Disney, including all its related brands, invited my Deadline video series The Actor’s Side to its recent Toast to TV event, where I did several interviews with various stars of some of their highest-profile awards contenders. Today’s edition features my fun chat with the stars of ABC/Hulu’s Abbott Elementary, in which I sat down at the Soho House/Holloway with creator/executive producer/star Quinta Brunson, who plays Janine on the show. Joining us were Tyler James Williams, who plays Gregory; Chris Perfetti, who plays Jacob; and William Stanford Davis, who plays Mr. Johnson.
A highlight of our conversation was when I revealed something about their show, now concluding it fifth season and renewed for a sixth, that not one of these stars knew: When Abbott Elementary returns it will become the longest-running series centered on teachers in television history, beating such hits as Room 222, Head of the Class and Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper, which all ran five seasons. Even classics like Our Miss Brooks and Welcome Back Kotter couldn’t hit the heights Abbott is about to achieve. Brunson was impressed.
She also lit up when I said I watch the show on Hulu without commercial breaks as opposed to its network airing on ABC, and asked if, in this streaming age where streamers run network shows the next day, it is difficult crafting the show to work both with and without commercials. She shares some secrets from the writers room in that regard.
All the stars talk about the evolution of their roles and where each is heading going forward.
To watch our conversation and to get the “actor’s side” of Abbott Elementary, watch the video above.
