If you don’t recognize the name Sheryl Lee Ralph, we’re afraid that you’ve got some work to do. Currently part of the acclaimed ensemble for the ABC comedy “Abbott Elementary,” Ralph is simply a living legend. She originated the role of Deena Jones in the original Broadway production of “Dreamgirls” (Tony nomination, check). She spent five seasons playing Brandy’s mom on the ’90s sitcom “Moesha.” She won an Independent Spirit Award for her performance in Charles Burnett’s classic film “To Sleep with Anger.” She was part of the original Broadway cast of Best Musical winner “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” She’s been working almost non-stop since she got her first television guest spot in, wait for it, 1977. And after over four decades in the business, Quinta Robinson‘s critical and ratings wonder may earn Ralph her first Emmy nomination.
It’s long overdue.
READ MORE: “Abbott Elementary’s” Chris Perfetti is having that network TV moment [Interview]
Set in Philadelphia, “Abbott Elementary” centers on a public school that has agreed to be the subject of an all encompassing documentary (think “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation”). Janine Teagues (Brunson) is the upbeat second-grade teacher who really wants to make a difference in her kids’ lives. Barbara Howard (Ralph), is the no-nonsense veteran kindergarten teacher that Teagues looks up to.
While the show has smart and witty scripts, Ralph reveals they often improv while on set. And, in fact, her signature line from the show came from one of those moments.
“A line like, ‘Sweet Baby Jesus,’ happened, because I had done the line five times,” Ralph explains. “They said, ‘O.K. Do it this way. Do it that way, do it this way, do it that way. Now do whatever you want.’ I came in, and I did several lines, whatever I wanted to do. The last one was ‘Sweet Baby Jesus, and the grown one too.'”
She adds, “And that literally is something that my friend Norman and I are always saying. Norman and I will be up there working on something and I’ll say, ‘Oh. Sweet Baby Jesus,’ and he says, ‘And the grown one too.’ It’s just something we always say, and when I was given the opportunity, I just said it.”
Over the course of our interview, Ralph recalls when she and co-star Tyler James Wilson, of “Everybody Hates Chris” fame, knew “Abbott” could be something special, Quinta’s inspiration for her character, how she has already been randomly recognized as her character in, of all places, Italy, and much more.
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The Playlist: Congratulations on “Abbott Elementary.”
Sheryl Lee Ralph: Aw, thank you. Thank you very much. It is a great blessing and something special.
I don’t know if you’d like to be described this way, but you are a legend in my view, and you’ve worked in TV for such an impressively long time.
A long time.
On great shows! When you were shooting this, did you think that this one could become the pop culture phenomenon it’s turned out to be?
I don’t know if we thought it was going to hit pop culture the way it has, as much as we thought we were truly involved in something special. I mean, there was a moment that Tyler [James Wilson] and I had together shooting the pilot, where we looked at each other, and he was like, “You feel it, don’t you?” I said, “Wow, you feel it too.” We both had that feeling that we were doing something quite special with “Abbott Elementary.”
How did the show come your way? Did Quinta reach out to you?
Well, I got a phone call from Quinta, asking me to read a script. She went through such a lovely presentation. She said, “Miss Ralph, I know that you are used to having shows offered to you, and that’s just the way it should be, but I would like it if you would just please consider, just reading this script of mine because I think you’re perfect for it. Then maybe you wouldn’t mind meeting the rest of the group of people, then maybe we could read it together.” I said, “Lord have mercy, O.K.” I said, “Let me give this a read.” I did, and I loved it. It was easy from there.
When she gave you her pitch, did she tell you anything else about Barbara, besides the script that you read?
She told me it was based upon somebody she loves very much, and that would be her mother.
Was her mother a teacher as well?
Yes. Her mother’s story is what the show is based upon. Quinta is a child of the Philadelphia Public School system of which her mother is a teacher, and her first five years of school, she spent with her mother. Her mother was her kindergarten teacher. Mrs. Howard is their kindergarten teacher at the school, and she spent those next four years in school watching her mother do the job that she loved so well for some 30 odd years.
Is the storyline with Barbara and her daughter Taylor [Iyana Halley] is that supposed to be inspired by Quinta and her own mom, or, as far as you know, is it just something else the writers came up with?
As far as I know, that’s what they just came up with, but I think what plays more into the relationship is that she now is the teacher that her mother wanted her to become.
Because she’s doing it on the show.
Exactly. You got it, you got it. They get to have that relationship that way. I can tell you that her mother loves the show so much. She would watch it, whether Quinta had written it or not. How about that?
Did she come to set or did you hear this afterward?
I just heard this afterward. We had a very COVID strict set. Nobody came to see us. Nobody.
You would never guess that the show was shot during COVID. It just seems like a regular school with all the kids running around. Was it tougher than maybe some other COVID productions, because the kids were there?
I have to tell you, I worked on other productions during COVID, and the reason we had no outbreak was Quinta was very good about getting everybody to be on the same page of COVID prevention, very good about asking people, “Please, when you leave work, go home. Do not party, do not stay out late with other people who are not connected to our show. That’s how you have outbreaks.” She was absolutely right. We had not one outbreak within our A circle, and we were able to keep right on working.
Talking about the fact that you’ve been on other hit shows, Obviously, you shot all the episodes first. Was there a moment where you were like, “Oh, it’s a hit?” When did you realize, “Oh, wait, this really is something”?
I would say it was probably after that pilot. It was a sneak airing of the pilot. People just were crazy. They were like, “Whoa, where is the rest? When is this show coming on?” We were like, “Oh, my god.” Then the Twitter-sphere took off, everybody had an opinion, everybody had a thought. And we were like, “This has just gotten for real crazy,” but it was a good crazy, and it just hasn’t gone away.
I spoke to your co-star, Chris Perfetti, a couple of weeks ago, and he said that he had spoken to you and you had gone to the mall and people had recognized you asking for an autograph or a photo and that was a surprise. Maybe I’m wrong, but that was his recollection.
Well, what happened, literally, was you go to the mall and you’re just your regular self. I’m like, “What the hell is going on? Why are these people staring at me? What?” Then it’s like, “Oh. My god. It’s the show.” Then you make the mistake of walking past that dog on the big poster. All of a sudden you’re like, “Oh, my god. I can’t believe this,” but it was wonderful. I felt so good. I was so happy. Oh, my goodness. It was great. It was great. Then I was in Italy about two weeks ago, and you know how they have those alleys in Sorento?
Sure.
Where, they have all of the vendors, the shopping and the this and the that? I’m walking down, and this family literally approaches me. They said, “Sheryl Lee Ralph, I loved that Barbara Howard.” They went on and on. They started taking pictures, then everybody else wanted to know, “Senora, Senora.” Oh, my God. It was fabulous. It was like being in a movie. I was like, “Thank you.”
In Sorento, Italy. That’s amazing.
Yes. I felt so good. It was great.
Over the course of filming the first season was there one episode that you were most proud of, or that you enjoyed shooting the most?
I have to say I enjoyed all of them. I really did, because quite honestly, something happened in my brain. In taking the role and doing it, I knew it was special, but I did not think that people would see my work. I was absolutely floored and shocked when I started getting so much attention and started hearing so much from people about how much they love Barbara Howard. For a minute there, I didn’t get it. I was the last person to arrive to my own ball. I was like, “Whoa. Whoa, wait a minute. Really?” For that, maybe I underestimated it all, but I’m very happy about it, and I love it. I have to say that. When it comes to a favorite episode, I do, I love them all. In every episode, I get to say something that I absolutely believe in. I absolutely believe that just because children don’t have as much as others, they shouldn’t feel less than, and I get to say that.
I get to say things, when it comes to a teacher, “This is no easy job. We’re parents, sometimes first parent, we’re a confidant. We are so many things that these children need and must have.” I get to say stuff like that. I get to say crazy stuff like, “Sweet Baby Jesus, and the grown one too. These children.” I love that.
One of the things I love about this show is that even though it’s a comedy, the characters are all supporting each other. Barbara never takes it as a burden that she has to help Quinta’s character or be her mentor in a way.
That’s right.
At the end of the first season, I love that Greg [Tyler James Wilson] who’s hated being a step teacher instead of being a principal, just decides to stay and be a teacher, because he ended up liking it in the long run. I feel these are themes that you don’t always see a lot, especially in comedies.
Let me tell you something. It has been so wonderful to present real people without, like you said, all of the kids here, or all of the stereotypical stuff there, or this character has to act like that. I love the fact that Quinta has literally just put together six people with their pros, their cons, their good sides, and their bad sides. Just being people together, working for some greater good, because that’s something we really need to see.
Chris alluded that sometimes that actors improved on set. Did you feel like there’s an opportunity to do so or was it mostly sticking to the scripts?
I would say that very often we’re asked sometimes to improv. A line like, “Sweet Baby Jesus,” happened, because I had done the line five times. They said, “O.K. Do it this way. Do it that way, do it this way, do it that way. Now do whatever you want.” I came in, and I did several lines, whatever I wanted to do. The last one was “Sweet Baby Jesus, and the grown one too.”
Oh, wow.
Yeah. And that literally is something that my friend Norman and I are always saying. Norman and I will be up there working on something and I’ll say, “Oh. Sweet Baby Jesus,” and he says, “And the grown one too.” It’s just something we always say, and when I was given the opportunity, I just said it.
Do you know when you’ll start working on season two?
Believe it or not, we’re already working. We may not be working on shooting the show, but we are already working. We have to go in for fittings soon. We have to go in for, excuse me, hair and makeup soon. There’s a lot that we’re already doing. It feels like we’re already back at work in some ways.
The first season was just 13 episodes. Do you know if the second season will be longer? Will we get more “Abbott” next year?
Well, from our hearts to God’s mind, it will be a full 22, but right now, they put that order in for that 13, and I’m sure we’ll probably get the order for the back nine.
“Abbott Elementary” is available on Hulu.