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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Abbott Elementary' Season 4 Took Pains Not to ‘Phone It in': ‘We Want Every Episode to Be a Surprise'
While 'Abbott Elementary' creator and star Quinta Brunson is a noted scholar of classic sitcoms, she does not envy the episode orders of yore. 'Some of my favorite shows had 30 to 40 episode seasons, which is insane,' said the Emmy winner, noting her respect for those older series' hustle. 'But I cannot tell you how hard it is to not make absolute garbage. You start going [into Episode] 22 like 'Honestly, I could phone it in.' We've seen other shows do it. We don't want to do that. We want to continue to make good television. We want every episode to be a surprise. We want you to not [say] 'I'm going to go back to the tired episode of the tired show.' We would like to keep it compelling.' In an event giving the audience a peek inside the 'Abbott Elementary' writers room, as part of IndieWire's Pass the Remote FYC series, produced in partnership with Disney, Brunson and executive producers Patrick Schumacker, Justin Halpern, and Brian Rubenstein, plus co-executive producer Brittani Nichols joined IndieWire's Awards Editor Marcus Jones for a discussion about the show was able to navigate several changes with Season 4, including more episodes, and a big change to the group dynamics. More from IndieWire 'Mountainhead': Jesse Armstrong Discusses the DOGE-Inspired Dark Second Act Turn and Surprising Final Scene 'Outlander' Creators Talk Season 7 Highlights and Reveal Why They Had to Make a Big Change to Jamie & Claire's Reunion Love Scene At the panel, which took place at the Vidiots Foundation in Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 20, Halpern shared that conversations around how much of the show should focus on the blossoming relationship between Brunson and Tyler James Williams' characters Janine and Gregory has been a bit of a tug of war from the beginning. 'From the very first time we talked about [the show] with Quinta, she was like, 'I don't want this to be the Janine and Gregory show. I want it to be an ensemble.' And let me tell you the notes that we would get sometimes from the executives early on was like, 'Can we get more Janine and Gregory?'' He added, 'They wanted it so bad, and we had to push back and be like, 'The show is going to be stronger in the long run.'' Despite the pair finally being a couple in Season 4, the show still managed to spotlight its other characters like Principal Ava (Janelle James) throughout its 22 episodes, an effort that is core to the show's DNA. 'You go back to the Bible of the show, of why you created it. And as we start Season 5, I in my head go, 'What is this show about? It's about teachers in Philadelphia trying to make the best out of what they have.' And so we couldn't let that change to 'This show is about Janine and Gregory', or 'This show is about Ava,' or 'This show is about Barbara.' When you have an ensemble, it has to continue to focus on each character,' said Brunson. The executive producers also highlight that one of the benefits of having a 22-episode season is how that inclusive ethos extends behind the scenes as well. 'It's really important to us to be able to give people their first opportunities, people who are generally looked over. And because we have 22 episodes, we have four assistants who are now on staff of the show, a writer's PA that gets to write an episode of the show, we have first AD's getting to direct,' said Halpern. 'Because we do 22 episodes, and a lot of other shows don't, we are able to actually bring people along and start a bunch of careers.' For instance, Season 4 saw both Schumacker and Nichols make their directorial debuts on the episodes 'The Deli' and 'Music Class,' respectively. While Schumacker shared that directing had been his initial passion, delayed by his writing duties alongside Halpern, Nichols revealed that she had never even thought about directing until she worked alongside 'Abbott Elementary' director and executive producer Randall Einhorn. 'I just was very talkative, and had a lot of opinions, and things that I wanted to get. And he just was like, 'Do you want to direct?' And I just said 'Yes' in the moment, and then we sort of built off of that,' she said. 'Truly, it starts with that question, of just someone being willing to see you, and put attention on you, and ask you the thing that a lot of people in this industry won't ask you. And that is how it came to be, truly, was just this old white guy being like, 'What's going on with you over here?'' As for how 'Abbott Elementary' continues to foster an environment where everyone is seen and heard, despite a rigorous work schedule, Rubenstein said, 'It starts from the top. These are the most generous people I've ever worked with … It sounds ridiculous, but it's true, everyone is so nice and amazing on this show, and it's just been the best experience of my career, and I love coming to work.' Watch the complete video of IndieWire's 'Abbott Elementary' panel above. More Pass the Remote panels are available as well on IndieWire's website and YouTube channel. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Join IndieWire and Disney for ‘Abbott Elementary' Panel with Quinta Brunson in Attendance May 20
IndieWire and Disney are ready to 'Pass the Remote' once again. Our TV FYC screening series has returned to the Vidiots Foundation in Los Angeles's Eagle Rock neighborhood for more lively conversations with top industry talent. On Tuesday May 20, we'll be welcoming Quinta Brunson and members of the creative team of 'Abbott Elementary' for a panel discussion and a screening. More from IndieWire How Fragrances Helped Cynthia Erivo Find Her Way Through Five Characters on 'Poker Face' USG University and IndieWire Present a Celebration of TV Craft in Los Angeles on May 22 Two-time Emmy winning creator/executive producer/star Brunson will be joined on stage by executive producers Justin Halperin, Patrick Schumaker, and Brian Rubeinstein for a conversation with IndieWire's awards editor, film & TV, Marcus Jones. Tuesday, May 206:00pm – Doors Open7:00pm – Panel and Discussion8:00-9:00pm – Beer/Wine ReceptionOur most recent event was on May 3 and featured a screening of 'Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)' followed by a panel conversation with its Oscar-winning filmmaking team, the director and executive producer Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson and producer Joseph Patel. Both won the Best Documentary Feature Academy Award for 2021's 'Summer of Soul.' With 'Sly Lives!' they've made an extraordinary cinematic portrait of Sly Stone and his work with Sly and the Family Stone. 'We love hosting these screenings with our partners at Vidiots Foundation and Disney,' said Dana Harris-Bridson, senior VP and Editor-in-Chief at IndieWire. 'The IndieWire moderators are excellent, the panelists are even better, and the audience tells us how much they appreciate hearing first-hand stories from the people who make their favorite shows. It's becoming a great tradition.' 'We're very excited to partner again with Disney on the Pass The Remote series at our favorite LA theater, Vidiots Foundation,' said IndieWire Senior VP & Publisher James Israel. 'We made a lot of magic together last Emmy season with screenings of 'Abbott Elementary,' 'Reservations Dogs,' 'Jim Henson Idea Man,' and top talent from FX, Hulu, Nat Geo, Disney, and ABC. The programming this year is even better.' Register for the 'Abbott Elementary' with Quinta Brunson on May 20 here. Awards Voters and Industry Professionals can apply to attend this series. LIST OF EVENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACETUESDAY APRIL 1Disney Casting PanelAttending casting directors: Tiffany Little Canfield, 'Paradise,' 'Only Murders in the Building,' 'Doctor Odyssey'; Wendy O'Brien, 'Abbott Elementary'; Danielle Aufiero, 'Good American Family'; Seth Yanklewitz, 'Deli Boys'; Julie Ashton ('Mid-Century Modern'); Josh Einsohn ('Paradise') TUESDAY APRIL 15 Disney Music PanelAttending composers: Siddhartha Khosla, 'Only Murders in the Building,' 'Paradise'; The Newton Brothers, 'Daredevil: Born Again'; Michael Paraskevas, 'Agatha All Along'; Ariel Marx ('Dying for Sex')Attending music supervisors: Tiffany Anders ('Good American Family') and Jen Ross ('English Teacher'). SATURDAY MAY 3'Sly Lives!' Screening and PanelWith director and executive producer Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson and producer Joseph Patel in attendance. Launch Gallery: IndieWire Celebrated the Art of Casting and TV Music at 2025 Vidiots Panel Series Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
