Good One: A Podcast About Jokes – Episode: Abbott Elementary Writers Room Release Date: January 14, 2025

Introduction

In this special episode of Good One: A Podcast About Jokes, host Jesse David Fox delves into the creative minds behind the acclaimed television show Abbott Elementary. Celebrating the collective genius of the show's writing team, this episode features a panel discussion from Vulture Festival 2024, where the Abbott Elementary writers were honored with Vulture’s inaugural Roomie Award. The award recognizes the exceptional collaborative efforts of a writers' room in television.

The Roomie Award and Vulture Festival 2024

Timestamp: 01:15 - 02:19

Jesse David Fox introduces the significance of the Roomie Award, emphasizing its role in celebrating the often-overlooked collaborative nature of television writing. Quinta Brunson, creator and star of Abbott Elementary, alongside her talented team, accepts the award. Roxanna Hadadi, Vulture’s TV critic, moderates the panel, bringing together writers Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacher, Brian Rubenstein, Jordan Temple, Brittany Nichols, Kate Peterman, Justin Tan, Joya McCorry, Riley Dufurena, Garrett Werner, and Lizzie.

Writers' Introduction and Backgrounds

Timestamp: 03:37 - 10:25

Roxanna Hadadi invites each writer to introduce themselves and share a past job that contributed to their skills in the writers' room. Highlights include:

• Quinta Brunson (04:10): Former Apple Store FRS, emphasizing problem-solving by adopting the mantra, "If you don't know, let's find out."

  "If a customer asked you something, you don't just ignore them or say, I don't know the answer. You say, I don't know. Let's find out." (04:42)

• Justin Halpern (05:56): Experience as a waiter, learning resilience and handling criticism.

  "Waiting tables taught me how to eat shit and take in feedback constructively." (06:19)

• Patrick Schumacher (06:53): Former director's assistant, appreciating the visual aspects of TV writing.

• Brian Rubenstein (06:42): Camp counselor, valuable for a show centered around children.

• Jordan Temple (07:07): Mover in NYC, bringing lessons of resilience and hard work.

• Brittany Nichols (07:20): Camp coach, fostering teamwork.

• Kate Peterman (08:50): Various customer service roles, cultivating appreciation for their current roles.

• Justin Tan (08:51): Assistant jobs in TV, developing gratitude and perspective.

• Joya McCorry (09:18): HR background, transitioning through Warner Brothers Writers Workshop.

• Riley Dufurena (09:45) & Garrett Werner (09:53): Diverse backgrounds contributing to team dynamics.

Writing Process for Abbott Elementary

Timestamp: 11:05 - 17:04

Quinta Brunson discusses the foundational steps of crafting a new season:

• Begins with broad beats and overarching ideas, often consulting co-producers, Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacher.

  "I do have an idea of what I want the season to look like... enough to have that trust." (11:05)

• Emphasizes collaborative brainstorming within the room, encouraging "blue sky ideas" to explore character developments and story arcs.

• Engages with educators and administrators to ensure authenticity without sourcing ideas directly from them.

Justin Halpern adds that the writers aim to reflect character growth and maintain a flexible document that evolves throughout the season.

Idea Generation and Story Development

Timestamp: 14:20 - 17:37

The panel explores how ideas are generated and nurtured:

• Kate Peterman shares her method of bringing personal anecdotes to inspire storylines, often sparking creativity among the team.

  "I'll come in fully giving out what happened to my family or funny things that have happened to me... and that jogs something in other people." (15:52)

• Ava Cole Pullman highlights entering the writers' room with excitement and focusing her energy to contribute effectively.

• Quinta Brunson reveals long-held ideas like the "dad fight" episode, which materialized in season two, directed by Justin Halpern and written by Ava.

  "Dad fight was super fun... it was a really grounded story that we got to have a lot of fun with." (17:37)

Holiday Episodes

Timestamp: 35:02 - 36:53

The writers discuss their approach to crafting holiday-themed episodes:

• Aligning with the airing schedule to create timely and festive storylines.

• Embracing both traditional and wacky elements to engage audiences, as seen in the Halloween episode "Candy Zombies."

  "I just think it's just nice to be able to know that we're going to air at a time and put people in the festive holiday spirit." (35:27)

• Overcoming challenges such as unexpected changes on set, like actors getting sick, which necessitates quick script adjustments to maintain continuity.

Importance of Writers Being on Set

Timestamp: 24:29 - 29:32

The panel underscores the critical role writers play during filming:

• Ava Cole Pullman and Jordan Temple recount experiences during the pandemic when they couldn't be present on set, highlighting the loss of real-time collaboration and flexibility.

  "There is something about being in person and getting to talk to the actors and being flexible... it's invaluable to me." (25:02)

• Patrick Schumacher emphasizes the benefit of writers witnessing their episodes through post-production, learning firsthand how scripts translate to the screen.

  "It's a beautiful sort of ecosystem that is like a training ground for future showrunners." (26:29)

• Kate Peterman shares anecdotes of live script adjustments during filming, reinforcing the necessity for writers to address unforeseen challenges promptly.

  "You have to keep an eye on the story and that's something... it's really important for writers to be on set." (28:24)

Crossover Episodes: Always Sunny

Timestamp: 58:38 - 63:54

One of the standout topics is the ambitious crossover with It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia:

• Justin Halpern describes the organic development of the crossover, praising the enthusiasm and collaboration between both writing teams.

  "It was a dream because it was a crossover that happened organically... everyone involved was really excited to do it." (58:52)

• Quinta Brunson elaborates on the logistical marvel of intertwining the two shows, acknowledging corporate synergy through Disney's ownership of both FX and ABC.

  "Our episode will air in January, so it'll be an Abbott Elementary episode... It's worlds colliding." (60:10)

• The crossover is lauded as a pioneering effort in modern television, setting a high standard for future collaborations.

Challenges During Season Three

Timestamp: 50:19 - 52:34

The writers reflect on the difficulties faced in season three due to external factors like the writers' strike and reduced episode counts:

• Justin Tan discusses the struggle to maintain narrative momentum with fewer episodes, leading to stretched story arcs between main characters Janine and Gregory.

  "We had to stretch this out to episode 14... it was just us coming up with, like, thing after thing after thing to keep them apart." (50:37)

• Quinta Brunson expresses pride in overcoming these challenges, transforming the season into what she describes as a "diamond" forged under pressure.

  "I feel like we are a fucking diamond... this has been. That season, like, was a testament to what we were capable of." (51:31)

Future of the Show and Dream Crossovers

Timestamp: 63:00 - 64:57

Looking ahead, the writers share aspirations for future crossovers and storytelling endeavors:

• Quinta Brunson envisions a crossover with Survivor, inspired by the desire to see teachers participate in game shows like Family Feud.

  "I want teachers to go on that show... I'm gonna make that one happen." (63:58)

• The panel humorously acknowledges the logistical hurdles of network boundaries but remains optimistic about potential collaborations.

• Justin Halpern praises the success of the Always Sunny crossover, positioning it as a model for future inter-show collaborations.

  "I really think this is the very best version of a crossover that I feel like could be done right." (62:27)

Roomie Award Presentation

Timestamp: 55:43 - 57:56

The panel celebrates receiving the Roomie Award, a tangible symbol of their collective effort and creativity:

• Roxanna Hadadi presents the physical award, and writers express heartfelt gratitude for the recognition of their collaborative work.

  "People do not acknowledge the writers enough ever... I was very happy that our writers were being acknowledged." (56:14)

• The writers humorously interact with the award, sharing their excitement and plans to display it proudly in their workspace.

Conclusion

In this enriching episode, Good One offers an in-depth look into the collaborative spirit and creative processes of the Abbott Elementary writing team. Through candid discussions, anecdotes, and celebratory moments, listeners gain a profound appreciation for the dedication and teamwork that drive successful television writing. The episode not only highlights the importance of each writer's unique background but also underscores the value of collective creativity in shaping beloved TV shows.

Notable Quotes:

• Quinta Brunson addressing problem-solving mantra:

  "If a customer asked you something, you don't just ignore them or say, I don't know the answer. You say, I don't know. Let's find out." (04:42)

• Justin Halpern on resilience from waiting tables:

  "Waiting tables taught me how to eat shit and take in feedback constructively." (06:19)

• Kate Peterman on idea generation:

  "I'll come in fully giving out what happened to my family or funny things that have happened to me... and that jogs something in other people." (15:52)

• Quinta Brunson on the big diamond forged under pressure:

  "I feel like we are a fucking diamond... this has been. That season, like, was a testament to what we were capable of." (51:31)

• Justin Halpern praising the crossover:

  "I really think this is the very best version of a crossover that I feel like could be done right." (62:27)

This detailed summary captures the essence of the Abbott Elementary Writers Room episode, highlighting key discussions, insights, and the collaborative spirit of the writing team. Whether you're a fan of the show or intrigued by television writing, this episode offers valuable perspectives on crafting humor and storytelling in a successful sitcom.