Abbott Elementary has truly taken ABC by storm, being the network’s first comedy premiere to quadruple ratings since its original airing, according to Deadline. The show aired back in December, earning a 0.6 rating in the 18-49 demo with 2.79 million viewers. However, after 35 days of viewing across ABC’s linear and digital platforms, the series premiere shot up 300% in the demo for a 2.4 rating and a total of 7.1 million viewers. Per ABC, Abbott’s opening marked the largest percentage growth for any new comedy premiere.

Created, written, and starring Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary follows a group of dedicated Philadelphia public school teachers desperately trying to be good role models for their students and help them succeed in life despite being underfunded and underpaid. In addition, The school district’s outlook on educating children definitely doesn’t help. The series also features Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Chris Perfetti, Lisa Ann Walter, and Sheryl Lee Ralph as part of the main cast.

The Show Garnered Many Views as Well as Fans

abbott elementary ABC Quinta Brunson
ABC

Brunson serves as writer and executive producer alongside Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker of Delicious Non-Sequitur Productions and Randall Einhorn. The series is produced by Warner Bros. Television and 20th Television. The pilot episode was written by Brunson and directed by Randall Einhorn.

“My mom is a teacher, so that informed a lot of it. I went to visit her about three or four years ago before she retired, and I was at school with her at night. It was an open house night and they had her staying until 8 o’clock. I was just like, “You should not be here.” My mom’s school isn’t in a great neighborhood. It was 7:58 and one parent walks in, and I’m actually upset. Like, “How dare you? You had all day.” My mom did not care. She sat down and had the parent-teacher conference with that woman while her son played with blocks in the corner. I was just sitting at my mom’s desk watching it, and I was like, “This is what I would like to spend my energy on,” Brunson said about the origins of Abbott Elementary in an interview with The Washington Post.

Airing on Tuesday’s primetime slate, Abbott Elementary has been a persistent performer for ABC. The series has maintained its demo rating every week since its premiere. The ABC sitcom has even bested FBI: International on CBS and Our Kind of People on Fox in primetime.

Abbott Elementary premieres every Tuesday on ABC and Hulu.