Judy: At the emmys last night,
Sheryl Lee Ralph won an Oscar
for avid elementary.
Her acceptance speech itself won
rave reviews as she sang an a
cappella version of endangered
species.
>> Family goes to, Cheryl Lieb
brown.
-- Dme goes to, Sheryl Lee
Ralph.
♪♪
I am an endangered species.
I am a woman.
I am an artist.
♪♪
Judy: How about that?
Geoff Bennett spoke with Sheryl
Lee Ralph last spring.
>> It's a workplace comedy
focused on teachers at an
elementary school in
Philadelphia.
It provided new ways of
refocusing audience attention on
problems.
We're joined by a veteran
actress, Cheryl Lee.
She is known for her
breakthrough roles in dream
girls.
She became a cultural fixture
thanks to TV shows and films.
Welcome.
It's great to have you here.
We should say, the show is ABC's
first comedy to quadruple its
ratings since it's premier.
>> There is something about the
way this show with the use of
entertainment comedy is talking
about something on everyone's
minds.
That is the teacher or education
or lack thereof of America's
children.
>> What is going on in this
classroom?
>> Your abandoning the
principal.
>> Abbott elementary is all
about paying attention to the
needs of some of the most
underrated, underappreciated
people in America.
They deserve more respect.
They deserve more support.
They deserve to be paid more.
More should be given to those
who mold the hearts and minds of
America's children.
Do not take what it is they
bring to this country.
To this community, to the city.
Do not underestimate that.
When you underestimate that, you
underestimate the possibility of
America's children.
>> Is an interesting way to look
at these issues and elevate
them, people do not know they
are learning something.
>> That is the magic of our
creator.
Her mother was a teacher, so she
went to school with her mother
for years, she saw the workings
of schools like Philadelphia
where she is from.
>> I was in the gifted program.
>> People laugh, they enjoy it.
Then they have conversations
that last for hours once the
show is over.
Comedy is an amazing thing.
It deserves more respect.
>> It's hard to understand.
I'm getting the hang of it.
>> You come from a different
generation.
It will be understandable if you
are having trouble.
>> It's tech.
I love tech.
I once even wrote in a Tesla.
>> I was like I love this girl,
I love her.
She and I had met on the set of
another show and she spent a
great deal of time just looking
at me, observing me.
It was wonderful 18 months later
to get this call of an offer and
she wanted me to meet all of the
>> What do you think in this
vantage point, you have opened
so many doors and you have folks
who are not only stars of their
own projects but creators and
producers of them?
>> It's been a long and rocky
road to get to this place.
That he could only be a side
hobby.
So little that would be made
available to me, how would I
possibly make a living?
I had such incredible mentors
that came before me.
>> They don't make men like
Sidney Poitier.
>> Sidney Poitier who recently
lost castmate in my first film,
taught me so much about what it
was like to be in an industry
that was going to make it
difficult for you.
>> I love what I do so much.
I know the heavy lifting that
went on in took place to get us
to this beautiful time.
>> This past December marks 40
years since dream girls.
When you reflect back, how do
you characterize the impact of
that role on your career?
>> There is something about the
lyrics in the song.
♪♪
>> Every girl has her own
special dream, and those dreams
are about to come true if you
just open your eyes to what is
in front of you.
From then until now, I say to
those little girls, look in the
mirror, open your eyes and love
what you see.
>> Thank you so much for your
time.
Regulations on your success.