Abbott Elementary Season 4 should pick lessons from Questlove.
The cast of Abbott Elementary is so outstanding that the show hardly needs celebrity cameos to draw viewers. But many well-known celebrities want to participate in the fun as the show's appeal rises. This was particularly true in season 3, when well-known names began to surface at the fictional Philadelphia institution.
The mockumentary style of Abbott Elementary makes it difficult to defend well-known personalities appearing. While more well-known performers like Kevin Hart and Bradley Cooper merely played themselves in brief appearances, guest stars like Lana Condor and Mike O'Malley played recurring characters. Though they were entertaining, these cameos were limited to the opening scenes or end credits of their episodes. Abbott Elementary battled to have these stars fit the realistic world of the show.
The ideal template for future guest stars in Questlove's Cameo
Fortunately, the best cameo in season three offers future guest stars a flawless model. Questlove's appearance in the episode "2 Ava 2 Fest" wasn't a surprise at all unlike the camebacks of Bradley Cooper and Kevin Hart. The episode deftly built to it, Melissa, Jacob, and Barbara growing more and more concerned about people's reactions should Questlove fail to show. Ava asserted she knew Questlove, which seemed improbable. But the more she spoke, the more ridiculous her assertions grew, and the more it seemed Questlove would actually show.
Ava's meeting with Questlove was more interesting and fulfilling than any haphazard arrival of any unannounced Hollywood actor. It was payback, not only a surprise. It was better since it made sense in Abbott Elementary's universe. The camebacks from Cooper and Hart were more shocking than anything else. Though they were entertaining, they didn't particularly enhance the narratives of their episodes. Questlove, on the other hand, got one of the biggest laughs in the episode just by showing up and gently reconnecting with Ava.
Abbott Elementary uses less cameos in Season 4.
Showrunners Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker claimed in an interview that season 4 requires less cameos in order to allow more character development. Given most viewers didn't believe Kevin Hart was actually Janine's father, that's a smart concept. Fewer cameos mean that every guest appearance in season 4 can be as firmly anchored in the story and characters as Questlove's funny scene.
Once a show gains popularity, it's easy to get carried away in the thrill of having well-known personalities feature. Abbott Elementary's realistic portrayal of real-life events, its likable characters, and its relevant workplace comedy helped it to win over viewers and critics. The program can keep stressing all of these points even in every episode without A-listers. Abbott Elementary should grow from Questlove's cameo and emphasis on its main characters instead of depending just on the star power of guest stars in the future.
