‘Abbott Elementary’s Janelle James Sets Debut Hour Stand-Up Special With Netflix

EXCLUSIVE: Janelle James, the Abbott Elementary scene-stealer, has announced her debut hour-long stand-up special, How Romantic, which is set to premiere globally on Netflix on November 10.

In the hour, James covers everything from body counts and bank accounts to why women should wrestle men. She wrote, performed and exec produced it, with Matt Schuler producing, and Marcus Russell Price as its director. Check out a clip above.

A comedian, actress, and writer, James is best known for her role as Ava Coleman, the inept principal of Philadelphia’s Abbott Elementary‘s, in ABC’s hit mockumentary sitcom of that name, for which she has earned five consecutive Emmy nominations, as well as a Critics Choice Television Award, two NAACP Image Awards, a Golden Globe nom, and more.

James began her entertainment career as a stand-up in the late 2000s, touring for over a decade, including alongside Chris Rock. She released her debut comedy album, Black and Mild, in 2017, before going on to tape short specials for the Netflix series The Comedy Lineup and The Standups. She has since toured nationally as a headliner and appeared at major comedy festivals, while further rounding out her TV career, with credits including One of Them Days and Central Park, Black Monday (where she was a writer-performer), and series The Rundown with Robin Thede and History of the World: Part II (where she was a writer).

Soon, James may be seen elevating from supporting to leading onscreen talent, as she’s currently developing Rock City, a Hulu/UTV comedy set in the U.S. Virgin Islands, alongside Happy Endings creator David Caspe. She is repped by CAA and Granderson Des Rochers.