After a highly acclaimed debut season, Abbott Elementary made history by earning seven Emmy nominations! ABC’s hit series came out the gates with aces across the board for the Primetime Emmy Awards, earning nods in the top categories, including Outstanding Comedy Series.
Created by and starring Quinta Brunson, the half-hour mockumentary-style series follows a group of dedicated and passionate teachers — and a slightly tone-deaf principal — at a Philadelphia public school where, despite the odds stacked against them, are determined to help their students succeed in life.
Brunson’s multiple duties scored her three nominations, including Outstanding Comedy Series, Lead Actress in a Comedy and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. The nods make the former A Black Lady Sketch Show star the first Black woman to receive three Emmy noms for the same comedy series. Michaela Coel earned a similar accolade last year, scoring four noms for the limited series I May Destroy You.
If Brunson were to win either Lead Actress in a comedy and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, she would be the second Black woman to win either category, ever. Isabel Sanford won the former in 1981 for her iconic role as Louise on CBS’ The Jeffersons and Lena Waithe won the latter alongside co-writer Aziz Ansari in 2017 for Netflix’s Master of None.
And only one Black person has won Emmy’s top comedy category — Winifred Hervey for The Golden Girls in 1987. Bunson’s nomination puts her in the lead to make history thrice!
Brunson didn’t score the only nominations from the Abbott Elementary cast! Tyler James Williams earned the Outstanding Supporting Actor nod, along with Janelle James and Sheryl Lee Ralph earning nods for Outstanding Supporting Actress. These are the first-ever Emmy nominations for all the actors!
The show also earned a nomination for Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series.
The news came on Tuesday when JB Smoove and Melissa Fumero revealed the full list of nominees for the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards.
ABC announced that the smash series had officially been renewed for a second season in March, ahead of the show’s midseason premiere, and production on season 2 is already underway.
“We’ll be going a little bit outside of the school more,” Brunson told ET about the next installment, explaining that the series will begin exploring the characters’ homes. “I know that doesn’t seem like a big deal, but we didn’t go to anyone’s house in the first season and so for me it’s really exciting that we’ll be going to like Melissa’s house and Janine’s house.”
Although she noted she probably “shouldn’t say” it, the actress admitted that she’s excited to explore the home of Lisa Ann Walter’s Melissa Schemmenti the most. “I’m anticipating it ‘cause we’re writing it now and, writing-wise, we’re in the middle of the season so I’m excited to see what else we come up with,” she added. “It’s just fun for me writing the show [and] being in it because I’m on a journey with the writers’ room to see what kind of lives these people live at home and what it looks like.”
The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards will be handed out live Monday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.
TK Emmy Noms List