Sheryl Lee Ralph Wanted to Play Ava on ‘Abbott Elementary,’ But Quinta Brunson Needed a ‘Queen’ for Barbara

'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.

 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.

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.

Since its debut, Abbott Elementary, which follows the lives of a group of teachers at an underfunded school in Philadelphia, has shone a light on the struggles of teachers across America who aren’t receiving the support they need to help students thrive.

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.

Prince Harry will attend his father King Charles III’s coronation next month, but wife Meghan Markle will remain in California.

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.

The group of eight schoolboys who have been given the important task of supporting King Charles and Queen Camilla on Coronation Day have been revealed.

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.

Taraji P. Henson is joining the  family and finally putting a face to Janine Teague's mommy issues. Per, the actress will guest star as Quinta Brunson's TV mom, Vanetta, in the season's penultimate episode aptly titled «Mom.» The news was announced on Saturday, during the show's panel at the Paley Center for Media's annual PaleyFest L.A.

Quinta Brunson had a real-life «pinch me» moment on April 1. The  creator and star made her  debut as the night's guest, and according to her monologue, it was a long time coming. Brunson shared that she had always dreamed of being on  when she was a kid, but the audition process «seemed long,» so she took the simple route when she «created my own TV show, made sure it became really popular, won a bunch of Emmys and then got asked to host and it was so much easier!»The 33-year-old went on about the network sitcom's success, at one point comparing it to .

Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter and Tyler James Williams attended a session on their hit show Abbott Elementary during PaleyFest LA 2023 at the Dolby Theatre on Saturday (April 1) in Hollywood, Calif.

Taraji P. Henson has a new role in the works, and it’s on a hit show.

Finally putting a face to the name. Taraji P. Henson is joining season 2 of Abbott Elementary in the role of Janine’s (Quinta Brunson) estranged mother.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large “Abbott Elementary” will finally reveal Janine’s mother on the ABC comedy’s April 12 episode, and even though it’s April Fool’s Day, we’re not (Cookie) Lyon: It’s “Empire” star Taraji P. Henson, who will play Vanetta on the hit comedy series. The casting of Henson was revealed Saturday at the Paley Center for Media’s annual PaleyFest LA event, where an “Abbott Elementary” panel featured stars Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, Tyler James Wiliams and William Stanford Davis in person, as well as Janelle James and Chris Perfetti via Zoom from New York. Pre-taping a message was star and executive producer Quinta Brunson, who wasn’t able to attend — as she’s hosting tonight’s installment of “Saturday Night Live.”

EXCLUSIVE: Oscar winning co-director/co-scribe/producer of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Rodney Rothman, and former MGM exec Adam Rosenberg, have inked a first look deal with Sony Pictures to develop, produce, write, and direct feature films through their company, Modern Magic.

Judge Joe Brown may be gearing up to see the courtroom from a very different perspective.