Quinta Brunson Explains How Abbott Elementary Is a Love Letter to Teachers

In an exclusive interview with Live From E! at the 2022 Emmys, Abbott Elementary creator and star Quinta Brunson explained how first-hand experience fueled the beloved sitcom.

Abbott Elementary hit very close to home for Quinta Brunson.

The creator and star of the ABC comedy, which is nominated for seven awards at the 2022 Emmys, explained why the show's subject matter is so important to her on the Microsoft Theater red carpet.

"My mom was a teacher," Quinta told Live From E! co-host Loni Love on the red carpet Sept. 12. "I was so close to it all my life. I was in my mom's class. Schools like Abbott, with Black children and Black teachers who care about them, they're very special places. Places of community and safety and morals and intense humor."

Abbott Elementary is nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series for its breakout first season, while Quinta is nominated for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series against The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's Rachel Brosnahan, Hacks' Jean Smart, The Great's Elle Fanning, The Flight Attendant's Kaley Cuoco and Insecure's Issa Rae.

Quinta is also nominated for Writing for a Comedy Series for Abbott's pilot episode.

Quinta revealed that she was determined to show all different sides of what makes a school like Abbott so dynamic.

 

"That was what was important to me, the funny of that kind of environment—every day these people show up and do this job, and there's something endearing in that," she said. "I'm so happy we've done such a good job that teachers feel represented by what we do. It wasn't necessarily our goal but I think we've done a good job of sticking to the accuracy that teachers represent."

The second season of Abbott Elementary premieres Sept. 21 on ABC.

(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

For more Emmys 2022 red carpet looks, keep scrolling!

In Valentino, styled by Law Roach

In Elie Saab

In Sergio Hudson, styled by Jason Rembert

In Prabal Gurung, styled by Zadrian and Sarah

In Elie Saab

In Dolce & Gabbana, styled by Brad Goreski

In Armani Privé

In Christian Siriano, styled by Jason Rembert

In Dolce & Gabbana, styled by Ilaria Urbinati

In Tom Ford, styled by Erin Walsh

In Tarik Ediz

In Brunello Cucinelli

In Louis Vuitton, styled by Karla Welch

In Christian Siriano, styled by Ariel Tunnell

In The Tri Collective

In Armani Privé Couture, styled by Elizabeth Stewart

In Dolce & Gabbana

In Dolce & Gabbana, styled by Jennifer Austin

In Gucci

In Gucci, styled by Jason Bolden

In Oscar de la Renta, styled by Molly Dickson

In Gucci, styled by Elizabeth Saltzman

In Carolina Herrera, styled by Cat Pope

For a full recap of the 75th Emmy Awards, check out E! Online's Emmys homepage here.