When a mockumentary is done right, it easily becomes a classic, and a hilarious show that gains tons of fans and a steady following. One of the most well-known mockumentaries is, of course, The Office; one of the most appreciated comedy shows to this day. From The Office, Park and Recreation took off and garnered the same idea; a documentary crew following the characters around and filming them for whatever reason. Now that Abbott Elementary has joined the roster of mockumentaries, it has opened up a whole new world of content and humor that fans of sitcoms desperately needed. The show is written by Quinta Brunson, and she based it off her mother’s experiences as a teacher, making the show relatable and fresh. Here’s why Abbott Elementary is one of the best mockumentary TV shows.
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True Representation of Teaching
20th Television
The entire plot of this show revolves around the teachers of Abbott Elementary, an under-funded school that desperately needs any money they could possibly get. A documentary crew shows up in order to record the teachers every day life, while managing a low-income school, possibly to get more exposure for their districts. Within each episode, the representation of teaching is wonderfully and accurately displayed through each teacher and grade. Teachers who tune into the show often comment about how much they love seeing their day-to-day lives represented on television, commenting that Quinta Brunson nails it through each plot line and episode. Each character goes through different things that real-life teachers can relate to, especially Gregory’s hesitation in season one, when it comes to decorating his room.
In season one, Gregory is just a substitute, and after a few weeks, Janine notices how bare his classroom walls are. She encourages him to make the room warm and inviting with posters and rugs, but he’s hesitant, since he assumes he’ll be leaving soon, so he doesn’t want to get attached and waste decorations. However, once he notices how many students start to make portraits of him, even if they’re wildly inaccurate, Gregory becomes more open to staying a bit, and he starts decorating his walls with the paintings his students make of him. In the real world, substitute teachers might have a hard time getting comfortable at a school where they’re not expected to last long, and Abbott Elementary does a great job of showing that.
Funny but Not Offensive
20th Television
Often compared to The Office, one of the main differences between these shows is the humor. Something Abbott Elementary gets right is the comedy of it all, and how to balance it when it comes to real-life situations. The Office often delved into raunchy and offensive topics that were normal for that year, but now are seen in poor taste. Mindy Kaling, a writer for The Office and cast member, recently said that The Office would be canceled and wouldn’t be able to air today, due to the content. Many fans of the show were upset, not agreeing with what Kaling said, but it honestly is up to interpretation.
Abbott Elementary takes on the mockumentary and sitcom styles in a fresh way that’s genuinely funny, without crossing that particular line. Ava is easily one of the easiest characters on the show; her role as principle making it inappropriate in a different way. She’s brash, witty, and also quick with a comeback. Also, the running joke of Barbara constantly getting white celebrities mixed up with Black celebrities is hilarious, without trying too hard.
The Diversity of Characters
ABC
The show is based in Philadelphia, and the school is predominantly Black, creating great representation and connections through each episode. With something like The Office, what goes on with the mostly white cast could be considered not as relatable to what Abbott Elementary is doing. With a predominantly Black cast, it opens up to a bigger audience who’s looking for something different but refreshing. Each character brings plenty of things to each episode; none of them static, but actually being interesting and helpful to the plot.
Also, the character of Jacob is very great. When talking about the roles of teachers and what they do for children, the topic of teachers’ personal lives often comes up. Jacob is an openly gay man, but his sexuality doesn’t affect the way he teaches, and the way he connects with his students. It’s an ignorant way to think that based on who you love, you can’t properly do your job, but Jacob’s character is a refreshing look at what real life can be. Not only that, but the entire premise of the show is lifting the kids up, and also making sure they know they can do whatever they want. For a predominantly Black school, other real life teachers who watch this show could possibly take notes.
