How Authentic Was Abbott Elementary In Relocating The Cast To An Abandoned Mall? Janelle James Opened Up About ‘Lots Of Smells’

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The hit show Abbott Elementary returned for its new season with a big change: the school building was under repair, forcing students and teachers to move to a temporary location. The season began with Ava and the teachers figuring out how to run a school inside an abandoned mall. Janelle James, who plays Ava, discussed the surprising twist and the strange smells of the mall in an interview with TopMob, explaining how the new setting has pushed her character to be more engaged and resourceful.

Janelle James kicked off the year with a Critics Choice Award nomination alongside her Abbott Elementary costar, Chris Perfetti, and this time, she won! It was her first win after being nominated four times in a row for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy. While her award season was bright, her character, Ava, had a rocky start to the year in the show, forced to cut her winter break short and reopen the school inside a mall. James recently shared how she first reacted to this unexpected storyline.

I was really surprised to learn that some schools are now located in malls and other buildings simply because their original school buildings are falling into disrepair. It made me wonder what unexpected challenges and opportunities might arise from having a school in such an unusual place.

Many viewers were surprised by an event in the fall finale, now streaming on Hulu. Showrunner Justin Halpern later revealed the real-life story that inspired the decision to move Abbott Elementary to a mall location.

Growing up as a millennial, I loved spending time at the mall, so I’ve been amused by all the jokes about closed stores lately – but also a little sad. Janelle James, who was on set, said there was a different kind of discomfort while filming. When asked if they were actually filming in a real abandoned mall, she laughed and replied:

That is correct. That is super unfortunately correct. [laughs] Lots of smells! But exciting.

It’s unclear how much longer the students and staff will be stranded at the mall, but by the end of the two episodes, Ava was still struggling with major organizational problems. Her plan to use an AI version of her voice – nicknamed AIva – didn’t work for long, and she ultimately had to confront the parents.

Even though Ava is known for being playful, she also used money from selling old clothes to buy school supplies. It’s been heartwarming to see her genuine kindness shine through alongside her fun-loving personality.

Check out the preview for what’s next:

Watch new episodes of Abbott Elementary on ABC Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. Eastern, or stream past seasons on Hulu. The show is part of ABC’s Wednesday night comedy lineup, following Shifting Gears with Tim Allen at 8 p.m. Eastern.

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2026-01-22 03:38