"Abbott Elementary" has officially solidified its status as Hollywood's trendiest kids' club. I envision Quinta's phone buzzing incessantly with A-list stars eagerly vying for even the tiniest of roles on the show. (Personally, I'm still holding onto a slim hope of seeing Daniel Radcliffe portray Mr. Johnson's son.) This season has already boasts an impressive array of cameo appearances, yet it seems the red carpet is far from being rolled up, as Deadline recently reported that Lana Condor, Keegan-Michael Key, Tatyana Ali, and Karan Soni are among the faces we can eagerly anticipate seeing in the second half of the season. However, as thrilling as these names are, if "Abbott" is indeed the cool kids' club, then it's only fitting to bring in the coolest kid the TV world has ever known: Cree Summer.
Cree Summer stands unchallenged as one of the finest voice actors of our era, although my bias as a '90s kid might be showing (Susie Carmichael was my absolute idol). Her IMDb page resembles a never-ending scroll through a legal document, boasting an astonishing 400 roles spanning her decades-long career. Her vast experience in children's television, coupled with her legendary status in the sitcom realm — we adore you, Freddie Brooks! — makes her the ultimate guest star to portray Abbott's new librarian in Janine's library pilot program. The role seems tailor-made for her: She embodies Rosalyn Inez, a library sciences graduate student donning a classic Cree Summer hat, radiating sincerity and optimism. Roslyn and her iconic hats blend seamlessly into the Abbott ecosystem, wowing the staff with her organizational skills and infectious enthusiasm for reading.
Barbara is the sole skeptic of Rosalyn's new systems, which clash with her tried-and-true modus operandi honed over the many years she's served at Abbott. No longer can Barbara casually stroll into the unmanned library and freely select books to read to her kindergarteners. Now, she must adhere to the rules, checking out books, respecting the reservation list, and adhering to the three-book limit. As Abbott's de facto leader, this is anathema to Barbara and far from what she envisioned when another "accomplished woman of substance" joined the school. She attempts to enlist Ava's help, but Ava, now less inclined to conceal her geeky side, becomes distracted by a misplaced copy of "Slaughterhouse-Five." Matters escalate when Barbara brings her class to the library without prior scheduling. Rosalyn politely asks them to leave and offers to assist Barbara with the reservation Google Doc if needed. Barbara is outraged that her five-year-old "wordsmiths" were summarily evicted from the library, snapping, "Oh, I know what a Google doctor is!"
In a transparent act of pettiness, Barbara parades her frowning kindergartners through the halls, venting to Janine about how Rosalyn is akin to a hostess at a trendy new restaurant "who has no respect for the patrons who frequented the place before they started charging $25 to set your drink on fire." She concludes her tirade by declaring that changes to the program are necessary, adding a cryptic remark, "I would hate to leave that feedback." Later, when Barbara takes her students to a storytime session led by Rosalyn, the children's excitement and engagement with the librarian's captivating storytelling only fuels the fire further. One innocent student asks, "Mrs. Howard, why don't you read as good as her?" I mean, who can compete with Cree Summer's voice talent?
Upon Manny's discovery of Barbara's disdain for Rosalyn, he urges Janine to terminate the pilot program, contending that Barbara's considerable sway in the district poses a risk to their endeavor of heeding teachers' feedback. Furthermore, he warns that the superintendent would seize any pretext to reject their efforts. Janine, on the brink of capitulation, finds herself empowered by Gregory's fervent belief in the library's potential. He urges her to confront Barbara, portraying her negativity as a mere tantrum stemming from personal frustration. Initially, the prospect of standing up to her mentor fills Janine with dread, yet she recognizes the necessity of advocating for the welfare of Abbott. The overwhelming evidence attesting to the librarian's positive impact far surpasses any merits of Barbara's opposition, compelling Janine to assert herself.
Janine, gathering her courage, confronts Barbara, enumerating the program's myriad benefits and pointing out that Barbara's sole grievance stems from its failure to cater to her personal preferences. She transcends her fear of disappointing her mentor, steadfastly declaring her support for the program despite the looming threat of Barbara's disapproval. As she flees, her heels clicking nervously against the hallway tiles, this moment marks a turning point in Janine's character arc. It showcases her growth, learning, and burgeoning confidence as an educator, underscoring "Abbott's" prowess in depicting character development without compromising its core narrative. "Abbott" isn't confined to the stagnancy of sitcom tropes; its characters evolve organically, fostering an authentic connection as viewers feel they are growing alongside them.
When the teachers' feedback is finally tallied, Janine meticulously peruses each submission, each glowing with praise—except for one, ominously titled "Unvarnished Thoughts on a Rather Ambitious Program," penned by Barbara. Trembling with anxiety, she enlists Gregory to read it first, but he urges her to confront it herself. As Janine begins to read aloud, her voice wavers, nearly dissolving into Barbara's words. Barbara proclaims that labeling the library program merely as a "positive addition" falls short; it will affect students far beyond Abbott's walls, she predicts. Although the remainder of the letter remains a confidential matter between the two women, it becomes evident that the olive branch has borne fruit. Barbara even joins Rosalyn for the next storytime, enchanting the children with her exuberant Jamaican accent.
As Barbara navigates the complexities of the novel library system, an unlikely duo takes shape when Melissa, seeking to rent out the spare bedroom in her apartment, posts an enticing ad for a "charming guest retreat with a scenic vista." Initially, I had presumed that Jacob's departure from his apartment alongside Zac signaled the dawn of roommate-centered escapades, with Jacob's burgeoning bromance with Gregory steering them towards cohabitation. However, such an anticipation proved overly predictable, as the screenwriters gifted us an even more intriguing odd couple upon Jacob's response to Melissa's tenant search under the alias Lester. Melissa, who advertised under the moniker Mildred, warmly embraced Lester's application. It wasn't until the break room gathered and Jacob burst in, excitedly heralding his discovery of a "cozy guest suite with a view," that they realized the sitcom heavens had paired them in an unexpected alliance.
We're so accustomed to the standard Abbott dynamic duos like Barbara and Melissa or Jacob and Janine that the notion of these redheads interacting independently never crossed my mind. Both expressed astonishment and dread upon realizing their situation, yet they soon nestled into a quaint, platonic affection, reminiscent of New Girl's Winston and Cece bonding amidst Jess's jury duty absence. Such pairings are particularly entertaining in sitcoms characterized by low stakes and vibrant characters—throwing two seemingly disparate individuals together and observing the unfolding comedy is sheer delight! Melissa and Jacob uncovered a multitude of shared interests, from their adoration of The Real Housewives of New Jersey to their penchant for sour cream and onion popcorn seasoning. As they broke the ice, they opened up about their recent breakups, effortlessly sliding into a comfortable friendship.
The blossoming camaraderie between Jacob and Melissa hit a speed bump when Jacob perceived it disrupted the workplace vibes. Part of the fun in sitcoms that embrace the odd-pairing trope lies in witnessing the ensemble's reaction to these unlikely friendships. At Abbott, this unfolded in the breakroom when Jacob donned an extravagant shirt at Melissa's suggestion, prompting his new roommate to come to his defense, thwarting Ava's insult before it could land. Ava was compelled to redirect her sharp tongue, aiming it at Mr. Johnson and mocking his shoes, which caused him to dissolve into tears amidst her bullying. Subsequently, when Jacob partook of Melissa's Tupperware, it sparked a chain reaction of lawlessness, with Mr. Johnson raiding Barbara's lunch, leaving her so irritable that she drank the last cup of coffee without refilling, which led to Gregory being so exhausted that he forgot to turn off the garden hose, culminating in students trailing mud into Melissa's classroom. To curb the chaos, the roommates concurred to conceal their bond at work to "safeguard their friendship" and preserve harmony.
Jacob and Melissa's clandestine friendship lasted but a moment. They couldn't contain their giggles at memes exchanged via text as they sat across the room. Mr. Johnson and Gregory swiftly sensed the unusual aura, with Mr. Johnson seizing Jacob's phone, exposing their friendship. He agreed to guard their secret but warned them of the perilous game they played. Soon, maintaining their friendship solely within their home proved impossible, so they publicly affirmed their mutual admiration, as though entangled in an illicit workplace romance. Save for Mr. Johnson, no one truly cared, and they realized Abbott's ecosystem was more resilient than anticipated. Now that their relationship's public launch was behind them, it was time for more adventures between this unexpected duo.
