It’s unacceptable that Abbott Elementary hasn’t won an Emmy yet for Directing, but the Television Academy could right that wrong this season.
Randall Einhorn has worked on numerous shows that have employed the mockumentary style, but there is something special about how Abbott Elementary has progressed the on-camera presence into season five. I constantly think about why the camera crew is still there or wonder if the educators at Abbott will tune into the final product whenever it comes to fruition. Mr. Einhorn is one of the directors who perfected this style, but he knocks it out of the park in one of Abbott‘s best episodes of this season, Ballgame, which finds our favorite teachers attending a Philadelphia Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park.
Asking a director to film during a live baseball game would give the most seasoned filmmakers heart palpitations, but Einhorn knew that they had a special opportunity to liven up the circumstances of the episode’s story with the unique element this episode had to offer. He could’ve shot groups of actors in close-up to eliminate any distractions from diehard baseball fans, but Einhorn brings the camera back so we can see the amount of fans that surround this group.
As the game goes from inning to inning, the teachers are all focused on different things. Gregory is hoping that Janine will somehow get into the game. Barbara is laser-focused on Kyle Schwarber’s swing, and Ava is waiting for her perfect moment to be seen on the jumbo screen with O’Shon. Einhorn has to juggle the Kiss Cam with the action of the game and the size of the crowd’s reactions. Oh, you want another layer added to that? How about Schwarber hitting enough home runs to enter the history books while the show is being filmed. Making sure that the mockumentary style has legs and momentum season after season is an Emmy-worthy act all its own, but Einhorn also hones in on specific character work between Ava and O’Shon while the madness of the Phillies beating the Atlanta Braves drives the crowd wild.
There is a reason why Einhorn is known for directing this style of comedy. He knocks it out of the park every single time.
Abbott Elementary is streaming now on Hulu and Disney+.
