Now premiering in its regular time period, the new single-camera comedy “Abbott Elementary” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) not only borrows from the “Modern Family” template but reminds me of how that series immediately established itself with an assured style and an easy camaraderie between cast members.
Created by Quinta Brunson, who also stars, “Elementary” uses documentary-style confessions to both propel storylines and explore characters. To stretch the “Modern Family” comparison a little further, Janine (Brunson) is the Phil Dunphy of the group, a pleasant and well-meaning new Philadelphia elementary school teacher who also is oversharing and emotionally needy. She all but worships veteran teacher Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph). With her old-school sense of discipline and withering impatience for educational gimmicks and bureaucratic games, she not only has her students walking single-file but has become a mother figure to the rest of the faculty. It’s easy to see how Ralph played a diva on stage in the musical “Dreamgirls.”
The scenes between Janine and Barbara are both funny and endearing. She’s clearly a substitute for the younger teacher’s absent mother.
Another revelation in this cast is Janelle Jones as Ava, the deliriously unqualified and corrupt principal of the beleaguered grammar school. A shameless grifter, she’s also a fast-talking quipster. Almost every line she delivers is quick and funny, even if she’s the only one laughing at her jokes.
Less well developed are Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) and Jacob (Chris Perfetti). While amusing, both are fairly stereotypical. She’s a tough cookie from South Philly, where she’s only “slightly” connected to Mafia types, and he’s a one-note “woke” joke, who is dimly unaware of how little he fits in. “I’m not some hipster poseur,” he declares in all sincerity.
As Gregory, Tyler James Williams (Chris from “Everybody Hates Chris”) is also a bit underdeveloped. But he’s just a permanent sub, very unclear of where he stands, with the students, faculty and his place in Janine’s affections.
In tonight’s episode, a district mandate for new tablets and software has everyone confused. This is where “Abbott” departs from “Modern Family.” That series celebrated tech and was often a glorified commercial for Apple products.
Tonight’s product placement is Michelle Obama. Her memoirs are frequently discussed here, and she later guest stars on “black-ish” (8:30 p.m., ABC, TV-PG), returning to finish out its final season.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
• Jewel theft can be murder on “FBI” (7 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
• “Gordon Ramsay’s Road Trip” (7 p.m., Fox, TV-14) sets off for a Greek holiday.
• The new series “Judge Steve Harvey” (7 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) continues the network trend of importing afternoon fare onto the prime-time schedule. It’s not a sign of strength or creativity.
• On back-to-back episodes of “Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis Gates, Jr.” (PBS, TV-PG, check local listings): Rebecca Hall and Lee Daniels (7 p.m.), and David Chang and Raul Esparza (8 p.m.) study their family history.
• Off to Bulgaria on “FBI: International” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
• Call me old-fashioned, but I would much rather watch “This Is Spinal Tap” (7 p.m., TCM, TV-MA) than “This Is Us” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
• Keshia Knight Pulliam hosts the 2022 documentary “Eggs Over Easy: Black Women & Fertility” (8 p.m., OWN, TV-14), discussing the often-taboo topic of adoption, surrogacy and IVF procedures as means to becoming a mother.
• Very flammable on “FBI: Most Wanted” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
• A fresh start in London on “New Amsterdam” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
• Stunning news on “Queens” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
• “Frontline” (9 p.m., PBS) repeats “American Insurrection,” a look at the events of Jan. 6, 2021, and the forces that led up to them.
• The new series “Murder Under the Friday Night Lights” (9 p.m., ID, TV-14) explores homicides related to small-town football culture. First up: “The Cheerleader Murder.”
CULT CHOICE
If two episodes of “Yellowstone” (7 p.m. and 8 p.m., Paramount, TV-MA) don’t fill your Kevin Costner quotient, perhaps the 1997 post-apocalyptic thriller “The Postman” (8 p.m., Starz) will. He’s in the 1996 golf comedy “Tin Cup” (5:40 p.m., Starz), too.
SERIES NOTES
Katherine promises big changes ahead of a quarterly earnings report on “American Auto” (7 p.m., NBC, TV-14) ... “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” (7 p.m., CW, r, TV-PG) ... A wildfire leaves folks homeless on “Grand Crew” (7:30 p.m., NBC, TV-14) ... Dean Cain hosts two repeat episodes of “Masters of Illusion” (8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., CW, TV-PG).
LATE NIGHT
Tracee Ellis Ross is booked on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (10:35 p.m., CBS) ... Jimmy Fallon welcomes Milo Ventimiglia, Sabrina Carpenter and Yola on “The Tonight Show” (10:34 p.m., NBC).