TV

Abbott Elementary

Class is in session.

Photo: Gilles Mingasson/ABC

With a network sitcom like this one, bound to the time limits and structures of the genre, it can sometimes take a while to establish an identity and find a comfort zone with its characters. Parks and Recreation, a show whose sensibility overlaps somewhat with Abbott Elementary’s, didn’t settle into either until its second season. (Some might even say third.) But Abbott Elementary knows what it’s doing and who its personalities are almost right out of the gate. — Jen Chaney

Read Vulture’s review of Abbott Elementary and Ashley Ray Harris’s interview with creator and star Quinta Brunson.

  1. Episode 22 Franklin Institute
    Abbott Elementary Season-Finale Recap: Selfish Era Janine and Gregory’s romance gets “To Be Continued” until next season.
  2. Episode 21 Mom
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Maternal Instinct “Step one: Have a daughter. Step two: Play the long game.”
  3. Episode 20 Educator of the Year
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Good Teacher, Bad Teacher Greg and Janine grapple with how they’re perceived as teachers.
  4. Episode 19 Festival
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Operation Save the School After AVA Fest, Ava deserves to be in the Mount Rushmore of enigmatic TV bosses.
  5. Episode 18 Teacher Appreciation
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Sister, Sister Nothing gets siblings to relive childhood trauma quite like board-game night.
  6. Episode 17 Mural Arts
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Sock It to Me Janine may be a dork, but she’s messy as hell.
  7. Episode 16 Teacher’s Conference
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Janine and Gregory Sitting in a Tree The Abbott teachers go full Real Housewives on their conference trip.
  8. Episode 15 Fire
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Barbara Didn’t Start the Fire Even without the usual dose of Janine, Abbott delivers another great episode. This cast is so unbelievably stacked.
  9. Episode 14 Valentine’s Day
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Love Language Gregory and Janine’s romance has become unavoidable.
  10. Episode 13 Fundraiser
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Hustle Culture Ava teaches the students how to scam their way through fundraising.
  11. Episode 12 Fight
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Zara vs. Joya vs. Janine When two students officially declare their beef, Janine does everything in her power to create harmony.
  12. Episode 11 Read-A-Thon
    Abbott Elementary Recap: This Abbott Life Everybody really does have their own podcast.
  13. Episode 10 Holiday Hookah
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Slow Burn Things look cozier than ever between Janine and Gregory.
  14. Episode 9 Sick Day
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Class With Ms. Coleman It doesn’t get much better than an Ava-centric episode.
  15. Episode 8 Egg Drop
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Toxic Positivity Janine breaks eggs and, unfortunately, her students’ hearts.
  16. Episode 7 Attack Ad
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Legendary Schooling #tariqhive, rise up! (But also stay away from Janine!)
  17. Episode 6 Candy Zombies
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Baby Thanos and the Infinity Ring Pops Can Earth’s mightiest heroes (teachers) stop a legion of sugar-crazed kids?
  18. Episode 5 Juice
    Abbott Elementary Recap: If It Ain’t Broke … A new juice in the cafeteria has Barbara pissed.
  19. Episode 4 The Principal’s Office
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Tough Love Greg gets sent to the principal’s office. (Ooooo!)
  20. Episode 3 Story Samurai
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Corny Legends Even Janine, who was once in a Degrassi reenactment group, can see that the Story Samurais are peak corny.
  21. Episode 2 Wrong Delivery
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Shark Diving Gregory learns a few hard lessons.
  22. Episode 1 Development Day
    Abbott Elementary Season-Premiere Recap: New Year, New Part It’s back-to-school time for our favorite teachers (and also for Gritty).
  1. Episode 10 Ava 2 Fest
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Janine’s Choice Shame on anyone who doubted Ava’s lore.
  2. Episode 9 Alex
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Out With the Old, In With the New Janine can’t be serious about leaving Abbott.
  3. Episode 8 Panel
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Abbott’s Glowing Up It’s delightful to see Tatyana Ali play Ava’s nemesis and continue Abbott’s run of bringing in sitcom royalty to guest star.
  4. Episode 7 Librarian
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Barbara’s Library Showdown Barbara takes issue with the new librarian, so Janine is forced to stand up to her.
  5. Episode 6 Willard R. Abbott
    Abbott Elementary Recap: The Truth About Willard The number of schools named after racists is alarming!
  6. Episode 5 Breakup
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Church Girl Give Barbara the lead in the church choir!
  7. Episode 4 Smoking
    Abbott Elementary Recap: Pick Your Poison Abbott gets caught up in the failures of just saying no.
  8. Episode 3 Gregory’s Garden Goofballs
    Abbott Elementary Recap: The Cool Teacher Gregory finds out that with great coolness comes great responsibility.
  9. Episodes 1 - 2 Career Day
    Abbott Elementary Season-Premiere Recap: Janine’s New Job Janine has a new job that puts her affable and resourceful energy to good use.

The Latest on Abbott Elementary

  1. adaptation by charlie kaufman
    Let Quinta Brunson Adapt The Guest, You BuffoonsAnd whatever else she wants.
    By Jason P. Frank
  2. dramaturgically
    What Abbott Elementary Does (And Doesn’t) Owe to The OfficeEP Randall Einhorn is the godfather of the mockumentary sitcom.
    By Bethy Squires
  3. school spirit
    Abbott Elementary Gets a Fourth Season, Duh!We’re playing the long game for the Janine and Gregory arc.
    By Alejandra Gularte
  4. trailer mix
    Abbott Elementary Reopens the SchoolA new trailer shows that Principal Ava trying to do a good job is somehow much worse than when she half-assed it.
    By Zoe Guy
  5. 2024 preview
    44 TV Shows We Can’t Wait to Watch in 2024Seasons come and seasons go, but TV marches on.
    By Vulture Editors
  6. joy
    Dimple Queens Jennifer Garner and Sheryl Lee Ralph Remember Hollywood BeginningsTwo delightful women having a delightful conversation.
    By Alejandra Gularte
  7. will they or won’t they?
    Abbott Elementary Knows Exactly What It’s DoingThis is a practical, thoughtful move for two practical, thoughtful characters. It’s also incredibly romantic.
    By Jen Chaney
  8. underrated
    South Side Wasn’t Trying to Prove Its Own ImportanceAbbott Elementary writer-producer Brittani Nichols says the series spoke to her “in a way that no other television show ever has.”
    By Bethy Squires
  9. monologues
    Quinta Brunson Teaches Some Lessons About Abbott Elementary on SNLHer show is kinda like Friends, but “instead of not having Black people, it does!”
    By Jennifer Zhan
  10. that’s mother
    Oh, So Taraji P. Henson Is the One Who Gave Janine All Those Mommy IssuesShe’ll star as Quinta Brunson’s on-screen mom in Abbott Elementary.
    By Jennifer Zhan
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