ABC’s Abbott Elementary Breaks Record in Its First Season
The grades are in, and it looks like ABC’s newest comedy, Abbott Elementary, is a smash hit. Abbott Elementary quadrupled its MP35 ratings since the premiere, making it the first ABC comedy to do so.
MP35 ratings are the performance within the show’s first 35 days across all digital viewing platforms. According to Deadline, the show premiered in December with a 0.6 rating and 2.79 million viewers, but “after 35 days of viewing across ABC’s linear and digital platforms, the series premiere shot up 300% in the demo for a 2.4 rating and 7.1 million total viewers.”
The freshman comedy has been a steady performer for the network and has topped other shows in the Tuesday primetime slot.
Abbott Elementary features a group of teachers of all different experience levels, working together to teach through a poor school district and an inefficient but witty principal. Quinta Brunson serves as the main character, writer, and executive producer. Brunson is backed by an equally exceptional cast featuring Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Chris Perfetti, Lisa Ann Walter, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
“Abbott Elementary” has grown an audience on great word-of-mouth and episodes that continue to get better. And, I love that we can’t binge it.— MoneybaggHo (@KirkWrites79) January 26, 2022
i think it says something for abbott elementary to be attracting a crowd of people that don't regularly watch network sitcoms— zae | son of apollo (@ItsZaeOk) January 21, 2022
In an era of reboots and remakes, viewers enjoy the “breath of fresh air” with an original series. More importantly, viewers of the show commend the series for its use of comedy to shed light on current issues within the education system.
we need to be talking more about how funny the kids who play the students in abbott elementary are
pic.twitter.com/zeJ8Ef318Y— south dakota johnson (@naurveen) January 27, 2022
Viewers also appreciate the show for tackling situations usually swept under the rug in day-to-day life. For example, in the most recent episode, “Student Transfer,” we see both a veteran teacher and a newer teacher struggle with a student’s behavior. Instead of punishing the student for their bad behavior, they get to the root of why they are acting out and realize they are not being challenged enough.
I love how last night’s #AbbottElementary looked into WHY a child was acting out and not just HOW the child was acting out. As funny as it was, it was a reminder that kids need adults to do that more often. @quintabrunson is out here doing God’s work.— Angie Thomas (@angiecthomas) January 26, 2022
Fans of the sitcom are hoping the show continues its performance for many more successful seasons to come.
Abbott Elementary airs Tuesdays at 9 PM on ABC and can be streamed the next day on Hulu.
Writer | Tweet me @brittanyskylerr
