ABC’s Abbott Elementary has been a massive success since its first season premiered in December 2021. Created by and starring Quinta Brunson, the wholesome workplace comedy follows a group of teachers dedicated to helping their inner-city students succeed (plus their hilariously-incompetent principal).
Brunson, who has earned three Emmy nominations for Abbott Elementary, sat down with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month to discuss what she believes made the show such a hit.
“I wanted it to go where people weren’t going,” she said of her decision to make Abbott Elementary a network series rather than a cable or streaming one. “I studied marketing; you can either create a new market, or you keep playing in the market that exists. The streaming and cable space felt overrun, honestly. Abbott wasn’t necessarily gritty or dark—I had no interest in making it gritty and dark.”
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The actress and comedienne credited the wholesomeness of the show as part of its success; Brunson went on to reaffirm previous statements that Abbott Elementary would not tackle the hot-button issue of school shootings despite demands from some.
“I’m not trying to tackle subjects, I’m just trying to show what is happening in this school today,” she said.
‘I Saw All the Characters So Easily’: Brunson Shares Real-Life Inspiration Behind Abbott
Abbott Elementary has been praised for its realistic portrayal of teachers within an underfunded school. From teachers having to purchase their own classroom supplies to buildings in disrepair, Abbott pulls no punches in showing the realities of the public school system.
It turns out that realism comes from Brunson’s real-life experiences.
Season two of Abbott Elementary premieres on September 21 on ABC. In the meantime, read Brunson’s full interview with The Hollywood Reporter here.
