It’s been a splendid first season – well, partial season – for Quinta Brunson and “Abbott Elementary.”
The ABC comedy debuted at mid-season and has had only 13 episodes so far. But in the Television Critics Association awards, it was named best comedy, best new show and program of the year; also, Brunson (shown here) won the award for individual achievement in comedy.
That’s a multi-tasking individual. In the Emmy Awards, she’s the first Black woman with three comedy nominations – as best actress, as producer and as writer of the pilot film.
Brunson, now 32, was having a modestly successful comedy career. Last summer, for instance, she was an outlaw leader in the summer edition of “Miracle Workers.”
Then she took the step that has worked for several people: Write something personal.
A graduate of Philadelphia public schools (and the daughter of a kindergarten teacher), Brunson wrote about earnest elementary-school teachers in Philly, surviving the quirks of their principal and the district administrators.
On the drama side, the winners were more familiar: HBO’s “Succession” was named best drama series; it has been nominated in each of its three seasons and has won twice. Mandy Moore was named best drama individual, for her work in the final season of NBC’s “This Is Us.”
The awards, announced at 2 p.m. ET today (Aug. 6) — poll more than 200 critics. Still, this year finished with two ties. For reality show, it was CBS’ “Amazing Race” and HBO Max’s “Legendary”; for career achievement, it was Ted Danson and Steve Martin.
Both men remain busy. Martin was also nominated (for Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building”) for comedy’s individual award. For that one, he lost to Brunson, who is 44 years younger and, for that matter, a foot shorter. The awards:
— PROGRAM OF THE YEAR and NEW PROGRAM and COMEDY: “Abbott Elementary,” ABC.
— DRAMA: “Succession,” HBO.
— MOVIE, MINI-SERIES or SPECIAL: “Dopesick,” Hulu.
— REALITY SHOW: “The Amazing Race,” CBS, and “Legendary,” HBO Max.
— VARIETY, TALK or SKETCH: “I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson,” Netflix.
— YOUTH PROGRAMMING: “The Babysitters Club,” Netflix.
— NEWS and INFORMATION: “The Beatles: Get Back,” Disney.
— INDIVIDUAL, COMEDY: Brunson, “Abbott Elementary,” ABC.
— INDIVIDUAL, DRAMA: Mandy Moore, “This Is Us,” NBC.
— CAREER ACHIEVEMENT: Ted Danson and Steve Martin.
— HERITAGE: “I Love Lucy.”