[This article contains spoilers for season four of Abbott Elementary.]
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| Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues on 'Abbott Elementary.' Courtesy of Disney/Gilles Mingasson |
The return of Abbott Elementary on Oct. 9 for its fourth season, now with a full 22-episode order following a shorter season three, is great news for fans of the ABC sitcom and its creator-star, Quinta Brunson.
“The 22-episode order allows us to go back to the foundation of how Abbott was originally built,” Brunson tells Reporter. “I’m thrilled to be here because it feels so much better.”
The season premiere introduces a new challenge for the teachers at Abbott Elementary — gentrification — following their struggle with the District in season three. Now, the school faces disruptions caused by the development of a luxury golf course in their neighborhood.
This leads to real-life problems like water and gas being shut off during school hours and longer commutes due to construction, along with Abbott getting its first white student, whom Ava (Janelle James) humorously mistakes for a ghost when she spots him in the lobby. Brunson explains that the storyline is drawn from actual events.
“It’s loosely based on something happening in Philadelphia right now. There’s a major PGA golf course being built in the city. And everything, whether positive or negative, impacts smaller communities. So we’ll explore the pros and cons of a golf course coming into the city,” says Brunson. “It felt like the perfect big challenge for this season, almost like a villain.”
However, not everything is a struggle for the characters. Janine (Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) make their relationship official, not just between themselves but also with HR, when District employee Warren (Ben Onyx Dowdy) visits Abbott at Ava’s request in the first episode.
In the interview below, Brunson discusses finally developing Janine and Gregory’s relationship, how the upcoming crossover with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia came to be, and the debate surrounding the Emmy comedy category after Abbott Elementary didn’t win any awards this year.
How does it feel to be coming into season four of Abbott Elementary?
It feels amazing! I'm genuinely thrilled to be here. You know, getting a fourth season for a TV show is always a huge deal, and it’s something to really appreciate. This time around, especially compared to last season, feels different.
Last year, we were dealing with the aftermath of the Hollywood work stoppage, which meant we had a shorter season, and things felt a bit rushed and chaotic. But now, this season, we’re in a more relaxed space, and I’m loving it from a writing, creating, and acting perspective. It feels like we’ve settled into a good rhythm.
Episode one kicks off with a new school year. Can you talk about centering gentrification in that episode? Will the golf course and changing demographics in West Philly continue to be major themes for Abbott throughout the season?
I absolutely love that we’re addressing gentrification, but not in an overt or heavy-handed way. We’re looking at it through the lens of an entity—a business—and even a sport. This golf course is a big deal for the city, no doubt about it, but the focus for us is more on the ripple effects it has on the community and the school.
You’ll see throughout the season how this golf course impacts the characters and the neighborhood in various ways, both subtle and more obvious.
I was so ready to scream at the screen when Janine did her first confessional and acted like things with Gregory didn’t work out.
(Laughs) It really gets people! I think it’s hilarious too. I kept cracking up during the edits, even though I knew what was coming. It’s just one of those moments where you’re like, “Ah man,” but in the best way possible.
Why did you decide that season four was the right time to bring Janine and Gregory into a relationship?
It just felt like the right moment. I didn’t want to drag it out any longer. From the beginning, I kind of always envisioned season four being the time to bring them together. I did consider changing that plan after we had the shortened third season, but ultimately, this timing feels perfect. Watching them in this new phase is such a joy—seeing them just be together is so much fun.
Especially as a young Black couple that’s a little quirky and goofy, it’s just really cute and enjoyable. There’s no more tension or drama between them; now it’s like, “Okay, you’re together, so who are you now as a couple?”
We get to explore that throughout the season—things like their first arguments and what they’re learning about each other now that they’ve given themselves space to truly be together.
Fans have been rooting for Janine and Gregory from the start. You’ve mentioned that you don’t want the show to feel like work for viewers. How much do you pay attention to audience reactions at this point?
I think it’s important to keep an ear to the ground and listen to what audiences enjoy, but from a bit of a distance. I love hearing what people think about different shows, and I love chatting with friends about what we’re watching.
Personally, I don’t have strong reactions to most shows—I just enjoy watching things. I don’t feel the need to label something as “bad” or “good” constantly. When something is exceptionally great, of course, I’ll get really into it as a fan. But overall, I think it’s valuable to know what the audience likes, while not necessarily letting that dictate every creative decision. It’s a fine balance.
Some creators focus on giving the audience exactly what they want, while others aim to surprise them and push boundaries. For me, I trust the vision we have for Abbott and hope that resonates with viewers.
At the end of last season, showrunners Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacher mentioned possibly scaling back on guest stars because of the logistics. Did that happen this season?
Yes, it has so far. And last season was definitely a logistical challenge, just as Justin and Pat said. It wasn’t easy. Since we had a shortened season, we wanted to pack in as much as we could and we were lucky to have some great guest stars available.
This time around, it doesn’t feel as necessary. We’ve been writing more organically, focusing on the core characters, and that’s the beauty of having a full 22-episode season. We get to sit with the characters for a longer time without needing as many external appearances.
As of now, I think we’re about halfway through writing episode 13, and there haven’t been many guest stars yet.
There’s a nod to Will Smith in episode two. Is that a hint of something to come? Have you spoken to him about guest starring?
(Laughs) No, not at all. It’s not leading anywhere in that direction. Will is just a big part of Philly culture, and it felt fitting to give a little nod. The school is loosely named after him—Willard is his first name—so that’s kind of where that connection ends. It was just something funny and fitting for the scene.
We now have photo evidence of the upcoming crossover with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. How did that collaboration come about?
So, it started with Rob McElhenney seeing something online that someone had tagged him in, suggesting it would make for a funny Sunny episode. He retweeted it, saying it would actually be a great Abbott episode, and that sparked us talking.
The idea in the tweet didn’t end up being the plot of the episode, but it got us into conversations. Rob and I just clicked immediately. We’re both Philly natives, we love comedy, and we’re both writers and creators. Being under the same Disney umbrella made it easier to make this happen.
It felt so natural—South Philly and West Philly represent different parts of the city, and it didn’t feel like a stretch for these characters to interact. It’s been an absolute joy working with Rob and Charlie [Day]. They’re incredible collaborators and it’s been so much fun.
It’s Always Sunny has built such a cult following over the years. Have you always been a fan of the show?
Absolutely. I love that our shows have such different tones, but that’s what makes this crossover work. There were definitely people on my team who doubted it could be done, but I always knew it could.
You just have to believe in the blending of tones, and it works. It’s actually pretty easy when you commit to it.
There’s been some talk following this year’s Emmys about the categorization of shows. Abbott didn’t get as many wins as expected. Do you think the Television Academy should revisit the way they categorize comedies?
I think it’s worth giving some thought, yes. Clearly, people are confused by the current system. When the audience doesn’t understand how things are categorized, it’s probably time to reconsider and find a way to clarify things.
You’re set to star in the upcoming comedy Par for the Course. How do you think working on that film will fit with your schedule on Abbott?
Right now, we’re still in the writing phase for Par for the Course. It’s been a collaborative process with Point Grey and Universal, and I’m really excited about it. It’s a big, silly comedy and I can’t wait to bring it to theaters. There’s a lot of talk about how comedies perform at the box office these days, but I’m not too worried about that.
I’m just excited to make something fun and put it out into the world. Hopefully, it’ll help pave the way for comedies to make a big comeback at the box office, but for me, the real joy is just in creating it.
