Janelle James on Questlove Cameo, Ava Clothes Line

[This story contains spoilers from the April 17 episode of Abbott Elementary, “2 Ava 2 Fest.”]

Ava Fest returned to Abbott Elementary for a second yr in a row throughout Wednesday night time’s “2 Ava 2 Fest” episode. However, not like the primary pageant in season two of the ABC sitcom — the place the wildly unqualified principal of Willard R. Abbott college pretended the title of the petition-signing effort stood for “A Very Abbott Competition” — this time round, she wastes no time professing her true intentions.

“In fact it’s about Ava, what do you imply?” actress Janelle James, who portrays Ava within the Quinta Brunson comedy, asks facetiously. “She simply needs to have a celebration, cost on the door, take half. What’s the massive deal?”

The large deal within the episode seems to be Ava’s promise that Questlove will carry out on the pageant, which not one of the academics imagine after she did not e-book R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan the yr prior. However in a stunning flip of occasions for everybody besides the elementary college’s overconfident chief, the Grammy and Academy Award-winning musician and filmmaker who hails from Philadelphia reveals up and solidifies Ava’s former cool woman standing in entrance of all of her colleagues.

Beneath, James chats with The Hollywood Reporter about Questlove’s visitor look, tussling with “Ashley Banks,” aka Tatyana Ali, in a previous episode this season, and the way she thinks Ava will deal with Janine’s return to Abbott after turning down her promotion at The District.

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I interviewed you throughout season one in every of Abbott when issues have been nonetheless fairly lowkey for you. What’s life like now? Are you able to stroll down the road anymore?

What’s life like? I do my make-up for Zooms now. I’ve realized that lesson. Can I stroll down the road now? I can. Is it advisable? Generally not. I at all times wish to give folks a superb expertise with me, particularly as a result of I really feel like superstar is such a distinct factor now and if somebody does have a nasty expertise with me, I’ll comprehend it in a while. So that basically informs whether or not I’m going outdoors or not. Don’t go strolling down the road for those who aren’t making an attempt to have a meet and greet or hear some tales concerning the grandma who was a instructor and the auntie who was a principal.

Discuss how this week’s episode, “2 Ava 2 Fest,” happened. Did you’ve any enter on the execution?

Within the second season we had Ava Fest. So once I noticed the title for this episode I used to be like, “Oh, we’re coming again with the second. This can be a yearly occasion.” Which, may be very Ava. Although the primary one was a reasonable success, she’s going to do it once more. Now I’m not within the writers room in any respect, so I came upon identical to everyone else once I bought the script, and I like that. That is the primary time in my life I’ve had one job. I’m used to doing two or three. So I’m staying out the way in which, minding my enterprise and trusting the writers to deliver the gold that they’ve been bringing.

A Questlove cameo was teased all through the episode, and he ultimately pops up within the closing moments. What was it like working with him? Had you met him earlier than?

I had met him earlier than a pair instances, simply right here and there. And we’ve spoken about music and stuff like that. He can speak about that ceaselessly. It was cool to see him. I feel he and Quinta are precise pals. I’m by no means one to say a star as a pal except I do know their mama’s title or one thing like that. However we’re cordial and he killed his half.

I additionally like that this episode goes deeper into Ava lore and you discover out just a little bit extra about her background. It’s like, duh, in fact Ava was a fly woman again within the day. She is aware of folks and he or she’s Philly well-known. So when Questlove reveals up, it’s like no large deal. She’s like, “What’s up Quest?” which is a gag on the academics just a little bit, who didn’t imagine that she knew him. And to their credit score, they shouldn’t imagine her, as a result of I didn’t get Ms. Sullivan final yr.

Did manufacturing really attempt to get Jazmine Sullivan to do a visitor look?

I’ve nothing to do with that. It’s all Quinta’s acquisitions.

Do the forged members ever throw out visitor star strategies? 

I don’t throw out strategies. I imagine that after we throw out strategies that’s nearly a assure that that individual gained’t come, particularly in an interview. I hate to do it as a result of then folks assume I can get them on the present, and I can’t. I at all times say an excellent aspirational individual. Like I’ve mentioned Diana Ross ought to play Ava’s mother, and that’s any individual that if we get her, she’s so large, it wouldn’t matter if I spoil it prematurely. However Quinta does run my boyfriends by me. I feel that’s cool. Any love curiosity or anybody Ava goes to point out curiosity in, she runs an image by me like, “You good?” “How a lot appearing are you going to must do for this one?”

Additionally, with visitor stars, generally that may be corny, simply pulling in folks on a present. However it’s a testomony to Quinta and our present that even our visitor stars are very Philly coded. They’re from Philly. They’ve one thing to do with Philly. It’s not simply this random man. The characters are very properly built-in.

Ava went toe-to-toe together with her sorority sister nemesis Crystal, performed by Tatyana Ali, in episode eight this season. What was it like working together with her?

To start with, how thrilling. I walked within the make-up trailer and he or she’s sitting subsequent to me and I’m geeking, like, “Yo, that’s Ashley Banks.” It was cool to play reverse her. In my thoughts I used to be like, “wow, what is that this? That is wonderful.” And I informed her this too, she actually made me step up. bBcause it’s laborious for any individual to come back right into a present that’s already established, and he or she introduced it. I used to be like “Oh, let me get up too.” It’s not that you simply get lazy, however we’re so used to the rhythms of our ensemble, so to have this new individual are available in and he or she’s bringing it, I used to be like, “Oh, okay!”  It was a fantastic expertise for me to match together with her.

We discover out on the finish of episode 10 that Janine is leaving The District and coming again to Abbott Elementary full time. How is Ava going to deal with that information?

I feel everyone knows at this level, Ava’s softening to Janine. She’s serving to her out. She’s complimenting her in her personal means. She’s not completely happy about it, however she’s like, “Okay, all proper. She’s a superb instructor, no matter.” Additionally, folks at all times say Ava’s the foil, however Janine can be the foil. They’re at two reverse ends of the spectrum. Ava is inflicting chaos, being self-involved. And Janine is inflicting chaos, being self-involved, however beneath the guise of serving to the college. First season Janine was a freaking mess. She was too certain of herself ready that she had simply began. It was like, “Lady, take heed to the elders.” I’m to see when she comes again from The District how her more-sure-of-herself demeanor is and how much instructor she’ll be now that she’s had that have. As a result of she did kill it over at The District and he or she’s just a little extra assured now. She’s bought on that little bodycon this season. New little boots. I see her.

Talking of wardrobe, X (previously Twitter) went loopy over the Harvard sweatshirt Ava wore together with her title in jewels within the season three premiere, and he or she’s had just a few different trending vogue moments. Have you ever been approached a couple of merch line?

There was an Abbott Elementary JC Penny line for academics. There have been no Ava’s in there, ‘cuz she’s too fly for JC Penny. However it had a Janine and everyone else. I’d like to do one thing with any individual. In the event that they’re good, they need to hit me up, as a result of there are people who find themselves monitoring what I’m carrying and after they put it up it sells out. If you happen to bear in mind the “Sick Day” episode in season two the place I substituted for Janine and did my glam? That costume bought out. They redistributed it, and it bought out once more. I’m like, why isn’t Ava/Janelle James out right here doing a collab? Additionally, Harvard is promoting that shirt. I’m not getting a lower, and neither is Quinta, and it doesn’t have the bedazzle, which is what sells it. However they’re promoting that Ava shirt with an image of me subsequent to it, in order that’s humorous. So I’ve been to Harvard twice, if you consider it.

You’ve gained an NAACP Picture Award and Display screen Actors Guild Award on your function, and acquired two Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe nom. What do these accolades imply to you notably for this character, and is there a particular award you’ve your sights set on?

They really feel wonderful. It’s not one thing I had considered beforehand. I have a look at them as a testomony that I’m doing a superb job. I’m most grateful that I’m in a job that I get pleasure from. Who will get to do and say that? If awards include it, that’s additionally good. That’s how I give it some thought. They’re really proper behind me, however ain’t nothing modified. I wish to keep in mind that so I don’t fixate on issues that don’t matter. However I’d like to win the entire awards whereas not being obsessed about it, as a result of then it’s like, “oh, you probably did such a fantastic job you didn’t even must ask for it.” Individuals noticed, and also you deserved it, and right here you’re, after which I add it to the remaining that I’ve. I simply hope folks see the work that I’m doing. I hope they acknowledge comedy and what an artwork type it’s. It’s a tough factor to do. It’s a tough factor that Quinta’s doing.  All this stuff that male comedians at all times assume they’re doing, speaking about social points and issues, we’re really doing it however in a means that may be very a lot nonetheless hilarious. I’m completely happy to be part of it. If awards include it? That’s cool. However I like cash.

Abbott Elementary airs new episodes Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on ABC and streams subsequent day on Hulu.