The 2025 Screen Guild Actors Awards nominations were announced on Jan. 8, 2025, and while we’re all cheering about Wicked getting nominated for five awards, I want to talk about one particularly compelling category.

Not one, not two, not three but five amazing actresses were nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series. That’s Jean Smart for playing wise Deborah Vance on Hacks, Liza Colón-Zayas and Ayo Edebiri for their clever foodie The Bear characters, Quinta Brunson for Abbott Elementary, and Kristen Bell (who is also hosting!) for starring alongside the extremely attractive Adam Brody in Nobody Wants This (aka one of my favorite shows of 2024).

Come on! How is anyone supposed to pick just one winner? Let’s break down how incredible these actresses are when it comes to portraying their layered characters. Smart is almost too perfect as an older comedian who has to deal with sexism and ageism in Hollywood. Colón-Zayas stole my heart even more in The Bear season 3, episode 6, “Napkins,” when fans learned about the dark time when she was unemployed and finally found work and family at The Beef. And Edebiri has been knocking it out of the park in every single episode as the vulnerable and smart Sydney, who tries to find her voice while dealing with Carmy’s (Jeremy Allen White) ego and issues (sorry but it’s true).

Brunson not only plays Janine Teagues, one of the best teachers on TV, but she also created Abbott Elementary and is therefore the reason why one of the smartest and loveliest sitcoms exists. Finally, there’s Bell, who lends her pitch-perfect comedic timing to Nobody Wants This as a podcaster who has never opened herself up to true love… until now. But, you know, Brody’s adorable face (and that beard) would make anyone fall in love, so who can blame her?

Every time I try to pick which TV comedy star should win, I get even more frustrated that five awards can’t be handed out. These stars aren’t only skilled actors who have honed their craft for years but good people, too. For example, Brunson has such a kind-hearted approach to making Abbott Elementary and thinks about the people who work on the show as well as the storylines. She told Elle Magazine, “I’m responsible for the employment of many, many people.” She also mentioned “the importance of continuing to open doors for newcomers, who have more room and freedom because of the work that was put in by the people before them.”

If I had to guess, my money would be on Brunson, Edebiri, or Colón-Zayas winning the SAG. Abbott Elementary and The Bear are the two most popular sitcoms in the category, and as much as I loved watching Bell in Nobody Wants This, her performance wasn’t quite as complex as the others’. Sure, one could possibly argue that The Bear has been an awards show darling for far too long and that other shows and actors need to be recognized. But when a show is that wonderful, can anyone really argue with all the accolades?

All I can say is I’m glad I’m not a SAG voter because I would petition the people in charge to let five incredible actresses take home the trophy. I’m almost too excited to watch Bell host the SAG Awards on Feb. 23, 2025 and see who is victorious.

Since its debut on Dec. 7, 2021, Abbott Elementary has built a strong and loyal fanbase with the sitcom steady rising ABC’s comedy pipeline to fill the void left by Modern Family.

Season 4 kicked off earlier this fall on Oct. 9 with the core cast – Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Lisa Ann Walter, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Janelle James, Chris Perfetti, and William Stanford James – back roaming the halls. While Abbott perhaps hasn’t been around long enough yet to rise to the level of comedic predecessors Modern Family or The Office, this season promises one epic arc that could vault it into the upper echelon of 21st-century sitcoms.

When is the Abbott Elementary and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia crossover episode?

While speaking at San Diego Comic-Con this summer, Abbott creator Quinta Brunson revealed that this season of Abbott Elementary would feature a crossover episode with a beloved series. On Oct. 3, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star and co-creator Rob McElhenney revealed that his cast had filmed the episode with the cast of Abbott.

McElhenney did not offer any details about the episode of even caption the photos he shared on social media. Besides Brunson and McElhenney, the photos feature Abbott stars Tyler James Williams, who plays Gregory, and William Stanford Davis, who portrays Mr. Johnson. Always Sunny actors Danny DeVito and Charlie Day are also in the photos. Since then, its been confirmed that the crossover episode will be the ninth episode of this season. And though we have official release dates for the first eight episodes of this season — episodes seven and eight will air on Dec. 4 — we do not yet have details for the rest of season 4.

After weeks of speculation, the air date for the crossover episode was revealed to be Thursday, Jan. 8. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times published Jan. 3, McElhenney told the outlet that the crossover allowed the Always Sunny cast to play with their characters a bit to fit with Abbott’s documentary-style format. “That’s what allowed for us to still be authentic and step into the world of Abbott because these characters are going into a school and they’re constantly monitored by cameras, so they would put on an act,” he explained. “If we’re not acting the way that our Sunny characters would, it’s because we know we’re being filmed and we’re putting it on the show.”

“We might not use the same language. We might not make our intentions so obvious or known. We might not be wearing our id on our sleeves. Conversely, when they came over to us, we thought it would be fun to see what their characters would be like when the bell rings and the cameras are not on them,” he continued.

Will Abbott Elementary characters also appear on It’s Always Sunny?

Yes! In a fun twist, Variety reported that what was once believed to be one crossover episode will actually be two, and Abbott Elementary characters will also visit It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

It’s Always Sunny star Kaitlin Olson told the outlet that the show’s teams enjoyed their work together. “It was very fun,” she said, “And they’ll be jumping into our world in a couple of weeks, which is very exciting. So it’s been really fun for both of our casts to be able to do, them a cable show and us a network show.” New episodes of Abbott Elementary air Wednesdays on ABC at 9:30 pm ET. Fans can stream also stream it live on Sling or watch the next day on-demand on Hulu. All 16 seasons of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia are streaming on Hulu.

A mom and child duo have gone viral on TikTok, after sharing a snippet of their experience teaching at the same school in what feels like something pulled straight from Abbott Elementary. 

Shared by TikTok Raya Smith (@rayasmith03), the brief video shows the school teacher packing up her supplies for the day before heading just a short distance across the schoolyard to meet her mother, a fellow teacher. The duo, who are both sporting the school staff lanyards, then proceed to host a makeshift dance party in the mom’s classroom, enjoy an after-school snack, and likely lament whatever antics their students got up to that day.

“When you and your mom teach at the same school,” Raya wrote in the in-video text, elaborating in the caption that she “swears [mom] actually loves having me around.” It’s a variation of Bring your Daughter to Work Day that hits us squarely in the wholesome feels, and it’s all topped off by the use of Ariana Grande’s song “Sweetener” as the soundtrack to the pair’s classroom dance session. The clip almost immediately drew comparisons to Abbott Elementary, since the character of Janine (played by series creator Quinta Brunson) views Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) as something of a surrogate mother figure. 

“Literally Janine and Barbara,” one viewer commented in reference to the beloved sitcom, with another adding that “this could be an Abbott Elementary episode.” Others used the video — which has amassed over two million likes and ten million views — to share their own experiences of working with their mothers, in fields including daycare, nursing, and hospitality. Elsewhere, some viewers sympathized with the mother, who now seemingly gets no time away from her child (which might explain her eye roll in the video), saying the shared workplace “takes bugging your mom while she’s at work to a whole new level.”

“My mom won’t let me work with her cause she said she doesn’t want to have to curse no one out,” another quipped. The general consensus is one of joy, however, with many saying the video and the clear love the pair have for each other “almost made me cry.” The mother was so popular, in fact, that Raya shared another video with her also situated in a school classroom that sees the duo busting out more moves in celebration of their shared school break. 

“It’s Friday and we’re headed on Thanksgiving break,” Raya wrote alongside a clip of the mother-daughter duo recreating a popular TikTok dance. It’s certainly one of the more wholesome school-based viral TikToks we’ve seen in recent months, with the algorithm delivering us a teacher giving archaic gender role lessons, a class hamster making a desperate escape, and a group of teachers enraged by the introduction of Bible studies into classrooms. Oh, there was also that student who brought an emotional hedgehog to class.   

On the parent/child duo front, the For You Page has been populated by a son making unexpected use of his mother’s Thanksgiving Day leftovers, a little girl schooling her dad on how to be the man of the house, and a toddler who had a surprisingly adult response when questioned by her mom. We sincerely hope Raya and her mom got some much-needed rest over their Thanksgiving school break, and at least found some alone time before returning to their shared workplace.  

Abbott Elementary is set to enjoy one of the biggest crossover episodes in modern sitcom history next year, when the cast of teachers at the namesake school cross paths with one of TV’s most notorious groups… the characters of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

That’s right, the Reynolds family along with Charlie and Mac will be visiting Abbott Elementary in 2025, and it’s set to spawn not just one episode, but two, crossover episodes. In fact, there will be an episode targeted toward each audience.

Speaking in a recent interview at Vulture Fest, Abbott Elementary creator and star Quinta Brunson shared details about the collaboration and explained when fans can expect to see this historic TV event.

“Our episode will air in January. So, it will be an Abbott Elementary episode,” Brunson told Vulture. “But the first episode of Always Sunny — I don’t know when their episode’s gonna air, probably in June. Their episode will be their version of what happened in this storyline.”

It sounds like the perfect arrangement. While both shows are comedies, Always Sunny is much more adult than Abbott, so we expect each of the respective crossover episodes will align more tonally with its series, while still bringing together the two universes in meaningful way.

Right now there are absolutely no details regarding exactly what will go down in the crossover episodes, or how the cast of Always Sunny makes their way to Abbott Elementary in the first place. However, season 4 of the ABC sitcom is currently airing, and it seems to have a focus on gentrification in Philadelphia and how that is impacting schooling. So perhaps this unexpected visit from the Always Sunny gang will be tied to that overarching theme.

Season 17 of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia hasn’t yet received a release date, so while Brunson suggests June will be when fans can see the crossover from its perspective, it could be later if there are production delays or anything that impacts the progress on the season.

Previously, Brunson explained how the crossover between these two beloved sitcoms came together while speaking to Jimmy Kimmel, and it’s mostly what you would expect if you’ve been following either show. It all started with a message from Rob McElhenney, the star and creator of Always Sunny.

“Something came up online, and he was like, ‘Someone said this seems like a Sunny episode, this seems like an Abbott episode,’” Brunson explained. “And then we kind of connected over that. And then we really connected in person, and I just get along with [McElhenney] and his team so well, that we felt like we could actually do this.”

Last month, McElhenney shared a teaser image of himself alongside Brunson and Sunny co-star Charlie Day, in what looked to be the playground set of Abbott Elementary. While it might be difficult to imagine how these two series could crossover and still remain appropriate for each of their audiences, we can’t say we aren’t intrigued. Fortunately, the wait won’t be too long before we get to see how it all goes down.

Abbott Elementary is currently airing its fourth season, with new episodes set to be released in early December. Meanwhile, fans can expect to see the Always Sunny gang arrive back on the scene in January of 2025.

It’s not possible to dislike Abbott Elementary. Quinta Brunson’s brainchild is smart, uplifting, relatable, uproariously funny, and always a great idea, whether you’ve seen every episode or are starting from the beginning because a friend said you had to check it out (and they were right). Along with quoting the funniest lines (“Sweet Baby Jesus and the grown one, too!”) and feeling all the feels in each episode, fans will want to know what the stars are earning to play these endearing characters.

Abbott Elementary, is also a compelling and intelligent mockumentary-style sitcom, premiered on ABC in 2021, and it’s been winning awards (though not as many as it should) and high ratings ever since. So, as it’s almost time to watch Abbott Elementary season 4, maybe wearing stylish outfits inspired by our favorite characters, let’s get ready to be amazed at the salaries of the sitcom’s cast !

How much do the Abbott Elementary actors earn for each episode?

In Sept. 2024, Deadline reported that the Abbott Elementary cast are now earning more money than ever. They have been given raises, which is awesome news considering how amazing they are as their smart, kind, and dedicated characters. Now, if only actual teachers were paid what they’re worth.

So, what are their salaries now that the beloved sitcom is in its fourth season? William Stanford Davis (as irrepressible custodian Mr. Johnson) is now making $100,000 for each episode. Chris Perfetti (as the ever-well-meaning Jacob Hill), Lisa Ann Walter (as the feisty, sharp-tongued Melissa Schemmenti), and Janelle James (as Principal/“influencer” Ava Coleman), are each making $200,000. Tyler James Williams (as the level-headed, garden-loving Gregory Eddie) and Sheryl Lee Ralph (as beloved school matriarch Barbara Howard) are being paid $250,000.

Quinta Brunson, who not only plays Janine Teagues, but also created the show and is an executive producer, is making the most out of all the cast : between $350,000 and $400,000 for every episode.

So, let’s do some Math (ittedly not my strong suit, but hey, I’m a writer!). If Brunson makes $350,000 for 22 Abbott Elementary season 4 episodes, she’s going to make $7.7 million per season. Whoa!

It’s worth nothing that while the wonderful cast of Abbott Elementary is raking it in (and, again, it’s well-deserved), their characters likely aren’t earning anything even close to their salaries. As is often the case, how much you earn as a teacher is different, based on where you live. According to The Progress News, you could earn $45,300 or $85,000. But it might pay (literally) to live in Pennsylvania. Business.org shared a study in 2022 that if you’re located in that state (the same one where Abbot Elementary is set), you might have earned $71,281 for the 2020/2021 school year. But if you live and teach in New York, you made over $87,000 that same year. These aren’t terrible salaries at all, but they definitely aren’t more than $7 million.

It’s a different story in other places, though. According to The Hill, if you live in Missouri, Mississippi, South Dakota, and Florida, your salary will only be around $53,000.

Brunson is, of course, aware of the low salaries that some teachers are paid. When she hosted Saturday Night Live in 2023, she said, “ how important teachers are, acknowledge the work they do every day, and for the love of god, pay them the money they deserve.”

Many people at least one kind teacher who made a huge impression on them, whether they noticed that you were a particularly strong writer, or wanted to encourage your love of history or science. My third grade teacher used to always say “go the extra mile,” which might sound corny, but has stayed with me ever since. All the amazing teachers out there need to get raises, just like the cast of Abbott Elementary. And while that might be out of our control, at least it’s possible to escape into the fictional world of this school, and appreciate these special characters.

Across three wonderfully funny seasons, Abbott Elementary has tentatively won a place among sitcom royalty. With season 4 fast approaching, it’s time to judge whether it can withstand the test of time.

Winner of four Primetime Emmys for writing, casting, and acting, the ABC workplace comedy series follows a group of elementary teachers working in a Philadelphia public school. Through all the typical trials, tribulations, and love affairs of a good sitcom, the show has also won praise for shining a light on various obstacles the vital teaching profession faces in America on a daily basis.

Lead actress and Buzzfeed alum Quinta Brunson is responsible for coming up with the concept for Abbott Elementary and serves as a head writer and executive producer. She’s ed by a fantastic ing cast composed of Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and William Stanford Davis.

When is season 4 of Abbott Elementary coming out?

ABC announced its fall premiere dates on Wednesday, July 10, among which was season 4 of Abbott Elementary. The award-winning mockumentary sitcom is picking back up on October 9, presumably airing one episode per week as it did with previous seasons.

We’re all eager to find out where Janine and Gregory’s relationship is headed after that show-stopping season 3 finale kiss. Brunson told The Wrap that the show’s writer’s room for season 4 would kick into gear in early June, with filming expected to resume in August. After a shortened season due to the Hollywood strikes of the summer of 2023, the crew is back to having 22 episodes to stretch their muscles and enjoy their fourth school year. The showrunner promises more holiday-themed episodes, including Christmas and Halloween.

All three seasons of Abbott Elementary can be streamed on Hulu, with Max offering the first two, as well.

Abbott Elementary is one of the best comedy shows to emerge in the last decade.

The mockumentary-style workplace comedy uses all of the tropes that have worked wonders in the past, and revitalizes them with a kind of sincerity and kindness that are as rare as they are essential in the current cultural and social climate.

Each character from the uber-talented cast of Abbott Elementary stands out as their own person, with a marked personality and identity. The costume design work of Susan Michalek contributes significantly to this feat.

Janine: colorful dress and statement belt

Janine (Quinta Brunson, who doubles as Abbott Elementary’s creator) loves a dress — especially one that is bright and colorful. My favorite thing she has ever worn was Akira’s The Main Attraction Color Blocked Midi Dress in the season three finale “Party.” The blue, black, yellow, and white skirt/top combo she then wore at her end-of-school bash (that understandably functioned as the unavoidable motivator for Gregory to finally seal the deal (!!!!!)) was also a look.

If you want to channel the Abbott Elementary leading lady go for a funky, fun dress, that’s fitting or flowy (Ms Brunson makes both work). And never forget to add a maxi belt to accentuate that waist. After all, Janine’s belt is its own character on the show.

Ava: chic maxi dress, cinched at the waist

You will never catch Ava slipping in the fashion department. Abbott Elementary’s exuberant TikTok-famous principal is a self-proclaimed fashionista with a closet so expansive she often sells part of it online. Her signature look is a long dress with a modern yet classy design that shows off her curves. And, although she does love her black and greys, you will just as commonly find her rocking a pop of color — she just doesn’t mix them like Janine does (she would never do anything Janine does).

Barbara: cardigan, satin blouse, and pearls

If you’re trying to channel Queen Barbara, you need to go one of two ways: either pair a printed blouse with a simple cardigan or layer a solid color shirt with a sweater on top. And never, ever forget your pearl necklace. Magenta pink is usually Barbara’s color of choice, but she dabbles in all shades of the rainbow.

The veteran teacher might be channeling a sophisticated/elegant church-going grandma most days, but she’s got a playful streak too, like when she wore that cute heart sweater from Kate Spade New York in season two’s Valentine’s Day episode.

Melissa: leather forever

Ms. Schemmenti doesn’t go anywhere without her leather jacket, so if you truly want to channel the hearty Italian second-grade teacher you need to get some leather in there somewhere. You can choose to pair some leather pants/jeggings with an animal print top or go for some simple dark wash jeans, a solid color top, and a leather jacket to complete the look.

Melissa loves darker colors such as dark olive green, and, her favorite, black, but her bright pink sweaters are a staple of her wardrobe. Just don’t go snooping around it, she’s got cousins in dark places.

Gregory: fitted everything, muted colors, hot as hell

The fashion sense of Taylor James Williams and his Abbott character Gregory could not be more distinct. Taylor loves to push the boundaries of men’s fashions, while boundaries are probably Gregory’s favorite word in the dictionary.

The first-grade teacher isn’t much of a risk taker when it comes to his clothes, but he’s getting better at taking risks in life. He always goes for the simplest outfits you could think of, no color and absolutely no patterns. Still, we’re all thankful that the Abbott costume department decided Gregory should be a fan of fitted clothes (he’s a gym rat after all) because Taylor James William looks amazing in them.

Jacob: loves a sweater or a plaid shirt or both

Jacob’s students might have nicknamed him Mr. C (short for “Corny”), but his fashion is adorable. The facts-happy History teacher is a lot more relaxed than Gregory, but nevertheless stays in the realm of teacher-appropriate male attire. I love the striped knit sweater he wore to Mother’s Day drag queen brunch in season three.

Mr. Hill is a fan of pastel, warm colors, plaid button-down shirts (flannel and otherwise), and cozy sweaters. He usually pairs his tops with a blazer, but he’ll mix it up occasionally with a bomber jacket. Unlike Gregory, who always wears dress shoes, Jacob loves a sneaker, even after breaking up with his sneaker-obsessed boyfriend Zac.

Mr. Johnson’s uniform

If you’re going for a faithful Mr. Johnson Halloween look, you obviously have to wear his signature Willard R. Abbott Elementary teal custodian uniform. Simply pair a light teal shirt with darker work pants, add a belt loop key chain and steal-toe boots and you’ll be ready to rid Abbott, your home, or anywhere you see fit of all that annoying trash.

Mr. Johnson after hours

However, every time we get to see the school custodian off-the-clock, he’s always wearing something surprising, like his leather shirt in the season three finale. Oh, and he’s the king of hats — fedoras that would look hideous on the head of anyone else, somehow look cool and breezy when Mr. Johnson wears them. He’s my idol.

Tariq: street style influencer

Zack Fox’s Tariq is one of the funniest recurring characters in Abbott Elementary (and there are a few). Not only are his aspirations of being an anti-drug hip-hop artist for children hilarious, but Fox can deliver the most unserious of lines with a straight face, which makes for Grade A comedy.

Ever since Janine broke up with Tariq, he’s had a bit of a makeover and now every time he shows up at Abbott as the president of the PTA (not Parent Teacher Association but Parent Tariq Alliance) he has a cool outfit on. He’s definitely got street style down. Some stand-out pieces are his orange sunglasses from the season one finale and the rugby shirt he wore in season three.

Janine’s iconic season two night out look

We rarely ever get to see the Abbott crew on a night out, so when Janine, Erika, Ava, and Gregory decided to hit the town to celebrate Christmas in season two, we were treated to some especially sleek fashion moments from everyone. Janine looked stunning in her little black dress, which she paired with her signature green coat and silver jewelry. I personally will never forget that dancefloor scene with Gregory (and neither will he).

Gregory’s iconic season two night out look

We know this is just a white sweater and a gold chain, but as you’ve probably discerned by now this writer has a celebrity crush on Tyler James Williams and, therefore, she was a big fun of this look from the same season two Christmas episode of the former and following entries.

Ava’s iconic season two night out look

Ava, of course, was also at the club, witnessing her subordinates almost hooking up on the dancefloor. And, also as expected, she looked as fabulous as ever in a figure-hugging red dress, oversized super fully white faux fur coat and sequin gold purse. We definitely need to get in on her Instagram closet sales!

Janine’s district fashion

Janine’s fashion changed significantly during her stint at the District in season three. She swapped her colorful teacher attire for a more formal selection of grey skirt suits and blouses. Susan Michalek’s genius, however, was still present. The costume designer kept Janine’s warm second-grade teacher spirit alive by adding small details to her sophisticated clothes, such as playful pins of fruit and animals. I especially loved the cherry brooch she wore on more than one occasion.

Succession and The Bear may have swept up at the 75th Emmy Awards, but a number of other shows earned much-deserved statuettes.

The HBO series about the dysfunctional billionaire Roy family added six wins to its already impressive Emmy haul last night, but their 2024 tally was matched by the FX show about a superstar chef who returns to his family-owned restaurant after his brother’s suicide. They were followed closely by Ali Wong’s Beef, which was honored five times. The White Lotus and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver added to HBO’s overall plunder, continuing their dominance of the event.

Competition was incredibly tough this year, and some truly outstanding shows like The Last of Us and Wednesday went home empty handed. Better Call Saul continued its streak of raking in the nominations without winning anything, much to the chagrin of its devoted fanbase. And there was some big news for Sir Elton John, who secured the final letter of his EGOT thanks to Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium.

If you’re keen to catch up on all this excellent television but don’t know where to start, you can find out where to watch all the Emmy 2024 winning shows below!

2024 Emmy comedy series winners

• The Bear: this fast-paced, addictive series about a high-end chef who returns to run his family’s restaurant has been renewed for a third season, and we’re thankful for it. It can be found on Hulu in the U.S., and Disney Plus in the U.K.
• Abbott Elementary: writer, creator, and lead actress Quinta Brunson won the Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series award for her performance in this heartwarming show about a group of dedicated teachers in an underfunded, inner-city school. U.S. viewers can find it on ABC, Hulu, fuboTV, and DirectTV. U.K. viewers will find both seasons on Disney Plus.

Drama series winners

• Succession: Jeremy Strong may have played the eldest boy in the Roy clan (if we ignore Connor, which we always do), but it’s Kieran Culkin who has been picking up the best actor awards for his turn as younger sibling Roman. You can watch the Shakespearean power struggle on Max in the States, or Sky/NowTV in the U.K.
• White Lotus: Jennifer Coolidge was her usual iconic self in season 2 of this HBO anthology series set around a chain of luxury hotels, and was rightfully rewarded for it. You can watch it on Max in America, and Sky or NowTV in the U.K.

Limited or anthology series winners

• Beef: most of the time when viewers talk about chemistry, it’s in a romantic context. In this hilarious limited series about a road rage incident that escalates into a life-changing feud, Ali Wong and Steven Yeun manage to show the other side of the coin, and the enemies are as compelling to watch as any other on-screen pair. You can find it on Netflix.
• Black Bird: this mini-series about a convict who is offered the chance at freedom if he can elicit a confession from another prisoner is tense, bingeable, and full of great performances. All episodes can be found on Apple TV Plus.

Reality competition winners

• RuPaul’s Drag Race: the long-running and much beloved drag reality television show sashayed away with an award at the 75th Emmys. You can watch it in all its lip-syncing glory on MTV if you have cable (it moved from VH1 a few years prior). If you want to stream it, it’s on Philo, DirectTV, and fuboTV. In the U.K., it’s available to stream on Netflix too.

Talk series winners

• The Daily Show with Trevor Noah: South African born Noah has announced his departure from this beloved talk show, but he went out with a much-deserved Emmy win. You can find episodes on Comedy Central in the U.S., and Apple TV Plus in the U.K. It’s also available to purchase episode-by-episode on Prime Video.

Scripted variety series winners

• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: the British funnyman added to HBO’s sweep of the 75th Emmy Awards with yet another statuette to add to the show’s burgeoning collection. You can watch the show on Max in the U.S. and NowTV/Sky in Britain.

Variety special (live) winners

• Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium: the Rocket Man finally claimed his EGOT with this win. He turns back the clock in this filmed live performance, which you can watch on Disney Plus.

We were warned that another Disney content purge was on the way, but now that the fateful day has arrived, the force of its swinging axe has left our ears ringing. From a $50 million sci-fi blockbuster to a one-season drama, multiple properties have now been reduced to just dust in the wind. Except for Nimona, of course — the LGBTQ+ animated movie continues to prove how foolish it was for the House of Mouse to sell the movie to Netflix, let alone call quits on it in the first place. 

Meanwhile, Pixar is experiencing a small reprieve from drowning in bad press and all the poor box office numbers that have plagued it over the last several weeks. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny on the other hand, not so much. There’s a lot to get through today, Disney peeps. Buckle up.

Disney Plus gives a $50 million sci-fi blockbuster the boot after just 7 weeks 

When the sci-fi movie Crater dropped a couple of months ago on Disney Plus it was done with little fanfare and an even smaller amount of excitement. Not because the movie was bad (although it was undoubtedly not-great), but because the studio barely promoted the darn thing. Now, in a turn of events no one saw coming, Disney has decided to wipe the film fom the face of the Earth, making it no longer available to stream on Disney Plus or buy, rent, or steal anywhere else.

In a shocking turn of events, Indiana Jones loses out to Pixar in Korea

After doing everything in its power to convince people to see Elemental in theaters — even using one of its most beloved films to promote it — Pixar just couldn’t come out on top. The $200 million animated movie scored a measly $29 million at the domestic box office during its opening weekend, and runs the risk of ing Strange World as one of the company’s biggest box office bombs of all time. Maybe if Pixar had promoted the movie as a Father’s Day film instead of a romance people would’ve turned out to see it. Who knows? What we do know is that Elemental wiped the floor with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in Korea this weekend, besting the Harrison Ford adventure movie three weeks post its theatrical debut. Korea’s scant fondness for the Indy franchise is undoubtedly to blame, but for a film that’s seen so much strife, this is a much-needed win for Elemental, and Pixar.

Netflix rubs salt in the wound as the film Disney let go tops the streaming charts

Canceling an LGBTQ+ movie three-quarters into its completion is never a good look, but Disney did just that when it acquired 20th Century Fox prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and then gave Nimona the axe in 2021. The animated film was eventually picked up by Netflix and, upon its release, became (or would have become) the House Mouse’s best-reviewed film in seven years since 2016’s Zootopia. Instead, Netflix is enjoying all the attention. The film is currently sitting at the top of the Top 10 charts in 58 nations, so it goes without saying that the movie turned all that “controversy” completely on its head. 

Another round of content purging leaves our heads spinning 

Nimona and Crater aren’t the only movies Disney has abandoned. In the House of Mouse’s latest round of content purging, it has also parted ways with The Watchful Eye, and not just on Disney Plus. The well-reviewed series will no longer be available to stream on Hulu or Star Plus. It is, however, still available to rent or buy on Amazon, which is more than other shows from the first round of Disney’s content purge can say. In that vein, the company also bid adieu to Single Drunk Female on Freeform. In fact, some could say that Disney is shooting repeated bullets into its own foot by licensing out 10 of its hit series to other rival platforms, including the Emmy Award-winning sitcom Abbott Elementary.  

With so many shows coming and going from Disney Plus it can be hard to keep up, but fear not. As always, we’ve got you covered: Here are the best movies and TV shows coming to the streaming platform this month.

Disney Plus has always wanted a piece of the Netflix action, but lately the Mouse House platform has seemingly had ambitions of snatching Netflix’s crown as the most disappointing streaming service of them all. After May’s mega content purge, Disney has continued wiping multiple shows from the face of the internet, which has naturally turned a fair few subscribers away. Now, in another novel approach, the studio has decided to give up some of its most popular series for people to watch for free.

As per Variety, Disney Plus has licensed out 10 U.S. TV dramas and comedies to Channel 4’s streaming platform in the U.K. The shows in question are Alias (seasons 1-5), The Americans (seasons 1-6), Empire (seasons 1-6), Scandal (seasons 1-7), The X-Files (seasons 1-11), Bones (seasons 1-12), The Killing (seasons 1-4), Star (seasons 1-3), Grown-ish (seasons 1-6), and Abbott Elementary (seasons 1-2). With the exception of Star, all series can also be found on Disney Plus.

To be fair to D+, it’s not the only major streaming that’s starting to license out its previously exclusive content. Notably, Prime Video is planning on selling off one of its most prized possessions, The Marvelous Ms. Maisel, to outside parties for the first time. As the streaming boom dies off and the various studios realize these platforms are more costly than they initially appeared, it seems everyone’s keen to decrease their losses as much as possible, whether that be achieved by removing or giving away certain titles.

Channel 4’s streaming service will no doubt see this influx of new shows as a boon, especially as it’s struggled with branding issues over the years. Originally known as 4oD, it was renamed All4 in 2015 before relaunching simply as Channel 4 in 2022. These 10 series will become available for U.K. streamers to binge at no extra cost from later this month.

Chris Perfetti is in high demand. 

The actor, who has been involved in the entertainment industry for over a decade, stars in ABC’s critically acclaimed series Abbott Elementary as Jacob Hill, and is currently performing in the Broadway play King James, slated to end this week. King James follows the friendship between two men over the years as they bond over their appreciation for LeBron James. Perfetti has been on tour with the play since last March, and has captivated crowds from Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. 

During a recent interview with Theater Mania, Perfetti recalled how it was juggling his dual roles in Abbott Elementary and King James. In the June 14 discussion, the 34-year-old revealed that although he has “heard horror stories” in the past from his friends who tried to balance television and theater work, he’s enjoyed his overall experience because filming on the ABC show doesn’t take that long. Perfetti said, 

“It’s great. I’ve always heard horror stories of friends who start working on a TV show but can’t do theater in their time off, and one of the many amazing things about Abbott is that we shoot very quickly. We get a lot of work done in not a lot of time. It’s sort of fate. It just worked out the first time, and it’s worked out each time, that we were done shooting by the time King James came back around.”

Further into the interview, Perfetti opened up about what it felt like returning to the New York theater scene following a brief hiatus due to his busy schedule with Abbott Elementary. The Before I Go star shared that because he doesn’t usually take too much time away from participating in Broadway productions, it didn’t “feel all that strange.” Perfetti adds that the only difference that occurred with the positive career trajectory is that he’s working a lot more. 

“It doesn’t feel all that strange. I’ve never spent too much time without working on a play, usually a new play. Within the context of Abbott, I guess it feels different. I will say that I’ve never imagined that I would have years in my career where I’m working more than I’m not working. I’ve gotten very used to making use of the downtime. And this past year and the year before have been very busy!”

King James tickets are currently on sale at a discounted price, and fans can catch the last show on June 18. 

In an industry full of controversy — specifically the #MeToo movement — it’s undoubtedly important to stay true to yourself and remain a strong-minded individual. And if you ask Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph if being in the cinematic realm has changed her at all, it’s clear that she’ll quickly shoot down such a silly question. Then again, when you’ve perfected your craft as well as Ralph, then it hardly comes as a surprise that she carries such a strong opinion on the industry as a whole.

While chatting with fellow comedy actresses during a THR Roundtable, Ralph got extremely candid when discussing the importance of staying true to yourself as a way to “survive” the industry. As always, Ralph was completely unapologetic in remaining true to herself after all these years, all while reflecting on her peers that have allowed the industry to change them for the worse. Ralph said:

“If you don’t hold on to yourself or have a firm foundation of who you are in this industry, it will eat you up and one day you might look in the mirror and not know who the hell you’re looking at. And I have seen that happen over and over. I’ve seen nice people come into this industry and turn into some people and I’m like, ‘Whoa! Who are you and what happened?’ But then I’ve also realized, fame frees people up to be exactly who they are. So for me, as a grown-ass woman, it’s about knowing who I am.”

Without skipping a beat, Ralph followed up on those remarks by insisting that she doesn’t “play games with people” and she doesn’t play games with herself. At the end of the day, Ralph confidently states that she knows exactly who she is as a person, and that people will simply have to “take it or leave it.” Simple as that.

And with young stars such as Jenna Ortega and Elle Fanning sitting beside her, Ralph’s words are certainly a stark reminder that remaining true to yourself is arguably the most important thing you can ever do. It’s definitely a fascinating change from seeing Ralph’s well-known comedic side, although any version of her is absolutely magical.