Tyler James Williams Would Want This Special Guest to Star On Abbott Elementary
- Taylor Carey
- Aug 19, 2024
- 2 min read
If Tyler James Williams could pick anyone to guest star on Abbott Elementary, he knows exactly who it would be.
(Dia Dipasupil, Getty. Sonia Moskowitz, Getty.)
“I would love to see Solange Knowles as a cousin. I feel like we look alike,” Williams tells People magazine. “It's like us and then my dad is Orlando Jones. Yeah, I think Solange would be great. Just add a family member.”
At 31, Williams has earned his third Emmy nomination for his role as Gregory Eddie, a cherished first-grade teacher on the popular ABC show. The actor approaches this portrayal with great care, aiming to represent Black male educators—and Black men overall—in a positive and respectful manner.
“The overall goal for me here is to show not only Black male educators in a certain light, but then also Black men in a certain light that are allowed to be emotional and have full emotional spectrums, and then also be in love,” he said, referring to his character Gregory’s blossoming romance with Janine Teagues (played by Quinta Brunson). “It’s one of the most important things I've ever done in my career is showing this, especially with the platform that we have.”
(Pamela Littky, Getty Images.)
This year, Abbott Elementary received nine Emmy nominations, including one for Outstanding Comedy Series. Alongside Williams, Brunson was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series. Sheryl Lee Ralph and Janelle James also earned nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Looking back on the show’s past Emmy successes, Williams highlights a special moment: Sheryl Lee Ralph's win in 2022 for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. This victory was particularly significant, as Ralph became only the second Black woman to win in this category, following Jackée Harry's 1987 win for 227.
“Everybody at the table was just crying, right? That's my favorite Emmys,” he says, adding that Brunson’s wins that same year for outstanding writing in a comedy series and outstanding lead actress in a comedy series were also extremely memorable.
Recently, the cast reunited at San Diego Comic-con in July to reveal a crossover episode is in the works for season 4. They each shared their dream guest stars with People in an Instagram post below.
“I’m not gonna tell you with who, or with what, or where, or when, but it’s really exciting and I think it’ll change television as we know it," Brunson, 34, teased.
Who do you hope to see guest star in season 4 of Abbott Elementary?
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