The ‘Abbott Elementary’ Cast Is Top of the Class

As we prepare for the 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards, Backstage is breaking down this year’s film and television ensemble work for your consideration. For more voting guides and roundups, we’ve got you covered here.

Main Cast: Quinta Brunson, Janelle James, Chris Perfetti, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, Tyler James Williams 
Casting by: Chris Gehrt and Wendy O’Brien
Created by: Quinta Brunson 
Distributed by: ABC

If you look back on your own school days, you’ll recall that group work is an essential part of any learning experience. And when it comes to collaboration, the ensemble of “Abbott Elementary” doesn’t just make the grade; they’re at the top of the class. 

Quinta Brunson’s Emmy-winning workplace comedy packs an incredible amount of laughs into each 22-minute episode. It’s impossible to decide who delivers the funniest performance among those playing the staffers of the struggling, perpetually underfunded Willard R. Abbott Elementary School in Philadelphia. Maybe it’s Janine Teagues (Brunson), who puts her foot in her mouth as often as she gets dunked on for being short (which is to say, constantly). Or it could be Ava Coleman (Janelle James), the school principal who keeps a framed photo of herself standing beside Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty on her desk—and seems to aspire to his chaotic energy. 

As old-school second grade teacher Barbara Howard, Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph manages to make uptightness very funny. When confronted with a certain obscenity that starts with the letter B, she thoughtfully lists some of her favorite B words: “Barbara. Bible. Blessing. Blueberries!” And don’t forget the deliciously aggressive Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter), who delights in reminding people of her mob connections and peppering conversations with conspiracy theories. (“While we’re here, I’m not sure I believe the moon landing happened.”)  

The beauty of this ensemble isn’t just in its comedy, however. Though there are plenty of hijinks, the cast members play off one another in a grounded, human way, making the school halls feel like a real place rather than a parody of the “kids say the darndest things” genre. It’s a workplace sitcom of the highest order, and the cast performs at the high standard set by “The Office,” a show it’s frequently compared to. The actors complement each other’s work by both upping the absurdity and building genuine emotional friction. They meddle in each other’s personal lives, but they also offer advice on job skills like interacting with difficult parents and managing student outbursts. 

Together, the cast is even greater than the sum of its parts. Like “The Office,” Brunson’s series is a mockumentary; this means audiences are treated to both withering stares straight to camera and talking-head scenes that let the characters unload about their fellow teachers. If there’s a main character on “Abbott,” it’s Janine; but this is an ensemble show in the truest sense of the word, and everyone helps or hinders each other as they pursue their individual goals. 

On Season 2, that’s the dilemma facing Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams), who began as a substitute teacher and now aspires to be the school principal; all the while, he’s forced to watch Ava stumble her way through a job he knows he could do better. But that doesn’t mean he’s working against her. On Episode 9, “Sick Day,” he catches Ava trying to bail in the middle of the day when she’s supposed to be subbing for Janine; but he convinces her to stay and teach the class. Sure, she segues from discussing the “Eloise” books to sharing stories about Ghostface Killah and calls a second grader’s handwriting “demon markings”; but her heart is in the right place. Later, when Ava proclaims that her day was “easy as hell,” Gregory’s disbelieving side-eye only ups the comedy.

Ultimately, “Abbott” shines thanks to the alchemy among its rich, talented cast. They’re a pack of do-gooders who want what’s best for their students and their school—but they’re also exhausted adults who just want to make it to the final bell with their sanity intact. If we were handing out report cards, we’d give this ensemble an A+.