As we prepare for the 32nd Actor Awards presented by SAG-AFTRA, Backstage is breaking down this year’s film and television ensemble nominees for your consideration.
Main cast: Quinta Brunson‚ William Stanford Davis‚ Janelle James‚ Chris Perfetti‚ Sheryl Lee Ralph‚ Lisa Ann Walter‚ and Tyler James Williams
Casting by: Chris Gehrt and Wendy O’Brien
Created by: Quinta Brunson
Distributed by: ABC
A network sitcom about public school teachers staying fresh for five seasons is no easy feat, but the Philadelphia-set “Abbott Elementary” keeps finding ways to surprise, folding in love matches, professional hurdles, and even a daring comedy collaboration.
Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory’s (Tyler James Williams) relationship is still going strong, staying compelling without any “we were on a break” theatrics. And as a new school year brings staff changes, Janine comes to terms with no longer being the newest member of the staff.
Elsewhere, Janelle James breaks down Ava’s walls with a new beau (guest star Matthew Law). Seeing a more vulnerable Ava softens her edges without dulling her verbal sharpness. A work crisis and an appearance by her estranged father (guest star Keith David) also help make 2025 a standout year for James.
Every educator faces major changes, and nobody in this SAG Award–winning ensemble falls behind. Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) wrestles with impending grandmotherhood; Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) adjusts to teaching older students; Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) learns to ride a bike; and Jacob (Chris Perfetti) takes a dating leap by asking for someone’s number.
The family-friendly comedy even goes head-to-head with the debauched “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” crew—a crossover that’s as ambitious as it is hilarious and that lands because the cast stays nimble, meeting each challenge with sharp timing and lived-in chemistry. It’s just one more reason this show keeps earning an A-plus.