'Abbott Elementary' Star Describes What It Was Like Being Picked Up by Jason Kelce
Two Philadelphia icons took the stage at Disney's annual upfront this week, the industry event in which companies preview new and returning content to advertisers. Abbott Elementary star and creator Quina Brunson welcomed retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce into the fold, who was just chosen by ESPN last month to provide color commentary on Monday Night Countdown.
And Kelce was evidently so happy to see the pint-sized multi-hyphenate that he nearly launched her into space.
Brunson was asked about the encounter during a Thursday appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers. Producing a photo, host Meyers asked: "I’m going to say he seemed happy to see you. Did you have any sense of how he would show his happiness?"
"I didn't," Brunson admitted, laughing. "Dude—guys, I am so short. I haven’t been this high off the ground in so long ... This was insane. Look at that air!"
"It's like you said to him, 'I'm trying to get to the balcony fast,'" Meyers interjected. For context, Kelce stands at 6'3" tall while Brunson is a comparatively petite 4'11".
"The last time I felt that way was on Tower of Terror," she quipped, referring to the popular Disney ride. "I swear to you now guys, my stomach went up and everything. But he did ask for consent. He was like, ‘Do you mind?’ I said, ‘No that’s fine.’ But I still didn’t know I’d be airborne. I really didn’t. But yeah, he’s so lovely."
The 34-year-old added that Kelce had previously been a guest star on her ABC sitcom along with his former teammate Jalen Hurts, who had also taken to the stage at the upfront event.
At the event, Kelce gushed about his new role with ESPN. "I feel incredible. I know what it takes to be great—it takes a great team," he said, according to People. "I am more than psyched to participate in all the shenanigans that’ll take place this season."
"I have three wonderful daughters, and my wife Kylie and I, we’ll be taking full advantage," he added, of working for the Disney parent company.