Wishlist (Abbott Elementary)

Last updated
"Wishlist"
Abbott Elementary episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 3
Directed by Randall Einhorn
Written by
Production codeT11.17154
Original air dateJanuary 11, 2022 (2022-01-11)
Guest appearance
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Light Bulb"		Next →
"New Tech"
Abbott Elementary (season 1)
List of episodes

"Wishlist" [1] is the third episode of the American sitcom television series Abbott Elementary . It was written by Morgan Murphy, and was directed by Randall Einhorn. It premiered on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States on January 11, 2022. The episode follows Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph), who refuses to promote her teachers wishlist with the internet, despite push from Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Ava (Janelle James).

Contents

The episode is the first to feature William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson, outside of a minor role. Including him in a subplot with Jacob (Chris Perfetti), who hopes to turn an old printer into a planter.

Plot

With Ava's (Janelle James) help, Janine (Quinta Brunson) makes a viral video for TikTok to get supplies for her classroom. After explaining the concept to a reluctant Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph), she asks Ava to secretly make a viral video for her, who also needs supplies but refuses any help. Jacob (Chris Perfetti) finds an old donated printer in the trash can and attempts to have it function as a planter, despite claims from Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) that it won't work, and that it's nothing but trash. [2]

Ava makes an exaggerated video of Barbara's situation, which also goes viral but creates an uncomfortable situation for her when Barbara is aggravated at the message sent by Ava. Elsewhere, Janine encourages Gregory (Tyler James Williams) to decorate his classroom; specifically with drawings given to him by his students.

Reception

Upon its initial broadcast on ABC, "Wishlist" was watched by 2.97 million viewers, earning a 0.6 in the 18–49 rating demographics on the Nielson ratings scale. [3] Compared to the previous two episodes, the third is the lowest viewed episode out of the first three. [4]

The episode airs following its midseason entry in the 2021–22 television season. Filming for the episode took place between August 16, and November 5, 2021, in Los Angeles, California. [5] [6] Like other episodes, interior scenes are filmed at Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank in Burbank, California, with exterior shots of the series being filmed in front of Vermont Elementary School in Los Angeles. [7]

Critical response

Janelle Ureta of Tell-Tale TV stated that with "Wishlist," both the show and the characters have "delightfully" found their groove, highlighting the decision to minimize Ava Coleman's "predatory skeezy-ness" with Gregory Eddie. "On 'Wishlist,' we see Ava interacting with Janine and behind her desk. That works well to allow her character to develop in a more quirky and less creepy direction." Ureta gave the episode a rating of 5 stars out of 5, and concluded that the series' core humor source "locks into place at the same time the show sheds what was holding it back from being five-star." [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheryl Lee Ralph</span> American actress and singer (b. 1956)

Sheryl Lee Ralph OJ is an American actress and singer. Known for her performances on stage and screen, she earned acclaim for her role as Deena Jones in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls (1981), for which she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Since 2021 she has starred as Barbara Howard on the ABC mockumentary sitcom Abbott Elementary, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, becoming the first Black woman in 35 years to win the award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quinta Brunson</span> American actress, writer, comedian and producer (b. 1989)

Quinta Brunson is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She is best known for creating, executive producing, co-writing and starring as second-grade teacher Janine Teagues in the ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary (2021–present). Brunson gained prominence for her self-produced Instagram series Girl Who Has Never Been on a Nice Date. She went on to produce and act in videos for BuzzFeed Video, and developed two streaming series with BuzzFeed Motion Pictures.

Janelle James is an American comedian, actress, and writer. She is best known for her role as Ava Coleman in the ABC television series Abbott Elementary, for which she won a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an NAACP Image Award, in addition to nominations for three Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award.

<i>Abbott Elementary</i> American mockumentary television sitcom (2021–present)

Abbott Elementary is an American mockumentary sitcom television series created by Quinta Brunson for ABC. It stars Brunson as Janine Teagues, a perpetually optimistic second-grade teacher at the underfunded Abbott Elementary, a fictional predominantly Black public school in Philadelphia. The ensemble cast includes Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.

<i>Abbott Elementary</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of the American television comedy Abbott Elementary created by Quinta Brunson, premiered in the United States on ABC on December 7, 2021, concluded on April 12, 2022, and consisted of thirteen episodes. The series sees the introduction of characters portrayed by Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.

<i>Abbott Elementary</i> season 2 Season of television series

The second season of the American television comedy Abbott Elementary created by Quinta Brunson premiered in the United States on ABC on September 21, 2022, and concluded on April 19, 2023. The season consists of twenty-two episodes. Like the first, the season stars Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis and Sheryl Lee Ralph.

"Pilot" is the first episode of the American sitcom television series Abbott Elementary. It was written by series creator and star Quinta Brunson, and was directed by Randall Einhorn. It premiered on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States on December 7, 2021.

"Light Bulb" is the second episode of the American sitcom television series Abbott Elementary. It was written by series creator and star Quinta Brunson, and was directed by Randall Einhorn. It premiered on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States on January 4, 2022. The episode follows Janine, who attempts to fix a flickering light without the help of the school or electricians, and Gregory who must confront a parent of his class for bringing her son into school late.

"New Tech" is the fourth episode of the American sitcom television series Abbott Elementary. It was written by Brian Rubenstein, and was directed by Randall Einhorn. It premiered on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States on January 18, 2022. In the episode, Barbara struggles with a new learning program for her students; which prompts her to lie when she accidentally cheats the program.

"Student Transfer" is the fifth episode of the American sitcom television series Abbott Elementary. It was written by Brittani Nichols, and was directed by Randall Einhorn. It premiered on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States on January 25, 2022. In the episode, Janine deals with a troublesome transfer student from Melissa's classroom.

"Gifted Program" is the sixth episode of the American sitcom television series Abbott Elementary. It was written by Jordan Temple, and was directed by Matt Sohn, and the first of which not to be directed by Randall Einhorn. It premiered on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States on February 1, 2022.

"Art Teacher" is the seventh episode of the American sitcom television series Abbott Elementary. It was written by Kate Peterman, who also performs in the series as Tina Schwartz, and was directed by Jennifer Celotta. It premiered on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States on February 8, 2022.

"Work Family" is the eighth episode of the American sitcom television series Abbott Elementary. It was written by Justin Tan, and was directed by Jay Karas. It premiered on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States on February 15, 2022.

"Step Class" is the ninth episode of the American sitcom television series Abbott Elementary. It was written by Joya McCroy, and was directed by Shahrzad Davani. It premiered on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States on February 22, 2022. In the episode, Ava and Janine disagree on how to run the after-school step class. Meanwhile, Gregory must reveal his secret when Barbara, Melissa, and Jacob plan a pizza eating competition.

"Open House" is the tenth episode of the American sitcom television series Abbott Elementary. It was written by Brian Rubenstein and directed by Jennifer Celotta. It premiered on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States on March 22, 2022. In the episode, Janine prepares to meet a student's mother during the school's open house, while the rest of the faculty relaxes. Gregory is surprised to learn how Ava got the principal job, and Barbara's daughter visits.

<i>Abbott Elementary</i> season 3 Season of television series

The third season of the American television comedy Abbott Elementary created by Quinta Brunson premiered in the United States on ABC on February 7, 2024, and concluded on May 22. The season consisted of 14 episodes, fewer episodes than usual due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike. Like the previous season, the season stars Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis and Sheryl Lee Ralph.

"Fire" is the fifteenth episode of the second season and the twenty-eighth episode overall of the American sitcom television series Abbott Elementary. It was written by Ava Coleman, and was directed by Jennifer Celotta. It premiered on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in the United States on February 15, 2023.

<i>Abbott Elementary</i> season 4 Season of television series

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.

References

  1. ↑ "'Abbott Elementary' – "Wishlist"". Rotten Tomatoes . Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  2. ↑ @AbbottElemABC (January 14, 2022). "You know what they say, one man's printer is another man's planter! 🤷🤣" (Tweet). Retrieved May 22, 2023– via Twitter.
  3. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (January 12, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.11.2022 Updated". Showbuzz Daily . Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  4. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (February 23, 2022). "Abbott Elementary Episode 2 Nabs ABC's Strongest Comedy Ratings Since Modern Family Finale In MP35". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  5. ↑ "issue one thousand two hundred sixty-one" (PDF). Production Weekly. August 26, 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 10, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Film and TV Projects Going Into Production – Abbott Elementary". Variety Insight . Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  7. ↑ Stephanie Harper (April 19, 2022). "'Abbott Elementary' Is Supposed to Take Place in Philadelphia — Where Is It Filmed?". Distractify. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  8. ↑ Ureta, Janelle (January 12, 2022). "Abbott Elementary Review: Wishlist (Season 1 Episode 3)". telltaletv.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.