Acing Teachers: Hilariously Truthful Education on "Abbott Elementary"
Similarly to sitcoms that preceded ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” the show’s backdrop is nothing extraordinary. The mockumentary-style comedy finds its story in Philadelphia primary school classrooms filled with teachers like Janine Teagues, played by the show’s creator Quinta Brunson.
Crew members from the series look to the teachers from their own lives to inform the personalities of the fictional educators like Janine. Brittani Nicols, a writer and Executive Story Editor on "Abbott Elementary,” has a stepmother and cousin who are teachers and inspire her work in the show. "Some storylines. I'm like, 'Oh, does that sound too unrealistic?'" she said. "Then I'll talk to a teacher and they're like, 'No, that happened to me last week.'"
Her stepmother is also an avid fan of “Abbott Elementary,” and texted her friends every week on Tuesdays about the show’s first season. "I was there when she watched the pilot episode, and all of her friends were texting each other who each character was," Nicols said. "They had assigned people from their school to the characters in the show."
The response from teachers has been overwhelmingly positive. Many, like Nicols’ stepmother, feel seen when watching the show. One such teacher is Olivia Dupre, a Santa Monica College alum who currently works as an administrator at a French-immersion preschool in Los Angeles. "What I love about the show is it reminds you that just one adult can impact your life," Dupre said. "We are important."
Alongside authenticity from the writers’ room, the entire cast has once-in-a-lifetime chemistry. Although Brunson created the characters before casting, each actor fits their roles seamlessly. Melissa Schemmenti, played by Lisa Ann Walter, has a hard South Philly accent and demeanor but a soft spot for her students and colleagues. Jacob Hill, played by Chris Perfecci, is a history teacher who can sometimes be too overenthusiastic about his passion for social justice issues. Gregory “Greg” Eddie, played by Tyler James Williams, is an aspiring principal who steps in to substitute. A shining star in the ensemble is perhaps the most absurd character — the inept Principal Ava Coleman, played by Janelle James.
Even with such a strong ensemble, the show manages to balance every character. Nicols described the strategy as playing with pairings and character dynamics. They also plan out the A-story, or the core plot of an episode, to give each personality equal weight. "Just doing the math of 'Okay, so this character has an A-story here and an A-story there,” she said. “So, at this point down the line, it'll be time for them to have another A-story.'"
Nicols credited the absurdity of today's education system in crisis for some of the more off-the-rails plotlines. In one episode, Janine’s student urinates on a classroom rug, and Melissa uses her questionable connections to get all the teachers new carpets from the nearby Eagles stadium construction. In another, teachers take to TikTok to fill their school supplies wishlists.
Alongside the honest portrayal of teachers, “Abbott Elementary”’s references to 21st-century internet phenomenons always feel real. "Quinta is just a huge part of internet history, so we have a level of authenticity there," Nicols said.
Brunson, a former content creator for Buzzfeed Video and a star of the Emmy-winning “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” shines with her hilarious writing and earnest portrayal of Janine. Brunson’s experience in the world of social media virality makes jokes in the show that poke fun at Gen Z phenomenons feel authentic, not like out-of-touch boomers trying to pander to the younger generation.
Another part of the show’s authenticity is the relatively young age of adults in the writer's room. "It also protects us, because we're not trying to talk about anything we don't know about," Nicols said. "All of the little drops of NFTs or TikTok.”
Although Brunson originally imagined “Abbott Elementary” as an animated series, the short-form mockumentary was the story’s style from the first draft to the now-live action show’s release. Amid the age of streaming and bingeable seasons, a brilliant weekly half-hour network sitcom is a rare gem. Nicols views that seemingly-antiquated serialized release as an ingredient that contributed to the show’s popularity. Seeing a reaction GIF of Greg on Twitter or an internet meme of Ava on Instagram drew curiosity from those who may not have otherwise tuned in.
Intertwined with the comedy, “Abbott Elementary” is also a tribute to the wholesome aspects of primary education. Nicols' favorite storyline to write was the "roast" plot for which she took inspiration from her own K-12 experience.
“At my school, there wasn't as much bullying as I've heard about from schools that were white,” she said. "I went to Black public schools my entire life, before college, and roasting evened the playing field." She described how roasting was a tradition that prevented anyone from ganging up on a single student. Teachers, popular kids, and unpopular kids were all fair game. If someone failed to come up with a response, then others would step in to help. That's exactly what happens in the show — when Jacob can't think of a response to his students roasting him, Greg offers the clueless history teacher some advice.
Its grittiness, a story of teaching that gives viewers a show which is absurdly hilarious yet strangely heartwarming, is what makes “Abbott Elementary” a winner.
