Quinta Brunson Doesn’t Play Her Height for Laughs on ‘Abbott Elementary’
Quinta Brunson is an actor currently making waves on the hit TV series Abbott Elementary. Brunson, who first started receiving recognition in the entertainment industry for her work with BuzzFeed, not only stars in the ABC mockumentary — she created the show and leads its writers room.
Brunson’s character, Janine Teagues, is beloved by her students. But that doesn’t save her from occasional mocking. However, the show veers away from commenting on her height.
Janine Teagues’ height isn’t really referenced on ‘Abbott Elementary’
In Abbott Elementary, Quinta Brunson plays Janine Teagues, a second-grade teacher who works relentlessly to help her students succeed. Although Janine struggles with many of the same issues that plague teachers worldwide, including underfunding, that doesn’t dim her passion for helping her young students. Her unfettered optimism often makes her a target, as students and other staff at the school mock her for it.
More than Janine’s personality garners laughs. Her unique wardrobe, which features many puffed-sleeved tops and brightly-patterned skirts and blouses, gets a lot of attention. However, her short stature didn’t come up much in the first episodes of season 1.
Quinta Brunson has joked about her height in the past
Even though Janine’s height isn’t often discussed in Abbott Elementary, Quinta Brunson isn’t averse to poking fun at her height. And she’s done so many times. When the comedian created content with BuzzFeed, she released a video titled “9 Perks of Being Short.” The skit featured Brunson (who is 4’11, according to Celeb Heights) revealing the benefits of her lack of height, including hiding underneath an office desk or making your way to the front of a crowd of taller people.
In a 2017 standup comedy set, Brunson joked again about her height. In a YouTube clip of her performance, Brunson displayed her sense of humor, riffing about how people often view being short as having something “wrong with you.” She also joked that being a short woman often makes her susceptible to the advances of child predators.
‘Abbott Elementary’ is Quinta Brunson’s brainchild
Brunson has been hustling for a long time, acting in various projects, including iZombie and A Black Lady Sketch Show. Brunson became a pop culture mainstay thanks to her association with the BuzzFeed platform, with her content going viral on several occasions.
In 2018, Brunson left BuzzFeed to focus on her own ventures. She embarked on a thriving career in voice acting, writing, and performing in the animated series Lazor Wulf. In 2021, Brunson got her big break when cast in a recurring role in the TV series Miracle Workers.
In 2021, Abbott Elementary premiered on ABC. Although the series started small, it quickly gained traction. Fans and critics praise its The Office-style mockumentary format and dedicated performances. Thanks to Abbott Elementary, Brunson has become a big (pun intended) star. And fans can expect to see even more of her and Janine Teagues now that the show has been picked up for a second season at ABC.
