Class will stay in session at Abbott Elementary.
Mere days after returning with its strikes-delayed and supersized third season, the Quinta Brunson comedy has been renewed for a fourth season at ABC. The news was announced by co-star William Stanford Davis (aka Mr. Johnson) on Saturday at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour, where he was a surprise guest during ABC’s time before the press corps.
Disney Television Group president Craig Erwich also announced renewals for Celebrity Family Feud and Jeopardy Masters, as sources say Dancing With the Stars will also return for its 33rd season.
Season three returned Wednesday with ratings that were on par with its sophomore debut (2.8 million total viewers and a 0.5 in the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demographic for its first part and 2.7 million and a 0.5 for the latter). The comedy, which earned Brunson an Emmy, is a co-production between Disney’s 20th Television and Warner Bros. Television, where co-creators and co-showrunners Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker are housed with an overall deal.
The Philly-set mockumentary was originally conceived by Brunson as an animated comedy that evolved into a live-action series after meeting Halpern and Schumacker earlier in her career. The duo, who also oversee the animated Harley Quinn franchise for Max, also suggested Brunson star in the series in addition to writing the role that was inspired by her mother, a retired teacher.
The cast includes Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, Davis and Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph. Exec producers include Brunson, Halpern, Schumacker
In a show of its value to ABC, Abbott Elementary is the first series the Craig Erwich-led network has renewed for the 2024-25 broadcast season.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
