As Abbott Elementary prepares to begin production on season six, several members of the cast are speaking about major changes across the entertainment industry. According to Variety, Sheryl Lee Ralph (Dreamgirls, Moesha), Janelle James (Black Monday, The Other Two), and Luke Tennie (Shrinking, The Pitt) discussed the pending Paramount-Warner Bros. merger and the ongoing decline in Los Angeles production at the AAFCA TV Honors.
Ralph said she is concerned about what further consolidation could mean for entertainment workers. “Any time there is a consolidation, something shrinks, and right now we’re seeing such attrition when it comes to the entertainment industry,” Ralph told Variety.
She added that too many jobs have already left California and said she does not want to see the industry continue to shrink. James, who plays Principal Ava on Abbott Elementary, said she is taking a different approach to the merger.
“I really have no idea what it means. I know I still got a job,” James said. “Hopefully, it results in people continuing to keep their jobs.”
The comments came during an event honoring shows including Abbott Elementary, Paradise, Spider-Noir and Love Story. The ceremony also recognized Tracy Morgan (30 Rock, The Last O.G.), Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us, Paradise), Lamorne Morris (New Girl, Fargo) and Erika Alexander (Living Single, American Fiction).
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also spoke at the event about efforts to bring more productions back to the city. She said officials are looking for ways to lower on-set costs and asked entertainment workers to share ideas about what else the city can do.
Ralph pointed to Abbott Elementary as an example of a series that provides steady work for local crews and young performers. The show also employs hundreds of children as extras each season. Ralph said she expects some of those young performers to eventually become filmmakers, actors, and television creators themselves.
Tennie remains optimistic about the future despite the uncertainty. “People all had their different opinions on where this thing was going to go,” Tennie said. “And no matter what, whatever people wanted to see most got made.”