Miranda Cosgrove, Edi Patterson and Ali Wong Are Headed to ‘Abbott Elementary’ as Guest Stars
Few network sitcoms have turned guest appearances into a signature move quite like ‘Abbott Elementary‘. Since it debuted, Quinta Brunson’s Philadelphia school comedy has welcomed everyone from beloved actors to local sports stars and even Gritty, making each episode a possible surprise.
The show is also in a milestone year. Season 6 premiered on ABC on October 7 with the episode ‘Jungle Classroom’, and the season runs for 22 episodes. The series has racked up 30 Emmy nominations and 4 wins, and it remains a cornerstone of ABC’s scripted lineup.
Now the new season has lined up some more famous faces. Deadline reports exclusively that Miranda Cosgrove, Edi Patterson and Ali Wong will all guest star in upcoming episodes. Details about their characters remain under wraps.
The timing is notable. ‘Abbott Elementary’ will reach its 100th episode around the fall finale, and that episode was recently filmed at Disneyland. The guest star announcement hints that the show is going big for the occasion.
For Cosgrove, there is a fun parallel. The actress is best known as Carly Shay on ‘iCarly’, which aired its 100th produced episode in its sixth season, becoming the first Nickelodeon live-action sitcom to reach that number. Now she is joining another comedy at its own 100-episode milestone.
The sixth season has already started with a flex. The premiere featured cameos from several Philadelphia 76ers players, including Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. Brunson has also brought numerous Eagles onto the series for guest roles, and fans have joked about which sports star might be next.
The guest list over the years has been just as broad. Past seasons have included Taraji P. Henson, Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr. and the Philly mascot Gritty. Being so distinctly set in Philadelphia, the show attracts proudly Philly actors, athletes and musicians who want to take part.
The new season picks up after a tumultuous fifth-season finale. The fictionalized School District of Philadelphia nearly closed Abbott Elementary, only reversing its decision over the money spent fixing the building’s furnace. Students from the schools that did close are now heading to Abbott, and Gregory, played by Tyler James Williams, is stepping up as assistant principal to help manage the influx.
The finale also hinted that a proposal might be on the horizon for the recently reunited Gregory and Janine. The new season’s cast includes Brunson, Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis and Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph. With so many storylines in motion, it is easy to imagine where a trio of comedy veterans could slot in.
First trailer for ‘ABBOTT ELEMENTARY’ Season 6. Releasing October 7 on ABC. https://t.co/KPQsiSXpby
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 30, 2026
Patterson and Wong are both familiar names in comedy, which only adds to the buzz. With no character details revealed, fans are left to speculate about who the trio will play, whether as parents, school district officials or something else entirely. The show has often used guest roles to push its ensemble into new situations, so a few new faces could shake things up.
The next 2 episodes are titled ‘Check-Ins’ and ‘Tryouts’, airing on October 14 and October 21. New episodes air Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC and stream on Hulu.
Which guest star are you most excited to see at Abbott Elementary?
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!
