“Abbott Elementary” has another lesson for us, and it’s a big swing

The strength of “Abbott Elementary” lies in its persistent comfort, which its creator and leading actress Quinta Brunson understood as the core of the broadcast sitcom’s mission.

It's not as derogatory to call the series enjoyable after four seasons if we were to refer to, say, The Bear in a similar way. Yes, that name drop is intentional, and not just because “Abbott” is often cited as a classic half-hour standard-bearer in discussions about what is and isn't a TV comedy, due to its obvious hilarity, right down to its mockumentary format.

Through her second grade teacher, Janine Teagues, Brunson captures the essence of this unforgettable teacher who changed our lives. (Her fictional school is named after her favorite elementary school teacher.) She is a fearless representative of the tireless souls who don't let themselves stop them from inspiring young minds.

And while FX's critical darling faced some backlash in its third season for offering a version of “more of the same,” the “Abbott” writers are using the predictability of its TV comedy to an advantage.

This is important because the show continues with another school year at Willard R. Abbott Elementary. Four seasons later, Janine is no longer the awkward newbie, but isn't quite the equal of veteran Abbott teachers Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter) and Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph).

Thanks to her foray into the underbelly of the education administration machine, Janine better understands the challenges and limitations of working at a chronically underfunded public school in West Philly.

Overwhelming problems remain. One thing that cannot be fully remedied is Principal Ava Coleman's mismanagement – but we wouldn't want that to happen. Janelle James' Portrait of Ineptitude is the Teacher Appreciation Day gift that keeps on giving.

But even Ava doesn't stop Janine from fulfilling her true purpose as a teacher, inspired by fellow teacher Jacob Hill (Chris Perfetti) and her ongoing crush on Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams).

Like all great workplace sitcoms, Abbott Elementary's cast of characters is a family of two characters who, in the season three finale, dangle from the branch of the will-they/won't-they tree and KISS.

The big question with the return of “Abbott Elementary” is what happened to Janine and Gregory’s cliffhanger lip-lock. But that's never everything. Two seasons ago, Brunson used her show's popularity to explore what charter schools mean to a community. This “Abbott” arc clarified these nebulous political discussions about school choice and vouchers by explaining how charter schools work against the public school system and communities that simply want their children to receive a solid education in a safe environment.

Season 4 tackles another thorny class conflict in the real world, with no mention of a specific dreaded word associated with it in the season premiere. But we quickly understand what's happening when Ava stumbles into her office and has a vision so unfamiliar that she thinks she's seeing a ghost. It's just a white kid whose parents recently moved to the area.

Janine explains that a large PGA golf course is being built about ten blocks from Abbott and new homeowners are moving into the area so they can play. “And while Tigers Woods is a notable golfer,” says Janine, “the demographic of most golfers is primarily… er…”

Ben Onyx Dowdy and Janelle James in “Abbott Elementary” (ABC/Disney/Gilles Mingasson)

Yes. Thanks to this new golf course, gentrification will affect Abbott and his families even more tangibly than it already does, starting with basic impacts like the sudden loss of water in the school building and an increase in scattered pests.

Brunson never intended “Abbott Elementary” to be about the blackness of the school or most of its teachers, instead directing the focus to the fusion and collapse of the individual personalities that make up the staff. However, she doesn't shy away from exploiting the affection we have for these characters to shed light on actual phenomena that make the lives of real working-class people unbearable.

The golf course subplot does not appear in every episode. Next week's episode doesn't actually contain a single mention; A contagious outbreak is a problem for everyone.

But it mirrors a case currently unfolding in West Philly. Billionaire interests supported the restoration of Cobbs Creek Golf Course, located in a predominantly black neighborhood whose residents were not consulted and are constantly being displaced by rising real estate prices and the taxes that come with them. Locals also view this “restoration” as ecologically irresponsible, cutting down mature trees in green spaces used by neighbors for hiking and by naturalists valued for their diversity.

One of the first things a pleasantly grinning Janine says in the pilot is that the city keeps telling her teachers that there's no money to meet her school's needs, “but they're doing a multi-million dollar renovation of the Eagles Stadium.” end of the street.” ”

Matt Oberg, Chris Perfetti, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Lisa Ann Walter in “Abbott Elementary” (ABC/Disney/Gilles Mingasson)

Municipal disinvestment is straining communities across the country, not just in major cities. But the golf course development offers an opportunity to illustrate to the show's prime-time audience the impact of hyped urban renewal projects on longtime residents who had no say in the matter.

“Abbott” doesn’t address this aspect directly – at least not in the premiere. And you don't need to know anything about the development of Cobbs Creek Golf Course to realize that something is going very wrong in West Philly, the setting of the show. A slick lawyer who accuses these extremely underpaid teachers of tons of payouts is never up to any good. Even in that telltale “uh-oh” moment, the cast's physical humor keeps the scene light, and the zingers are sure to hit their mark.

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We all want to see whatever comes of Janine and Gregory's interlude, even those of us who hoped it wouldn't happen.

It may be worth paying attention to how these teachers and their resilient community cope with another well-funded threat – a rarer commodity in prime-time television.

Few network comedies delve into nuanced social commentary without softening the outcome in some way that contradicts reality. But the fact that “Abbott Elementary” is willing to jump into this class politics discussion with a hopeful smile on its face and lose none of its cheerfulness is an achievement.

Season 4 of “Abbott Elementary” premieres Wednesday, October 9 at 9:30 p.m. on ABC. Episodes stream on Hulu on Thursdays.