Abbott Elementary: Story Samurai
October 9, 2022 8:45 AM - Season 2, Episode 3 - Subscribe

A travelling storytelling troupe Jacob used to be in visits Abbott Elementary for a day of education and entertainment; Melissa struggles with the new normal of her combined second and third grade class.
posted by the primroses were over (6 comments total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
I covet Ava's red jumpsuit. I have been influenced.

Why does lost and found have a 5 day waiting period if we aren't going to enforce it?

Oh yeah, was that in Who Gives a Crap weekly? - It was in the New Yorker - Oh, so Who Gives a Crap biweekly

I don't condone violence, but it slaps.

Cannot wait for Melissa's future interactions with her JLo enthusiast aide. Between this and the reveal of her sister-enemy at the charter school, I think we're set up for some amazing Lisa Ann Walter material this season.
posted by the primroses were over at 9:03 AM on October 9, 2022 [6 favorites]


I always hate a "they're such a cringy NERD" storyline. HIts too close to home! This one resolved itself relatively painlessly.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:45 PM on October 9, 2022 [3 favorites]


I think it's a smart storytelling choice to have them confront and admit he's a giant cheeseball now, because his obliviousness to it was becoming a red flag. Now he's going 'Yes I am a nerd and I stand by that'
posted by dorothyisunderwood at 10:11 PM on October 9, 2022 [3 favorites]


I hope they threw some money at the Story Pirates for making fun of their whole bag.

Love that Janine immediately recognized she went too far when referencing The Blind Side. Some things you can't take back!
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 11:47 PM on October 9, 2022


As a teacher and former improv person*, I absolutely loved this episode. Everything about it!! Jacob really shined and turned things around; everyone clearly loved his performance without irony (in the end because it seemed like a mess), and it was sweet seeing the student say how he loves Mr. C because he's so corny and enthusiastic, not in spite of it. I appreciated how Jacob traded the improv world for teaching, which the dorky actors couldn't even begin to appreciate. The whole fire hose thing, ugh, know the type: fuck them.

For real though, yeah, I know there are greats among us but I can't even with adult men who do amateur improv. (Remember that Broad City episode?) A few months ago I matched with a late-40s guy online who seemed too dorky for me (which is saying a lot because I love my fellow nerds) but nice so I thought I'd give it a try: then I found out that in addition to being a scientist for NASA (so technically a contractor who does computer programming), he did improv, which he let me know was his biggest priority. (Also, if I wasn't ready to have kids immediately, it was over... even though it never started?) Also, his friends thought he was so cool or so he let me know. I can't tell if the improv was the red flag or a red herring?! Regardless, I cancelled our first date after a week of talking and getting delayed, and I have no regrets. There is a time and place for improv but damn it's a fine line and the episode's portrayal of improv folks was spot-on.

*lettered in varsity theatre sports in hs haha; continued in college abroad, then stopped because it's fun because I'm now a cool adult after years of dorkiness growing up. Or so I tell myself.
posted by smorgasbord at 7:05 PM on October 12, 2022


Improv is fun. I took classes and tried to get on a team, but I wasn't good enough for anybody (sigh) and now I do musical theater. (Go figure on THAT switch.) Honestly, this kind of thing is right up my alley (also did storytelling until the pandemic broke my ability to write any) and these people would be a hit on the storytelling circuit.

I don't like so much the dissing-on-nerdery (also, Janine of all people is also her own nerd), but it resolved pretty well.
posted by jenfullmoon at 12:34 PM on October 17, 2022 [1 favorite]


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