As “Abbott Elementary” gears up for Season 6 production in just a few short weeks, stars Sheryl Lee Ralph, Janelle James and Luke Tennie are reflecting on turbulent changes in the industry — from the pending Paramount-Warner Bros. merger to production struggling in Los Angeles.
“Any time there is a consolidation, something shrinks, and right now we’re seeing such attrition when it comes to the entertainment industry,” Ralph told Variety on Saturday afternoon at the AAFCA TV Honors held at City Club in Los Angeles. “I don’t want to see too much more shrinking. We’ve lost too many people. We’ve lost too many people outside of this state going to other places.”
James, who plays Principal Ava on the award-winning comedy, said she doesn’t pay much attention to the noise surrounding the Paramount merger.
“I really have no idea what it means. I know I still got a job. Hopefully, it results in people continuing to keep their jobs,” James said. “I take it as something I don’t need to worry about.”
The AAFCA TV Honors honored the likes of “Abbott Elementary,” “Paradise,” “Spider-Noir” and “Love Story,” along with actors Tracy Morgan, Sterling K. Brown, Lamorne Morris and Erika Alexander, celebrating the best of Black talent and storytelling over the past year.
AAFCA’s strong industry ties were underscored by L.A. mayor Karen Bass’ appearance ahead of the upcoming election. On stage, she commended the work that Black creatives are doing as writers, producers and actors amid struggling production rates.
“We’re looking at how we reduced the costs on set by reducing the number of city staff,” Bass said of her efforts to bring more production to L.A. “So what I would like to ask you all to do is to tell me, tell our office what more Los Angeles can do, specifically, so that we can continue to flourish.”
Reflecting on how “Abbott Elementary” and other Warner Bros. shows provide consistent jobs for local crew, Ralph said: “Hollywood, California, is the birthplace of show business, and too many other cities, states around the country and world are claiming it as theirs. I want it to come back. I want it to stay right here. I want us to come back to the development of real stories, real series, and I would like box office to mean something again soon.”
“Abbott Elementary” not only provides consistent work for its award-winning ensemble but also for the hundreds of young kids who work as extras every season.
“I have said this to people in the past, but I know for a fact in 10 years, there are going to be kids that were extras or under five in the cast that I’m going to see making films, making movies, creating their own series from YouTube to network to streaming,” Ralph said. “I’m gonna see it because I’m listening to them when they talk on set. There’s some really smart kids on our show. And it’s happening.”
Amid an uncertain future, Tennie — who also stars in “Shrinking” and “The Pitt,” which are all filmed on the Warner Bros. lot — feels confident that artists will continue finding a way forward.
“There was some sort of weird, strange death at every point in our evolution as TV and filmmakers,” Tennie said, referencing the introduction of color and sound as past inflection points. “People all had their different opinions on where this thing was going to go. And no matter what, whatever people wanted to see most got made. And I truly, in my heart of hearts, believe that.”