Why Everyone Loves Abbott Elementary

ABC’s Abbott Elementary has, in some ways, revived primetime television. Its funny, raw, relatable plotlines have drawn attention from Americans of all ages, including those who wouldn’t usually tune into network TV. The only thing more amazing than Abbott’s 9 million weekly viewer count is its ability to adequately capture the essence of the American public school. Often in film, school is treated more like a prop than a place, and writers feel they can manipulate it how they see fit. And so, watchers are left with shows like Riverdale or Never Have I Ever, which tend to ignore school rules and norms in favor of elevating the plot. But with Abbott Elementary, school is the plot, and it's looked after and researched with the love, care, and resentment only a public school graduate could feel. Fans feel that connection, as the strange happenings in this fictional elementary school reflect the eccentricity of reality. 

While students of all ages can see themselves mirrored on-screen, the perhaps most notable representation in Abbott Elementary can be found in its teachers. For the first time in a long time, a show’s main cast of characters are both teachers and people. It’s an interesting and impactful shift away from the traditional archetypes associated with teachers, especially those that portray them as inhuman and/or infallible. That emphasis placed on the humanity of Abbott’s educators seems to be what has drawn so many real-life public school employees to the show. In the words of one local seventh-grade social studies teacher, “It’s all so realistic, it’s like they’ve been following me around [in reference to Quinta Brunson’s character, Janine, with whom the Dekalb educator shares a first name].” 

Abbott’s often emotional storylines provide a public and easily digestible outlet for the sometimes harsh realities faced by public school teachers in the US. Through all three seasons, the show's writers have kept constant the idea that the best teachers are people with flaws, personal struggles, and an all-encompassing love for their students. This love permeates through the screen and into the hearts of Abbott fans, reminding watchers of the invaluable educators of their own stories.