Abbott Elementary: A Golden Ticket

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In its fourth season, Abbott Elementary is thriving as a finely tuned unit, consistently delivering top-notch episodes. However, the concern of monotony may eventually arise for long-lasting sitcoms like this one. While some of Barbara’s storylines this season have sparked such fears, it might be my inner critic talking – after all, I need to discuss something other than how fantastic the show is. For shows with a successful run, the challenge of avoiding redundancy can be a genuine issue, but in the case of Abbott Elementary, it could simply be a fear of mine rather than a looming reality. Tonight’s episode serves as another reminder that the creators and performers are masters of their craft, demonstrating how even subtle shifts can rejuvenate a series and make it feel more vibrant than ever.

The series is currently in a “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it” phase, yet there’s a constant need to maintain freshness and excitement. With an average run of three to four seasons, shows are becoming increasingly short-lived in the era of streaming. However, despite _Abbott_ seeming to be approaching its twilight years on TV, it continues to feel like we’re just beginning. The dismissal of Ava has caused ripples throughout the show’s world, and this dramatic move serves to keep things intriguing while staying true to the comedic formula that _Abbott_ has honed over time. This decision also underscores the importance of well-developed characters in sitcoms, as they provide a stronger foundation for an episode than complex storylines. Although plots are often captivating, _Abbott_ truly excels due to the loveable teachers and community that were clearly created with great thought and care. Ava’s removal is a significant event, but it doesn’t disrupt the magic. In fact, it adds depth to the characters, particularly by thrusting Gregory into a role he’s been aspiring for years, challenging Janine with strategic problems, and forcing Ava to confront her ego and acknowledge her desire to return to her position.

The yearly open house provides an ideal opportunity to demonstrate our students’ progress. Last week, Gregory was most affected by Ava’s absence. As the temporary principal, he must address parents on any topic, a more challenging task than managing the car wash fundraiser that the rest of the staff organized to replenish funds following the district’s discovery of the secret Girard Creek agreement. Despite four years of learning to balance his strict approach with empathy and compassion, Gregory remains anxious at heart. He feels particularly overwhelmed when Daia and Melissa tell him there’s no way to anticipate the barrage of questions parents will ask him. This is akin to telling a dog it can’t sniff other dogs at the park – it goes against nature and seems unfair.

Initially, Gregory encounters an easy question from a parent about what a “Garden Goofball” is, but past issues surface as a greater challenge. To begin with, his former flame Amber shows up, harboring resentment from their unsuccessful relationship and mockingly mentions that dating Janine creates an imbalance of power. Trying to escape subtly (Daia’s impression left him feeling uncomfortable), Gregory is recognized by Amber due to his distinctive walk as the delivery driver who had once been too timid to bring a pizza to her door. Quick-witted, Gregory claims he avoided her until the open house so they could discuss how well her children were progressing. Moved by pride, Amber departs gracefully, though with a sharp glance, whereas Gregory exits more stealthily and with a scowl.

As soon as Gregory believes he’s got the hang of his role as principal, Darnell, the parent who threatened him earlier in the school year, storms in, shouting, “Hey there! You failed my kid!” It seems that Jabari, Darnell’s son, dropped from an A+ to an A in spelling, and Darnell is true to his word about taking action if Jabari’s grades ever slipped. To add fuel to the fire, Jabari mentioned it’s because he misses his teacher, which Darnell attributes to Gregory taking over as interim-principal. After a long day of managing crises and four years of building his self-assurance, Gregory faces off with Darnell and assures him that, given his commitment as an educator and Darnell’s parenting efforts, Jabari will thrive. Satisfied but not completely pacified, Darnell leaves Gregory with one final challenge: organizing the school fundraiser.

Ava set an incredibly high standard for her successor at the car wash, as her intelligence, charm, and street smarts were essential for keeping the school functioning harmoniously. Janine’s unwavering optimism doesn’t quite measure up to Ava’s array of talents, as demonstrated by her idea to make the car wash donation-based. She thinks that offering a free car wash will attract customers, and they’ll feel so remorseful at the sight of the charming students and hardworking teachers that they’ll pay generously to alleviate their guilt. In today’s tough economic climate, it seems unlikely that this strategy would work. As expected, they didn’t even manage to cover the cost of materials for the fundraiser, despite having a long line of customers waiting for a free car wash. Ava, who stopped by to show her support, made the largest donation with a neat $100 bill and provided a list of potential high-net-worth donors.

Ava established an impressively challenging benchmark at the car wash due to her intellect, charisma, and shrewdness that kept the school running smoothly. Janine’s boundless optimism falls short compared to Ava’s diverse skillset, as evident in her concept of a donation-based car wash. She assumes that offering a free car wash will bring customers, who, moved by the sight of the adorable students and diligent teachers, will pay generously to ease their guilt. However, considering the current economic climate, it appears doubtful that this approach would be successful. As one might have foreseen, they weren’t able to cover the expenses for the materials needed for the fundraiser, even with a queue of customers waiting for a free car wash. Ava, showing her support by visiting, made the most significant donation, presenting them with a crisp $100 bill and a list of potential high-net-worth contributors.

Without any other choice, they resort to utilizing Ava’s connections, but when the parking lot becomes filled with numerous cars boasting heavily tinted windows and drivers bedecked in sparkling jewelry who casually collect their tips from wads of hundreds, Mr. Johnson quickly identifies this situation as problematic. Now, for much the same reason as Mr. Johnson, I can tell when something fishy is going on simply by looking at him, but it takes the rest of the staff a while to acknowledge how these customers accumulated their wealth. That is until Jacob presses the siren button on his horn and all the cars hastily leave. Janine humorously proposes the idea that “maybe this is where illegal money should be spent: back into the community,” but Barbara firmly disagrees. Ava reemerges, displeased by how quickly the staff surrenders. Principal Ava steps forward, addressing her former colleagues and explaining that this situation presents an opportunity to change direction, and suggests organizing a block party instead, even offering them permission to use the name “Ava Fest” again, rescinding her cease and desist order.

Regardless of the impending rain shower, they shift the block party inside and promptly begin arranging stalls and vendors. Inez offers tarot readings, Mr. Johnson creates caricatures (eventually transforming everyone into janitors), and Janine handles face painting. Barbara, who persistently attempted to persuade everyone throughout the episode to let her use her influential church connections, confidently declares she can bring star-studded talent. However, most doubt her claims, Ava sarcastically labels the talent as Barbara’s “little church friend,” and Gregory assumes she is referring to Jesus. Nevertheless, the church representative surpasses expectations by bringing one of Abbott’s most prominent guest stars.

Jill Scott, a beloved R&B star and Philadelphia royalty, astonished the audience with an unexpected appearance reminiscent of an Abbott surprise. The news about her godmother joining the choir was described by Barbara as a divine gift. Escorted by a bodyguard due to a stalker issue, Jill performed “Golden” for a captivated Philadelphian crowd. The proceeds from this impromptu concert helped the school reach its goal. Janine inquired about Ava’s return and why she was willing to help when Ava seemed content with her speech earnings. Ava admitted that she lacked fulfillment, finally acknowledging what many had suspected. Seeing Ava’s vulnerability, Janine seized the opportunity, inviting Ava back and assuring her that if Janine sets her mind on something, nothing can hinder her progress, so let the mission to bring back Ava begin.

Teacher’s Notes

It was quite amusing how they unveiled that Mr. Johnson had been stalking Jill Scott at the end of the episode; his shrine and tale of hastily rushing the stage resembled the unsettling behavior depicted by Dominique Fishback’s character in Swarm.

Last but not least, some of the best lines from tonight:

Melissa: “When you come to depend on people’s compassion, it can seem as though there is little or no compassion in people.

It’s only natural for them not to tip, as they are known for being frugal.

Melissa: “If you look past their illicit activities, they’re essentially entrepreneurs… And as for the smoking weed part, there’s no explicit prohibition in the Bible about that.”

Janine: “But there is that story of the burning bush, though.

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2025-04-03 05:56