Taraji P. Henson Turns Up on ‘Abbott Elementary’ April 12

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Quinta Brunson’s Janine gets an unexpected visit from Mom

Taraja P. Henson is a guest star on Abbott Elementary
Quinta Brunson (l.) and Taraji P. Henson on ABC’s ‘Abbott Elementary.’ (Image credit: ABC)

Taraji P. Henson is a guest star on ABC comedy Abbott Elementary Wednesday, April 12. The episode is titled “Mom” and Janine’s estranged mother Vanetta shows up in Janine’s classroom unannounced, asking for help and fouling up Janine’s plan for a Memorial Day weekend trip. Henson’s Vanetta character is high energy and over the top, and makes her mark immediately on Janine’s students and fellow teachers. 

“She plays by her own rules,” Janine says in the episode. 

Quinta Brunson plays Janine. She’s also the show creator and executive producer of Abbott Elementary. 

Henson played Cookie Lyon in Empire. Her film work includes Hidden Figures, Proud Mary and What Men Want. 

Abbott Elementary is in season three. 

Michael Malone
Michael Malone

Michael Malone is content director at B+C and Multichannel News. He joined B+C in 2005 and has covered network programming, including entertainment, news and sports on broadcast, cable and streaming; and local broadcast television, including writing the "Local News Close-Up" market profiles. He also hosted the podcasts "Busted Pilot" and "Series Business." His journalism has also appeared in The New York Times, The L.A. Times, The Boston Globe and New York magazine.