Tyler James Williams Would 'Love' to See Solange Knowles Guest Star on Abbott Elementary: 'I Feel Like We Look Alike' (Exclusive) 

If Tyler James Williams could pick anyone to host Abbott Elementary Schoolhe knows exactly who it would be.

“I would love to see Solange [Knowles] like a relative. I feel like we look alike,” Williams tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “It’s like our place, and then my dad is Orlando [Jones]. Yeah, I think Solange would be great. Just add a family member.”

Williams, 31, is now a three-time Emmy nominee for his role as beloved first-grade teacher Gregory Eddie on the ABC hit. The actor doesn’t take his portrayal lightly, explaining that his goal is to portray black teachers — and black people in general — in a “certain light.”

Tyler James Williams says Abbott Elementary School The role is the ‘most important’ thing he has done in his career (Exclusive)

Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie in ‘Abbot Elementary’.

Pamela Littky/ABC/Getty

“My overall goal here is to show not only black teachers in a certain light, but black men in a certain light who are allowed to be emotional and have a full emotional spectrum and then be in love,” he said. he says, referring to his character Gregory’s blossoming romance with Janine Teagues (played by Quinta Brunson). “One of the most important things I’ve ever done in my career is to showcase this, especially with the platform that we have.”

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Abbott Elementary School earned nine Emmy nominations this year, including Outstanding Comedy Series. In addition to Williams, Brunson won for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. Sheryl Lee Ralph and Janelle James are nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

Reflecting on the show’s previous Emmy wins, Williams says it was especially significant when Ralph won the statue for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2022, becoming only the second black woman to win an Emmy in the category after Jackée Harry’s win for 227 in 1987.

“Everyone at the table was just crying, right? It’s my favorite Emmy,” she says, adding that Brunson’s wins that same year for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series were also extremely memorable.

Sheryl Lee Ralph says that the children who play her students Abbott Elementary School Believe ‘I am their teacher’

Tyler James Williams.

Ramona Rosales

“When someone wins, they get pushed to the back,” he says. “Finally see you at the party, and then really get a chance to celebrate.”

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The cast recently reunited at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 on July 27 and revealed that a crossover episode is in the works for season four.

“I’m not going to tell you who, or what, or where, or when, but it’s really exciting and I think it’s going to change television as we know it,” Brunson, 34, teased.

While Williams also can’t reveal anything about the much-anticipated mix-up episode, he did share what he hopes to see between his character Gregory and Brunson’s character Janine after a lot of will-they-won’t-they tension in season three.

“I would like to see them in love,” he says. “I think they deserve it at this point. I’d like to see them just do it. Now we have to have conflicts…but it would be nice to see them just for each other.”

Seasons 1 to 3 of Abbott Elementary School are available to stream on Hulu. Season 4 premieres October 9 on ABC.

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Source: HIS Education