Abbott Elementary Star Chris Perfetti Enjoys Playing Less Tragic Character

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Chris Perfetti, who plays the lovable, but sometimes overly talkative history teacher Jacob Hill on Abbott Elementary, opens up about how he enjoys playing a character that was a complete 180 from his previous roles. Already renewed for a second season, Abbott Elementary is a mockumentary-style sitcom that premiered on ABC in December of 2021. From creator, writer, and star Quinta Brunson, the show follows the day-to-day experiences of her character Janine Teagues as a 2nd grade teacher with and her students and co-workers at an elementary school in Philadelphia. The show deftly navigates the realities of being public school teachers, from being underfunded and having inadequate leadership, to the satisfaction of getting to make a real impact on student’s lives.

Alongside Brunson and Perfetti, Abbott Elementary stars Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tyler James Williams, and Lisa Ann Walter as their fellow teachers with Janelle James as their inept principal.  Perfetti’s character of Jacob shares a special bond with Janine as they both started at Abbott at the same time, and they’re both guilty of meaning well and having to handle the mixed results of their actions. This more light-hearted role is a departure from Perfetti’s previous parts including playing Harlan in The Sound of Metal, a recurring role as Ben on the CW’s crime drama In the Dark, and a current starring role in a production of King Jamesat the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago.

Related: Abbott Elementary Is Not The New Parks & Rec (And That's A Good Thing)

In an interview with EW, Perfetti revealed that he thoroughly enjoyed getting to work with Brunson in a role that when reading the script made him laugh out loud in public, and was a complete departure from his previous