This year’s Emmy Award show saw a real variety of nominees, ranging from the infamous drama-comedy Succession to the widely adored reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race, to Jimmy Kimmel Live, which everyone knows is to be a classic. However, history was made by the creator and lead actress of Abbott Elementary, Quinta Brunson.
This year, Brunson was the first black woman in more than forty years to win the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series since Isabel Sanford won in 1981 for her role in The Jeffersons. She was up against Christina Applegate (Dead to Me), Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel), Natasha Lyonne (Poker Face), and Jenna Ortega (Wednesday).
Despite Brunson’s show Abbott Elementary being nominated for a range of Emmys in 2022, only this year did it win big. In previous years such as 2022, the show received nominations including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Outstanding Comedy Series.
Carol Burnett presented Brunson with the award and “the Philly native”, as CBS News called her, was overcome with emotion. As she held her statuette and fought back tears, Brunson told the audience: “I love making Abbott Elementary so much and I am so happy to be able to live my dream and act out comedy.” She also said that she loves her entire family, alongside her husband and her Abbott Elementary cast. This win has now made Brunson a two-time Emmy award winning actor and writer, as in 2022 she previously won an award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for her work on Abbott Elementary.
But what is the show actually about? Abbott Elementary is a mockumentary sitcom which follows a group of teachers at a public school in Philadelphia, where, despite their lack of resources and funding, they work towards helping their students achieve and succeed. Brunson stars as Janine Teagues, an incredibly dedicated and passionate teacher who devotes her time to her students. Other starring actors in the show include Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie, Janelle James as Ava Coleman and Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard. The show began airing in 2021 and still has new episodes being released serially on streaming services. The show was an instant success and is now available to watch on Disney Plus.
CBS News has described Brunson as “breaking boundaries in the comedy world” with her sitcom. On the actress’s Instagram page she has received nothing but love and praise for her work with comments from fans and fellow actors including Reese Witherspoon and Mandy Moore.