crew isn’t nearby.Abbott Elementarydoesn’t overuse or abuse the mockumentary trope,proving that it can still work (and giving me hope for the future ofmockumentary TV shows).
This Abbott Elementary Character Should Be Principal When The Show Ends (It’s Not Gregory)
Abbott Elementary has seemingly been setting up for someone to replace Ava Coleman as principal when the series ends, and it shouldn’t be Gregory.
Abbott Elementary’s Fictional Camera Crew Has Led To Some Of The Show’s Best Moments
Abbott Elementary’s Candid Camera Is One Of Its Best Tools
The mockumentary style is undoubtedly one of the reasons whyAbbott Elementaryhas been such a triumph. Some of the ABC TV show’s best and most memorable scenes have been a result of its fictional camera crew capturing moments that the audience wasn’t meant to see. For example,the candid camera caught Janine and Gregory’s first kissat the Philadelphia Teacher Conference in season 2 and Gregory pulling down the blinds after the crew capturedhis and Janine’s second kiss during theAbbottElementaryseason 3 finale.
Abbott Elementary
Cast
Abbott Elementary is a mockumentary comedy series centered around a group of dedicated teachers at a struggling public school in Philadelphia. The show highlights their efforts to overcome bureaucratic challenges and underfunding, while showcasing their commitment to making a positive impact on their students' lives.
