ABBOTT ELEMENTARY provided the media with a dynamic opportunity, on the Warner Bros. Studio lot, to hear and ask questions from the show’s stars, Emmy® and Golden Globe® winner Quinta Brunson, Emmy® winner Sheryl Lee Ralph, Golden Globe® winner Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti and William Stanford Davis.
Moderator: Um, we’re gonna start with a question from Margaret Gardiner, but I just have to ask Tyler, have you heard from Ryan Coogler?
Tyler James Williams: Um, I actually have, via Quinta.
Quinta Brunson: He was so flat- it was so sweet. Um, yeah, I ran into him this weekend at the LACMA Gala where he was being honored, um, which was just incredible to see. He’s somebody I admire so much. I think- I don’t admire that many people. I actually admire that man. (00:03:50) And, um, he came up to me, he was getting ready for- to do his speech, and he’s like, “Yo. The episode.” He said his auntie sent it to him and that’s how he found out about it, which was just so special to me because we constantly say this is a show for family viewing.
Moderator: Uh, Stan, what about for you? This is your first series regular role in a very long career.
William Stanford Davis: I’m still- I’m still in pinch-myself mode. You know, every time I come to work, you know, I’m here, I’m working with all these great people, and, you know, y’all know how old I am, right? (00:10:19) I’m not gonna tell you. Uh, anyway, but yeah, I’m enjoying every moment. Still today after five seasons, yes.
London Williams, NAACP. Abbott Elementary has redefined what representation looks like on network television. (00:20:24) What has been the most meaningful feedback you’ve received from educators or viewers? You sort of addressed this earlier, but I’d- I’d love to hear everyone else’s thoughts too.
Quinta Brunson: So I think the better the stories are, the more you’re naturally gonna get the diversity. Now, there is the angle of we’re always gonna need our industry to appreciate the storytelling of people of color, to not write it off because it’s people of color, of other. But a good story is a good story.
Quinta Brunson: Yeah. No, I- I was thinking- there are many proud moments for me on this show. I’m proud right now—I’m proud that you guys want to talk to hear, want to hear from us. I’m proud—this is where we do our tables reads, so we usually come in here, very tired from being on set and getting through, so it’s like even this moment I was like, “Whoa, this is new. (00:32:28) Like, this is different.” I’m very proud right now. I was very proud when we shot in Philadelphia because we pulled something off that’s not easy to do, so we shot at a live baseball game—there’s a reason that shows don’t shoot at live events, it’s ’cause it’s damn near impossible to do. And I was so proud of my- we have a crew that has been together for a very long time and, you know, we get new people, of course, like any show does, but we’ve been together for a long time. And to be able to pull that off as a crew, oh my gosh, that’s when you’re proud of your PAs, you’re proud of your hair and makeup, you’re proud of your crafty, you’re proud of the lighting, the- you’re proud of the- the sound people. (00:33:05) That’s when it’s like, oh my God. You can’t really pull that off without a good, solid crew. And it’s one of those things where I- I just- people come to this job and they could phone it in. They could. People do it all the time.