🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
ABC's Abbott Elementary has quickly cemented itself among the network's Tuesday-night lineup and inside the hearts of millions of viewers.
Just seven episodes into its first season, the mockumentary-style sitcom is already a fan favorite across social media platforms, inspiring tweets, memes, and countless other posts in support of the show.
Abbott Elementary has also posted ratings to match its social media buzz.
After 2.87 million viewers tuned in to the ABC sitcom's premiere on Dec. 7, good for a 0.63 rating, nearly 3.5 million watched its second episode a week later, according to The Nielsen Company. Along with a 19.85 percent jump in viewership across all live and same-day viewing (L+SD), the show's quick success was also reflected in its premiere's record-breaking MP35 performance.
After 35 days of streaming across ABC's linear and digital platforms, Deadline reported that Abbott Elementary's premiere episode shot up 300 percent, posting a 2.4 rating and 7.1 million total viewers. According to ABC, the episode's ratings spike was the largest percentage growth from L+SD to MP35 for any new comedy premiere.
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, creator and star Quinta Brunson reacted to that early success, and explained what she believes makes Abbott Elementary stand out in today's TV comedy landscape.
"I'm a child of the internet, but at the end of the day, ratings are still a huge indicator in how successful a network perceives a show to be," Brunson told Vanity Fair. "After the first episode premiered, [ABC] was like, Whoa! These are the numbers! And I'm like, I don't care! But now I have to care."
"And I am overwhelmed," Brunson added.
Abbott Elementary stars Brunson as 25-year-old Janine Teagues, a second-grade teacher at the fictional Willard R. Abbott Elementary School. Set within the Philadelphia Public School System, Janine is accompanied by a band of teachers played by Tyler James Williams, Chris Perfetti, Lisa Ann Walker, and Sheryl Lee Ralph, and an eccentric principal played by comedian Jennelle James.
In the past weeks, the show has received high praise for its accurate depiction of teaching inside an underfunded public elementary school. Resonating with current and former teachers, as well as current and former students, Brunson told Vanity Fair that Abbott Elementary was inspired by her mother (a former teacher), and explained how it is different from many modern network sitcoms.
"Network television, if I'm being honest, was just getting super formulaic," Brunson said. "Then streaming came out...and then all the comedies started getting super dark."
"That became cool, for comedies to get dark and pretty. Which is fine! But they're dark," she added. "You can't watch 'em with the whole family...It's not going to give you the same laughs as a network comedy."
However, fans of other sitcoms are not the only viewers seeking reprieve within Abbott Elementary.
Recently, Twitter user @elizbcth posted that Abbott Elementary is a welcome change of pace from darker shows, like HBO's Euphoria.
"Thank goodness for Abbott Elementary during the week cause Euphoria anxiety is something else," @elizbcth tweeted.
"I know that's right," Brunson responded. "Gotta stop by our school for a lil refresh."
Brunson's response has been liked more than 55,000 times.
About the writer
Taylor McCloud is a Newsweek staff writer based in California. His focus is reporting on trending and viral topics. Taylor ... Read more