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Black America Web
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Philly To Give Quinta Brunson Keys To The City
Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE Source: Gilbert Flores / Getty Quinta Brunson set her hit show Abbott Elementary in Philadelphia, based on her mother's four-decade career as a teacher. Now, the city is honoring her with a key ceremony and a mural on her elementary school. Brunso will receive the keys to the city in a May 28 ceremony, which Philadelphia's first female mayor, Cherelle Parker, will oversee. 'I am so grateful to be receiving the key to my hometown, Philly,' Brunson said in a statement. 'This city shaped me, and now I get to give back with a mural that celebrates all it gave me. I am truly honored.' Abbott Elementary was renewed for its fifth season in January. The show has enjoyed critical acclaim for Brunson, who won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series in 2022 and for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2023. She was the first Black woman to win in that category in four decades. The sitcom's cast includes Tyler James Williams ( Everybody Hates Chris), veteran actress Sheryl Lee Ralph (who won her first Emmy as Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role in 2022), Janelle James, and Lisa Ann Walter. It takes place in a fictional elementary school in West Philadelphia starring Brunson as idealistic teacher Jeanine Teagues, who despite funding woes and the incompetence of principal Ava Coleman (played by James) is trying to do the best for her students. Philadelphia's Mural Arts program has given the city the distinction of having the most public art in the world. They collaborated with the Greater Philadelphia Film Office to put the event together. The new mural on West Philly's Alexander Hamilton School is called 'Blooming Futures,' honoring Brunson and the school's manifesto of upholding rigorous learning standards for student development. 'The City of Philadelphia is beyond grateful to have someone as inspiring and compassionate as Quinta Brunson,' Parker said. 'She doesn't just represent the spirit of Philadelphia on television; she brings her success home and shares it with the city that loves her back. It goes without saying that education and representation matter. She added, 'As our young people look for role models, may they find inspiration in dream chasers and change makers like Quinta Brunson. And let us never forget the impact of a great teacher, who shows up every day to uplift, encourage, and fight for the future of our youth.' As for the show, all the prominent cast members are likely to return, along with some newer ones, including Orlando Jones, who plays William's character's father, and Matthew Law, who appeared in Season 4 as Ava's love interest. Abbott Elementary airs live on ABC on Wednesdays at 8:30 ET, and can also be seen on Hulu and other streaming platforms that support live TV. SEE ALSO Philly To Give Quinta Brunson Keys To The City was originally published on
Axios
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Philadelphia is having a big TV moment this spring
Philadelphia is stealing the spotlight in some of this spring's hottest new TV shows. Why it matters: Philly is having a television moment as the city has seen lots of interest in projects filmed here in recent years. State of play: " Dope Thief," " Deli Boys" and " Long Bright River" all premiered in the last few weeks, spotlighting stories in Philly about crime, murder and drugs. The intrigue: Though the shows are based in Philly, only "Dope Thief" was filmed in the region — in Bucks County. "Deli Boys" was filmed in Chicago, and "Long Bright River" was shot in New York City. 📈 By the numbers: Hundreds of filming projects have flocked to Philly in recent years, per data from the Greater Philadelphia Film Office. Nearly 480 projects were shot in Philly between July 2023 and June 2024, including "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" star Rob McElhenney's " Welcome to Wrexham" soccer series and the film " Yall Drawn." That number spiked to nearly 760 during the same 12-month stretch in 2021-22. What they're about: 🚨 "Dope Thief" on Apple TV+, starring Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura, is a crime drama based on Dennis Tafoya's book of the same name. The story follows a pair of friends impersonating U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents to rob small-time drug dealers. Things go awry when the duo unknowingly stumbles upon a massive drug operation. New episodes debut on Fridays through April 25. What they're saying: It wasn't hard to capture the spirit of the city, "Dope Thief" creator Peter Craig tells Axios' Maxwell Millington. "Philly doesn't hide itself from you," he said. "Philly's really direct and upfront and tells you who it is right away. So … we got hooked on it pretty fast." 😂 "Deli Boys" on Hulu, starring Saagar Shaikh and Asif Ali, offers a fresh take on the crime-comedy genre. After their father suddenly dies, two spoiled Pakistani American brothers take over his deli empire, and find out it's a front for a drug business they inherited. Watch all 10 episodes now. 🚔 "Long Bright River" is a suspense thriller on Peacock that follows a female Philly police officer named Mickey trying to solve murders on her beat in Kensington's open-air drug market
