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Next Question with Katie Couric

Quinta Brunson on ‘Abbott Elementary’s’ realness, her interview with Oprah, and why she can’t slow down

Next Question with Katie Couric

Katie Couric Media

News, Health, Society & Culture, Commentary, Documentary,, Health & Fitness

4.44.7K Ratings

🗓️ 15 December 2022

⏱️ 56 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Quinta Brunson is having an incredible year. She and her ABC sitcom, Abbott Elementary, are racking up some serious awards and breaking ratings records. She single-handedly revived the dying network sitcom. The Hollywood Reporter named her Comedy Star of the Year. And she just played Oprah in ‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story,’ which came out the same month Quinta was interviewed by Oprah herself. How does Quinta deal with it all? On this episode of Next Question with Katie Couric, Katie and Quinta talk about the blur of success, the making of ‘Abbott,’ the real-life inspiration of her characters, her early years in Philly, why she loved her twenties, and so much more.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Hi, I'm Natalie Emanuel.

0:03.3

From Ramsey in Fast and Furious to the Sunday Game of Thrones,

0:07.1

I love playing roles of women whose resourcefulness, intelligence and inner strengths are pushed to the limit.

0:12.8

Now, for the first time, we listen to a new podcast that brings you the stories of the fearless, powerful women leaders, war queens.

0:20.4

Join the Dautafire History Team of Emily and John Jordan every week.

0:24.8

Listen to Warwick Weens on the IHunt Radio App, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

0:30.0

Hi, everyone. I'm Kitty Curric and this is next question.

0:34.5

You know, when I told my team I was interviewing today's guest, they went nuts.

0:40.6

Linda Brunson just seems to have that effect on people.

0:43.7

She's the creator, writer, producer and star of Abbott Elementary, a workplace mockumentary,

0:50.1

following a group of determined teachers and once slightly less motivated, but hilarious principle,

0:56.7

at a Philadelphia public school.

0:59.1

Whew, guys, I need a new rug. Mine is officially done.

1:03.1

Me too. I shook mine out and all of the asthma kids had to go to the nurses' office.

1:07.3

Yeah, mine's busted and he can't class up the rug like he can't encounter with a nice coat of plastic.

1:11.9

Hey, yo! Would it do, baby boobs?

1:14.5

I would just think what this little film crew are brought in here.

1:16.6

Distracting makes our jobs harder, but exciting. We want to be on TV because they are covering

1:21.8

underfunded, poorly managed public schools in America. No press is bad for us, Barb.

1:26.9

Look at Mel Gibson. Still thriving.

1:29.9

In front of the camera, Quinta plays Janine, one of the newer, more relentlessly enthusiastic teachers.

1:37.2

Behind the scenes, Quinta has created something unique, a network sitcom that manages to

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