Abbott Elementary season 2 syllabus: what you need to know before going back to school
A quick catch up on season 1, and what to expect in the year ahead from Quinta Brunson's Emmy-winning comedy
TV Features Abbott
Abbott Elementary schooled every other network comedy series when it debuted in December 2021. Quinta Brunson’s series about an underfunded Philadelphia public school pulled in massive Nielsen ratings, drew praise from critics and, crucially, won over the sort of perpetually online audience that championed shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation. In fact, Abbott Elementary experienced such a rapid rise in popularity that you’d be forgiven if you had difficulty keeping up. To help you out, we’ve put together a quick syllabus with everything you need to know before class begins in season two.
What Time Is Class?
Abbott Elementary season two starts September 21 and will air every Wednesday at 9 PM ET/PT on ABC. Episodes will be available to stream on Hulu the following day.
Required Reading
Abbott Elementary season one packed a lot of character and world-building into its 13 episodes. The series centers on Janine Teagues (Brunson), who’s been teaching second grade at Willard R. Abbott Elementary School in Philadelphia for one year. Janine’s relentless optimism is sometimes dampened by veteran kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph), though Janine still looks up to her.
Throughout the first season, Janine, Barbara, second-grade teacher Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter), history teacher Jacob Hill (Chris Perfetti), and substitute teacher Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams) have to contend with chaotically inept principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James), who only got the job because she’s been blackmailing the superintendent. (In fact, Gregory applied for the principal job but was passed over for Ava.) At the end of season one, Ava’s blackmail material becomes public, putting her position in question. Surprisingly, the Abbott Elementary teachers go to bat for her and Ava retains her job, so viewers can expect more of her antics in season two.
On a personal side, Janine has been having relationship troubles; she’s been dating the same guy since she was in eighth grade, but they break up at the end of season one, leaving the door open for Janine to explore a possible new relationship with Gregory.
Course Description
Over the course of Abbott Elementary season two’s 22 episodes, viewers will follow along as Janine finds herself single for the first time in 10 years. Gregory joins the school’s staff as a full-time teacher, and Melissa has to contend with 10 extra students being added to her class. Viewers can also expect to see more of the teachers’ personal lives outside of school.
Extra Credit
Looking to expand your knowledge beyond the basic curriculum? This information isn’t crucial to understanding Abbott Elementary for season two, but it might earn you a few extra points during class discussions.
Abbott Elementary received seven nominations at the 2022 Emmy Awards, and won three: Quinta Brunson won for Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series, Sheryl Lee Ralph won for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series, and Wendy O’Brien won for Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series. Ralph’s acceptance speech was a highlight of the night, and she became only the second Black woman to win in that category (the first was Jackée Harry for 227 in 1987).
The show also picked up four Television Critics Association Awards, including Program Of The Year, Outstanding Achievement In Comedy, Outstanding New Program, and Outstanding Individual Achievement In Comedy for Quinta Brunson.
6 Comments
I am struggling so much to get through season one because the Principal on this show is such a perfect nearly exact copy of my current principal that it is triggering.The show is super accurate except that teachers often eat lunch alone.
All the K-12 teachers I know find her either triggering or hilarious. There’s absolutely no in-between with them.
That is a thought I had when first watching it. Do real teachers find this show funny or a sad reminder of the reality of the school system?
After more than 20 years you just shrug. it is more of a wow that is humorous and accurate. Execpt for the principal, just scary perfectly accurate.
It’s a charming show and Quinta Brunson is a ridiculously enthusiastic performer. It’s catching. The writing is decent even if the concept is more than a little derivative. Pretty solid cast, although I think the show would benefit from leaning into its influences and featuring an antagonistic kind of Dwight character. It can go down the Parks and Rec road, but a school where all the teachers basically get along is…more than a little unrealistic.
Good point, though there were separate s1 episodes where Melissa feuded with Janine (her rival 2nd grade teacher) and her friend Barbara (over their very distinct ethical frameworks).