In season five of Abbott Elementary, Gregory (Tyler James Williams) and Janine (Quinta Brunson) take their relationship to the next level by moving in together, but it’s not always smooth sailing for the happy couple, particularly when they have the chance to take a vacation together and start to realize how they don’t always see eye to eye on everything.
Awards Buzz had the chance to speak with Williams about his character’s enduring negativity:
“I feel like the bouts of positivity are very earned when we get them. He’s not easily impressed. He’s not easily made comfortable in his own skin. He’s somehow somebody who, the older he gets, the more uncomfortable he gets in his own skin, but I do feel like it’s really fun whenever he does earn something that he is excited about or feels like he knows a lot about or feels like he can let his hair down a bit.”
He couldn’t quantify how much he’s like Gregory, but for good reason:
“I think at this point, six years in, there’s going to be overlaps with me and him. That’s a TBD question. I’m not sure. I think I would have to wait until after the show is done to really be able to dissect where the line is between me and him. At this point, since the beginning of the 20s, I’ve been in Gregory’s skin. My entire 30s has been in Gregory’s skin, so it’s kind of hard to decipher right now.”
He shared how his experience as a child actor helps him relate to his younger costars:
“You are a young, inexperienced because of your age, actor in a room full of adults who’ve been doing this for a very long time. It can be intimidating but it’s something that you like to do and love to do. So there is always an aspect of knowing what it’s like to be in their little shoes that I’ll carry along with me for the entirety of my career.”
Watch the video above to hear who he’d like to get more screentime with and whether things really will stay looking good for Gregory in the upcoming sixth season.
The first five seasons of Abbott Elementary are available to stream on Hulu, with season six set to return this fall on ABC.
