As “Abbott Elementary” prepares to start filming Season 6 in just a few weeks, stars Sheryl Lee Ralph, Janelle James, and Luke Tennie are considering the industry’s recent upheavals, including the upcoming Paramount-Warner Bros. merger and production challenges in Los Angeles.
“Whenever there’s a consolidation, something gets reduced, and right now we are seeing a lot of attrition in the entertainment industry,” Ralph told Variety on Saturday afternoon at the AAFCA TV Honors at City Club in Los Angeles. “I don’t want to see more reductions. We’ve lost too many people, with many leaving the state.”
James, who portrays Principal Ava in the acclaimed comedy, mentioned that she doesn’t focus much on the buzz around the Paramount merger.
“I really have no idea what it means. I know I still have a job. Hopefully, it means people can keep their jobs,” James said. “I view it as something I don’t need to worry about.”
The AAFCA TV Honors recognized shows like “Abbott Elementary,” “Paradise,” “Spider-Noir,” and “Love Story,” along with actors Tracy Morgan, Sterling K. Brown, Lamorne Morris, and Erika Alexander, celebrating outstanding Black talent and storytelling over the past year.
L.A. mayor Karen Bass, underscoring AAFCA’s strong industry connections, appeared before the upcoming election, praising Black creatives’ contributions as writers, producers, and actors amid declining production rates.
“We’re looking at how we reduced costs on set by reducing the number of city staff,” Bass remarked, detailing her efforts to encourage more production in 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. productions offer stable jobs for local crews, Ralph said: “Hollywood, California, is the birthplace of show business, and too many other cities, states, and countries are claiming it. I want it to return. I want it to stay here. I want us to return to creating real stories, real series, and I want box office to regain significance soon.”
“Abbott Elementary” not only offers steady work for its award-winning cast but also for the numerous young extras each season.
“I have said this before, but I know that in 10 years, some of the kids who were extras or had small roles will be making films, creating series from YouTube to network to streaming,” Ralph said. “I know this because I listen to them on set. There are some really smart kids on our show. And it’s happening.”
Despite an uncertain future, Tennie—who also stars in “Shrinking” and “The Pitt,” both filmed on the Warner Bros. lot—remains optimistic that artists will find a path forward.
“There was some kind of strange death at every point in our evolution as TV and filmmakers,” Tennie said, referring to the introduction of color and sound as past turning points. “People had different views on where this would go. But no matter what, whatever people wanted to see most got made. And I truly, in my heart of hearts, believe that.”
