Brunson Burner

Quinta Brunson's mom wanted her to be a teacher.  But Quinta wanted to be an entertainer.  So it's only fitting that Quinta ended up entertaining us about education.  I'm, of course, talking about the Emmy-winning smash hit Abbott Elementary, which Quinta created and stars in.  And although Quinta's memoir She Memes Well came out before the show, there are plenty of Abbott Easter eggs hidden within its pages.  Which may not make sense chronologically.  But I'm willing to say that it's a chicken and (Easter) egg thing if you are, so here it goes.

Now that I've read the book, I can't help but wonder if kindergarten teacher Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph), who serves as Janine's (Quinta Brunson's) prim and proper mentor, was modeled after Quinta's mom.  Because it turns out that Mrs. Brunson was a by-the-book kindergarten teacher too.

Quinta's favorite sitcom is The Office, which came as no surprise to me because Abbott has always reminded me of that show.  There's the documentary style, the crazy boss (Janelle James), and the awkward yet sweet Jim-and-Pam-esque romance between Janine and Gregory (Tyler James Williams).  Janine even starts the series with a boyfriend that rivals Roy in the doofus department.  Yet what ties it all together is the wry, relatable humor illustrating all the weirdness that comes with the workplace -- and also the heart.   That said, Abbott Elementary is in no way, shape, or form an offshoot of the Office.  For one thing, no one in it is trying to sell paper.  For another, it's about a bigger-picture issue, namely the struggles of teachers in underserved areas.  And although I'm not a teacher (and thank goodness because I'd be terrible), from everything I've heard, its portrayal of that world is spot on.

That's all well and good, you may be thinking.  But you already said that this book isn't about Abbott Elementary, so what the heck is it about?!  So glad you asked!  It's about Quinta's childhood and family and the culture shock of moving from Philly to LA, a city of women who expect their dogs to be able to operate iPads.  But it's also about how Quinta got to where she is today, and that's by making memes.  Now, this took me by surprise.  And it shouldn't have considering the title of her memoir!  I thought it was just a clever-but-not-literal pun.  But no.  Quinta was obsessed with the Internet as a kid and ended up going viral on Instagram with a meme called "He Got Money!".  It's about a girl who's never been on a real date, so every time a guy buys her popcorn at the movies or orders dessert at a restaurant, her character is so overcome that she enthusiastically cries this catchphrase.  It was so popular that Quinta made appearances at events just so people could hear her say "He Got Money!" in person.  As someone who spends a lot (too much?) time online, I love this.  The idea that a lifetime (if a lifetime can be measured by one's twenties) of blood, sweat, and creative tears could culminate and explode in a platform accessible to everyone is very exciting. 

But that meme was just the beginning.  Through a series of hilarious anecdotes, Quinta takes us on her professional and personal journey of making her comedic dreams come true.  She's decidedly saltier than her salt-of-the-earth Abbott alter-ego Janine, a topic that she gamely riffed about last night when hosting SNL.  Indeed, in Memes she tells us that she was popular, both a cheerleader and a prom queen.  That's about as far from Janine as it gets, which means just one thing: Quinta's one heck of an actress. 

Shine bright, Brunson burner, shine bright.