9 Abbott Elementary Facts You Haven’t Read
Abbott Elementary is one of the funniest mockumentaries on TV, following in the footsteps of The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Modern Family.
Created by its lead star Quinta Brunson for ABC, and airing on Disney+ in the UK, the critically acclaimed sitcom premiered in 2021 and hasn’t dipped in quality since.
With 30 Primetime Emmy nominations, it’s arguably one of the best comedy series on TV at present.
If you love the series just as much as us at List World, here are 9 superb Abbott Elementary facts you probably haven’t read.
1. It Was Nearly Called Harrity Elementary
Quinta Brunson initially planned to call the ABC series Harrity Elementary after her former school Harrity Elementary in Cobbs Creek, West Philadelphia.
However, legal issues forced Brunson to change the show’s title to Abbott Elementary, honouring her sixth-grade teacher, Joyce Abbott.
Brunson told the LA Times, “Ms. Abbott has always stuck with me throughout my life. In a way, I didn’t know why she was my favourite. I couldn’t put my finger on it. She just was. I think that’s what a good teacher does. I think it’s like the Maya Angelou quote, ‘People always remember how you make them feel,’ and she always made me feel good.”
Joyce Abbott learned the show was inspired by her during Brunson’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The elementary school teacher later commented, “They were talking about the Abbott Elementary show shortly after the pilot. The newscaster said, ‘Ms Abbott, if you’re watching, Quinta would like to reconnect with you.’ I was like, ‘Oh my God!’ I’m so proud of you.”
2. Quinta Brunson’s Mother Inspired the Show
Quinta Brunson was inspired to write Abbott Elementary after her mother, Norma, dedicated 40 years of her life to Philadelphia’s public school system.
The showrunner has stated Barbara Howard’s character, played by Sheryl Lee Ralph, is inspired by her mother’s teaching passion and style.
During a 2024 interview with UPROXX, Brunson said, “I remember one time a kid being in the house and I was like, ‘Why is this kid here?’ And my mom could not put her teacher heart aside to not give someone a home for a night that needed a home. She wasn’t supposed to, but it’s not something she could really turn a blind eye to.”
3. Characters Can Only Wear Clothing Teachers Can Afford
Susan Michaelek, Abbott Elementary’s costume designer, has a strict rule that the characters can only wear clothing real teachers can afford in the United States.
Rather than turning to luxury clothing lines, she sources outfits from affordable shops, such as H&M, Zara, Target, and Old Navy.
She also stated it’s the first show of her long career that she has consistently come in under budget for costumes.
4. Abbott Elementary Was Almost a Cartoon
It’s hard to imagine Abbott Elementary without scene-stealing Ava or the lovable Mr Johnson. However, the iconic characters were almost animations, as Quinta Brunson originally created the show as a cartoon.
During a 2022 interview with Indiewire, Brunson said, “After doing some tweaking about what kind of comedy this would be, where it would live, I thought of it as possibly a cartoon at the time, because I was working on some other projects and knew I wanted to be a part of it, but making it live action would be harder. So, it actually became easier to think of it as a cartoon, but as time went on, I wound up developing it into a live-action show.”
5. Quinta Brunson Never Planned to Play Janine
Quinta Brunson never wrote Janine’s character with herself in mind. She originally pitched herself as Abbott Elementary’s creator, writer, and executive producer.
Brunson told TVLine, “Abbott Elementary was pitched without me in it. There was no me in the project. I just saw it as a pure show idea that I wanted to be made.”
Barbara Howard was originally positioned as the show’s lead, with Janine appearing as a supporting character.
The Warner Bros. studio executives were so convinced Quinta Brunson was right for the show that they only agreed to make it if she stepped into the lead role.
6. Abbott Elementary Is Filmed in LA, Not Philadelphia
If you’ve watched Abbott Elementary, you’ll know it depicts an underfunded school in West Philadelphia.
As the location is fundamental to the plot, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s filmed in West Philly. However, the set is actually located in Los Angeles, California.
To create an authentic backdrop, various Philly references appear on the set, such as real takeaway menus from the city.
The outdoor scenes even feature the hum of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).
7. Abbott Elementary Saved the Broadcast Network Sitcom
Many industry experts believe Abbott Elementary single-handedly saved the broadcast network sitcom.
With more audiences moving to streaming platforms and an increased number of people cancelling their cable subscriptions, networks needed a fresh, funny comedy to retain audiences.
Rather than fighting against streaming platforms, Abbott Elementary adopted a hybrid model, airing on ABC in the US on Wednesday and on Hulu the next day.
This helped attract the sought-after 18-49 demographic to the network, attracting more than 9 million viewers each week.
Also, the weekly episodes provide audiences with a slow burn, rather than a full season release. It allows the sitcom to offer slower-burn romances reminiscent of Ross and Rachel in Friends and Jim and Pam in The Office.
As a result, Abbott Elementary has helped ABC secure its highest comedy ratings since the finale of Modern Family in 2020.
8. Real Teachers Teach Child Actors on the Studio Lot
To adhere to California’s strict child labour laws, real teachers are available near the Abbott Elementary set.
Classrooms are set off around the corner from the Warner Bros. soundstages, helping the young cast members stay up to date with the curriculum between filming.
It also has rotating filming blocks for the child actors to ensure every child can learn while on set.
9. A Percentage of the Show’s Marketing Budget Goes to Public Schools
Abbott Elementary has made TV history by becoming the first show to use a portion of its budget to fund school supplies.
Quinta Brunson reportedly negotiated for ABC to provide public schools with a percentage of the show’s marketing and Emmy campaign budget.
Rather than using the money to buy many Hollywood billboards, the money funds free book fairs across the United States, providing children and educators with thousands of much-needed books and classroom supplies.
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