Abbott Elementaryseason 4 has had some of the show’s best storylines to date, but ABC could have replicated the mockumentary’s biggest success with a timeslot change. The talentedcast ofAbbott Elementary, led by creator and Janine actress Quinta Brunson, delivers weekly earnest yet entertaining glimpses into the lives of public school teachers in the Philadelphia school system. Harsh truths are delivered with clever quips, masking the sad reality of underfunded schools withinAbbott Elementary’s funniest moments. The care with which storylines are created meansAbbott Elementaryis as important as it is enjoyable.
The workplace comedy strikes the perfect balance between hilarious and heartfelt, withAbbott Elementaryincluding heartwarming scenesthat never distract from the overarching conflicts. WhileAbbott Elementaryis a masterclass in writing, it rarely gets the recognition it deserves. Though it’s still undeniably one of ABC’s best series,Abbott Elementary’s ratings fail to reflect the quality of the storytelling. Despite critical acclaim and impressive accolades under its belt,Abbott Elementaryhas struggled to regain its best numbers. However, there are limiting circumstances that prevent steady growth, meaningAbbott Elementarycan’t reach its full potentialwithout some help from the network.
Abbott Elementary’s Most-Watched Episode Is “Willard R. Abbott”
Season 3, Episode 6 Raked In High Ratings
Abbott Elementaryhit its peak ratings in 2024 with season 3, episode 6 (“Willard R. Abbott”).Abbott Elementary’s most-watched episodefollowed the teachers as the school was on the brink of becoming a historical landmark before its namesake’s racist history came to light just before the ceremony. Janine, teamed up with best friend Jacob (Chris Perfetti) and love interest Gregory (Tyler James Williams), searched for another“Willard Abbott”to pass off to the press, ensuring Abbott would get its recognition as a landmark. Once the replacement Willard turns out to be a hoax-spreading conspiracy theorist, the teachers cut their losses.
On the Nielson ratings scale, “Willard R. Abbott” scored 1.43 in the 18-49 demographic, the most coveted age group in network television.
ThoughJanine has her flaws inAbbott Elementary, this episode was just one example of her gaining perspective in time for the sake of the children. Although Abbott Elementary wasn’t deemed a historical landmark, Janine hung a tribute to Black teachers who worked at Abbott long before they thought it was possible, giving the small crowd of students a speech on why, plaque or no plaque, Abbott Elementary is a place of history. Despite the surplus of comedic relief throughout the episode,Abbott Elementaryseason 3, episode 6 had one of the most touching conclusions in the entire mockumentary.
Thank You Janine & Gregory For Saving Abbott Elementary Season 4’s New Slow-Burn Romance
Abbott Elementary’s first slow-burn couple has officially passed the torch, and their involvement set the mockumentary’s new pairing up for success.
“Willard R. Abbott” earnedAbbott Elementarynearly 7 million viewers, a dramatic increase from the typical 2.5-3 million viewers earned across season 2. ThoughAbbott Elementaryseason 3 was incredibly successful, the rest of the season would halve the ratings of “Willard R. Abbott,” through no fault of its own. It may be a great episode, butthere were extenuating circumstances that made “Willard R. Abbott” the highest-viewed episode inAbbott Elementary.
“Willard R. Abbott” Was On A Special Post-Oscar Broadcast In 2024
The Episode Even Began With An Award-Nominated Guest
Instead of continuing the long-held tradition ofAbbott Elementarydropping new episodes on Wednesdays,“Willard R. Abbott” aired after the 2024 Oscars. Since its conception, the Academy Awards have been an institution in the media industry, and millions of people tune in each year to celebrate achievements in film. Following the 2024Oppenheimersweep,Abbott Elementaryseason 3, episode 6 had the coveted timeslot immediately following the Oscars ceremony.
Abbott Elementary Season 4 May Have Secretly Hinted At An Original Character Leaving (& I’m Already Devastated)
The cast of Abbott Elementary has been key to its massive success, but a line in season 4, episode 10 has sad implications for one teacher’s future.
Having the post-Oscars slot leaves room to go big and create a monumental milestone episode to air to the ginormous audience lingering after the awards. “Willard R. Abbott” wasn’t the most elaborate or extravagant entry inAbbott Elementary, but it was an important storyline that Brunson wanted to platform. Still, the streak ofAbbott Elementarycelebrity cameoscontinued with its Oscar night hit, including Bradley Cooper in the cold open with jokes playing off his competition during Oscars season.
Abbott Elementaryincluded a character mistaking Bradley Cooper as an actor fromOppenheimer, the film that beat Cooper’sMaestroin the main 2024 Oscars categories just before the episode aired.
While many viewers stayed to watch the entire episode ofAbbott Elementary, there’s no telling how skewed the true rating of the episode is thanks to it being the Oscars’ follow-up. Inadvertently, the timeslot forces viewers to watch the beginning of whatever title succeeds the Oscars and contributes to its ratings, regardless of how quickly they change the channel afterward. Nevertheless, it’s an irrefutable fact thatthe post-Oscars slot can broadcast a series to an entirely new audienceand even draw in new viewers.
ABC Could Have Set Up Abbott Elementary Season 4 With Another Post-Oscar Episode
The Coverage Could Have Helped Abbott Elementary’s Low Rating
Abbott Elementaryseason 4 has only improved on the mockumentary’s stellar writing and character development in the first half of its season, but ABC constrained the comedy for the latter half of 2024. ThoughAbbott Elementaryseason 3 had strong numbers running at 9 ET, season 4 began with a later timeslot, airing from 9:30-10 p.m. ET. As a direct result of the later scheduling,Abbott Elementarybecame ABC’s least-watched scripted showfor the fall 2024 season.
Ava’s Selfless Act In Abbott Elementary Season 4, Episode 14 Ironically Sets Up The School’s Next Big Conflict
Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 14 shows how much Ava’s character has progressed at the budget meeting, but her good deed won’t go unpunished.
Although it was at the bottom of ABC’s midseason rankings,Abbott Elementarycontinues to be a streaming hit on services like Hulu, where it often multiplies its night-of viewership in the weeks following its original premiere. The network movedAbbott Elementaryup to 8:30 ET for its 2025 listing, butABC had the perfect opportunity to helpAbbott Elementaryregain viewershipthat the mockumentary likely lost as a result of the late timeslot.Abbott Elementarydeserves a large platform that is inherently provided by the post-Oscars slot, and the network should have given its mockumentary a leg up.
William Stanford Davis
Mr. Johnson
Aside from a boost in the ratings for one episode, highlightingAbbott Elementaryafter the Oscars could have drawn in prospective viewers and shown them what the second half of season 4 will look like. Like its predecessor,Abbott Elementaryseason 4 has received rave reviews, but its disappointing ratings could jeopardize the future of Brunson’s genre-defining series. ABC had an easy way to make up for shirkingAbbott Elementarywith its timeslot, but it left the comedy to air on Wednesday night as usual.
What ABC Aired For Its Post-Oscars Timeslot In 2025
School Wasn’t In Session This Year
Rather than giveAbbott Elementarythe coveted position following the Academy Awards,ABC aired the season premiere ofAmerican Idolafter the 2025 Oscars. While the reality competition is a dramatic departure from the workplace sitcom, it makes sense for ABC to promoteAmerican IdolSeason 23. The new season comes with a new judge,American Idolseason 4 winner Carrie Underwood, and promises to have many more surprises in store.
It would compromise the sitcom’s identity if it abandoned its charm just for a post-Oscars spectacle.
Yet, as deserving asAmerican Idolis, I can’t help but feel disappointed thatAbbott Elementaryseason 4 didn’t have the opportunity to make up for its poor initial timeslot by airing a special episode after the Oscars. Granted,Abbott Elementary’s grounded storytellingis part of what makes it such an achievement in writing, and it would compromise the sitcom’s identity if it abandoned its charm just for a post-Oscars spectacle. Although ABC chose not to promote the mockumentary after the Academy Awards, the care put into makingAbbott Elementarygives it a staying power that no award show could disrupt.
