[This story contains spoilers from episodes 18 and 19 of season four of Abbott Elementary.]
If you’re caught up on the latest episodes of Abbott Elementary, you know principal Ava Coleman is out of a job. But the good news for fans of Quinta Brunson’s workplace comedy is that Janelle James, the actress who portrays Ava, is not.
In last week’s episode of the ABC sitcom, “Audit,” members of the district paid Abbott Elementary a visit when they were tipped off, seemingly by Ava’s archnemesis Crystal (Tatyana Ali), that the school has been receiving a large amount of unsanctioned donations from the golf course they bribed earlier in the season. When Manny (Josh Segarra) and his colleagues uncover the truth, Ava, in an uncharacteristic moment of selflessness, takes full responsibility for the scheme and is immediately relieved of her duties.
The episode sparked widespread fear across social media with viewers questioning whether the beloved character would return to Abbott — not just the school, but the show. However, executive producer and co-showrunner Patrick Schumacker said in an interview afterward, “The story is not over — You will see Janelle in subsequent episodes. But it is kind of a longer play. It’s not something that’s going to resolve itself super quickly.”
While Schumacker may have wanted to immediately ease fans’ fears, James was enjoying watching viewers squirm, even if for a little while.
“That made me feel good that the producers felt like they had to tell people I’m coming back because people were like, ‘I’m not gonna watch anymore,’” James tells The Hollywood Reporter in the conversation below. “They had to run to the internet to say, ‘no, no, no, watch the next episode,’ so that made me feel good — but I wish he hadn’t spoiled it.”
Schumacker’s words rang true in this week’s episode, “Music Class,” which sees Ava return to the school but only to gather her last belongings before immediately diving into outside business ventures, as has been characteristic of her personality all along. Meanwhile, the teachers attempt to move forward without her, Gregory (Tyler James Williams) possibly getting his first taste of what being principal really looks like.
Below, James chats with THR about finding out her character was losing her job and why the outpouring of support for Ava was personally vindicating. She also hints at another possible culprit for Ava’s firing and shares her thoughts on Abbott‘s snubs at last year’s Emmys.
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When did you find out about this plot of Ava getting fired, and what was your initial reaction?
I think it was the week before [we filmed]. Quinta told me because she wouldn’t do me like that (laughs). She told me, “Just want you to know, you’re going to get fired but you’ll be back,” and I was like, “OK, cool. A twist. I love a twist.” I trust Quinta. I knew it wasn’t just cause, so I was excited to see how it would be handled. I also like to see how people react.
The response has spanned from tear memes to people saying they’re ready to fight if Ava doesn’t return.
I love it. I feel like Mother Teresa (laughs). I love the people who didn’t like me first season and now they’re crying. That’s how I love it. Just like my men. Didn’t like me at first and now you’re crying.
Last week’s episode really displayed your character’s growth from season to season with her taking sole blame for the golf course bribery scheme. Why do you think Ava did that?
I really liked that moment because that’s definitely not a move that season one Ava would have done. I feel like she would’ve just blamed it on Morton [Jerry Minor] and got it over with. So what motivated her to do that, correct me if I’m wrong, but I feel like there’s a moment where Barbara [Sheryl Lee Ralph] talks about how her record is spotless and Janine [Brunson], Gregory and Jacob [Chris Perfetti] are new teachers, so for them to have a suspension, even though they would get to come back, it’s not a good thing. So I feel like that’s one reason why she stepped up. Then, obviously, she said she was going to Cabo, so she didn’t feel like she was going to get fired. She thought she was getting a little mini vacay so it was a twofold self-sacrifice.
Speaking of Barbara, there’s such that touching moment at the end of that episode where she gives Ava her flowers. What did that scene signify to you and what was it like filming it?
I saw that scene almost as serving a dual purpose in that I’ve been feeling like I’ve been living in a TV show within a TV show in that yes, Ava comes in in this first season, she’s inexperienced and then she rises to the occasion and now she’s killing it, basically, as a principal to the point where Sheryl Lee Ralph’s character, one of her famous detractors in the first season, has come around and said, “hey, you’re doing great, and I was wrong.” I liken that to me, Janelle James, coming on this show, not having much acting experience, and the viewers being like, “who is this person?” “I don’t like this character,” “I don’t like her acting,” or any of the other disparaging remarks that I got in the first season, now coming around to eat crow and saying, “how dare they” and “I’m gonna take it to the streets.” I loved it.
Patrick Schumacher said in an interview with The Wrap that Ava’s story’s not over, but it’s not something that’s going to resolve itself super quickly.
I hate he did that. Put that in the article (laughs). Let the people wait.
Do you know how things get resolved and when?
I do and I’m not gonna tell you.
But you are coming back after this latest episode?
According to Patrick, who let the cat out of the bag, who panicked. But again, that made me feel good that the producers felt like they had to tell people I’m coming back because people were like, “I’m not gonna watch anymore.” They had to run to the internet to say, “no, no, no, watch the next episode,” so that made me feel good as well, but I wish he hadn’t spoiled it. In the next episode [19], I love that [Ava]’s not wallowing in it. She’s like, “your loss” and she’s onto the next. That’s my favorite thing about Ava and sometimes she touches my real personality too closely. That’s exactly what I would do because like Barbara says, she was killing it. So she’s like, you guys think you got rid of me, but I got other sh-t to do. But as far as how it’s gonna be resolved, I can’t tell you that.
Have we thought up a revenge plot against Crystal yet?
Well, that would entail me telling you Crystal was definitely the person that did it so I can’t answer that either. But how messed up would it be if your sorority sister — regardless of if she’s a rival principal, that’s my Soror, so she does need to come see me if that’s the case. I feel sorry for Tatyana Ali for any grocery shopping or anything she has to do until the next episode because people are gonna be mad at her. (Laughs) She’s gonna have to stay in isolation until things get resolved.
We’re also now left with a question of the future of Ava and O’Shon’s (Matthew Law) relationship after they just had their first date.
You see that man, Ava isn’t going to let that go. She got in the junkie car. My question as Janelle James is, is he really poor? I don’t know that. Quinta ran up to tell me I’m fine, but I’m like, “is he poor?” Can we talk about what’s really important here (laughs)? But O’Shon is a great development. I like that with all of Ava’s developments, yes, these other people exist — her dad, O’Shon — but it’s not about them, it’s about her. They exist as a device to get her her to open up to show different sides of her and to give me, the actor, different levels to play and I love it.
It feels like we could see you in a drama after these last episodes.
Put that in print as well. I’m ready to see me in a drama because I can do that. We’re a comedy show, and people were screenshotting themselves crying and sending it to me, so I feel like I did that.
In that same article from The Wrap, co-showrunner Justin Halpern said you deserve an Emmy and that he “would just ask any Emmy voter, what character on TV that you watch makes you laugh more than Janelle?” How do you feel about those words from him?
I didn’t know he said that. I’m going to send him a text after this. That’s cool, I deserve an Emmy, sure. Definitely. I would say if anything for this season more than any other. Emmys and all the awards aren’t things that I think about really. I’m not walking around like, “I deserve an Emmy,” but if somebody like Justin is saying that out loud, I will agree. I do deserve it. I’ve been putting a lot of work into this character. And like he said, who is it that makes you laugh — and also makes you cry two seconds later? That’s a testament to my acting and also to the writing on this show. We all deserve an Emmy. It hasn’t been easy, and I appreciate him saying that. People think comedy is so easy and if people find out that I was a comedian before this, they’re like, “oh, she’s just being funny.” People aren’t just funny. People have to remember that. It’s a skill like anything else so I would love to be recognized for the work that I’m doing. Who wouldn’t?
Were you surprised at the outcome of last year’s Emmys with there being no wins for Abbott?
I’m not surprised by nothing. I’m usually worried about whether I could walk another step in the heels that I’ve chosen. We kind of swept first season. We were the surprise, but before I got into this side of the business and now that I’m in it, I really am not concerned. I feel like my main concern is to continue to do good work, to remain on air — we got renewed for our fifth season, what a blessing — and make this money. So, no, I wasn’t surprised or affected in any real way.
Well lastly, is AVA Fest still happening?
Oh, yeah. AVA Fest is every year. What are they going to do? They’ve got to bring me back! I’ve seen other people online wondering, “what about AVA Fest?” Again, in three short seasons, I’ve established a tradition that people are looking forward to. So what’s an Emmy when you’ve got that? We have fans like that, we’ve already established these characters so well, we’ve established the writing so well that people are emotionally affected by it, we’ve established our different tropes. We have callbacks that aren’t cheap and corny, like the whole Zach Black, Wyatt white thing. We earned that. It’s hard to do a callback in three seasons and have that sh-t hit and be meaningful and that’s a testament to how funny it was the first time. Those are the things that are important to me.
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Abbott Elementary airs new episodes Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. on ABC, streaming next day on Hulu.