As “Abbott Elementary” gears up for Season 6 production in just a few short weeks, stars Sheryl Lee Ralph, Janelle James and Luke Tennie are reflecting on turbulent changes in the industry — from the pending Paramount-Warner Bros. merger to production struggling in Los Angeles.
“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 on Saturday afternoon at the AAFCA TV Honors held at City Club in Los Angeles. “I don’t want to see too much more shrinking. We’ve lost too many people. We’ve lost too many people outside of this state going to other places.”
James, who plays Principal Ava on the award-winning comedy, said she doesn’t pay much attention to the noise surrounding the Paramount merger.
“I really have no idea what it means. I know I still got a job. Hopefully, it results in people continuing to keep their jobs,” James said. “I take it as something I don’t need to worry about.”
The AAFCA TV Honors honored the likes of “Abbott Elementary,” “Paradise,” “Spider-Noir” and “Love Story,” along with actors Tracy Morgan, Sterling K. Brown, Lamorne Morris and Erika Alexander, celebrating the best of Black talent and storytelling over the past year.
