TV & Movies
In ABCsAbbott Elementary, comedian Janelle James ups the ante with her look-at-me, improvisational humor.
We get Quinta Brunsons witty writing.
Tyler James Williams Johnny Bravomuscles(everybody might hateChris, but they love his arms).
And one of Abbotts greatest gifts?
Principal Ava, played by comedian Janelle James.
She spends most of her timedragging Brunsons character, Janine, executing the perfecthair-flip-wink-to-camera, and editing TikTok videos.
Shes like a less-invested, more vain Michael Scott but dressed in a brightly colored blazer or wrap dress.
James wouldnt have it any other way.
I was fighting for her to be super fly, she tells Bustle over the phone.
You aint going to catch her slipping and looking like trash.
She brought in a camera crew to film the school.
Why would she not look the best?
In the words ofAubrey Graham, nails done, hair done, everything (but her job) did.
Sure, her character might be irrational and oblivious I promise youll love her but shes no dummy.
Shes Abbotts resident clapback queen who doles out zingers before Janine even realizes shes the butt of the joke.
(She imitates the second-grade teachersstern walk, heavybreathing, and suspected inabilityto twerk.)
Does that make a good principal?
She shouldnt be working with children.
Does that make her a favorite character?
Weve all dealt with Principal Ava types before, often against our will.
Its not a made-up character.
(The officialTwitter TVaccount identifies itself as a Principal Ava Stan Account.
One of my aunts was telling me, Weve been talking about it on Facebook since before Twitter.
(For the record, the shows have nothing in common except for a school setting.)
How would Principal Ava hold up at Euphoria High?
Would she even show up, or would sheeat them all alive?
James has never seen HBOsEuphoriabut always imagined herself as more of a viewer discretion advised jot down of actor.
Abbottis online grid, and I am streaming, she says.
Im cable after 10.
This article was originally published onMarch 4, 2022
