Abbott Elementary is an American sitcom that airs on ABC and has the first season available to stream on HBO MAX. If you have not heard about it or read about this show, you have been hiding under a rock. This show has become a massive hit and has even won its first Emmy with it’s first season and has also had the cast award Emmy’s with those being the first they have ever received for any project that they have particaipated in.
I started seeing a lot about this show earlier this year, but I ever got around to viewing it because it was aired on ABC and I do not have a tv antenna and apparently you can’t watch shows without one if you don’t have cable or solo thing like that. So since I didn’t know how to function my tv without an antenna, I just never watched it. When they announced that the first season was available for steaming on HBO max, I thought; now is the perfect timing to see what all the hype is about. When I tell you, there was a hype around this show being so good. From reaction gifs/memes to just short clips of certain funny things that happened in this show. This show was being pushed a lot from the fans to show their followers what they thought was funny on various social media website. I was wondering if the hype was worth it. Check out the rest of my blog post to see learn a little more about the show and why I think fans and maybe even you could love it.
Characters
In the left column you have the characters (from top to bottom:) Mr. Johnson, Gregory Edie, and Melissa Schmmenti. On the right (from top to bottom:) Jacob Hill, Ava Coleman and Barbra Howards. In the middle is Janine Teagues.
Ava is the principle at Abbott Elemantary, while the other characters are teachers, except Mr. Johnson who is the custodian of the school. While watching this you will fall in love with the cast quickly with their chemistry nod the shenanigans they get into.
Synopsis
The show is a mockumentary about teacher breaching in a school which is underfunded and is located ina lower income neighborhood. And how they face various obstacles in said school and how they deal with them and each other. The idea of the mockumentary was brought on by principal Ava Coleman as she thought it would be great publicity for herself, rather than the students. (That’s a glimpse into her character. Lol)
That’s the premis of the show, short and simple. I think the plot and the actors really gave the show the extra push that needed. While the plot of a mocumentary at a school is not groundbreaking, the setting and how they approached it; are what really make the show get poplular with audiences.
Familiarity
What I think really made this show so popular among people and had people tuning in each week was how familiar and relatable the show could be. For one, they picked an elementary school and for the most part, everyone has been to elemantary school and people have fond memories of it. So i think a show that can pull at your heartstrings with relatability is good at reeling the viewer in. (Side note: I found out a hole ago that most shows tend to focus on either elementary or high school settings since for the most part everyone has gone their. While things set in college or another setting that not everyone goes to is not as often used since people won’t be able to relate. Which I i find fascinating.)
Also the characters in the show faced challenges that many people could relate; whether it being something simple of being afraid to admit dislikes in food or seeing people who are not qualified to be in a position of power to more complex issues that impact many people and lives like under funded public school and teachers having to spend their own money to provide for the kids. This furthermore, captivated the audiences because teachers watching online would state that they are happy that situations like this are coming to life because at the end of the day a lot of people do not know that they do this. This show is funny because some events you think this could never happen in a public school but then a scene comes on and you’re like wait… that happened at my school growing up to! So while all the school realated things may not be relatable to you, it will relate to someone’s experience.
Good vibes
Watching the show you know you are in for a good time. This is a comedy so there will be laughs. But throughout the series, there are moments where it is a bit more serious or the tone is switched up. I like this as it gives the show more depth. I also love that the show has no laugh track because I find those so weird and very unnecessary. Additionally, while the show does showcase serious issues like under funded public schools, having kids be treated different because of them being “gifted”, they do not take them self to serious to the point where it is cringe worthy and makes it look like a joke (cough, cough GOSSIP GIRL: 2021.)
More than just addressing the issue and bringing it to the forefront for the public to know; they do and try to make a difference by doing actual things like having a school bus with school supplies go across the country and have teachers go into said buses and take whatever they need for their classrooms (pictures above) or patterning with Scholastic to give free books to underfunded schools. Additionally, they used the money they had for Emmy promotions and giving it to teachers. I defiantly feel even more people and teachers started watching this show after learning this because they are being more than performative and are making real things happen for people who really need it.
Overall, I believe Abott Elemntary is a great show and that many people would enjoy this show. I highly recommend checking this show out. Currently the full first season is available to stream on HBO Max. The second season has currently began to start airing every Monday at 9PM/8PM central. I think you still have time to catch up on the few episodes that have aired, if you wanted to star watching this every week it aired. Have you. Watched Abott Elementary or are you thinking of watching it? Let e know isn’t he comments.
J’s Journal 