Quinta Brunson is pictured attending The 2024 BAFTA Tea Party at The Maybourne Beverly Hills on January 13, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.Photo:Jon Kopaloff/GettyQuinta Brunsonis a woman of many talents — and an official Genius.TheEmmy winner, 34, looked back on some of her early jobs during an appearance onLive with Kelly and Markon Tuesday.Not every gig was a success, she shared: “I worked at American Eagle, folding jeans. I was very bad at it, it was not my calling.“But she found more success later, adding, “I worked as a dance teacher for many years after school. And Iworked at the Apple Store. I was at the Genius Bar, but I was an FRS [Family Room Specialist] so I would fix phones, iPods and iPads.“Quipping that “computers were for the big boys,” Brunson revealed she can “still do a thing or two” with an iPhone — and she even helps herAbbott Elementarycastmates with their devices.“I helpSheryl [Lee Ralph]all the time on the show,” she shared. “AndLisa [Ann Walter]."(L-R) ‘Abbott Elementary’ stars Quinta Brunson as Janine, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara, Tyler James Williams as Gregory, Janelle James as Ava, Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa, Chris Perfetti as Jacob, William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson.Disney/Pamela LittkyCo-hostKelly Ripasaid in response, “You know what, it’s an embarrassment of riches. To work on that show that you’ve created so beautifully, that you write so beautifully. … And then, to have somebody who used to be at the Nerd Bar helping you with your tech.““Nerd bar?!” Brunson replied while fellow co-hostMark Consueloschimed in to correct his wife: “Genius Bar.““I always call it the Nerd Bar!” said Ripa, 53, and Consuelos, 52, added, “It is the Nerd Bar, that’s exactly what it is.“Brunson last opened up about her former Apple Store job while in conversation withAdam ScottforVariety Studio: Actors on Actors, joking, “My publicist told me to stop talking about it.“Brunson has come a long way since her Apple Store days, taking creativity into her own hands asAbbott’s creator, executive producer, star and writer (the last of whichearned her a 2022 Emmybefore she picked up another statuette last month for her front-of-camera work).The series has also allowed Brunson to forge close friendships off screen with her castmates, which is something fellow cast memberJanelle Jamescan attest to.“I don’t think I had met any of them, but on the first table read, I was like, ‘Oh, I could totally see the show right away. This is amazing.’ This is such a good mix of people,” James toldEntertainment Weeklyin 2022. “We just really clicked right away as a cast…. In an ensemble cast, as in any work environment, you hope you get along with your coworkers, and we really all do. It’s so fun.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Season 3 ofAbbott Elementarypremieres Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.
Quinta Brunson is pictured attending The 2024 BAFTA Tea Party at The Maybourne Beverly Hills on January 13, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.Photo:Jon Kopaloff/Getty
Jon Kopaloff/Getty
Quinta Brunsonis a woman of many talents — and an official Genius.TheEmmy winner, 34, looked back on some of her early jobs during an appearance onLive with Kelly and Markon Tuesday.Not every gig was a success, she shared: “I worked at American Eagle, folding jeans. I was very bad at it, it was not my calling.“But she found more success later, adding, “I worked as a dance teacher for many years after school. And Iworked at the Apple Store. I was at the Genius Bar, but I was an FRS [Family Room Specialist] so I would fix phones, iPods and iPads.“Quipping that “computers were for the big boys,” Brunson revealed she can “still do a thing or two” with an iPhone — and she even helps herAbbott Elementarycastmates with their devices.“I helpSheryl [Lee Ralph]all the time on the show,” she shared. “AndLisa [Ann Walter]."(L-R) ‘Abbott Elementary’ stars Quinta Brunson as Janine, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara, Tyler James Williams as Gregory, Janelle James as Ava, Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa, Chris Perfetti as Jacob, William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson.Disney/Pamela LittkyCo-hostKelly Ripasaid in response, “You know what, it’s an embarrassment of riches. To work on that show that you’ve created so beautifully, that you write so beautifully. … And then, to have somebody who used to be at the Nerd Bar helping you with your tech.““Nerd bar?!” Brunson replied while fellow co-hostMark Consueloschimed in to correct his wife: “Genius Bar.““I always call it the Nerd Bar!” said Ripa, 53, and Consuelos, 52, added, “It is the Nerd Bar, that’s exactly what it is.“Brunson last opened up about her former Apple Store job while in conversation withAdam ScottforVariety Studio: Actors on Actors, joking, “My publicist told me to stop talking about it.“Brunson has come a long way since her Apple Store days, taking creativity into her own hands asAbbott’s creator, executive producer, star and writer (the last of whichearned her a 2022 Emmybefore she picked up another statuette last month for her front-of-camera work).The series has also allowed Brunson to forge close friendships off screen with her castmates, which is something fellow cast memberJanelle Jamescan attest to.“I don’t think I had met any of them, but on the first table read, I was like, ‘Oh, I could totally see the show right away. This is amazing.’ This is such a good mix of people,” James toldEntertainment Weeklyin 2022. “We just really clicked right away as a cast…. In an ensemble cast, as in any work environment, you hope you get along with your coworkers, and we really all do. It’s so fun.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Season 3 ofAbbott Elementarypremieres Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.
Quinta Brunsonis a woman of many talents — and an official Genius.
TheEmmy winner, 34, looked back on some of her early jobs during an appearance onLive with Kelly and Markon Tuesday.
Not every gig was a success, she shared: “I worked at American Eagle, folding jeans. I was very bad at it, it was not my calling.”
But she found more success later, adding, “I worked as a dance teacher for many years after school. And Iworked at the Apple Store. I was at the Genius Bar, but I was an FRS [Family Room Specialist] so I would fix phones, iPods and iPads.”
Quipping that “computers were for the big boys,” Brunson revealed she can “still do a thing or two” with an iPhone — and she even helps herAbbott Elementarycastmates with their devices.
“I helpSheryl [Lee Ralph]all the time on the show,” she shared. “AndLisa [Ann Walter].”
(L-R) ‘Abbott Elementary’ stars Quinta Brunson as Janine, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara, Tyler James Williams as Gregory, Janelle James as Ava, Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa, Chris Perfetti as Jacob, William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson.Disney/Pamela Littky
Disney/Pamela Littky
Co-hostKelly Ripasaid in response, “You know what, it’s an embarrassment of riches. To work on that show that you’ve created so beautifully, that you write so beautifully. … And then, to have somebody who used to be at the Nerd Bar helping you with your tech.”
“Nerd bar?!” Brunson replied while fellow co-hostMark Consueloschimed in to correct his wife: “Genius Bar.”
“I always call it the Nerd Bar!” said Ripa, 53, and Consuelos, 52, added, “It is the Nerd Bar, that’s exactly what it is.”
Brunson last opened up about her former Apple Store job while in conversation withAdam ScottforVariety Studio: Actors on Actors, joking, “My publicist told me to stop talking about it.”
Brunson has come a long way since her Apple Store days, taking creativity into her own hands asAbbott’s creator, executive producer, star and writer (the last of whichearned her a 2022 Emmybefore she picked up another statuette last month for her front-of-camera work).
The series has also allowed Brunson to forge close friendships off screen with her castmates, which is something fellow cast memberJanelle Jamescan attest to.
“I don’t think I had met any of them, but on the first table read, I was like, ‘Oh, I could totally see the show right away. This is amazing.’ This is such a good mix of people,” James toldEntertainment Weeklyin 2022. “We just really clicked right away as a cast…. In an ensemble cast, as in any work environment, you hope you get along with your coworkers, and we really all do. It’s so fun.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Season 3 ofAbbott Elementarypremieres Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.
source: people.com
