The best cameo in Abbott Elementary season 3 wasn’t either of its A-list actors, but rather an unexpected musician whose arrival led to some major laughs. Abbott Elementary’s cast of characters is so likable and funny that the show scarcely needs celebrity cameos to keep viewers invested. That said, Abbott Elementary’s well-earned popularity among critics and audiences alike means that many high-profile stars understandably want to get in on the show’s success. This became increasingly obvious in season 3, as A-list actors suddenly became more commonplace within the eponymous Philadelphia public school’s hallowed halls.

Thanks to Abbott Elementary’s mockumentary format, it can be a little tricky for the series to justify cameos from famous faces. Guest stars Lana Condor and Mike O’Malley played recurring original characters, but more well-known actors like Kevin Hart and Bradley Cooper simply played themselves in their brief appearances. While these cameos were a lot of fun, there is a reason they took place in the cold open and credits stinger of their respective episodes. Abbott Elementary had a hard time incorporating the stars in the grounded world of the show’s setting.

Questlove’s Abbott Elementary Cameo Is The Template Season 4’s Cameos Should Follow

The Roots Musician Fit The World Of Abbott Elementary Perfectly

Luckily, the best celebrity cameo in Abbott Elementary season 3 set a perfect template for future guest stars. Unlike Bradley Cooper and Kevin Hart’s cameos, Questlove’s appearance in season 3, episode 10, “2 Ava 2 Fest,” wasn’t a random surprise. It was perfectly foreshadowed throughout the episode as Melissa, Jacob, and Barbara grew increasingly worried about how angry people would be when Questlove inevitably didn’t show up. The twist that Ava did actually know Questlove could have been predictable, but Ava’s claims grew more absurd with each new comment and the odds of the hip-hop legend appearing seemingly worsened.

At first, Ava simply claimed that she knew Questlove, but soon she was saying that she helped establish The Roots and saved Questlove’s signature afro pin from a tuna. Unlike many of Abbott Elementary season 3’s cameos, Questlove’s appearance gains comedic and dramatic weight thanks to this careful foreshadowing. When these ludicrous assertions all turn out to be true, Ava’s reunion with Questlove is funnier and more satisfying than the random arrival of any unexpected Hollywood actor. This proves that Abbott Elementary’s future cameos should be rooted in the established world of the series.

Questlove Outdid Abbott Elementary Season 3’s Bigger Cameos

Questlove’s Abbott Elementary Cameo Highlighted A Key Quality

Questlove was a major celebrity cameo in season 3 but, crucially, the musician’s subplot centered on Ava rather than him. His appearance was a punchline, not the episode’s main attraction. The same couldn’t be said for Kevin Hart’s FaceTime call with Janine or Bradley Cooper’s arrival during show and tell. Since Abbott Elementary hid Melissa’s entire romantic subplot during season 3 to give its main characters more screen time, it was a little hypocritical for the show to center Cooper and Hart during their cameos. Questlove’s appearance didn’t repeat this mistake.

Questlove’s appearance was funny because it fits in the world of Abbott Elementary, whereas both Cooper and Hart’s cameos were more surprising than anything else. They undeniably boasted novelty value but didn’t add much to the plots of their respective episodes. In contrast, just by appearing and warmly reconnecting with Ava, Questlove earned one of the biggest laughs in “2 Ava 2 Fest.” Although Abbott Elementary season 3 substantially increased the show’s number of celebrity cameos, storylines like Janine and Gregory’s romance remained its main focus. Questlove’s role worked because Abbott Elementary never forgot this pivotal point.

Abbott Elementary Needs Fewer Cameos In Season 4

Questlove’s Role Explains Abbott Elementary Season 4’s Cameo Change

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Abbott Elementary‘s co-showrunners Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker admitted that season 4 of the series needs fewer cameos to make room for more character development. This is good, since few viewers sincerely thought that Abbott Elementary would reveal Kevin Hart was Janine’s father, which made his whole cameo somewhat superfluous. Fewer cameos mean that all of season 4’s guest appearances can be as grounded in plot and character as Questlove’s hilarious scene from “2 Ava 2 Fest.”

As a series grows in popularity and profile, it is easy for the allure of big-name cameos to override the show’s unique requirements. However, Abbott Elementary won over viewers and critics thanks to its relatable workplace comedy, its unapologetic portrayal of real-life issues, and its sweet character dynamics. The show can continue to highlight all of these qualities even if season 4 features no appearances from A-listers. As such, Abbott Elementary’s future cameos should learn from Questlove’s appearance in the series and center the show’s main characters instead of relying on the star power of a visiting celebrity.