Humor can often be a coping mechanism for dealing with serious problems. So it makes sense why when people are frustrated about their jobs and feel like they are lacking the ability to change their situation, a comedy about characters in similar situations would be popular.
The Wall Street Journal recently discussed how a variety of TV shows about work-life, including Abbott Elementary, are proving a hit at a time when people are struggling to figure out their own jobs.
Ever since the pandemic started it has opened up widespread discussion about career issues like working from home, wage increases, and adapting to new technology.
So it can be a source of comfort to see characters in TV shows dealing with similar issues, but putting a humorous spin on them.
That is the case for Abbott Elementary, a sitcom that debuted in December of 2021 about a Philadelphia public school. The show recently finished up its first season earlier in April, but by March had already been renewed for a second season due to its viewership and critical acclaim.
With the show focusing on the tribulations of the school system, it has proven particularly relevant during a time when educators are struggling to adapt to all the new challenges for teaching during Covid. In the show’s first season, it averages 8 million viewers per week.
Abbott Elementary can sprinkle in poignant moments behind the jokes, but there is not always a neat solution to a problem even in the fictionalized world of television.
Still, sometimes a concrete answer to an obstacle isn’t a realistic expectation to have. Occasionally, it can just be enough to have a person, or a character, who can commiserate with you and find the humor in a situation.
For more on how Abbott Elementary presents cogent criticisms of actual work life, check out the Wall Street Journal article here.
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