‘Abbott Elementary’ Cast Answer The 50 Most Searched Questions

I feel like I'm Andy Cohen reading from-

[cast laughs]

like when he does the reunions.

Why is Ava so obsessed with social media?

Why you so obsessed with me?

Why are y'all so obsessed with social media?

[cast laughs] Yeah.

Hi, we are the cast of Abbott Elementary

and we are gonna answer the most Googled questions

about the show, let's do it.

[percussive music] [modem beeping and squawking]

Okay, number one, What is 'Abbott Elementary' about?

Who would like to answer that?

You. [cast members laugh]

Abbott Elementary is about school teachers,

and a principal, and a janitor,

who are fighting the everyday uphill battle

of educating children

in the Philadelphia public school system.

They're doing it with a lot of heart, and a lot of grit,

and a lot of love, [bell dings]

and a lot of laughs. Yes.

Yay! [claps] Perfect.

Well done. Thank you.

This one's a good one.

Is Abbott Elementary a real school?

It's based on a real school. It is.

Or a compilation of real schools.

Yes, it was based on my experience when I was younger,

the school where my mom taught,

Harrity Elementary in Philadelphia.

But the school itself,

like Abbott Elementary is a fictional school

that does not exist. [bell dings]

Seen a lot of people have trouble with that lately.

I saw a viral TikTok where someone was very upset

that we do not film in a real-

Couldn't find it. Elementary school,

so, just so you know. Yeah, that really

wouldn't work well. The kids gotta go there.

Not real. Not real.

Not real. Yet!

Where does Abbott Elementary go on a field trip?

So many places.

Where have we been, guys? The zoo.

Museum, Please Touch. The Please Touch Me Museum.

Mm, the what now?

Ben Franklin Museum. Camping.

It's just called the Please Touch Museum.

It's not Please Touch Me. Please Touch.

Went to the baseball game. Ben Franklin Institute.

Ben Franklin Institute. Baseball game.

Oh my god. It was in a-

Camping in a park. The zoo,

we went to the zoo. That's right.

Went camping in the park.

And another park where we had a relay race.

And we did the- Oh, yeah.

Several parks. Yes.

And the park with the big slide.

Oh, Smith Playground. [cast talking over each other]

And then you all went to the ocean without Mr. Johnson.

When did we go to the ocean? Miami.

We went to Miami. Miami.

Miami. That was not a field trip.

[bell dings] That wasn't a field trip.

Teachers convention. We went to the 305.

Field trip to me.

Why is the show called 'Abbott Elementary?'

Sheryl, I feel like you can answer this one.

Abbott Elementary is called Abbott Elementary

because I believe you had a teacher called Mrs. Abbott.

Yep. Abbott Elementary,

because of the impression that [bell dings]

that teacher made on young Quinta.

I had to call and ask her if it was okay.

Use her name. Use her name.

I guess I didn't have to, but I wanted to.

Yeah. There you go.

It's signed.

Yay. Next.

What city is 'Abbott Elementary' set in?

I think we can all- Detroit.

I actually have no idea. One, two, three.

Oh my god. Philadelphia.

Oh, good one. I don't know.

Who created 'Abbott Elementary?'

[cast laughs]

The Quinta Brunson. [bell dings]

I wanna throw one.

Uh-oh. Nice.

Girl! Watch out.

Ninja Star.

Who is the principal of Abbott Elementary?

We're really getting some- Ava Coleman.

Yes, Ava Coleman. [bell dings]

Base level information. The principal.

Ava Coleman. There you go.

Played by Janelle James. These are easy.

Who is the janitor on 'Abbott Elementary?'

Mr. J. Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Johnson. William Stanford Davis.

[bell dings]

Played by William Stanford Davis, Mr. Johnson.

Fun fact about the janitor,

was not originally one of the main series cast members,

but Stan's performance was so great as Mr. Johnson,

we wanted to have him in every episode.

And the best way to do that was to make him a series regular

in season two. Yay.

Sorry, Janelle. [cast members laugh]

Oh, this is a good one.

You should ask this one and answer this one.

That's interesting that that's Googled.

What would Ava do if she wasn't a principal?

I think we've already seen some of that.

A little bit of everything, including motivational speaker.

[cast laughs] Yeah, she do a lot.

She already does a lot

when she is the principal. True entrepreneur.

Yeah, she does. She does a lot while being.

[bell dings] Thankfully,

she cares about the children,

and she is in fact the principal.

So yeah, a little bit of everything.

I would like for Sheryl to answer this.

Who is Tariq in 'Abbott Elementary?'

Oh my goodness gracious. [cast laughs]

Tariq is the best pain in the patootie ever, ever.

He's so funny. So funny.

He was actually Janine's worst boyfriend.

[Quinta laughs] Only boyfriend.

Now he has a child in the school.

A child. Not his,

girlfriend has a son, and he's there sometimes.

How did he become president of the PTA?

President. Because he cared.

[bell dings]

And he was not employed elsewhere.

Shout out Zack Fox. He's refereeing.

So funny. Yes, we love Zack.

He's such a wild card.

And we just can't get rid of him,

and we don't want to either.

No, never. No, we don't.

Oh, this is a good one.

What song did they sing in 'Abbott Elementary' karaoke?

We know one for sure. Last Resort.

♪ It's hard out here for ♪ [cast laughs]

I forgot about that.

♪ When you're trying to get the money for the rent ♪

What song was it- Shout out to Rozy.

We were all singing at the end though?

What Would You Do? We were all together.

What Would You Do? City High.

City High. By City High.

What was your song? We sung

♪ Baby ♪ Last Resort.

♪ I'm not always there when you call ♪

Yes, you did. What's the name of the song?

Always on Time. Always on Time.

Always on Time, [bell dings]

there it is. And you,

oh no, because Ava came late. Can't remember at all.

I was on a horrible date.

[cast laughs]

Who is Gregory's dad?

What is it, like a Maury Povich question?

[cast laughs]

Orlando Jones, you are the father.

It's Lieutenant Martin Eddie and he is played by-

Orlando Jones. Orlando Jones.

The incomparable Orlando Jones.

The incomparable Orlando Jones. He's fantastic.

Why is Ava so obsessed with social media?

Why are y'all so obsessed with social media?

[cast laughs]

Turn that around? You're the one Googling.

You're the one watching this.

And we're reflecting you, we're reflecting.

But also, I'm sure she's making a nice couple of checks

for her different accounts, thank you.

Hello, needs a little supplement.

I don't take poorly at all. [bell dings]

I think she's making some good money through her channels.

[Lisa Ann] There you go.

Where does Melissa get all of her connections?

You don't need to know. [cast laughs]

Don't worry about it. There's no such thing as-

Wearing a wire? Don't worry about it?

What kind of question is that?

I know it's Wired. [bell dings]

I don't know what you're talking about.

Who is Mr. Johnson?

Question for the ages, really.

I think this is so funny. It's beautifully said.

What do you mean? Why'd you Google that?

He is an enigmatic mystery

who appears when needed. Wrapped in a puzzle.

He has a kind heart.

And that's all I'm telling. [bell dings]

Sage advice, and followed by inanities.

What happens in 'Abbott Elementary'

season five, episode 20?

We go outside and we lose our minds.

Night out, night out. It's night out, okay.

It's night out. Ah.

Y'all please don't clap. Janine and Gregory-

Some of us go out. Go outside and-

Is it where I get dragged? Yeah.

Yes. Ava get dragged.

Gregory's on top of the bar. Gregory gets drunk.

I turn into my character's mom.

But I think most importantly,

Jacob has an incredible dunk package-

Oh yes. That he gets off in the tag.

At the very end. Challenge you.

Melissa, Barbara, and Mr. Johnson pull an all-nighter,

watching Avatar.

Barbara has to come to school in Melissa's clothes.

That was fun.

And that episode was very much inspired

by my mom watching movies, Barbara's reaction to Avatar.

The first question my mom had when I started that movie was,

Why are they blue?

And I was like, Why? [bell dings]

[cast laughs]

We don't have enough time for this.

Oh, What magic tricks does Jacob know?

All of them. [Lisa Ann laughs]

He can't do any of them very well, but he knows.

Sleight of hand. [bell dings]

You made the money. You can do the hoops,

luckily Ava still remembers.

Who was Mr. Johnson for Halloween?

In season five or in all time?

All time, first he was-

He was Vision, I remember that.

No, no, no, no, no. He was Lil Uzi Vert.

He was Lil Uzi Vert. That's true.

Yeah, and then you were- Jimmy Butler.

Emo Jimmy, Emo Jimmy. Emo Jimmy Butler.

It was so stupid. He was Emo Jimmy Butler.

What were you last year? Wasn't he himself?

Last year I was Denzel in- In Gladiator, he was.

Oh, that's right. My favorite was the one

when the little boy dressed up like him.

Yes, it was a little boy. He goes,

You'll hear from my lawyer. [bell dings]

Lil Uzi Vert, yeah. Oh, that was great.

Yeah, that was great. That was such a good year.

How many episodes of 'Abbott Elementary' are there?

I should know this, but I don't.

Well, just do the math.

Okay, so seven will be 100. Yeah, so then-

93. [bell dings]

Who is the new janitor in 'Abbott Elementary' season five?

Oh, Candy Alexander, Ms. Carol.

[bell dings] Yeah.

Ms. Carol is not only the new janitor,

but a love interest for Mr. Johnson.

Yes.

How did ringworm spread through 'Abbott Elementary?'

Well. Jacob.

I hate that person to person.

Children. Jacob's kid.

There was nothing I could do.

All the way. [cast laughs]

That's how it spread. Jacob, very clearly.

Jacob's children. Even those of us-

And who freaked out the most?

Who prayed it away. Not.

I was immune to ringworm. Okay.

Nothing you can do, as teachers know, it's not-

You follow quarantine protocol,

but no one listens to the principal.

Or the CDC. [Janelle laughs]

Speaking of the principal, I'm gonna ask this one

because I think you probably have

a really good answer on this one.

Oh boy. Why does Ava hate Janine?

Hate? Oh, strong word.

I think that's harsh. She doesn't hate.

She practically parents her. That's harsh.

She doesn't hate.

Why does Ava tough love, Janine?

My own theory, maybe sees a little bit of herself in her,

wants her to lose her naive optimism

to prevent her from being hurt by it.

Single tear. And maybe is envious

of some of her optimism as well, does it,

maybe that's been beaten out of her by life

[bell dings] and she doesn't see the-

My, my, my. I love it.

Yeah? Yeah, I'd agree.

I don't think Ava hates, I agree with that.

I don't think Ava hates Janine.

Can Principal Ava beat box? Oh, when did I beat box?

Only one way to find out.

It was like [beat boxes]

one joystick. You did this in an episode?

Yeah. [bell dings]

Oh. [cast laughs]

I didn't know until I did that line that I could.

Where does Mr. Johnson disappear to

during the school day?

An alternate reality. His office, his office.

His office. Another realm.

He's got an office. I have a beautiful office.

A beautiful office. I have a beautiful office.

It really is gorgeous. I like to imagine

he has one behind- It's a closet.

Like how Ava does. Yeah.

Like an office behind an office.

Maybe I won't say it

because maybe it actually will come up one day,

but we have a very crazy, [bell dings]

crazy story for where Mr. Johnson is a lot of the time.

One day we'll- Okay.

What would Jacob teach if he could choose any subject?

Oh my. I think Jacob likes

teaching history. [bell dings]

History. Yeah.

Why does Jacob always want everyone to like him?

Aw, it's his lovely flaw.

Does that seem like something that he dwells on?

Don't cry. Yes.

Don't cry. I'm not crying.

♪ Don't cry don't cry ♪

No, because remember he was all upset

because the kids thought he was corny,

that's why they call him Mr. C.

And then, I mean, that was early on,

but then comes to realize,

and through Janine too, that corny's okay.

You could be corny, that's just who you are.

So for all you geeks out there-

Loser. That Googled that,

[bell dings]

it's okay. It's okay.

What would Melissa do if she weren't a teacher?

She'd be a goomar. Excuse me.

What's that mean? That means a mistress.

Oh, oo. Oh.

She's calling me- The beautiful side kick.

a woman of loose morals. [bell dings]

Wait, here's another good one.

Why does Melissa act tough even though she cares,

even when she cares?

Possibly speaking personally, when you come up in a world

where you feel like you have to fight for everything,

and you feel like you might not have people supporting you

unless you are tough, you act tough

even when you don't feel it because it's safer.

And she's also very protective and loyal

to the people around her. [bell dings]

So going into toughness- Wow.

To protect them is her go-to.

Why is Barbara so calm under pressure?

Why do you think that?

Oh, go ahead. No, is that not it?

God. [cast laughs]

The Lord. The Lord.

It is the Lord.

I also think that she's been under pressure,

so she knows what it feels like.

So when it comes on, she knows how to react.

[bell dings] Yeah, as a veteran.

Experience. Experience.

What would Janine be doing if she weren't a teacher?

I think that Janine was born to be a teacher, I really do.

But if she weren't one- It's a calling.

If she weren't one, I think she'd be

like a substitute teacher. [cast laughs]

Something with kids.

Something with kids. [bell dings]

Arts and crafts. Yeah.

that's what she'd be doing.

Why does Gregory hate small talk?

Oh, I love that about him. I would counter that

with another great question of why do people do

and enjoy small talk? Huh.

Okay. Thank you, Gregory.

Gregory's the only [bell dings]

logical person in the room.

Gregory doesn't like communicating any more than he has to.

And that includes small talk.

I wonder if that has something to do

with Gregory's relationship with his dad.

Yes. This one says,

What is Gregory's relationship with his dad?

Complicated, but so is yours.

[cast laughs]

No, his relationship with his dad is really complicated

because his dad is from the military

and he was raised in a really military-style household,

not just also on the run.

And also because Gregory lost his mom

when he was very young, [bell dings]

so there's a part of his relationship dynamic

that was never really there.

And then I have one last one.

I won't put this on you guys to answer,

but it just says, Why is Abbott Elementary underfunded?

And that is a question

that we all should be asking ourselves because,

while Abbott is a fictional school,

it is based on and inspired by real schools in Philadelphia

that are currently underfunded.

There are many different reasons why,

but just so you know,

you have the power to help change that being the case

by getting involved, by voting,

by being part of your community and trying

to make a difference [bell dings]

to change just that.

You can research every reason why.

I'm not gonna give them to you all, but there's many.

We're the cast of Abbott Elementary.

Thank you for your questions.

[modem beeping and squawking]