Abbott Elementary season two isn’t officially in session until Wednesday, September 21, but we have the brand new full-length trailer ahead of tonight’s Emmys, where the critically-acclaimed sitcom has seven overall nominations and already one win (at last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys) for outstanding casting in a comedy series.
Quinta Brunson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Tyler James Williams, and Chris Perfetti have taken the broadcast network workplace comedy and made it must-see TV—not so easy in today’s oversaturated television landscape. Thanks to loveable and absurd characters, witty dialogue and sharp writing, and an ensemble cast that clicked from the start, the series quickly became ABC’s number one comedy last season in the coveted 18-49 age group and made Brunson (nominated for three Emmys) a household name. (It also made her the new face of Olay…no small feat in less than a year.)
Season one premiered in January 2022 and ran for 13 episodes. In the ultimate vote of confidence, ABC not only renewed the series for a second season, but also ordered 22 episodes. The network has also been re-airing episodes all summer long, which most likely will give it a significant bump in viewership when it returns later this month.
As a refresher, the workplace comedy focuses on a group of dedicated and wildly unique teachers—plus a tone-deaf principal—in a Philadelphia public elementary school where they are determined to help their students succeed even if they don’t have all the necessary resources to do so.
Brunson (who is also a writer and executive producer on the series) stars as new teacher and rule-follower Janine Teagues. Tyler James Williams plays Gregory Eddie, who may or may not be a love interest for Janine (I, for one, am rooting for these two); Janelle James is Principal Ava Coleman, who would never last a day in this role if it were real life (but she’d be an amazing TikTok star). Chris Perfetti is the sweet and sensitive Jacob Hill, and Lisa Ann Walter is the tough-as-nails mama bear Melissa Schemmenti. And then there’s icon—and former Glamour College of the Year honoree—Sheryl Lee Ralph, who plays formidable kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard.
