Popcorn Perspectives

ABC’s hit Comedy Abbott Elementary is a fresh take on creating content that matters. In a mockumentary style, the series follows a ragtag group of teachers at a severely underfunded school in Philadelphia.

Starring Quinta Bruson (Big Mouth) as Janine Teagues, Tyler James Williams (Everyone Hates Chris) as Gregory Eddie, Janelle James (Black Monday) as Ava Coleman, Lisa Ann Walters (The Parent Trap) as Melissa Schemmenti, Chris Perfetti (In The Dark) as Jacob Hill, Sheryl Lee Ralph (The Sister Act 2: Back in the Habbit) as Barbara Howard and William Stanford Davis (Ray Donovan) as Mr. Johnson.

The series highlights the struggles the American education system is facing and the efforts teachers must go to, to ensure their students are receiving the education they deserve. The show uses a comedic approach to tackling an important topic. Showcasing everything from daily struggles to huge overarching issues.

Here are a few of my favourite impactful episodes:

Season 1 Episode 3: Wishlist

The episode follows the teachers as they create wish lists for community members to donate much-needed items to their classroom. As Abbott is a severely underfunded school, Janine makes it an effort to complete her wish list to provide the necessities for her students.

Scrolling through TikTok, Janine discovers an idea to help the teachers get their wish list, the wish list trend. Where teachers post videos explaining their wish list and asking the public for assistance.

Janine tasks Ava with helping her create a viral TikTok after Ava reveals she has created a viral video before. And Ava does not disappoint. Janine’s video receives over 20,000 views and 200 comments on the day it’s posted.

Janine is quick to promote her video idea to the other teachers. However, they don’t see her vision. Melissa and Barbara are quick to turn the idea down, as they have learnt to deal with the minimal support over their years.

Janine doesn’t understand why Barbara doesn’t want help, and is worried about her students as she watches Barbara quickly run through her supplies. She takes matters into her own hands and tasks Ava to create another viral video for Barbara.

Ava takes a new approach and creates a deep video highlighting the limited resources. Choosing to showcase what the students are missing. The video is an instant hit and quickly becomes Ava’s most viral video.

Janine spirals, asking Ava to take the video down immediately, knowing it does not align with Barbara’s views. Ava refuses, saying Barbara will never find out as shes not online and struggles with tech.

Packages come flocking into Abbott for Barbara, and is met with extreme confusion and frustration from Barbara. Until she finds the video Ava has posted, and is furious with Janine for going behind her back. She demands Ava and Janine return all the packages back to their senders.

Janine is confused as to why she wouldn’t want the supplies. Barbara explains it’s not about pride, it’s about being happy with what you have and showcasing the strengths you can build with limited resources.

The episode shows the importance of being grateful for what you have. In a world focused on perception and keeping up with or looking better than everyone else, the episode serves as a reminder to not compare yourself and be greatful for the small things.

Season 2 Episode 9: Sick Day

The episode uses comedy to tackle an issue affecting schools across the globe (especially in the US), sick days.

Well, the approach is a lot more comedic, as Janine suffers food poisoning from eating her tuna melt that Ava took out of the staff fridge to support her online eyemask business.

As lunch breaks (and money) are tight for Abbott teachers, Janine sees no other option for lunch and decides to eat the sandwich, which had been left out in direct sunlight for quite some time.

She quickly learns her lessons as she becomes sick. Unable to leave her classroom and unable to reach principal Ava (as per usual), Janine is forced to FaceTime Ava and beg to go home.

In typical Ava fashion, she ignores Janine and does not look to the binder of substitute teachers Janine has created and tasks her assistant to find a substitute. Who quickly informs Ava of the substitute shortage, and Ava understands she must take control of Janine’s class.

Janine facetimes Ava to provide her with the lesson plan for the rest of the day, reiterating the importance of getting through all the content. Ava doesn’t see the importance as she thinks teachers have it easy and goes to her own beat.

She hands out the students’ spelling test Janine planned for and turns on her tunes to keep herself occupied as the students write the test. The student began drawing all over their test as Janine normally plays music during drawing time, and is unable to complete the spelling test.

Ava quickly becomes distracted, leaving the student in the care of Mr.Johnson, the janitor.

When Gregory catches wind, he quickly swoops in to give Ava a pep talk and stress the importance of staying on track with the students.

The episode showcases the impact of teachers in their students’ lives, and the struggles teachers are facing with the shortages.

Teachers are truly heroes in their students’ lives, both inside and outside the classroom. Their dedication and passion for helping their students reach their fullest potential. And even just one day, or an afternoon, can have a huge impact on their learning and development. With substitute shortages, students risk falling behind and losing track of their development.

It is vital for school boards to be prepared for their teachers with substitutes to allow teachers to have the ability to care for themselves to be there for their students without having to worry about their students falling behind if they are not there.

Season 4 Episode 7: Winter Show

Barbara is ecstatic for the Abbott Christmas concert, and wants to ensure her class if perfectly prepared for the night as they are the headlining act!

Her excitement is tested when her muslim student Khadija tells her she cannot participate in the concert as her family doesn’t celebrate Christmas.

Barbara then takes it upon herself to ensure all the students feel included. Putting aside her strong Christian values and traditions, Barbara takes control of the concert to turn it from the Christmas Concert to a winter concert.

Barbara goes class by class to ensure all students are signing songs about celebrating the winter season instead of focusing on celebrating Christmas.

At first the teachers are apprehensive. Of the small list of songs and limited timing they would have to adapt the concert.

Barbara shows them the importance of ensuring all the student feel included. When the teachers see a sad Khadija sitting off to the side as the other children are happily singing on stage, they understand they must change the concert to a winter theme.

Leading the teachers to ban together to put together the ultimate winter concert , with all Abbott students participating!

This episode highlights the importance of inclusion and the amazing impacts it has. Showcasing how everyone comes from a different background and walks of life, but we can all come together and celebrate. Showcasing how simple action, no matter how big or small have the ability to create positive change!

In regards to the episode, by taking a step back, Barbara was able to see where the school could be more inclusive and implemented the changes to ensure all of Abbott’s students were able to participate!

Abbott Elementary has quickly climbed the ranking of my favourite television shows! I have enjoyed the way they have tackled meaningful an impactful stories in a light-hearted comedic manor! In a time when the world feels so heavy, its a great escape! Providing a good laugh, well also educating audiences on important topics! I’m excited to what other topics Abbott will cover!

Thank you all for joining me this week as we went behind the screen, don’t forget to stay up to date on my last post through Instagram and LinkedIn!

If you liked this post you should check out all my post on television, film and creatives!

Have you ever seen Abbott? Comment down below your favourite episode or storyline!