School is back in session for "Abbott Elementary" - a brand new episode premieres tonight!

Reel Perspectives

October 8, 2025

ABC's breakout hit returned on October 1 for Season 5. In the new episode premiering tonight on ABC titled "Cheating", Melissa tries to outsmart her students; Tariq causes chaos in Janine's class; and a new guidance counselor joins the school. All your favorite teachers are back for the new semester!

Created and executive-produced by Emmy award winner Quinta Brunson, the award-winning workplace comedy centers on a group of dedicated teachers and one slightly tone-deaf principal who work together despite budget woes and bureaucratic hurdles at the underfunded Willard R. Abbott Elementary. Focusing on Janine Teagues, played by Brunson, she teams with her colleagues to give their students every possible advantage.

The hilarious comedy, presented in a mockumentary format, kicked off its new season with the first episode, "Team Building," and ahead of Season 5, Brunson previewed new faces, new pairings, and a big game changer on the horizon that will bring significant shakeups at the school.

In an interview with Deadline, Brunson teased new dynamics in Janine (Brunson) and Gregory's (Tyler James Williams) relationship. "I think you can expect to experience more relationship milestones... like you're gonna see the things that happen to typical couples in their 20s: meeting more parents, meeting more family members, figuring out what steps are next, moving in together — things like that." Teasing a new teacher who comes to shake things up, Brunson futher added, "Anytime you bring an outside character into the picture, feathers are ruffled," Brunson told Deadline, "and we're going to see some of that, whether it be for our characters or from our characters to them; we have a group of exciting characters that might make other people be like: 'What the hell is wrong with these people?' But we're excited for those moments."

In addition to Brunson, the returning cast includes Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie, Janelle James as Ava Coleman, Chris Perfetti as Jacob Hill, Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti, William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson, and Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard.

In episode 3, Fans are in for a special treat when the show takes on the ambitious task of filming a live episode during a Philadelphia Phillies game.

This season, fresh laughs and heartfelt lessons are in store for our favorite teachers.

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New episodes of "Abbott Elementary" drop every Wednesday at 8:30pm ET on ABC and are available to stream the next day on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers.

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