Quinta Brunson makes comedy Emmy history with ‘Abbott Elementary’

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July 12, 2022

By Variety and Michelle Garcia, NBC News

Brunson, the show’s creator and star, is the first Black woman to earn three nominations in the comedy categories in the same year.

Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues in “Abbott Elementary.” (Ser Baffo / ABC)

Quinta Brunson has made Emmy history with “Abbott Elementary.”

Landing three nominations for outstanding comedy series, lead actress in a comedy and writing for a comedy series (for the “Pilot”), she is the first Black woman to earn three nominations in the comedy categories in the same year. At 32, Brunson is also the youngest Black woman ever nominated in the comedy acting category.

Brunson tweeted she was “still speechless” after hearing about the nominations and congratulated the rest of the cast and crew of the show Tuesday morning.

In the ABC sitcom set in Brunson’s hometown of Philadelphia, the actress plays Janine Teagues, a hopeful and determined elementary school teacher in a beleaguered, underfunded school.

Discover the show’s other nominations.

Check out Abbott Elementary, the show that America was waiting for, on Hulu.

We talk about other achievements by Black creators in our breaking news archive.

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