Tyler James Williamshas earned his second Emmy nomination for his role as Gregory Eddie onABCsAbbott Elementary.
Creator and star Quinta Brunson also received an acting nomination.
Even the second time around, Williams says the acknowledgment is still just as sweet.
Abbott ElementaryABC
Im just never expecting anything.
You know what I mean?
There were great shows that came out this year, really great, he said.
Our [departments] need to be able to eat and live.
DEADLINE: Congratulations on your nomination.
Were you watching the livestream?
TYLER JAMES WILLIAMS:No, I wasnt.
I did last year.
But this year, I tried to be as disconnected from it as possible.
So I was actually sitting, looking at the Hudson River just hanging out, and my agent called.
Thats how I found out.
DEADLINE: Well the show did great again this year.
WILLIAMS:Yeah, it did.
We definitely felt some of that pressure.
But I think weve made the choice to just make the show we wanted to make.
And Quinta was always very clear about that.
She was like, Were still going to be us.
Were gonna act like none of this happened.
DEADLINE: Have you spoken to Quinta or anyone else from the cast or crew yet?
WILLIAMS:The group chat is very active.
A lot of Holy Sh*t from Chris Perfetti.
Quinta is being mom, saying Proud of you all.
So we havent spoken.
WILLIAMS:It does.
Im just never expecting anything.
You know what I mean?
There were great shows that came out this year, really great.
And I was actually surprised not to see Harrison Ford in my category forShrinking.
I just thought everything was just so good.
Networks not supposed to be here.
So its a different kind of special.
DEADLINE: Abbott Elementaryis representing for broadcast, which is not very represented anymore in the awards landscape.
How does it feel to be carrying that mantle?
WILLIAMS:I come from web link TV.
Networks not going anywhere.
web link has always had that model.
So I think its good to have a online grid contenders still here reminding people that networks not dead.
WILLIAMS:Me and Quinta talk about that all the time.
We dont get to just do 10 or 13 [episodes].
We have to do 22, and we have 21 minutes and 40 seconds, period.
It a box to play in, and I think thats what I like about it creatively.
To me, art is really great when it still has to meet the consumer side as well.
It just kind of ups the stakes of it.
Ive done web link, and Ive done streamers… the bar feels higher.
But if it works, it works.
DEADLINE: You mentioned the strike.
It is a momentous day, as were on the precipice of a potentialactors strike.
How are you feeling about that possibility?
WILLIAMS:I have friends who are series regulars on shows who cant afford to live in LA.
Thats been happening for years.
It has to be corrected.
Its not something thats sustainable.
Im completely in support of my unions decision to strike if thats what it comes down to.
New media is not new anymore.
Theres no way to sustain that.
But if not, then so be it.
DEADLINE: The WGA has been on strike for 72 days.Abbotthas been very heavily represented on the picket lines.
Quinta has sent food and also been on the line.
UTLA partnered withAbbottfor a themed picket day.
How does it feel to see your show so heavily represented out there?
WILLIAMS:So Brittani was actively talking about the strike while we were shooting Season 2.
She was getting us ready, like, Hey, this is happening.
She was going to be a strike captain.
So we were very well informed, and she was very vocal about it the entire time as well.
And for us, our writers feel like cast.
Its writers, for sure.
So when they hit the picket line, we were all ready to go.
Ive been in New York the majority of the time… We should be there supporting them, because at the end of the day, it starts on page.
They understand these characters just as well, if not better than we do.
WILLIAMS:Oh, heres the thing.
Weve been talking about it for a while.
I think seeing Gregory and Janine post revealing of their feelings is going to be really unique.
Gregorys in a place where weve never seen him before.
He just put everything out on the table, and it didnt necessarily go well.
Whenever that can happen, its going to be great.
DEADLINE: It is one of those shows that Im sure audiences are upset to see delayed.
WILLIAMS:I know, I know.
The stuff is so good, objectively.
Even not being a part of it myself, like just hearing the story, it sounds great.
But we will get back at some point.
We just have to handle this.
