Throughout the past few years, streaming services have been at war, trying to find a balance of value to the consumer and profits for the company. HBO Max, Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Peacock, Paramount Plus, Showtime, and more had been so focused on subscriber growth. Many of these services are dependent on other aspects of their parent companies to keep them afloat because many streaming services are not breaking even, let alone making money. Recently, these streaming platforms have been shoving money at content based on reboots or sequels to originally cable-aired series/movies. For example, Hocus Pocus 2 just released on Disney Plus, Peacock recently announced a movie Sequel to their beloved Community series, a Frasier reboot is coming to Paramount Plus, and Fuller House recently ended its run on Netflix. While these streaming services also have a ton of original content themselves, there was not a ton of hit, original content on cable channels; that all changed last year with Abbott Elementary.
Written by and starring Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary focuses on the staff of a low-funded school in Philadelphia. Its mockumentary format is very similar to that of The Office and Parks and Recreation. In addition to Brunson, this series stars Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, and William Stanford Davis as the staff of Abbott Elementary School. In my opinion, the writing is modern and genuinely funny, with a cast that showcases their skills in a brilliant and heart-felt way. Season 2 of the series started last month and while doing press with Variety, Quinta Brunson was asked why she wanted the show to be on cable. Her response struck me:
‘Abbott’ is interesting because of the audience it seems to bring back to network [TV], I can’t put my finger on it. Some people just say millennials, but it’s not. It’s a certain type of viewer that wasn’t watching network TV, and ‘Abbott’ has given them a show to watch.
There is just something unique, a certain spark perhaps abut this show that I feel has not been on network TV for over 5 years. Plus, ‘Abbott’ is finding its place in a more professional setting; getting 7 nominations and 3 wins at the 2022 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Casting, Writing for a Comedy Series (Brunson), and Best Support Actress in a Comedy Series (Ralph).
This series I find to be relatable to a wide audience as well as genuinely inclusive both in its cast and episode topics. In the first episode of Season 2, the teachers focus on finding solutions in their older school for students with disabilities. The ‘Abbott’ team also donates a majority of their marketing budget to help teachers get school supplies, which is so incredible. Quinta Brunson genuinely cares about these issues and you see that care in action on the screen, which I find so intriguing as an audience member.
While streaming services do have great, gritty content with high budgets and heavy work put in, cable is not going anywhere. The streaming service industry is arguably getting too saturated with its many options that can easily become overwhelming and unappealing. Abbott Elementary is simply more accessible, making it easier to just watch and enjoy.
As many streaming services continue to struggle staying afloat, Abbott Elementary gives a new light to the glorious standard of network television. As media conglomerates continue to evaluate their products, I have a feeling that we will start to get more cable content thanks to Quinta Brunson’s Abbott Elementary.
References
https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/streaming-wars-not-what-you-think/
https://variety.com/2022/tv/features/quinta-brunson-abbott-elementary-network-tv-1235285395/
https://www.emmys.com/shows/abbott-elementary
https://www.tvinsider.com/show/abbott-elementary/
https://variety.com/2022/tv/features/quinta-brunson-abbott-elementary-emmys-season-2-1235372493/