Abbott Elementary is a comedic powerhouse, but the ABC darling is ignoring one classic trick that could make it even better. The camera crew at Abbott Elementary captures the highs and lows of teachers and students at the titular underfunded public school. Yet, for all the real issues tackled by Abbott Elementary, humor has always been at the sitcom’s heart.
Whether it’s the mentor/mentee relationships between veteran teachers and newbies or wholesome subplots focused on the children, Abbott Elementary’s heartwarming moments add further depth to ABC’s smash hit. Despite the mockumentary being recognized as a modern classic, however, Abbott Elementary hasn’t hit its ceiling— there is always room for improvement, and a change of pace could up the ante.
Lisa Ann Walter Revealed The Abbott Elementary Cast Doesn’t Ad-Lib
The Mockumentary Sticks To The Script, Unlike Its Crossover Partners
At their recent San Diego Comic Con panel, the Abbott Elementary cast broke down the most iconic parts of season 4— from the beloved karaoke episode to the bizarre It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia & Abbott Elementary crossover episode. As Sheryl Lee Ralph (Barbara Howard) and Lisa Ann Walter (Melissa Schemmenti) discussed, filming the crossover was somewhat of a culture shock.
Barbara and Melissa’s subplot involving Charlie (Charlie Day) learning to read was a hilarious highlight, but the actors mentioned how jarring it was to roll with Day’s “off-the-rails ad-libbing”— especially since, as Lisa Ann Walter revealed, the Abbott Elementary cast doesn’t improv during filming. Despite ad-libbing being a staple of most series, ABC’s mockumentary has prioritized sticking to the script.
How Improvisation Can Make Abbott Elementary Better
The Funniest Moments Can Happen Off-The-Cuff
Nonetheless, not encouraging its talented ensemble to ad-lib may be a major misstep for the ABC comedy. Abbott Elementary’s humor has been well-received since its 2021 premiere, but the actors have all portrayed their roles for long enough to include their own jokes, which may take the Emmy-nominated mockumentary to the next level in season 5 and beyond.
All episodes of Abbott Elementary are streaming on Hulu.
Throughout similar mockumentaries— most notably The Office and Parks and Recreation— one-liners and full scenes were often improvised and, years later, are still remembered as some of the best moments in the entire series. As history has proven, giving a talented cast leeway to ad-lib can strengthen the show’s comedy and characterization, which is key for a long-running, ensemble-driven sitcom.
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Abbott Elementary has been lauded as the best mockumentary in modern television, but there are plenty of contemporaries that deserve another visit.
Considering the already witty dialogue and scene-stealing side characters in Abbott Elementary, ad-libbing could be a great way to enrich its comedy and prevent the mockumentary from getting stale. Furthermore, letting actors speak through their characters directly would add realism and make the mockumentary feel more authentic. While it can be unpredictable, ad-libbing could also step up Abbott Elementary’s game.
Source: @pqdres/X
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9/10
- Release Date
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December 7, 2021
- Showrunner
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Quinta Brunson
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Quinta Brunson
Janine Teagues
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Tyler James Williams
Gregory Eddie