Abbott Elementary Creator Resisted Push To Hire More Recognizable Cast
Quinta Brunson, the creator of Abbott Elementary, opens up about why she resisted pressure to hire more recognizable actors. Airing its pilot episode back in December, before fully returning to the ABC schedule in January, Abbott Elementary stars Brunson as Janine Teagues, a second-grade teacher at the titular school. Told in a mockumentary style, the sitcom focuses on a group of teachers – and a tone-deaf principal – doing their jobs despite being severely underfunded and lacking in important resources and supplies. The show doesn’t shy away from depicting how the odds are stacked against the educators and their students, finding hilarity in the daily circumstances.
Helped by a cast that includes Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, and Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary has been popular with both critics and audiences. But, speaking with Vulture, Brunson reflected on why she resisted the studio’s pressure to hire more well-known performers. Using the example of James, who plays the gladly oblivious principal Ava Coleman, Brunson explains why she pushed for an ensemble that’s less well-known. Brunson’s quote is included below.
“I believe it’s part of the fabric of a sitcom to introduce you to new people. What helps make a show successful is when you have people you can fall in love with, actors people have never seen before.”
Abbott Elementary recently garnered headlines, becoming the first ABC sitcom to quadruple its ratings. After 35 days, the show’s premiere rose from 2.79 million viewers to more than 7 million viewers. It also rose in the key 18-49 demographic, beginning at a 0.6 rating and jumping up to 2.4. These numbers, along with critical acclaim and fan interest, show that viewers have quickly taken to the cast of Abbott Elementary's story and the cast’s combined chemistry – a crucial element to any sitcom’s success.
Source: Vulture