Critic Reviews

It has Parks and Recreation’s sense of community, Modern Family’s precision-tooling, Ted Lasso’s charm, but it is its own, hilarious thing. Despite – or, of course, because of – the truth its underlying tale of real-life deprivation tells.

Season 2 of “Abbott Elementary” returns as confident as ever — sharp and searingly funny, but with a baseline warmth that feels meaningful in a world that’s become increasingly cold to the idea that we’re meant to look out for one another. ... It’s such a perfect amalgam of talents both in front of and behind the camera.

It’s hard to pick our favorite part of the return. Gritty? Ava hula-hooping at a big staff seminar? Sheryl Lee Ralph’s post-Emmy glow? It’s all great. And we get to do this again next week, and the week after, and the week after that.

The first two episodes, which is what ABC sent to critics, are equally as funny and heartwarming as the best of the show’s excellent first season.

"No-frills" may not be a welcome descriptor for a public school, but it should be aspirational for TV comedy. Abbott does the most with the basics: a smart conceit, sharp writing, the right cast. Other sitcoms should be taking notes.

There is always a question about whether you can match the high bar set by what preceded it. Not only is this show already on track to do so, but there is also the promising potential for it to even surpass what came before.

The ABC series hasn’t missed a single beat, kicking off with an hour that’s funny, sweet, and exactly what TV needs right now.

Abbot devotes the main plot of its returning 20 minutes to them [Janine and Gregory]. Still, the writing doesn’t push the remaining ensemble to the background. Janelle James is stronger than ever with her one-liners.

There's much more heart in Abbott Elementary [than American Auto]. ... The ensemble is terrific. [17 - 30 Jan 2022, p.8]

The generational divide among the teachers feels organic to the setting, and the jokes are so rooted in character there’s something for everybody. ... By giving the tropes of yore such a fresh update, [creator and actor Quinta] Brunson may have forged a new classic of her own.