The fourth season of the American television comedy Abbott Elementary was announced on February 10, 2024. Like the previous seasons, the season stars Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis and Sheryl Lee Ralph. The season premiered on ABC on October 9, 2024.[1]
| Abbott Elementary | |
|---|---|
| Season 4 | |
 Promotional poster | |
| Starring | |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | October 9, 2024 – present |
| Season chronology | |
Abbott Elementary is presented in a mockumentary format similar to one of The Office and Modern Family, and follows a documentary crew recording the lives of teachers working in underfunded schools including the fictional Willard R. Abbott Elementary School, a predominantly Black Philadelphia public school.
Cast and characters
editMain
edit- Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues, a second-grade teacher at Abbott and hopes to improve the lives of her students by making the best of the poor situation the school district makes teachers work in.
- Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie, a first-grade teacher who was initially hired as a substitute replacement, and who is dating Janine.
- Janelle James as Ava Coleman, the school's tone-deaf principal who consistently bullies Janine and gives the staff reasons to believe she is poor at her job; a job in which she received after blackmailing the superintendent.
- Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti, a second-grade teacher at Abbott who has questionable connections with the Philly locals, but uses them to help the school.
- Chris Perfetti as Jacob Hill, an eighth-grade history teacher who tries his best to help Janine with her plans to improve Abbott.
- William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson, the school's janitor who is seen as lazy, but consistent with his job.
- Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard, a religious kindergarten teacher, adamant about keeping with tradition, and a mother-figure whom Janine looks up to.
Guest
edit- Jerry Minor as Mr. Morton, a colleague of Jacob whom he shares a complicated relationship with.[2]
- Ben Onyx Dowdy as Warren, an HR Employee who works at the district, and who dislikes Janine.[2]
- Nikea Gamby-Turner as Chanae, a cafeteria custodian who works at the school.[2]
- Matt Oberg as Miles Nathaniel, a PGA lawyer.[2][3]
- Zack Fox as Tariq Temple, Janine's ex-boyfriend who is now the president of the PTA.
- Raven Goodwin as Krystal, the parent of a student in Barbara's class.
- Matthew Law as O'Shon, an IT representative who arrives to Abbott[4]
- Cree Summer as Rosalyn Inez, a librarian hired for Janine's library program who now works at the school.[4]
- Langston Kerman as Darnell, the parent of a student in Gregory's class who grows jealous of Gregory's relationship with his son.[5]
- Orlando Jones as Martin Eddie, Gregory's father.
- X Mayo as Lisa, Darnell's wife.
- Pam Trotter as Dia, an admissions office worker at Abbott.
- Josh Segarra as Manny, the leader of a group of school district representatives for Philadelphia.
Additionally, Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson and Danny DeVito are set to reprise their roles from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia during the ninth episode; as Charlie Kelly, Dennis Reynolds, Ronald "Mac" McDonald, Dee Reynolds and Frank Reynolds[3] respectively.
Episodes
edit| No. overall | No. in season | Title [6][7] | Directed by [3] | Written by [8] | Original air date [6][7] | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 1 | "Back to School" | Randall Einhorn | Quinta Brunson | October 9, 2024 | T12.19401 | 2.13[9] |
|
When construction of a nearby golf course causes issues and brings unprecedented new arrivals to the school, the teachers rally together to find out what they can do to improve the conditions they have been put in. Ava invites a Human Resources employee to the school when it becomes apparent that Janine and Gregory have been dating over the summer. However, Janine becomes resistant in telling everyone when they are put on the spot. Unbeknownst to them, everyone at the school, including students, have taken on the knowledge that the two of them are together. | |||||||
| 51 | 2 | "Ringworm" | Randall Einhorn | Brian Rubenstein | October 16, 2024 | T12.19402 | 2.00[10] |
|
When Jacob discovers that a student in his class has ringworm, the other teachers isolate him and the entire second floor in fear of catching it. Gregory, who had previously made plans with Janine for that night, becomes weary and extremely anxious about the looming infection. This conflict causes brief strain in their relationship. | |||||||
| 52 | 3 | "Class Pet" | Matt Sohn | Jordan Temple | October 23, 2024 | T12.19403 | 1.91[11] |
|
When the district gives the school money for class pets, each teacher receives a pet that they were able to specifically request, except for Melissa. Stuck with a Guinea Pig, Melissa is reluctant to having the pet but eventually comes around to it, even stealing it from the school. Meanwhile, an IT representative visits Abbott, who Barbara and Jacob find attractive. Ava, not phased, is questioned by the rep when he realizes that the school is using computers that were not approved by the district. | |||||||
| 53 | 4 | "Costume Contest" | Randall Einhorn | Brittani Nichols | October 30, 2024 | T12.19404 | 1.89[12] |
|
As Halloween arrives at Abbott, the faculty and students begin preparing for their annual costume contest. Gregory and Janine become frustrated when nobody understands their Jurassic Park themed couples-costume. Meanwhile, Barbara is forced to abandon her tradition of having the students bob for apples when parents and some students begin complaining that the event is unsanitary. | |||||||
| 54 | 5 | "Dad Fight" | Justin Tan | Ava Coleman | November 6, 2024 | T12.19405 | 2.04[13] |
|
When the parent of a student in Gregory's class becomes jealous of his relationship with his son, he challenges Gregory to a fight. This worries Gregory, as he does not want to fight the dad, and instead wants to be the better man and call a truce for the sake of the student. Meanwhile, Melissa suffers a fall and is stubborn about going to the hospital, and Janine frets about Barbara not paying her back five dollars after letting her borrow the money. | |||||||
| 55 | 6 | "The Deli" | Patrick Schumacker | Kate Peterman | November 13, 2024 | T12.19406 | 2.21[14] |
|
When Jacob learns that the deli across the street will be turned into a smoothie shop, he rallies the community in protest, but the other teachers aren't as on board. Elsewhere, Manny tells Ava she has been chosen to present advice to other principals, and Mr. Johnson mentors a student. | |||||||
| 56 | 7 | "Winter Show" | TBA | Garrett Werner | December 4, 2024 | TBA | TBD |
| 57 | 8 | "Winter Break" | TBA | Joya McCroy | December 4, 2024 | TBA | TBD |
| 58 | 9 | TBA | TBA | Garrett Werner | January 8, 2025 | TBA | TBD |
|
This episode begins a crossover event that concludes on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17.[15] | |||||||
| 59 | 10 | TBA | TBA | Morgan Murphy | January 15, 2025 | TBA | TBD |
Production
editDevelopment
editThe series was renewed for a fourth season on February 10, 2024, three days after the third-season premiere.[16] During the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con panel for the series, creator Quinta Brunson confirmed that the series would return to its 22-episode format following a brief break during the third season due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.[17] Additionally, it was confirmed that the series would feature a crossover episode with another series, with the series later confirmed to be It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.[17][18]
Reception
editRatings
editThe season premiered on October 9, 2024, following The Golden Bachelorette. The series moved to its new time slot of Wednesday nights at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.
| No. | Title | Air date | Timeslot (ET) | Rating (18–49) |
Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Back to School" | October 9, 2024 | Wednesday 9:30 p.m. | 0.37/4[9] | 2.13[9] |
| 2 | "Ringworm" | October 16, 2024 | 0.29/4[10] | 2.00[10] | |
| 3 | "Class Pet" | October 23, 2024 | 0.28/3[11] | 1.91[11] | |
| 4 | "Costume Contest" | October 30, 2024 | 0.26/3[12] | 1.89[12] | |
| 5 | "Dad Fight" | November 6, 2024 | 0.28/3[13] | 2.04[13] | |
| 6 | "The Deli" | November 13, 2024 | 0.34/4[14] | 2.21[14] | |
| 7 | "Winter Show" | December 4, 2024 | Wednesday 8:00 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| 8 | "Winter Break" | December 4, 2024 | Wednesday 8:30 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
References
edit- ^ "Abbott Elementary Season 4 Cast, News". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "(401) - Back to School". ABC. September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ a b c Schneider, Michael (October 9, 2024). "Abbott Elementary Producers Tease It's Always Sunny Crossover and This Season's Gentrification Storyline". Variety. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
- ^ a b "(403) - Class Pet". ABC. September 20, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ "(405) - Dad Fight". ABC. November 1, 2024. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "Shows A-Z – abbott elementary on abc". The Futon Critic. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ a b "EIDR Record: Abbott Elementary: Season 4". Entertainment Identifier Registry. September 13, 2024. doi:10.5240/519A-C401-83BB-B6F0-3B4E-I. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ "Abbott Elementary – WGA Directory". Writers Guild of America West. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c Pucci, Douglas (October 10, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: Abbott Elementary Season Premiere on ABC Builds in Demos from Lead-In". Retrieved October 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c Pucci, Douglas (October 17, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: Bret Baier's Sit-Down with Kamala Harris on Fox News was Most-Watched Interview of 2024 Election Season". Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c Pucci, Douglas (October 24, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: CNN Outdraws All Networks Except NBC During Kamala Harris Town Hall". Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c Pucci, Douglas (October 31, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: MLB World Series Concludes on Seven-Year High on Fox Platforms". Retrieved October 31, 2024.
- ^ a b c Pucci, Douglas (November 7, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: ESPN and Fox News Tops in Prime Time Demos". Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c Pucci, Douglas (November 14, 2024). "Wednesday Ratings: NBC and CBS Share Prime Time Victory". Retrieved November 14, 2024.
- ^ Jackson, Angelique; Schneider, Michael (October 26, 2024). "'Abbott Elementary' Crossover With 'It's Always Sunny' Expands as Teachers Will Crash Gang's Bar in Two-Episode Event (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ Campione, Katie (February 10, 2024). "Abbott Elementary Renewed For Season 4". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ a b "'Abbott Elementary' Season 4 Secrets, Crossover Episode Guesses and Will Ava Find Somebody to Match Her Freak?". Variety. July 28, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (October 3, 2024). "'Abbott Elementary' Sets Crossover Episode With 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'". Variety. Retrieved October 3, 2024.