Abbott Elementary is one of my favorite shows of all time. There has not been a single episode that failed to make me laugh out loud several times.
Part of this is because the writing and characters are simply hilarious. Another piece is that I happen to be a teacher and I feel this is the most realistic show about teachers I have ever seen (although I have heard The English Teacher is great and I need to get around to watching it). It is a sitcom so of course there are some ridiculously over the top things that happen. Teachers also don't know every detail of their colleagues personal life, but those things make the show incredibly funny so I can suspend my disbelief.
The show is created by, written by, produced by and stars Quinta Brunson who is an absolute genius! Perhaps what makes the show feel so realistic to me is the fact that Brunson's mother taught kindergarten for 40 years. I am guessing that during those 40 years, she shared quite a few stories that have made their way onto the small screen thanks to her daughter Quinta. In fact, the show is set in the exact school district in Philadelphia where Brunson's mother worked.
One of the best Characters on the show, Barbara Howard (played incredibly by Sheryl Lee Ralph), is based on Brunson's mother Norma Jean. If Norma Jean is half as good as Mrs. Howard is on the show, then she is one of the greatest teachers of all time. She is an incredibly caring teacher who does not suffer fools and commands respect wherever she goes. Every time one of her former students appears on the show, it reinforces the positive impact Mrs. Howard had on her students. I find this as one of the most realistic parts of the show. Everyone one I know remembers at least one Mrs. Howard from their life.
Some of the funniest bits come from the silliness that happens in a school district. This week's season premier focused on the opening day institute. All the teachers wanted to do was prepare their classrooms so their students would have an awesome first day experience. But of course the district officials had a different thing in mind. They had the teachers take part in nonsensical team building activities. I wanted to stand up and applaud every time one of the characters said, "Can we just go to our rooms so we can get ready for the students". It was a great, and very real joke, about how the people who don't see children every day... yet make all the decisions, often forget the main, if not only, reasons any of them are there is to meet the need of real life human students.
The show also shows the challenges teachers face in underfunded public schools. They are constantly trying to find ways to give kids what they need... without having the tangible things they need to do it. Just like many grade school teachers, the characters relya on their creativity and work ethic to give the kids the best experience possible.
My favorite part of the show is the fact that even the supposed foils all care deeply about the students. The principal, Ava Coleman, is one of my favorite characters in the history of television. Although she appears to care more about her fashion, brand, and social media presence, she is also the one there to give a kid new clothes when she learns he doesn't have any. She teaches a steppers class in her free time. And she brings in some amazing guest stars.
This show has definitely made its impact. Every once in a while a show appears that becomes a destination for other stars. they simply want to be part of it. The first one I remember was the 1960s Batman with guests appearing in the windows as the cape crusader climbed up a building. Obviously the Simpsons are the kings of this, but Abbott is becoming the new destination. Here are just a few, Questlove, Keegan Michael Key, Bradley Cooper (as himself), Orlando Jones, Gritty, Jalen Hurts, Jason Kelce, Brandon Graham, Kevin Hart, and the entire gang from Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Any other fans out there?
