Streaming Giants Can Learn A Thing Or Two From Network TV’s Abbott Elementary

Network TV may be in the rearview mirror for streamers, but ABC’s Abbott Elementary has proven that streaming giants still have a thing or two to learn from the network model. Quinta Brunson’s mockumentary about a poorly funded school in Philadelphia has been the unsung hero of network TV since its 2021 premiere, becoming one of the most influential network TV shows this decade.

The series follows the students and staff at the fictional Abbott Elementary, showcasing humor, hope, and good writing. With a 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Abbott Elementary is a unique conversation starter for streamers: What is this ABC show doing that streaming services aren’t? Between weekly drops and a seasonal format, Abbott Elementary proves that network TV is doing something right.

Abbott Elementary’s Popularity Is Partly Due To Its School-Year Format

The cast of Abbott Elementary at Paddy's Pub in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia — The cast of Abbott Elementary at Paddy’s Pub in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Abbott Elementary shows the highs and lows of working for a poorly funded city school in Philadelphia. As the lead character, Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson) brings a cheerful and positive outlook to otherwise depressing realities.

Every season starts with the beginning of the school year, filled with first-day-of-school jitters, and ends with the end of the school year. More specifically, the staff takes the students on a field trip at the end of every season, tying up the season in a nice bow before starting fresh the following school year or season.

What makes Abbott Elementary unique is that it follows the traditional school year in real life, with the start of each season premiering in the fall. Abbott Elementary season 5 will premiere on October 1, 2025, only a month after real school students return to class.

The excitement around the start of the school year — and the beginning of a new season — coincides for viewers. It creates a sense of community and authenticity that’s hard to find in other streaming shows. The realism attached to Abbott Elementary also creates a sense of continuity that’s easy to follow for new viewers.

Abbott Elementary is also done with episodic storytelling. Viewers can tune into any episode of a season and still follow along, as every episode has its own mini-plot while the characters develop in the long run.

The start of every school year or season is the beginning of new storylines and characters. The popularity of this formatting should be studied and duplicated by streaming services to create a sense of unity with their viewers.

Netflix & Other Streaming Binge Models Make It Harder For Shows To Find Longevity

Janine and Gregory cuddling on the couch in their Halloween costumes in Abbott Elementary

The beauty of streaming is that viewers can watch entire seasons when they drop. For the most part, there’s no weekly release format like network TV. Instead of waiting in suspense every week to catch an episode, making that episode release more meaningful, viewers can get their fix in one sitting.

However, binging shows makes it harder to have longer fan discussions. There’s no weekly chatter by the water cooler about the recent episode or discussing a “will they or won’t they” romance (like Abbott Elementary’s Janine and Gregory’s). Streaming makes sure everyone can see the full content at their time. This alters fans’ interactions.

Once a season is binged, it’s done. The weekly chatter about how great or bad a season is dwindles every week that passes, and the excitement only continues when a new season drops. This is not the case for Abbott Elementary.

At the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con, Abbott Elementary’s panel was significantly more packed than the main Hall H stage. The cast and crew answered questions about the series and hinted at what’s to come for the characters in season 5.

The suspense around a new season and how the writers create such talented scripts are things that keep viewers engaged and wanting more. It’s that same suspense that keeps live viewers tuning in every week. That longevity is something that’s widely missing in many sitcoms, shortening viewers’ interactions, forums, and interests.

Other Streamers Have Already Moved Away From The Model Of Dropping Full Seasons At Once

Janelle James as Ava Coleman looking angry in Abbott Elementary

Streaming services are slowly seeing the appeal of drip shows and are moving away from dropping full seasons at once. Netflix’s Nobody Wants This and Hunting Wives are two popular shows that dropped a full first season at once.

The chatter around these shows slowly died as time went on, because once the season was watched, there was nothing new until the next season, as opposed to weekly drops on network TV.

Shows exclusive to streaming need more promotion in the immediate term, as there’s a shorter shelf life for chatter. Network shows like Abbott Elementary have more buzz and opportunity for conversation because of its longevity. Abbott Elementary also pops up on streaming services like Hulu and Disney+ but in delayed viewing.

Disney+ has caught on to the perks of the network TV format and has followed suit with its Star Wars spinoffs and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, other giants like Netflix should take notes. While streaming and binge-watching have its benefits, there’s more room to grow with weekly drops.

Shorter run times because of commercial breaks also play into the pace of network shows. The episodes are done skillfully for shorter run times, which adds to the allure. Because streaming doesn’t offer as many commercials (subscription depending) as network TV, episodes can be longer.

Abbott Elementary has brought back the appeal of the weekly network format and brings a sense of realism by releasing alongside the school year. It could be the spark that ignites other future shows to do the same on streaming services.