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- 7 hours ago
WIRED tasks William Stanford Davis (Mr. Johnson), Chris Perfetti (Jacob Hill), Lisa Ann Walter (Melissa Schemmenti), Janelle James (Ava Coleman), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Barbara Howard), Quinta Brunson (Janine Teagues) and Tyler James Williams (Gregory Eddie) to answer the 50 most searched questions about Abbott Elementary.
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00:00I feel like I'm Andy Cohen reading from, like when he's at the reunions.
00:04Why is Ava so obsessed with social media?
00:06Why are you so obsessed with me?
00:07Why are y'all so obsessed with social media?
00:10Hi, we are the cast of Abbott Elementary and we are going to answer the most Googled questions about the
00:15show.
00:15Let's do it.
00:21Okay, number one, what is Abbott Elementary about?
00:24Who would like to answer that?
00:25You.
00:26Abbott Elementary is about school teachers and a principal and a janitor who are fighting the everyday uphill battle of
00:34educating children in the Philadelphia public school system.
00:37They're doing it with a lot of heart and a lot of grit and a lot of love and a
00:41lot of laughs.
00:42Yay.
00:44Perfect.
00:44Well done.
00:46This one's a good one.
00:47Is Abbott Elementary a real school?
00:49It's based on a real school.
00:51It is.
00:51Or a compilation of real schools.
00:53Yes, it was based on my experience when I was younger, the school where my mom taught, Herity Elementary in
00:59Philadelphia.
01:00But the school itself, like Abbott Elementary, is a fictional school that does not exist.
01:06I've seen a lot of people have trouble with that lately.
01:09I saw a viral TikTok where someone was very upset that we do not film in a real elementary school.
01:16So, just so you know.
01:17The kids got to go there.
01:18Not real.
01:19Not real.
01:19Not real.
01:20Not real yet.
01:21Where does Abbott Elementary go on a field trip?
01:23So many places.
01:25Where have we been, guys?
01:26The zoo.
01:27The Please Touch Me Museum.
01:29The what now?
01:31Then Franklin Museum.
01:32It's just called the Please Touch Museum.
01:34Please Touch.
01:35We went to a baseball game.
01:36Then Franklin Institute.
01:38Baseball game.
01:40Camping in a park.
01:41We went to the zoo.
01:41We went camping in the park.
01:42And another park where we had a relay race.
01:45And we did this with several parks.
01:47And the park was a big slide.
01:49Yeah, Smith's Lake Road.
01:50And then you all went to the ocean without Mr. Johnson.
01:54When we got to the ocean?
01:55Miami.
01:56We went to Miami.
01:57Miami.
01:57Miami.
01:58That was not a field trip.
02:00That wasn't a field trip.
02:02That wasn't a field trip.
02:04Why is the show called Abbott Elementary?
02:05Cheryl, I feel like you can answer this one.
02:07Abbott Elementary is called Abbott Elementary because I believe you had a teacher called Mrs. Abbott.
02:13Yep.
02:14Abbott Elementary.
02:15Yep.
02:15Because of the impression that that teacher made on young Quinta.
02:19I had to call and ask her if it was okay.
02:21Use her name.
02:22Use her name.
02:23I guess I didn't have to, but I wanted to.
02:24Yeah.
02:25There you go.
02:25That's signed.
02:26Yay.
02:26Next.
02:28Which city is Abbott Elementary set in?
02:30Detroit.
02:31Detroit.
02:31Oh, I actually have no idea.
02:32Detroit.
02:33Oh, my God.
02:34Philadelphia.
02:36Oh, good one.
02:37I don't know.
02:38Who created Abbott Elementary?
02:44No one.
02:45The Quinta Bronson.
02:47I want to throw one.
02:48Nice.
02:50Roger that.
02:50Roger that.
02:51Ninja star.
02:52Who is the principal of Abbott Elementary?
02:54We're really getting to one.
02:55Yes, Ava Coleman.
02:59Ava Coleman.
03:00The L. James.
03:01Who is the janitor on Abbott Elementary?
03:05Mr. Johnson.
03:07William Stanford Davis.
03:11Played by William Stanford Davis.
03:12Mr. Johnson.
03:14Fun fact about the janitor.
03:15was not originally one of the main series cast members, but Stan's performance was so great
03:21as Mr. Johnson.
03:23We wanted to have him in every episode, and the best way to do that was to make him a
03:27series
03:27regular in season two.
03:32Oh, this is a good one.
03:34You should ask this one and answer this one.
03:35It's interesting that that's Googled.
03:37What would Ava do if she wasn't a principal?
03:39I think we've already seen some of that.
03:41A little bit of everything, including a motivational speaker.
03:44Yeah, she do a lot.
03:47She already does a lot while she is.
03:49Yeah, she does a lot while being.
03:51Thankfully, she cares about the children.
03:53She has, in fact, the principal.
03:55So, yeah.
03:56Yeah.
03:56A little bit of everything.
03:57I would like for Cheryl to answer this.
04:00Who is Tariq in Abbott?
04:01Oh, my goodness gracious.
04:04Tariq is the best pain in the patootie ever.
04:07Ever.
04:08He's so funny.
04:09Funny, he was actually Janine's worst boyfriend.
04:14Only boyfriend.
04:16Now he has a child in the school.
04:18Well, not his.
04:20Girlfriend has a son.
04:22How did he become president of the PGA?
04:24Because he cared.
04:26And he was not employed elsewhere.
04:28Shout out, Zach Fox.
04:29He's referee.
04:30So, Zach, he's such a wild card, and we just can't get rid of him, and we don't want to
04:34either.
04:34No, we don't.
04:36Oh, this is a good one.
04:37What song do they sing in Abbott Elementary Karaoke?
04:39We know one for sure.
04:41Last Resort.
04:41It's hard out here for us.
04:45I forgot about that.
04:46Wait, what song was it?
04:48We were all singing at the end, though.
04:50What would you do?
04:50We were all together.
04:51What would you do?
04:52City High.
04:53City High.
04:54What was your song?
04:55We sung, um, Baby, I'm not always there when you call me.
04:59What was the name of the song?
05:00Always on Time.
05:01Always on Time.
05:02There it is.
05:02And you, oh, no, because Ava came late.
05:04I was on a horrible date.
05:05Yes.
05:08Who is Gregory's dad?
05:10What, is it like a Maury Povich question?
05:11I know.
05:14Orlando Jones, you are the father.
05:18It's Lieutenant Martinetti.
05:19Mm-hmm.
05:20And he is played by?
05:21Orlando Jones.
05:22Orlando Jones.
05:22The incomparable.
05:23The incomparable Orlando Jones.
05:25He's fantastic.
05:26Why is Ava so obsessed with social media?
05:29Why are y'all so obsessed with social media?
05:31Yeah.
05:33You're the one.
05:34You're the one watching this.
05:35And we're reflecting you.
05:36But also, I'm sure she's making a nice couple of checks.
05:40For the counseling.
05:40Hello.
05:41Need some little supplement.
05:43I don't take this poorly at all.
05:45I think she's making some good money through her channels.
05:48There you go.
05:48Where does Melissa get all of her connections?
05:51You don't need to know.
05:54Don't worry about it.
05:55We're in a wire?
05:56Don't worry.
05:57What kind of question is that?
05:58I know it's wired.
05:58I don't know what you're talking about.
06:01Who is Mr. Johnson?
06:03That's a question for the ages.
06:04I think this is so funny.
06:06It's beautifully said.
06:06What do you mean?
06:06Why did you Google that?
06:07He is an enigmatic mystery who appears needed.
06:12Wrapped to the puzzle.
06:13He has a kind heart.
06:17That's all I'm telling you.
06:17Sage advice.
06:19And followed by inanities.
06:21What happens in Heaven Elementary Season 5, Episode 20?
06:26Go outside and we lose our minds.
06:27Night out.
06:28Night out.
06:29It's night out.
06:29Y'all please don't follow me.
06:31Some of us.
06:31Go outside and...
06:33Is it where I get dragged?
06:35Yes.
06:37Gregory's on top of the bar.
06:38Gregory gets drunk.
06:39I turn into my character's mom.
06:43But I think most importantly,
06:45Jacob has an incredible dunk package
06:47that he gets off in the tag.
06:50Very end.
06:50I love you, babe.
06:52Melissa, Barbara, and Mr. Johnson
06:54Pullen all night are watching Avatar.
06:56Barbara has to come to school in Melissa's clothes.
06:58That was fun.
06:59And that episode was very much inspired
07:01by my mom watching movies.
07:03Barbara's reaction to Avatar.
07:05The first question my mom had
07:07when I started that movie was,
07:08why are they blue?
07:09And I was like, why...
07:10It's just a certain...
07:11We don't have enough time for this.
07:13Oh, what magic tricks does Jacob know?
07:16All of them.
07:18He can't do any of them very well,
07:20but he knows...
07:21He knows...
07:22Light a hand.
07:22He made the money.
07:23You can do the hoops.
07:24You must still remember us.
07:25Who was Mr. Johnson for Halloween in season five
07:28or in all time?
07:29All time.
07:30First, he was...
07:31He was Vision.
07:32I remember that.
07:33No.
07:33No, no, no, no.
07:34He was Lil Uzi Vert.
07:35He was Lil Uzi Vert.
07:35Yeah, Lil Uzi Vert.
07:37Yeah.
07:37And then you were...
07:38Jimmy Butler.
07:39Yeah, Emo Jimmy.
07:41Emo Jimmy Butler.
07:42Emo Jimmy Butler.
07:42That one was so stupid.
07:43Emo Jimmy Butler.
07:45What were you last year?
07:46Wasn't he himself?
07:46Last year, I was Denzel and...
07:48I think Gladys was.
07:50Gladys.
07:51Oh, that's right.
07:52My favorite was the one
07:53when the little boy dressed up like him.
07:55Yeah.
07:55And he goes,
07:55you'll hear from my lawyer.
07:57Lil Uzi Vert, yeah.
07:58Oh, that was great.
07:59Yeah, that was great.
07:59It was such a good year.
08:00How many episodes of Abbott Elementary are there?
08:02I should know this, but I don't.
08:04Whoa, let's do the math.
08:05Okay, so seven will be 100.
08:07Yeah.
08:07Yeah, so 93.
08:08So then 93.
08:09Yeah.
08:10Who is the new janitor in Abbott Elementary season five?
08:13Oh, Candy Alexander, Miss Carol.
08:15Yeah.
08:16Miss Carol is not only the new janitor,
08:18but a love interest for Mr. Johnson.
08:20Yes.
08:22How did ringworm spread through Abbott Elementary?
08:26Well...
08:26Jacob.
08:27I had got person to person.
08:29Jacob's kids.
08:30Yes, there was nothing I could do.
08:32In all the way.
08:33I feel like it's Jacob, very clearly.
08:35Jacob's children.
08:35Even those of us who traded away.
08:40I was immune to ringworm.
08:43Okay.
08:43Nothing you can do.
08:44As teachers know, it's not...
08:46You can follow quarantine protocol,
08:47but, you know, no one listens to the principal.
08:49Or the CDC.
08:50Speaking of the principal,
08:52I'm going to ask this one
08:53because I think you probably have
08:54a really good answer on this one.
08:55Oh, boy.
08:56Why does Ava hate Janine?
08:57Hate?
08:58Oh, stronger.
08:59I think that's harsh.
09:00I think that's harsh.
09:02She doesn't hate.
09:03Why does Ava tough love Janine?
09:05My own theory maybe sees
09:07a little bit of herself in her.
09:10Wants her to lose her naive optimism
09:13to prevent her from being hurt by it.
09:16And maybe is envious
09:18of some of her optimism as well, doesn't?
09:21Maybe that's beaten out of her by life.
09:24And she doesn't see the...
09:26I love it.
09:28Yeah, I'd agree.
09:29I don't think Ava hates...
09:30I agree with that.
09:31I don't think Ava hates Janine.
09:33Can principal Ava beatbox?
09:34Oh, where did I beatbox?
09:35Only one way to find out.
09:37It was like...
09:38One joystick.
09:40Yeah.
09:41Oh!
09:43I didn't know until I did that line
09:45that I could.
09:46Where does Mr. Johnson disappear to
09:48during the school day?
09:49An alternate reality.
09:51His office.
09:52Another realm.
09:53He's got an office.
09:54I have a beautiful office.
09:55He's a beautiful office.
09:56I have a beautiful office.
09:57It really is gorgeous.
09:57I like to imagine he has one behind
09:59like how Ava does.
10:00He's behind office.
10:02We...
10:03Maybe I won't say it
10:04because maybe it actually
10:05will come up one day
10:06but we have a very crazy,
10:07crazy story for where
10:08Mr. Johnson is a lot of the time.
10:11Okay.
10:11What would Jacob teach
10:13if he could choose any subject?
10:15Oh my.
10:16I think Jacob likes teaching...
10:17Teaching history.
10:19History, yeah.
10:20Why does Jacob always want
10:22everyone to like him?
10:24Aw.
10:25What is his...
10:26His lovely flaw.
10:26Does that seem like something
10:27that he dwells on?
10:29Don't cry.
10:30Don't cry.
10:30I'm not crying.
10:31Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry.
10:32No, because remember
10:34he was all upset
10:35because the kids thought
10:36he was corny.
10:37That's why they call him Mr. C.
10:38Yeah.
10:39And then, I mean,
10:39that was early on
10:40but then comes to realize
10:42and through Janine too
10:43that corny's okay.
10:45You can be corny.
10:46Yeah.
10:46And it doesn't...
10:47That's just who you are.
10:48So, for all you geeks out there
10:49that Googled that,
10:51it's okay.
10:52It's okay.
10:53What would Melissa do
10:54if she weren't a teacher?
10:55She'd be a guma.
10:56Excuse me.
10:57What's that mean?
10:58That means a mistress.
11:00Oh.
11:00Ooh.
11:01She's calling me
11:02a woman of loose morals.
11:03Wait, here's a good...
11:05Here's another good one.
11:06Why does Melissa act tough
11:07even though she cares?
11:08Even when she cares?
11:10Possibly speaking personally,
11:11when you come up in a world
11:13where you feel like
11:14you have to fight for everything
11:15and you feel like
11:16you might not have
11:18people supporting you
11:19unless you are tough,
11:20you act tough
11:21even when you don't feel it
11:22because it's safer.
11:24So she...
11:25And she's also very protective
11:26and loyal
11:27to the people around her.
11:28So going into toughness
11:30to protect them
11:31is her go-to.
11:33Why is Barbara
11:34so calm under pressure?
11:36Why do you think that?
11:37Oh.
11:38Go ahead.
11:39No, is that not it?
11:41God.
11:41God.
11:42God.
11:42God.
11:42The Lord.
11:43The Lord.
11:44It is the Lord.
11:45I also think
11:46that she's been
11:47under pressure
11:48so she knows
11:49what it feels like
11:50so when it comes on
11:51she knows how to react.
11:53Yeah.
11:53As a veteran.
11:54Experience.
11:55Experience.
11:56What would Janine be doing
11:57if she weren't a teacher?
11:59I think that Janine
12:00was born to be a teacher.
12:02I really do.
12:03But if she weren't one
12:05I think she'd be
12:07like a substitute teacher.
12:10Something with kids.
12:11Something with kids.
12:12Arts and crafts.
12:13Arts and crafts.
12:13Yeah.
12:14That's what she'd be doing.
12:16Why does Gregory hate small talk?
12:17I love that about you.
12:18I would counter that
12:19with another great question
12:20of why do people
12:21do and enjoy small talk?
12:23Huh.
12:24Gregory.
12:24Gregory is the only
12:25logical person in the room.
12:26Gregory doesn't like
12:27communicating any more
12:28than he has to.
12:29Okay.
12:29And that includes small talk.
12:30I wonder if that has
12:31something to do
12:31with Gregory's relationship
12:32with his dad.
12:34This just says
12:35what is Gregory's
12:36relationship with his dad?
12:38Complicated.
12:39But so is yours.
12:41No, his relationship
12:42with his dad
12:42is really complicated
12:43because his dad
12:43is from the military
12:45and he was raised
12:45in a really military
12:47style household
12:48not just also on the run
12:49and also because
12:50Gregory lost his mom
12:51when he was very young.
12:52So there's a part
12:53of his relationship dynamic
12:54that was never really there.
12:56And then I have
12:57one last one.
12:57I won't put this
12:58on you guys to answer
12:59but it just says
13:00why is Abbott Elementary
13:02underfunded?
13:03And that is a question
13:04that we all should
13:05be asking ourselves
13:06because while Abbott
13:07is a fictional school
13:08it is based on
13:09and inspired by
13:10real schools in Philadelphia
13:11that are currently
13:12underfunded.
13:13There are many
13:14different reasons why
13:15but just so you know
13:16you have the power
13:17to help change
13:18that being the case
13:19by getting involved
13:20by voting
13:21by being part
13:22of your community
13:23and trying to make
13:24a difference
13:24to change just that.
13:26You can research
13:27every reason why.
13:28I'm not going to give
13:28them to you all
13:29but there's many.
13:30We're the cast
13:31of Abbott Elementary
13:32Thank you for your questions.