Abby (TV series)

Abby
An image with the word "Abby" against a dark backdrop with lights
GenreSitcom
Created by
  • Mitchel Katlin
  • Nat Bernstein
Starring
ComposerRick Marotta
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (1 unaired)
Production
Executive producers
  • Nat Bernstein
  • Mitchel Katlin
  • Jacque Edmonds
Production locationsLos Angeles, California
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkUPN
ReleaseJanuary 6 (2003-01-06) –
March 4, 2003 (2003-03-04)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Abby is an American sitcom created by Nat Bernstein and Mitchel Katlin that aired for one season on UPN from January 6, 2003, to March 4, 2003. The show revolves around television producer Abigail "Abby" Walker (Sydney Tamiia Poitier) and her relationship with her ex-boyfriend Will Jeffries (Kadeem Hardison). After they break up in the pilot episode, they agree to live together as friends in their rent-controlled San Francisco apartment.

Bernstein and Katlin had intended to feature Abby and Will as an interracial couple and had cast Sean O'Bryan, a white actor, as Will. After a negative response from test audiences, they gave the role to Hardison and recast O'Bryan as a supporting character, along with Randy J. Goodwin and Tangie Ambrose.

Critics classified Abby as a sex comedy and romantic comedy. Despite UPN's heavy promotion, it attracted a weekly average of 1.7 million viewers, making it the lowest-performing show tracked by Nielsen Holdings. Critical responses were primarily negative; commentators praised Poitier's acting but criticized the show's reliance on sexual humor.