Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams shared an onscreen kiss in the show Abbott Elementary, which was a major moment for their characters, Janine and Gregory. While the kiss was watched and celebrated by millions of fans, their costar Sheryl Lee Ralph admitted that she couldn’t bring herself to watch the scene. Ralph, who plays Barbara Howard on the show, found it too strange to see her “kids” on the show engaging in romantic and adult behavior.
The show Abbott Elementary debuted in 2021 and follows the lives of teachers at a fictional Philadelphia public school. After two seasons of buildup, Gregory finally confessed his feelings for Janine in season 3, which led to the iconic kiss between the characters. The actors worked hard to create a visible shift in their relationship dynamics for season 4, with Gregory fully expressing his feelings for Janine for the first time. The new season explores the challenges of navigating a romance in the workplace.
Sheryl Lee Ralph, who plays Barbara Howard on the show, shared that she has been enjoying her role playing the lifelong student and teacher. She loves that her character is always willing to learn and grow, even if it means stepping out of her comfort zone. Ralph highlighted the Halloween episode as a particularly funny and memorable one for fans, despite the challenges of filming in fur costumes in sweltering heat.
Ralph also reminisced about the time when Jason Kelce, Jalen Hurts, and Brandon Graham made surprise appearances on the show, adding some humor and muscle to the episode. As a proud representative of Philadelphia, Ralph expressed her joy at having the Eagles players on set. She teased that fans can expect more entertaining surprises and guest appearances in future episodes of Abbott Elementary.
Abbott Elementary continues to air on ABC on Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET, with new episodes available to stream on Hulu the following day. As the show progresses, fans can look forward to more heartwarming and hilarious moments from the diverse and talented cast. Sheryl Lee Ralph is excited for viewers to see the growth and development of her character, Barbara Howard, as she navigates the ups and downs of teaching and learning in a dynamic school environment.
