Star of the hit ABC comedy show Abbott Elementary Quinta Brunson graced the Jimmy Kimmel Live! talk show on Wednesday and discussed how she named the show after her sixth-grade teacher, Ms. Abbott.
The show is set in Philadelphia, Brunson's hometown. Host Jimmy Kimmel asked Brunson about the last time she spoke to her teacher.
"The last time I saw Ms. Abbott was probably sixth grade. I got to speak to her recently," the comedic actress said.
"Oh, you did, well let's talk to her again because we happen to have her on," the late-night host replied as a jumbo screen revealed the respected educator.
Brunson let out a surprised shriek as she saw the smiling face of her former teacher, who was also dancing.
"Oh my God, I'm so proud of you," Ms. Abbott said of her former student.
Kimmel then inquired how she discovered Brunson's show was named after her.
"It was confirmed one night when I was watching 6 ABC News, and they were talking about the Abbott Elementary show shortly after the pilot, and the newscaster said, 'Miss Abbott, if you're watching, Quinta, would like to e-connect with you,' I was like 'oh my God.' So just very honored," Abbott said.
She went on to say that "Quinta was an awesome student."
"When she came into my class, she was really shy, timid — but as I challenged all of my students, we had to speak in complete sentences. I built their confidence that whatever you want at life, you can do it; you have to work hard. We did projects where we worked hard to go to fabulous places, just instilling that in them, instilling their confidence," she said.
"She grew out of her shell. She was really our class spokesperson. One of the local newspapers did an article on us, and they said, 'We entered the classroom, and we were met by the articulate Quinta Brunson.' She's amazing," she said, praising Brunson.
Brunson became emotional, unable to speak with tears streaming down her face, which she dabbed with a tissue. Kimmel later noted that Ms. Abbott was set to retire after 30 years of teaching.
"You obviously are a great teacher," said Kimmel, who gifted the teacher with an all-expense paid, first-class, five-day trip. "You don't have to take Quinta with you, but she kind of did name the show after you," he jested near the end of the interview.
