"Abbott Elementary" pays a heartfelt tribute to mothers—and their affectionate moniker, "muvas"—through a hilariously maternal-themed holiday episode that has brought back the robust laughter we've been yearning for this season. This episode is a testament to the writers' pure joy, drawing from their personal treasures of familial experiences, particularly the intricate dynamics within Black families. From the infamous depiction of Barbara's exhausted auntie lounging precariously on the bed's edge (for those in the know) to her family's persistent urge to lay hands on Gregory for blessings, the humor transcends boundaries, peppered with unmistakably Black nuances. This is a formula that the "Abbott" writers have honed to perfection.
Gregory finds himself seated at Barbara's dining room table after she deems his Mother's Day plans too melancholic to bear. On the eve of the holiday, Barbara takes charge of the hallway decorations and discovers Gregory's contribution—a meager assortment of stick figures accompanied by a bland "Thanks, Moms" scrawled in Sharpie—far from satisfactory. She, along with Melissa, confronts him about the underwhelming display, lambasting his decision to make participation optional. Barbara poses a hypothetical question about how his mother would feel if he didn't do something special for her. Gregory responds candidly, "My mom passed away when I was nine." He assures them that he doesn't crave sympathy; instead, Mother's Day serves as an ideal day to visit Top Golf while all the fathers are occupied. Barbara is horrified at the notion of Gregory spending the day at "Topless Golf" and insists he joins her for Mother's Day brunch.
As everyone shares their Mother's Day plans—Melissa plans a stopover at Barbara's before heading to her own home, while Jacob and Janine opt for a drag brunch at Rubenstein's—a snarky remark by Ava sparks a brainstorm in Janine. When Melissa and Barbara inquire why Janine isn't spending the day with her family (interestingly, no one questions Jacob's mom's whereabouts), she reveals that her mom despises the holiday and her sister will be with her dad and stepmom. Melissa asks, "Oh, you two have different dads?" just as Ava darts down the hallway, quipping, "Of course, they do. You thought, with that height difference, they share the same father? Janine's dad is probably Kevin Hart or something… cause they're short!" Janine confesses to the cameras the "unamusing truth" that she doesn't know who her father is and has outgrown wondering. However, something about the Kevin Hart mention resonates, as her mom apparently knew the comedian in high school, and they both possess a keen sense of humor.
Janine perks up at the idea of uncovering her father's identity, diligently seeking any means to confirm or deny his paternity. With her laptop open to a Google Image search of Kevin Hart, she calls her mom, Venetta (was that not Taraji's voice on the phone?—perhaps just me), to discuss the possibility of being the comedian's daughter. Venetta vehemently denies dating Kevin… but casually mentions they did have a fling before abruptly ending the call. Undeterred, Janine attempts to reach Kevin Hart through various social media platforms, even sending him a dollar on Venmo. Melissa offers to connect Janine with Kevin's barber (whom she knows through a few degrees of separation) to obtain a strand of his hair for a DNA test. While Janine awaits the results, Jacob embarks on his own quest to fund the annual field trip after Ava informs him that the budget is empty, meaning they must skip it this year—a prospect Jacob declares he'd rather die than face. He tries setting up a GoFundMe but discovers the school has been suspended due to Ava's fraudulent activities. Melissa suggests he seek help from the PTA. Tariq continues to reign over the PTA—now humorously renamed "Parents Throwing Ass"—and presides over a meeting in the gym catered by a private sushi chef, further proving his penchant for exploiting any opportunity for a free meal. Amidst plates of intricately crafted nigiri and flutes of champagne, Tariq informs Jacob that the PTA fund is overdrawn, forcing Jacob to devise a solution on his own.
Meanwhile, in the tranquil garden, Barbara stumbles upon Gregory, who is uttering words of affirmation to his plants, a technique purportedly designed to invigorate their growth. This peculiar practice serves as a seamless transition into an invitation to a brunch celebrating motherhood. Barbara, with a wink and a smile, remarks that plants that receive the most care flourish the most robustly. However, Gregory swiftly counters with a cautionary tale, asserting that "over-watering and over-pruning can sometimes choke the life out of a plant." Barbara brushes aside his words of warning, along with his polite refusal, insisting that she fully expects his presence on Sunday.
Barbara holds the brunch at her home in the highest esteem, as she lost her beloved mother a few years prior and feels compelled to honor her memory in a special way. She embodies the quintessential Black mom energy, buzzing around the house restlessly, while steadfastly refusing to let her guests lift a finger. She is particularly keen on ensuring that Gregory, a fellow child of loss, doesn't spend the day in solitude. Despite the fact that it has been over two decades since Gregory's mother passed, Barbara's family treats him as though he were Orphan Annie, hugging him tightly and offering their heartfelt condolences.
To make matters even more uncomfortable, Taylor, Barbara's daughter and Gregory's ex, arrives with her new boyfriend, who also regards Gregory with solemn pity. Melissa watches these excruciating interactions with amusement, sipping her drink and grinning as though she were watching the latest episode of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey."
Before diving into the meal, Barbara instructs the table to "lift up our brother Gregory Eddie in prayer," prompting Mr. Howard to rise from his seat and "place healing hands upon him." Barbara begins to preach and sermonize with fervor, only to realize midway through that she doesn't even know Gregory's mother's name. Gregory, aware that revealing his mother's name as Faith would only fan the flames of evangelical enthusiasm, tries to expedite the proceedings. However, Melissa, relishing in Gregory's discomfort, urges him to disclose her name.
The word "faith" ignites the entire family's praise for the Almighty. When Gregory attempts to slip away from Barbara's house during the prayer, she reminds him that God is watching and continues to implore Him to hold Gregory close in His "deepest bosom, as his mother is not here to do it herself." This is the final straw for Gregory, who abruptly rises from his seat. Barbara follows him out of the dining room, insisting that he needs the comfort of community. Gregory stands his ground this time, telling Barbara that continually discussing his mother is sadder than spending the day alone golfing. He makes it clear that this form of mourning is her tradition, not his, before exiting the door.
The prayer is still ongoing when Barbara returns to the table, more flustered than ever. As she takes the pie out of the oven, Melissa and Taylor gently remind her that it's okay to relax and take a moment for herself. Taking their advice literally, Barbara decides to join Gregory at Top Golf. There, he opens up about his mother and the ache of feeling that loss during holidays. He confides in her that he doesn't need Mother's Day to remember his mom, a sentiment that Barbara now understands all too well. She leaves him to his thoughts and goes to "swing a few home runs," as the two grieve in peace.
By Sunday's dawn, Jacob was still grappling with the elusive field trip solution, a weighty concern that loomed over him like a dark cloud during Rubenstein's lively "Mother'ed Day" drag brunch. Meanwhile, Janine was equally distracted, fixated on her quest to find Kevin Hart, much to the chagrin of her friend Erika, who sensed their preoccupation was dampening the festive atmosphere.
Just as the entertainment was about to commence, Ava graced their table, eager to catch her beloved drag queen Lisa Condo (a whimsical play on Marie Kondo, accompanied by the clever tagline, "Is your house hunt dragging you down?"). She relished in observing Jacob's predicament, a challenge she had unwittingly conjured, remarking, "It'll only intensify before descending into chaos." However, when the DNA results revealed Kevin was not Janine's father, Ava swiftly shifted gears, offering her unwavering support to lift her friend's spirits.
Janine came to terms with the reality of not knowing her biological father. Towards the episode's conclusion, she received an unexpected FaceTime call from Kevin himself, who bluntly requested that she never contact him again (presumably, Mr. Johnson is free to reach out to him whenever he pleases).
Although Janine's arduous search culminated in disappointment, Lisa Condo inadvertently sparked an idea in Jacob's mind when she suggested he consider their upcoming performance at Shakesqueer in the Park, a venue renowned for its free admission. Janine and Ava readily endorsed the notion of taking the students to Smith Memorial Playground, a historic and accessible Philadelphia park.
Eager to secure sufficient spots for all the students, Jacob boldly ascended the stage, appealing to the crowd to make reservations. Initially met with boos – who would want to see a random, casually dressed white man interrupt their drag brunch? – but once Janine and Ava clarified it was for the children and Jacob descended the stage, they successfully secured the reservations necessary to guarantee an annual field trip for their students.
