Janelle James is stepping out from behind the principal’s desk. The“Abbott Elementary”star has her first hour-long Netflix stand-up special,“How Romantic,”premiering globally on November 10, 2026. James wrote, performed in, and executive-produced the special, with Matt Schuler producing and Marcus Russell Price directing.
The hour covers sexual histories, finances, and why women should wrestle men, which tracks perfectly with the fearless energy James brings to Principal Ava Coleman. But comedy fans know the special is less a debut than a homecoming. James has been touring clubs since the late 2000s, spent over a decade on the road including dates with Chris Rock, released the album“Black and Mild”in 2017, and appeared in Netflix’s“The Comedy Lineup”and“The Standups.”She’s also racked up five consecutive Emmy nominations for“Abbott Elementary”and has a Hulu comedy called“Rock City”in the works.
So the question is less whether you’re watching on November 10 and more whether you’re the type to stay up for the midnight drop or save it for the weekend. Which camp are you in?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.