Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 4, “Costume Contest”
In one crowd scene, Abbott Elementary season 4’s Halloween episode referenced star/ creator Quinta Brunson’s first famous role in a 2014 viral video. While Abbott Elementary’s entire cast of characters is hilarious, Quinta Brunson’s Janine Teagues is the heart of the show. Brunson pulls double duty as the creator of Abbott Elementary and its star, which is an incredibly impressive achievement at only 34 years old. While Abbott Elementary’s Ava, Melissa, Jacob, and Barbara are all compelling characters, it is Janine who the show centers on, and her perspective shapes many of the workplace mockumentary’s stories.
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As such, it is no surprise that Abbott Elementary’s season 4 Halloween episode featured a sly nod to one of Brunson’s earliest roles. Earlier Halloween episodes saw the cast dress up for the occasion, with Melissa donning Scarlet Witch’s iconic costume, while Principal Ava went all-out as X-Men’s Storm. One of Mr. Johnson’s funniest Abbott Elementary moments was his Lil Uzi Vert costume, but one young extra outdid even this gag with a hidden reference to Brunson’s early-career hit in Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 4, “Costume Contest.” Janine and Gregory’s couple costume was an obscure Jurassic Park reference.
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Although none of the faculty or the children understood the “Mr. DNA and the fly trapped in amber” costume, “Costume Contest” featured another, even more obscure reference among its background characters. As noted by Brunson on her Instagram story, one of the children in the costume contest sequence is dressed as Brunson’s character “The Girl Who’s Never Been on a Nice Date” from her first viral Instagram sketch. The child can be spotted sitting among the other kids, prompting Brunson to comment “I rarely share bts, but the Abbott crew surprised/pranked me with this adorable little Easter egg background kiddie costume.”
The original sketch saw Brunson’s character react in awe as her date picked up various concessions at a movie theater.
Long before Janine and Gregory’s Abbott Elementary romance, “The Girl Who’s Never Been on a Nice Date” was Brunson’s first character who was looking for love. The original sketch saw Brunson’s character react in awe as her date picked up various concessions at a movie theater, shocked to discover that he could afford both Skittles and a large popcorn. This unassuming gag went viral, gaining Brunson a job as a video producer for Buzzfeed. This job led to a role writing and acting in A Black Lady Sketch Show, before a string of guest roles in iZombie, Big Mouth, and Miracle Workers.
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Before long, Brunson parlayed guest roles like these and her appearance in an episode of New Girl into main roles in animated comedies like Lazor Wulf and Magical Girl Friendship Squad. This success then led to Abbott Elementary, which debuted to rave reviews and great ratings in 2021. As Abbott Elementary season 4’s storylines continue to deftly blend social satire with character comedy, it is hard to imagine that the show’s humble origins date back to a 15-second viral video from a decade ago. Luckily, one of Abbott Elementary’s young stars provided an adorable reminder in season 4’s Halloween outing.
Source: Youtube
New episodes of
Abbott Elementary
air on Wednesdays at 9:30 on ABC.
- Cast
- Quinta Brunson , Tyler James Williams , Sheryl Lee Ralph , Lisa Ann Walter , Chris Perfetti , Janelle James , William Stanford Davis , Zack Fox , Courtney Taylor , Nikea Gamby-Turner , Josh Segarra , Mason Renfro , Jerry Minor , Larry Owens , Nate’ Jones , Lela Hoffmeister , Vince Staples , Kimia Behpoornia , Dillion Blake Allen , Reggie Conquest , Kate Peterman , Keyla Monterroso Mejia , Benjamin Norris , Aayden William , Ben Onyx Dowdy
- Character(s)
- Janine Teagues , Gregory Eddie , Barbara Howard , Melissa Schemmenti , Jacob Hill , Ava Coleman , Mr. Johnson , Tariq Temple , Erika , Shanae , Manny , Alex , Mr. Morton , Zach , Amber , Courtney Pierce , Maurice , Emily , Tiniest Kid , Devin , Ms. Schwartz , Ashley , Simon , Student , Warren
- Release Date
- December 7, 2021
- Seasons
- 4
- Creator(s)
- Quinta Brunson
