Abbott Elementary’s hilarious cast of characters won the hearts of viewers worldwide. From its pilot episode onwards, the comedy immediately garnered a formidable following, and Abbott has only earned more devoted viewers with time. Although the show is undoubtedly one of ABC’s biggest hits of the decade already, the network is failing to give Abbott Elementary the room it deserves to keep growing. The problem lies in one key issue: ABC is failing to recognize the power Abbott Elementary holds.

With the right promotion, Abbott Elementary could continue its legacy of breaking boundaries and earning acclaim. It’s not just a mockumentary, not just a comedy, and not just an ensemble. The show is smart and self-referential, with arcs in Abbott Elementary more important than romance. It perfectly toes the line between realistic conflict and fantastical plotlines that entertain and comfort audiences everywhere. The show would not only benefit from a different time slot; Abbott Elementary has earned an earlier prime time slot with recently collected data.

Abbott Elementary Season 4 Finds Massive Success Post-Episode Broadcast

The Numbers Prove Live Viewing Doesn't Tell The Whole Story

To get the full picture of Abbott Elementary’s success, there needs to be a well-defined scope. Abbott Elementary’s ratings aren’t just based on live viewers, nor are they based solely on streams. Combining views on Hulu, Disney+, and ABC itself reveals the truly widespread reach of Quinta Brunson’s brainchild. The Abbott Elementary season 4 premiere alone reached record-high viewership across its first 35 days. According to Variety, there were 2.1 million live viewers compared to the compiled viewership, which reached 9 million– quadrupling the first-night viewership in five weeks.

These immensely impressive numbers prove that fans of Abbott often aren’t watching new episodes the night they air. That doesn’t mean, of course, that viewers are ambivalent about the show’s release. Millions of viewers were disappointed to learn that Abbott was taking a mini-hiatus for the second half of November, with many wondering how long they’d have to wait for Abbott Elementary season 4, episode 7. Abbott reaches beyond ABC viewers, with clips of scenes often going viral on social media and further drawing people in to binge-watch the seasons on Hulu. However, the ABC audience shouldn’t be overlooked.

Abbott Elementary's Growing Ratings Highlights Why Its Timeslot Hinders Its Success

The Mockumentary Is On A Great Trajectory

While the compiled data of total viewership unequivocally shows Abbott Elementary is a well-loved title, its ABC timeslot feels like it’s still trying to prove itself. Abbott Elementary season 4 currently airs from 9:30-10 p.m. ET, far later than one might expect for such a renowned program. With such a late release, it’s no wonder that the vast majority of viewers roll in once the show is available to stream at the audience’s availability. Though it's still incredibly popular, the late time slot is limiting Abbott Elementary's potential.

Episodes of Abbott Elementary can be streamed on Hulu and Disney+ while airing, but full seasons can be streamed on Max after airing concludes.

Take a show like St. Denis Medical. The new mockumentary competitor for Abbott Elementary airs at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, significantly earlier than the ABC sensation. Though only in its first season, the St. Denis Medical series premiere garnered 4 million night-of viewers– about double the amount recorded from Abbott Elementary’s season 4 premiere (via Deadline). With a show as established as Abbott, there’s no telling how drastically a simple time change could impact its live-airing audience. One thing is certain: If ABC wants to capitalize on the show's current success, Abbott Elementary needs a better timeslot.

ABC Needs To Move Abbott Elementary Season 4's Timeslot

Earlier Airing Could Make Viewership Multiply

Beyond the high numbers it would rake in, Abbott Elementary simply deserves a better timeslot. By waiting until 10 p.m. to air new episodes, ABC is doing one of the best mockumentary series a grave disservice. Moving it earlier would make new episodes so much more accessible to its target audience and beyond during its live airing. Plus, ABC is clearly underestimating the strong replay value of Abbott. The millions who to Hulu to watch Abbott Elementary the day after would likely still rewatch if they could also catch new episodes live around 8 or 9 ET.

Aside from offering current fans the opportunity to catch episodes live at a reasonable time, moving the timeslot could attract hordes of new Abbott viewers. Millions of people turn on the TV after work to unwind, and whatever’s playing could turn into an instant favorite. Abbott Elementary deserves a chance to attract someone’s attention and reel them into the magical world of Quinta Brunson’s comedy. To maximize its full potential and make Abbott Elementary both a live viewing and streaming hit, ABC needs to reward its latest success with an earlier slot in its prime time schedule.

Abbott Elementary continues Wednesday, December 4, on ABC.