‘Abbott Elementary’: Quinta Brunson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter & Janelle James Talk Impacts Of ABC Comedy — Contenders TV

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor “I am Black woman; hear me roar!” The hilarity of Black women on television has been sorely missed and ignored by the Television Academy over multiple decades. However, this year’s slate of outstanding lead and supporting comedy actress seem to be the two spots preventing an #EmmysSoWhite moment from occurring. Quinta Brunson is the front-runner to win her first acting Emmy for her charming turn as Janine Teagues, the optimistic 2nd-grade teacher from ABC’s “Abbott Elementary.” With a beautiful sophomore season in the books and the added benefit of Jean Smart being out of the competition for “Hacks,” she seems perfectly aligned with the Emmy cosmos to land much-deserved recognition. The possible recognition would be long overdue for Black comedians on television.

EXCLUSIVE: Abbott Elementary finished out its sophomore season with gold stars all around.

Ready for her school picture! Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson brought her A-game to the 2023 Met Gala.

Who could forget Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Emmy acceptance speech last year, where she sang a rousing celebration of her womanhood and artistry, followed by these words: “To anyone who has ever had a dream and thought your dream wasn’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t, come true, I am here to tell you this is what believing looks like, this is what striving looks like, and don’t you ever, ever give up on you.”

in the world without federal paid family or maternity leave. One in four women have had to return to work .

's second season has been building up to what felt like the inevitable: the romantic reveal when Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams) finally admit their feelings for one another. But when the moment comes in the season 2 finale titled «Franklin Institute,» it's not at all how one would imagine.On Wednesday's episode, the teachers of Abbott Elementary are preparing for a field trip to the Franklin Institute where they and their students will spend the night.

 star Janelle James is a woman of mystery that prefers to keep it that way. In conversation with  for the cover of its latest issue, the comedian explained that there are many facts about her life that she doesn't believe people need to know, like her age.«I'm grown. I have a 20-year-old son.

Janelle James is getting real.

 fans, you're in for an emotional ride tonight! Series star Tyler James Williams issues a warning for viewers while on Wednesday's episode of . «A lot of things happen,» Williams tells host Jennifer Hudson about the season 2 finale airing on Wednesday, April 19. «It's going to be good, it's a good one.

Janelle James, the first thing that comes up is that she got her big break from Chris Rock. Wrong! Rock did hire her as a comedian on his 2017 “Total Blackout Tour,” but James says that’s as far as it goes. “He’s done a lot,” she says, carefully choosing words to describe someone who is credited too frequently for her rise. “He’s done enough for me. He didn’t make my career or anything.” She adds, “I was never close with Chris Rock. We went on tour together, and then I didn’t speak to him after that.” And of course, she followed what happened to him at the Oscars, but hasn’t watched his Netflix special. She doesn’t want to be cornered into talking about him or the slap in interviews like this one. “I want to truthfully be like, ‘I ain’t seen it. No opinion!’ I don’t want to be involved.”

Abbott Elementary predicted a walk-off home run from a baseball player less than 24 hours before it happened.During episode Mom which aired in the US on Wednesday (April 12), Baltimore Orioles fan Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams) is seen talking with lunch lady Shanae about the score of that day’s Orioles game.“Adley Rutschman hit an opposite-field walk-off homer and Cedric Mullins was a single shy of the cycle,” Gregory remarks (via IndieWire).During the team’s match against the Oakland Athletics on the following day (April 13), Rutschman won the game with a walk-off home run. Gregory, however, was slightly off on the details, as it wasn’t opposite-field, while the overall score also wasn’t the same.Whatta rutschMAN pic.twitter.com/19JkUnUSeS— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) April 13, 2023Speaking in a post-match interview, Rutschman revealed this was the first time in his life he’s ever hit a walk-off home run.

Watch What Happens Live” that she had a major crush on Dennis Quaid, who played Nick Parker, the father of the twins played by Lindsay Lohan and who employed Chessy as the nanny.The actress was asked if Quaid, 69, knew that she and Elaine Hendrix, 52, who played Meredith Blake in the film, had crushes on him — and if they ever made a move.“Elaine’s my best friend, if she had made a move, I would have known about it,” Walter said of Hendrix, who was only 26 when they shot the movie. “I absolutely had a crush on him.

, actress Lisa Ann Walter, who played nanny Chessy, admitted during an appearance on that she actually had a major crush on her co-star, Dennis Quaid.Quaid played dad Nick Parker in the iconic Lindsay Lohan film, who employed Chessy as the nanny for his daughter.During her appearance on Thursday, Walter was asked if Quaid was aware that she and co-star Elaine Hendrix were crushing on him at the time and if either of them ever tried anything.«Elaine's my best friend, if she had made a move, I would have known about it,» Walter said of the actress who played Nick's fiancée, Meredith Blake. «I absolutely had a crush on him.

Taraji P. Henson has officially made her  debut, and it was an emotional ride! The award-winning actress was the highly anticipated guest star of the season's penultimate episode, aptly titled «Mom.» Henson starred as Vanetta, Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson)'s estranged mother who shows up unexpectedly right before the schoolteacher plans to vacation in Ocean City — Maryland, not Jersey — over the Memorial Day weekend.On Wednesday's episode, Vanetta visits Janine during the school day, telling her that she «grew worried» when Janine didn't answer her call, so she came to check up on her.

, in which our favorite group of teachers share their plans for the upcoming three-day weekend. Jacob (Chris Perfetti) will be helping his boyfriend, Zack, clean out his shoe closet since they are «drowning in swooshes,» while Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) shares that she is going with her husband, Gerald, to a soft jazz cafe for some musical appreciation.

Lisa Ann Walter won over hearts as Chessy in the 1998 adaptation of The Parent Trap, which also starred Lindsay Lohan. However, her life mirrored the movie in a unique way when she gave birth to twin sons.

Taraji P. Henson will make her  debut on Wednesday, April 12, and finally, put a face to Janine Teague (Quinta Brunson)'s mommy issues. In a preview clip of next week's episode, Janine is talking to her class when the distinct sound of familiar high heels draws her attention.

Abbott Elementary season two as a prominent guest star.The Hidden Figures actress will appear in an upcoming episode of the hit US sitcom as schoolteacher Janine’s (Quinta Brunson) estranged mother, Vanetta.The news was announced at a PaleyFest panel event in Los Angeles, California on Saturday (April 1), where Henson appeared via pre-recorded video message alongside permanent cast members Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tyler James Williams, Lisa Anna Walter, and William Stanford Davis, who were there in person.“Now I can’t share too many details with you so you’ll have to tune in to ABC, April 12,” Henson said, “but I can guarantee you that it is going to be a riot… I have been a fan of Abbott Elementary since day one. I’m so proud of Quinta, and I was excited to join her and the amazing cast.”Following the announcement, Abbott Elementary’s official Twitter account confirmed the news with an image of Henson and Brunson on set together.

Sweet baby Jesus! Sheryl Lee Ralph has received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Barbara Howard on ABC’s Abbott Elementary — but that wasn’t always the role she wanted to play.  

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic The wheels are not close to coming off the “Carpool Karaoke” franchise, as a series of new episodes was announced Monday morning for Apple TV+, featuring stars ranging from pop singer Avril Lavigne to TV star Sheryl Lee Ralph to current Broadway queen Lea Michele. The eight new “Carpool Karaoke: The Series” episodes will bow globally on the platform June 23. While most of the installments pair up two stars, three of the episodes promise to incorporate the cast of a series: Netflix’s “Girls5eva,” CBS’ “Ghosts” and Apple TV+’s “The Afterparty.” Some of the partners in carpooling have a joint project to promote. Alison Brie and Danny Pudi, for instance, are not only mutual “Community” alumni but recently reunited for the rom-com “Somebody That I Used to Know.” Not coincidentally, a teaser that was already posted for their “Karaoke” episode has them singing the Gotye song of that same name.