‘Abbott Elementary’s’ Chris Perfetti: “It’s Funnier For People To Not Like Jacob” [Interview]

Essence Festival is returning to New Orleans, LA’s Caesars Superdome for three days of food and wine, film and most importantly, music.And this year’s lineup — which is celebrating Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary — is a doozy.Kicking off Friday, June 30, major stars Lauryn Hill, Doug E. Fresh, Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, KRS-One, Slick Rick, Jagged Edge and Ari Lennox will perform.Then, on Saturday, July 1, icons Missy Elliott, Jill Scott, Ice Cube, DJ Quik, Ice T, E-40, Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, T.I., Gucci Mane, Lil Jon, Big Boi and Monica are set to take the stage.Finally, on Sunday, July 2, Megan Thee Stallion, Eve, Salt N Pepa, Remy Ma, Trina and Wizkid close the multi-day musical extravaganza.Plus, comedians Deon Cole and “Abbott Elementary” star Janelle James are set to bring laughs all weekend long.Best of all, you can get in for fairly cheap.While three-day passes cost $446 before fees on Vivid Seats, single-day passes can be found for as low as $64.That’s where the hack comes in.By buying single-day passes to one or more days rather than the multi-day pass, you can save big.Need to know more information before committing?We’ve got all the details you’re looking for and more below.All prices are subject to fluctuation.A complete breakdown of all the cheapest tickets available for this year’s Essence Festival can be found right here.(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time.

turn in ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” in the show’s second season where she plays Vanetta, the unreliable, outrageous mother of steadfast and loyal protagonist Janine (Quinta Brunson).“I’m grateful for the career I’ve had, as opposed to starting as a comedic actress and proving myself as dramatic. But now this is easy, because this is just what I do.”But how does an Academy Award-nominated actress come to her role on an Emmy-winning workplace sitcom?“I was already a huge fan of the show, like everybody else in the world, but I was on ‘That’s My Jam,’ and I was competing against Quinta and told her, ‘Girl, if ever you want me on the show, I’m there.’ Next thing I know, she’s calling,” Henson said.Of course, the prospect of a stint on “Abbott Elementary” was made even more appealing by the character being offered to her.“The character breakdown just made sense.

BEST TV DRAMAAnne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire (AMC)The Last of Us (HBO)Succession (HBO)The White Lotus (HBO)Yellowjackets (Showtime)BEST TV COMEDYAbbott Elementary (ABC)The Bear (FX on Hulu)The Other Two (HBO Max)Poker Face (Peacock)Somebody Somewhere (HBO)BEST LGBTQ TV SHOWAnne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire (AMC)A League of Their Own (Amazon)Somebody Somewhere (HBO)The Last of Us (HBO)The Other Two (HBO Max)BEST TV MOVIE OR MINISERIESBeef (Netflix) Daisy Jones & The Six (Amazon)Dead Ringers (Amazon)Fire Island (Hulu)Rye Lane (Hulu)BEST UNSUNG SHOWA Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO)Derry Girls (Netflix)Jury Duty (Amazon Freevee)Los Espookys (HBO)Reservation Dogs (FX on Hulu)Somebody Somewhere (HBO)BEST NON-ENGLISH SHOWElite (Netflix)Extraordinary Attorney Woo (Netflix)Los Espookys (HBO)Smiley (Netflix) Young Royals (Netflix)BEST TV PERFORMANCE—DRAMAKieran Culkin, Succession (HBO)Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets (Showtime)Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us (HBO)Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us (HBO)Sarah Snook, Succession (HBO)BEST SUPPORTING TV PERFORMANCE—DRAMAMurray Bartlett, The Last of Us (HBO) Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus (HBO)Meghann Fahy, The White Lotus (HBO)Nick Offerman, The Last of Us (HBO)Aubrey Plaza, The White Lotus (HBO)BEST TV PERFORMANCE—COMEDYRachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary (ABC) Bridget Everett, Somebody Somewhere (HBO)Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face (Peacock)Ali Wong, Beef (Netflix) BEST SUPPORTING TV PERFORMANCE—COMEDYAlex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs.

GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics has named the winners of its 15th Dorian TV Awards with the final season of HBO’s Succession and ABC’s Abbott Elementary taking top drama and comedy honors, respectively. Succession star Sarah Snook also took the best drama performance trophy, while Max’s showbiz satire The Other Two was named Best LGBTQ TV Show.

star Janelle James is waiting on pins and needles amid the ongoing writers' strike.The writers' strike officially began May 2 between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and major Hollywood studios over fair compensation, particularly in the wake of the expansion of streaming services. The stalemate has already affected awards shows, delayed various productions and put into uncertainty the return of scripted broadcast programming.With ABC not relying on scripted programming for its fall slate due to the writers' strike, it is becoming increasingly apparent the wait for many viewer favorites, including , may be longer than anticipated.«I have no idea what's going to happen,» James, who was nominated for Best Actress at the BET Awards, told ET's Kevin Frazier on Sunday when asked about how she'll be spending her summer, «but you know, I hope it doesn't happen until the writers get what they're asking for.»Though everything is currently at a standstill, James maintained she will be standing in support of the writers as they fight for fair compensation.«So what we've been doing is standing in solidarity and hoping that it comes to a conclusion quickly, so people can get back to work,» the actress said.James attended the BET Awards in a black Tom Ford minidress with gold accents and accessories on Sunday, and she spoke about the hip-hop legends present at the awards show.«MC Lyte is right next to me, I just saw, so that was cool to catch on camera.

So many stars hit the pink carpet for the 2023 BET Awards tonight!

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Tyler James Williams has experienced several different kinds of fandom since childhood, starting with films like “Unaccompanied Minors,” and then his starring role in “Everybody Hates Chris,” and even a stint on “The Walking Dead.” But there’s nothing that compares to the passionate audience of teachers who have gravitated his latest series, ABC’s hit comedy “Abbott Elementary.” On this episode, Williams talks about the show’s resonance, his experience as a child actor, where his character’s relationship with Quinta Brunson’s character might be heading and so much more. Listen below! “It’s such a blessing that they feel so represented by it,” Williams tells Variety‘s Awards Circuit podcast. “Now I feel like, if there’s a teacher within ten blocks of me, I’m going to know about it. They’re going to say something. I didn’t realize how much this show resonated with them until going back out into the world. And seeing how willing they are to give all of the love towards us. It’s really been one of the more beautiful experiences of my career.”

arrested and arraigned on 37 counts related to violations of the Espionage Act earlier this week, would “have to be crazy not to be worried” that the charges will lead to significant jail time and possibly even a life sentence. As Wallace told anchor Abby Phillip while discussing former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly’s statement that Trump is “scared s—less” about going to jail, “Well, look, you’d have to be crazy not to be worried.

It was a busy day on the L.A.-area WGA picket lines, with a visit from some Abbott Elementary folks, support from unionized teachers and nurses, and dancers getting their hula on for Pacific Islander Day.

Extraction 2” comes in, with the director (also a stuntman and choreographer, though not on this film) returning after 2020’s first “Extraction,” a film (reportedly) received so well by the audiences that the filmmakers changed its ending and made a survivor out of its mercenary (anti)hero, Tyler Rake.Written by Joe Russo from a story by him, Anthony Russo and Ande Parks (also the creator of the source graphic novel, “Ciudad”), “Extraction 2” feels meatier in its action-packed set pieces than its predecessor, with Chris Hemsworth’s approachable and brawny Rake giving puppy avenger John Wick a genuine run for his money when it comes to high-kicks and knockouts. (Speaking of puppies, let’s not forget to mention that Rake’s sweet dog and pet chickens make it through this new mayhem in one piece.)All that said, “Extraction 2” largely skipping theaters for a quick sprint to streaming feels like a massively missed opportunity for Netflix.

Chris Perfetti as Jacob on “Abbott Elementary” but up until June 18, you can catch him live off Broadway at the New York City Center playing a completely different role.Perfetti, 34, stars alongside Glenn Davis (“Billions”) in a two-hander production of “King James,” a four-quarter show complete with a halftime DJ show about two friends bonding over LeBron James and his career over a 12-year span.There’s only one issue — the play’s run is about to reach the end of regulation.At the time of publication, there are only five more shows left; the last performance will be on Sunday, June 18 at 2 p.m.And if you need tickets, you better hustle.Prices start at $119 before fees on Vivid Seats.However, that is an outlier. Most shows’ lowest price is $192 before fees.Want to see Jacob flex his acting muscles live on the stage before the clock runs out?Here’s everything you need to know and more about seeing “King James” live in New York City this June.All prices are subject to fluctuation.A complete calendar including all show dates, start times and the lowest ticket prices available at the New York City Center can be found below.(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time.

Sophia Scorziello editor Variety’s annual TV FYC Fest was packed with big names and your favorite stars from the small screen. Christina Applegate (“Dead to Me”) made a rare appearance to accept the Legacy Award, Brooke Shields spoke passionately about the reality of co-existing in the world of social media and Kerry Washington (“UnPrisoned”) joined a collective of equally hilarious actresses including Elle Fanning (“The Great”), Janelle James (“Abbott Elementary”) and Gina Rodriguez (“Dead To Me”) to discuss forging vanity for laughs and embracing the “messy” woman. The all-day discussion also tackled the state of television today amid a writers strike and an ever-changing landscape of streaming. We’ve rounded up the standout moments from Variety’s TV FYC Fest panels and presentations which brought out important — and at times hilarious — conversations about this season of shows.

Drake scored a leading seven nominations for the music-heavy 2023 BET Awards today, and GloRilla was next with six. Both also are up for Album of the Year. Lizzo and 21 Savage follow with five nominations apiece.

Ethan Shanfeld For Chris Perfetti, “Abbott Elementary” was not just another pandemic-era script on his desk. “I first read the pilot in the spring of 2020, and it was in no small way a profound moment,” he tells Variety. The actor, who plays the enthusiastic, delightfully corny BFF to Quinta Brunson’s Janine in the hit ABC sitcom about public school teachers, was sitting on a park bench in Atlanta, laughing to himself. “I remember chuckling out loud and looking around me and being very aware of if I was making anyone uncomfortable,” says Perfetti. “I had a strong feeling that if anybody had the guts to make this thing and make it right, it would be great.”

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large When I arrived in Los Angeles and first started covering television, it was summer 1996. I was a young 22-year-old kid suddenly thrust into reporting at events like the Television Critics Association press tour, where nearly everyone else around me was a crusty newspaper journo twice my age. (And lying to network execs by telling them I was 25 — apparently, I thought that made me sound seasoned?) That first TCA was a boot camp in learning how new TV shows are launched, and I still vividly remember that freshman crop of fall 1996 series. In those hopeful months before September premieres, anyone has the chance to break out and go the distance. One of those sitcoms was ABC’s “Life’s Work,” starring a promising, brash, hysterical comic named, you guessed it, Lisa Ann Walter. She had already starred in a short-lived comedy for Fox, a midseason entry that didn’t get much attention. But this was the one that was going to be a hit, inspired heavily by her own routine as the working mother aiming to “have it all.”

during an interview with Chris Wallace on CNN’s “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace.”“I regret that it was promoted in a way that people thought was unbecoming,” continued the talk show host saying that he couldn’t go into further detail. “There are parts of that story that I haven’t talked about and won’t talk about in specific, but I can say generally that we worked with her family [and] with her for over a year off camera, after the fact, providing her opportunities for inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care. I can’t tell you the extent we went through,” said McGraw.

Speaking out. Abbott Elementary actor Tyler James Williams has opened up about speculation surrounding his sexuality.

story. “I’m not gay; but I think the culture of trying to ‘find’ some kind of hidden trait or behavior that a closeted person ‘let slip’ is very dangerous.”“Overanalyzing someone’s behavior in an attempt to ‘catch’ them directly contributes to the anxiety a lot of queer and queer questioning people feel when they fear living in their truth,” he continued.

There’s nowhere else to go but up for multi-hyphenate Sheryl Lee Ralph. During Ralph’s 46-year career, she’s been a trailblazing force. Since her debut in Sidney Poitier’s A Piece of the Action or her lauded turn in Dreamgirls on Broadway in 1981, which landed her a Tony nomination, Ralph’s been making a major impression. These days, she’s back to school on ABC’s mockumentary Abbott Elementary. Her role as the wise and wise-cracking teacher Barbara Howard earned Ralph her first Emmy win, making her the second Black woman to win for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She discusses the joy of playing Barbara Howard and their personal connection.

Tyler James Williams is setting the record straight about his sexuality.In a set of Instagram Stories posts made in celebration of Pride Month, Williams addressed the rumors surrounding his sexuality and warned about the dangers of speculating on someone's sexual orientation.«I'm not gay; but I think the culture of trying to 'find' some kind of hidden trait or behavior that a closeted person 'let slip' is very dangerous,» Williams wrote Saturday. «Overanalyzing someone's behavior in an attempt to 'catch' them directly contributes to the anxiety a lot of queer and queer questioning people feel when they fear living in their truth.»In addition to contributing to a culture of fear, the  star said that it makes even the most basic of conversations and interactions feel less safe gay men and women who may be questioning their sexuality.