After three critically acclaimed and award-winning seasons, Chris Perfetti still finds it hard to watch himself on “Abbott Elementary.” But as Jacob, the “social puppy dog” of “Abbott’s” faculty, Perfetti finds himself more and more ingrained in different storylines and he’s having to get more comfortable with it. Especially considering the strikes limited the 2024 season to just 14 episodes.

READ MORE: Janelle James recognizes Ava’s “hustle” on “Abbott Elementary” [Interview]

Perfetti also humbly admits that the show’s star and creator, Quinta Brunson, has to pretty much explain a substantial number of pop culture references to him.

Continue reading Chris Perfetti Thinks ‘Abbott Elementary’ Season 4 Might Be Even More Meta Than Season 3 [Interview] at The Playlist.

Keeping a television series fresh and engaging after its first few seasons is always a difficult task. It often separates the classic TV shows from the also-rans. And it’s often even tougher to pull off for a network comedy or sitcom. In many ways, that’s why it’s a relief that the third season of “Abbot Elementary” may arguably be one of its best. A major reason for that has to be Janelle James‘ portrayal of the blunt and take-no-prisoners elementary school principal, Ava.

Continue reading ‘Abbott Elementary’: Janelle James Makes A Case For Ava & Janine’s Friendship at The Playlist.

If any Emmy category actually deserves eight nominations this year, it’s Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. Unfortunately, the Television Academy has once again decided to restrict this particular field to just five nominees. And, in 2024, that’s going to mean a ton of snubs as a deluge of eligible programs have been released over the past 12 months.

And, no, we’re not exaggerating.

READ MORE: 10 pressing questions for a confounding 2024 Emmy Awards season

There are probably only two locks for a nomination this time around: HBO’s “True Detective: Night Country” and FX’s “Fargo.” The other three slots are seemingly up for grabs.

Continue reading Limited Series 2024 Emmys Predictions & Contenders at The Playlist.

Hollywood may be bracing for a potential second work stoppage later today, but this morning was a joyous one for many with the announcement of the 2023 Primetime Emmy Awards nominations. Yvette Nicole Brown and Television Academy Chair Frank Scherma revealed a slew of nominees led by “Succession” with 27 nominations, “The Last of Us” with 24 mentions, and “The White Lotus” with 23 nominations.

Continue reading ‘Succession,’ ‘The Last Of Us’ & ‘The White Lotus’ Dominate 2023 Emmy Awards Nominations at The Playlist.

It’s always a strange time in Hollywood, but it’s an understatement to say everything is really off-kilter right now. Obviously, the Writers Guild strike has brought a majority of television and film production to a halt. But on Wednesday, a potential Screen Actors Guild strike may be announced the same day as the 2023 Primetime Emmy Award nominations are revealed. Are both worthy of celebration? Or not?

READ MORE: “Succession,” “The Last of Us” and “The Bear” lead 2023 TCA Awards nominations [Full List]

The good news about this year’s Emmy nominations is that there are a ton of new players in the mix.

Continue reading Emmys 2023 Nominations Predictions: ‘Succession,’ ‘The Bear,’ ‘Dahmer’ & More at The Playlist.

Does anyone else think it’s a little quiet out there? And it’s not just because the writers are on strike. After a few years of almost too much television to watch, especially around Emmy deadline season, the first half of 2023 has been relatively… quiet. Part of it is the decline of one-time critical darlings from the peak of the TV mountain with new seasons of “Yellowjackets” and “Ted Lasso” falling short of viewer expectations.

Continue reading The Best TV Of 2023…So Far at The Playlist.

“Abbott Elementary” was an Emmy force in its first season. Over its seven nominations, creator Quinta Brunson got a Lead Actress in a Comedy nomination and won for her writing. Tyler James Williams earned a Supporting Actor in a Comedy nomination. Janelle James earned a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nod, and her co-star, Sheryl Lee Ralph, had everyone on their feet when she won the category.

Continue reading ‘Abbott Elementary’s’ Chris Perfetti: “It’s Funnier For People To Not Like Jacob” [Interview] at The Playlist.

Over just two seasons, “Abbott Elementary” has become something of a cultural tipping point. Creator and star Quinta Brunson is on her way to becoming a household name. The legendary Sheryl Lee Ralph won a long deserved Emmy Award and Tyler James Williams finally found his second act (one of many, no doubt). But if the ABC hit comedy has turned anyone into a star, it’s Janelle James.

Continue reading Janelle James Recognizes Ava’s “Hustle” On ‘Abbott Elementary’ [Interview] at The Playlist.

The Peabody Awards revealed their 2023 winners in entertainment and for a number of programs it’s a welcome boost for their Emmy nomination prospects. Apple TV+ had three programs honored: “Bad Sisters,” “Pachinko” and “Severance.” HBO landed two winners in “We’re Here,” a rare non-fiction selection, and “Los Espookys,” a program the network disappointingly canceled in December.

READ MORE: “Andor’s” Genevieve O’Reilly: “I don’t think rebellion is pretty” [Interview]

Other winners this year include ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” the Lucasfilm Disney+ series “Andor,” the streamer’s first original program to land the honor, and Netflix’s“Mo.” “Better Call Saul” and “Atlanta” made history as rare double Peabody Award winners.

Continue reading ‘Andor,’ ‘Abbott Elementary’ & ‘We’re Here’ Win 2023 Peabody Awards at The Playlist.

Is there a televised award that means less to people in Hollywood than a Golden Globe? The People’s Choice Award, sure, but that at least has fan voting behind it. The “and I’m telling you I’m not going” award is the Critics Choice Awards which barely kept its deal with The CW to air the 2023 proceedings. This year’s big “winners”? “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” “Better Call Saul” and “Abbott Elementary”

READ MORE: 8 Things We Learned From The Last Golden Globes (Maybe)

The A24 release took five awards including Best Picture, Best Director (The Daniels), Original Screenplay (The Daniels), Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan ) and Editing.

Continue reading ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Tops Critics Choice Awards Winners [Complete List] at The Playlist.

Are you ready for even more guild awards? This afternoon, after SAG and DGA had their say, the Writers Guild of America announced their 2023 nominations in television and non-film categories. And, unlike their peers, the WGA recognized some well-deserving programs that have gotten little awards love so far such as “Andor,” “Bad Sisters,” “Fleishman Is In Trouble” and “Julia.” Overall, “Better Call Saul” led all programs with three nominations.

Continue reading ‘Andor,’ ‘Abbott Elementary’ & ‘The Bear’ Earn WGA Awards TV Nominations at The Playlist.

The movie honorees received their flowers last month and this morning, Film Independent revealed the highly anticipated television nominees for the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Four programs took three nominations each: “Abbott Elementary,” “The Bear,” “Severance” and “Station Eleven.” In the Best Scripted Series category, the latter three were joined by “The Porter” and “Pachinko” as “Abbott” did not make the cut.

READ MORE: “Everything Everywhere All At Once” tops 2023 Spirit Awards Film Nominations

“Pachinko” was also rewarded with the Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series award for stars Soji Arai, Jin Ha, Inji Jeong, Minha Kim, Kaho Minami, Lee Minho, Steve Sanghyun Noh, Anna Sawai, Jimmi Simpson, and Yuh-jung Youn.

Continue reading ‘Abbott Elementary,’ ‘The Bear,’ ‘Severance’ Top 2023 Spirit Award TV Nominations at The Playlist.

It was a very good day for A24 as the mini-major dominated the film nominations announced for the 2022 Gotham Awards. In fact, the studio had two Best Feature nominees, “Aftersun” and “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” The other nominations in the top category are “TAR,” which landed five nominations overall, Sundance premiere “Dos Estaciones” and “The Cathedral” which debuted at the Venice Film Festival in 2021.

Continue reading ‘TAR,’ ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once,’ & ‘Aftersun’ Lead 2022 Gotham Awards Nominations at The Playlist.

It’s been years since a network TV comedy took off like ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” a show that felt both familiar and fresh at the same time. Sure, it has a structure that recalls hit network shows like “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation,” but it also has rich characters that feel almost instantly like people we know, brought to life by an ace ensemble. While network TV largely ceded the war to cable and streaming services years ago, “Abbott Elementary” has proven there’s still life on ad-supported television, winning Emmys last week for Outstanding Writing and Outstanding Supporting Actress (Sheryl Lee Ralph).

Continue reading ‘Abbott Elementary’ Review: Hit ABC Show Returns For Confident Start to Sophomore Season at The Playlist.

Television’s biggest night came and went as the 74th Emmy Awards were unveiled tonight in downtown Los Angeles, hosted by “Saturday Night Live” cast member Kenan Thompson, and aired live on NBC and streaming on Peacock. In one of the most competitive Emmy seasons in recent memory, it was “Succession,” “Ted Lasso,” and “The White Lotus” that took home the Television Academy’s top prizes.

Continue reading 2022 Emmys: ‘Succession,’ ‘Ted Lasso,’ & ‘The White Lotus’ Win Top Honors [Full Winners List] at The Playlist.

When Tyler James Williams tells you he’s been acting for 25 of his 29 years he’s not exaggerating. Williams first came to prominence as the Chris in “Everybody Hates Chris.” In the years since he’s appeared in regular roles on “The Walking Dead,” “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders” and “Whiskey Caviler,” among others. But, his role as Gregory Eddie in “Abbott Elementary” gifted him not only another hit series but his first Emmy nomination.

Continue reading ‘Abbott Elementary’s’ Tyler James Williams Will School You With His Nielsen Knowledge [Interview] at The Playlist.

Due to a short-sighted concern over COVID numbers in Los Angeles, the 2022 TCA Awards did not happen in person, as originally planned. Instead, the winners were announced, once again, vritually. The good news is that ABC’s freshman breakout “Abbott Elementary” dominated the proceedings.

READ MORE: Yep, Sheryl Lee Ralph improvised “Sweet Baby Jesus, And The Grown One Too” on “Abbott Elementary” [Interview]

A receipent of seven Emmy nominations, “Abbott” took four honors including the prestigious Program of the Year, Outstanding New Program, Outstanding Achievement in Comedy, and Individual Achievement in Comedy for series creator and star Quinta Brunson.

Continue reading ‘Abbott Elementary’ Takes Program Of The Year At The 2022 TCA Awards at The Playlist.

The most crowded season in television history just came to a close for Emmy voters, leaving professionals scrambling to figure out how to dig out from the weight of so many new and returning shows. Programs that had been delayed because of COVID like “Atlanta” and “Barry” came roaring back, and all of the major networks and streamers seemed to invest in the Limited Series game. The result was a sense that television had become almost overwhelming, making it harder than ever to hear the best voices through all the noise.

Continue reading The Best TV Of 2022… So Far at The Playlist.

Emmy nomination voting may end today, but Emmy season is still going strong. The nominations will be announced on June 12th and the winners of the influential TCA Awards will be revealed on August 6th. This morning, the Television Critics Association revealed that three popular “Abbott Elementary” stars, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, and the legendary Sheryl Lee Ralph will host the ceremony.

READ MORE: “Abbott Elementary” leads all programs with five 2022 TCA Awards nominations

“Abbott Elementary” scored five nominations including Program of the Year, Outstanding New Program, Outstanding Achievement in Comedy, and two Individual Achievement in Comedy nods for James and series creator and star, Quinta Brunson.

Continue reading ‘Abbott Elementary’s’ Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter & Sheryl Lee Ralph Will Host 2022 TCA Awards at The Playlist.

With Emmy nomination voting beginning today, the Television Critics Association revealed the nominees for the 2022 TCA Awards. In something of a surprise, Quinta Brunson’s “Abbott Elementary” leads all programs with five nominations. It was followed by “Better Call Saul,” “Severance,” and “Yellowjackets,” which earned four nods each.

READ MORE: “Ted Lasso” dominates 2021 TCA Awards taking Program of the Year

“Abbott” not only earned a Program of the Year nomination but two Individual Achievements in Comedy (Brunson, Janelle James), Outstanding New Program, and Outstanding Achievement in Comedy.

Continue reading ‘Abbott Elementary’ Leads 2022 TCA Awards Nominations at The Playlist.

If you don’t recognize the name Sheryl Lee Ralph, we’re afraid that you’ve got some work to do. Currently part of the acclaimed ensemble for the ABC comedy “Abbott Elementary,” Ralph is simply a living legend. She originated the role of Deena Jones in the original Broadway production of “Dreamgirls” (Tony nomination, check). She spent five seasons playing Brandy’s mom on the ’90s sitcom “Moesha.” She won an Independent Spirit Award for her performance in Charles Burnett’s classic film “To Sleep with Anger.” She was part of the original Broadway cast of Best Musical winner “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” She’s been working almost non-stop since she got her first television guest spot in, wait for it, 1977.

Continue reading Yep, Sheryl Lee Ralph Improvised “Sweet Baby Jesus, And The Grown One Too” On ‘Abbott Elementary’ [Interview] at The Playlist.

Millions of people have seen Chris Perfetti’s work. Over the past decade, he’s starred in the lauded mini-series “The Night Of,” “Looking,” “In the Dark” and was a series regular on “Crossbones.” But, for the most part, Perfetti has lived in relative anonymity. That is beginning to change with his role as the somewhat awkward but adorable Jacob Hill in Quinta Brunson‘s critically acclaimed ABC comedy, “Abbott Elementary.”

READ MORE: Emmys 2022 Comedy Series Predictions and Contenders

Set in a fictional Philadelphia elementary school, “Abbott” is shot in a documentary style similar to “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation.” The “filmmakers” are primarily following Janine (Brunson), an overly optimistic educator who really wants to do everything she can for her kids.

Continue reading ‘Abbott Elementary’s’ Chris Perfetti Is Having That Network TV Moment [Interview] at The Playlist.

A recurring theme this Emmy season will be “snubs.” This year’s Emmys will have a ton of them. In the Outstanding Comedy Series category alone there are potentially five series that were nominated in 2021 that won’t make the cut just a year later, including “The Great,” “Cobra Kai,” “Black-ish,” “Emily in Paris” and “The Flight Attendant.” And that’s assuming the Television Academy keeps the field at just eight nominees (we’re not suggesting they expand it to 10, but we’re not not suggesting that either).

Continue reading Comedy Series Emmys 2022 Predictions & Contenders at The Playlist.