Bradley Cooper caps weird Oscars run with a perfect Abbott Elementary cameo

Bradley Cooper has been gunning for gold for the past few months with a slightly bizarre Oscars campaign for Maestro. The actor, bless him, knows no other way—see also: The Star Is Born’s crusade—so his remarks this time around led to multiple tweets (fun!) and think-pieces (it’s truly not that serious, people). Deep down, Cooper probably knew he wasn’t going to walk away with an Academy Award on March 10. He may have lost to Oppenheimer’s Cillian Murphy, but he’s won lifelong bragging rights for something no other Best Actor nominee of the year can boast about (yet): He secured a cameo on Abbott Elementary.

ABC’s funniest ongoing sitcom aired a special post-Oscars episode that rolled right after the ceremony ended. The cold open of season three’s “Willard R. Abbott” features Melissa’s (Lisa Ann Walter) students doing show-and-tell when a wise kid announces he’s brought a famous person he saw standing outside. Here’s your reminder that Cooper is from Philadelphia, where Abbott is set, so this collaboration makes perfect sense. To hammer this fact in, he also gets to say he was waiting on a hoagie from his childhood favorite deli when he decided to help out Melissa’s student with the project.

So, the actor casually strolls into class, she freaks out, and everyone else arrives to enjoy the, um, gorgeous sight. Cooper’s appearance is brief, but he’s game and just the right amount of self-deprecating. He pulls out his Rocket Raccoon voice when questioned about his superhero status, denies he’s the face of Alias (but with the widest fucking grin on his face) and calls He’s Just Not That Into You a Justin Long movie when Janine (Quinta Brunson) claims it’s her favorite Bradley flick. Side note: Janine, are you okay, girl?

Abbott’s staffers are gleefully flabbergasted—yes, even Gregory (Tyler James Williams), which is a rare sight. Principal Ava (Janelle James) and Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) are the only ones unaffected. They call him out for not being part of the Oppenheimer ensemble—a joke that lands even better after that Murphy win. Abbott also gets to continue its running gag of Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) mixing up celebrity names and movies. She praises Cooper for his work in the “heartwarming” The Holdovers before Gregory corrects her: “It’s The Hangover, and no it’s not.”

Admittedly, Cooper’s thirst for an Oscar has led to a lot of weird moments, but anyone who says they don’t want the trophy or care about it is probably lying. But he got to poke fun at the discourse on Abbott Elementary. (At least there’s one ABC program he got to speak at on Oscars night.) The credit goes to series creator Brunson, episode scribe Ava Coleman, and the writers’ room. They got a coveted spot after the ceremony and ran wild. It’s just more proof that Abbott Elementary is the place to be, especially after the third-season premiere cameos from Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts, Brandon Graham, and Jason Kelce.

The show will return to its usual Wednesday night slot starting March 13. Season three was delayed due to last year’s WGA and SAG strikes, so it’ll consist of only 14 episodes, but what a remarkable halfway point they’ve already reached.