Diving Into Abbott Elementary

Photo: ABC

Created by Quinta Brunson, the mockumentary-style sitcom Abbott Elementary follows a group of underappreciated, hardworking teachers in an underfunded Philadelphia school who are determined to make a difference. Somewhat. Or at least get through the day without somebody having a meltdown. 
A relative newbie to the prime-time schedule, ABC’s new smash hit made its debut in December 2021 and quickly caught fire with audiences and critics for its sharp writing and top-notch cast. The show was picked up and given a proper full season just a few months later. Now, Abbott is poised for its greatest triumph yet, earning an Emmy nomination for outstanding comedy series during its first year on the air. That means ABC’s For Your Consideration (FYC) campaign for the show has to really start reaching the eyes of sympathetic Emmy voters. 

Just like its lovable teachers, Abbott Elementary is itself something of an underdog in its bid for outstanding comedy series — the other nominees include last year’s winner, Ted Lasso, as well as shows like What We Do in the Shadows that have been nominated multiple times before. FYC campaigns have come to include more and more digital components since 2020, with studios and streamers working with publications like Deadline and Variety to reach awards show voters. ABC has the opportunity to bring some precision to Abbott Elementary’s Emmy bid by targeting Emmy voters who are particularly likely to vote for Abbott Elementary. 

So what are the attributes of the show that appeal most to viewers? What other shows have fan bases that overlap with Abbott’s? Pack a lunch, because Ranker Insights is taking an in-depth look at this hit show’s audience members and the other series that might catch their eye.

Season 2 of Abbott Elementary premieres September 21 on ABC. The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards will be held September 12, when the show will be broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock.

What Do Fans Love About Abbott Elementary?

It’s clear from Abbott’s rankings that the show has made a big impression on prime-time audiences. Abbott nabs the second spot on Ranker’s list of The Best Current ABC Comedy Shows (1K votes), placing right after The Goldbergs but nabbing spots higher than Home Economics and America’s Funniest Home Videos. The series also comes in at #2 on The Best TV Sitcoms Of 2022 (1K votes). Though it was unable to dethrone CBS’ Ghosts, Abbott Elementary did place higher than CBS’ The Neighborhood and FX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The show even ranks at #5 on The Best Current ABC Shows (5K votes), where it competes with popular programming staples like The Good Doctor, The Rookie, Grey’s Anatomy, and A Million Little Things. Although Abbott is competing with many cable and streaming shows on Emmy night, it should feel confident about its ability to pull voters who still watch and love traditional TV comedies intended for broad audiences. 

Also of note is Abbott Elementary’s current #4 rank on our list of The Best New Comedy Shows Of 2021 (4K votes), behind fellow outstanding comedy nominee Only Murders in the Building but ahead of another competitor, Hacks. The comedy also nabbed the sixth spot on the list of The Best Mockumentary TV Shows (4K votes), a popular genre for prime-time sitcoms like The Office, Parks and Recreation, Trailer Park Boys, and Modern Family. Those rankings demonstrate that Abbott not only is successful in its own niches, but also can compete with the likes of Emmy winners and nominees — we’re certain ABC is salivating over the prospect of another Emmy run like Modern Family’s. 

Who’s Watching Abbott Elementary?

As with other TV viewers, Emmy voters’ tastes in TV follow predictable patterns. We’re using Ranker Insights to highlight the TV shows that are most likely to share fans with Abbott Elementary, making them ideal targets for digital FYC campaigns with publications more likely to be read by Emmy voters. 

FAMILY AFFAIRS

According to Ranker Insights, people who watch Abbott Elementary also tend to watch shows that find humor in family life. Fans of the hit sitcom are 9X more likely than the average viewer to enjoy Netflix’s modern multi-cam sitcom The Upshaws, as well as NBC’s gone-too-soon comedy Kenan. They’re also 8X more likely to enjoy ABC’s recent reboot of The Wonder Years.

These viewers love Abbott Elementary and… The Upshaws, Kenan, The Wonder Years

ABC OFFERINGS

If you’re tuning in to ABC regularly, either for comedy or drama, there’s a very good chance you’re an Abbott Elementary fan. Abbott admirers are 10X more likely to love the network’s other recent sitcom success, Home Economics. They’re also 9X more likely to love the 2019 fish-out-of-water comedy Bless This Mess and family drama Promised Land, both shows that ended after fewer than three seasons. It’s clear that this network’s audience is dedicated — ABC must make it a priority to reach members of that audience who will be voting on Emmy night. 

These viewers love Abbott Elementary and… Home Economics, Bless This Mess, Promised Land

DRAMATIC MINISERIES

Perhaps most surprising, Abbott Elementary fans are as drawn to contemplative dramas as they are to lighthearted comedies — though it seems they prefer their dramas on the shorter side. Abbott Elementary’s cheerleaders are 9X more likely to love the Kevin Hart-led thriller miniseries True Story, 8X more likely to love the six-episode HBO drama I Know This Much Is True starring Mark Ruffalo, and 4X more likely to love The Dropout, Hulu’s retelling of the Elizabeth Holmes story (which has an Emmy nomination of its own this year). 

These viewers love Abbott Elementary and… True Story, I Know This Much Is True, The Dropout

These stories are crafted using Ranker Insights, which takes over one billion votes cast on Ranker.com and converts them into actionable psychographics about pop culture fans across the world. To learn more about how our Ranker Insights can be customized to serve your business needs, visit insights.ranker.com, or email us at insights@ranker.com.

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