S03.E08: Panel

[DanaK]

Quote

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 9:00-9:32 p.m. EDT

Ava and Gregory are invited to speak on a panel about public schools. Elsewhere, the other teachers must complete CPR training, and Janine faces challenges securing district approval for her librarian extension program.

 

[Galileo908]

Could not get enough of Barbara playing basketball. That cold open was incredible.

And somehow I'm not surprised that Tariq is president of the PTA. I was DYING that he kept score for a panel! That panel was painful, in an incredibly realistic way. Even Mr. Johnson was there. Crystal even had her own documentary crew and her own Gregory!

"Casual ghosts?!" Again, loved Barbara in this. Man, I was here for all the hookup tea in this. Jacob tells Gregory and Janine about his hookups, but only Gregory pays attention to the texts!

And I don't know what was better: the Janitor vs AI panel, or that it was better attended than the educator panel.

[Annber03]

Haha, Ava''s little speech at the end about how awesome Abbott, its' students, and the staff are :D. I loved it. Tell 'em, Ava! (Also, LOL at "Janine on a good day!")

But yeah, while I totally sympathize with Gregory and Ava's frustration over how the panel went* (the look on Gregory's face when Tariq showed up to moderate was perfection XD), panel score schmanel score, everyone got some good stuff happeing, personally and professionally tonight. Yay for Janine getting her librarian extension program approved, yay for Gregory getting some interest from someone who wants to utilize his gardening activity for a state program, yay for Melissa and Jacob putting themselves out there again and having a bit of fun on the dating scene (and on the roof of Melissa's place, in Jacob's case :p!). That guy he was hooking up with is cute, go for it, Jacob :D! 

I liked the whole running thing of everyone being miffed about nobody telling anyone about their current dating lives. And Janine popping in and out on the CPR demonstration was great, too - I especially loved her, "Has human biology changed in the last three years?" line XD. 

*The woman playing Ava's sorority sister looked rather familiar to me. Gonna have to look her up. 

[txhorns79]

36 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

 

*The woman playing Ava's sorority sister looked rather familiar to me.

Ashley from Fresh Prince. 

I didn't love the episode.  The panel plotline just wasn't that funny. 

[DanaK]

This was an unexpectedly delightful episode, especially those panels

[Annber03]

7 minutes ago, txhorns79 said:

Ashley from Fresh Prince. 

Ahhhhh, yes, okay, there we go, thank you!

[kathyk2]

48 minutes ago, txhorns79 said:

Ashley from Fresh Prince. 

I didn't love the episode.  The panel plotline just wasn't that funny. 

Thank you I thought I was the only one who felt that way. I'm tired of watching Janine struggle for a small win. I didn't laugh once.

[txhorns79]

11 hours ago, kathyk2 said:

I'm tired of watching Janine struggle for a small win. I didn't laugh once.

It's obviously a little silly that any college would agree to participate in a program with the school district without seeming to have any idea what the program entailed, just because the college was feeling unloved.   

Edited March 21 by txhorns79

[peeayebee]

12 hours ago, Galileo908 said:

Even Mr. Johnson was there.

Where? I only saw Bister Bohnson.

12 hours ago, Annber03 said:

That guy he was hooking up with is cute, go for it, Jacob :D! 

Jacob's now in love! 

11 hours ago, txhorns79 said:

Ashley from Fresh Prince. 

Wha?!? I did not recognize her at all.

I liked this ep. I hated Crystal and Richard Tyler Williams, though I loved that his name was kind of a riff on Tyler James Williams. But, man, those two were obnoxious and without any redeeming value, as far as we were shown. Darth Hater, indeed.

I do always love seeing Tariq. I see his evolution kind of like that of Andy's on Parks & Rec.

I thought Keegan-Michael Key was well-used. I hope we see his character again.

The Cold Open with the basketball game was pretty funny, esp when each teacher gets hit in the head with the ball.

Cracked up at Barbara saying to Melissa, "I think that man wants to socialize with you."

And Mr. Johnson: My shiniest mop leaves the most grime in its wake.

All the janitors wearing bowties was cute.

[MicheleinPhilly]

Sheryl Lee Ralph was on fire this entire episode.

That cold open had me on the floor. And unless I'm mistaken there was a brief shot of Ava DJing the game before she actually starts playing. So according to Tariq, gym rental and DJ fees will leave them $700 in the hole. Of course, Ava would charge $700 at her own damn school. 🤣

The whole CPR sequence was comedy gold. From the way Janine kept flitting in and out to Ms. Barbara getting salty with Melissa for not confiding in her to Jacob putting himself back out there with Avi. And of course, Janine isn't clued in to any of it because she's too busy. 

Speaking of which, I think we're going to see her back at Abbott teaching sooner rather than later. She gave quite a few wistful looks towards the end there that really demonstrated to me how much she misses it. 

And once she goes back, can we get rid of Manny for good? I'll take Keegan Michael-Key any day, but the poorly dressed serial killer can go away. He just doesn't work for me AT ALL. 

[peeayebee]

42 minutes ago, MicheleinPhilly said:

Speaking of which, I think we're going to see her back at Abbott teaching sooner rather than later. She gave quite a few wistful looks towards the end there that really demonstrated to me how much she misses it. 

There was a moment when she was doing a talking head, and her eyes seemed to be tearing up. Then mine did too! Of course she misses her students.

Quote

And once she goes back, can we get rid of Manny for good? I'll take Keegan Michael-Key any day, but the poorly dressed serial killer can go away. He just doesn't work for me AT ALL. 

I like him. I didn't when he first started. I meant to ask: Does the actor always talk like that? There's something weird about his voice, but it works with this character. He's a little weirdo.

[Harvey]

I love the way Jacob and Melissa's friendship has shaken up dynamics. The way he chimed into Melissa and Barbara's conversation today felt appropriate because of that.

[JenLily]

15 hours ago, Annber03 said:

That guy he was hooking up with is cute, go for it, Jacob :D

He was Captain Holt's honeypot in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. I was delighted to see him again.

[dmmetler]

My only problem with bringing in the CC students is that library science isn't a degree offered at 2 year schools. Essentially, they'll be getting an untrained volunteer, when the pilot was with someone who obviously knew she was doing. It'll be great experience for the college students, but it's not going to be the same as having a trained librarian. 

 

I did like that the district person went to the CC first. A LOT of students start at the CC for financial reasons, and especially if your plan is to teach, it's a good idea to get through college without or with minimal debt-and he's ended up in the same position Janine has with her Penn education.

 

 

 

 

[libgirl2]

2 hours ago, MicheleinPhilly said:

Speaking of which, I think we're going to see her back at Abbott teaching sooner rather than later. She gave quite a few wistful looks towards the end there that really demonstrated to me how much she misses it. 

And once she goes back, can we get rid of Manny for good? I'll take Keegan Michael-Key any day, but the poorly dressed serial killer can go away. He just doesn't work for me AT ALL. 

I think she will go back too.  

[libgirl2]

1 minute ago, dmmetler said:

My only problem with bringing in the CC students is that library science isn't a degree offered at 2 year schools. Essentially, they'll be getting an untrained volunteer, when the pilot was with someone who obviously knew she was doing. It'll be great experience for the college students, but it's not going to be the same as having a trained librarian. 

 

I did like that the district person went to the CC first. A LOT of students start at the CC for financial reasons, and especially if your plan is to teach, it's a good idea to get through college without or with minimal debt-and he's ended up in the same position Janine has with her Penn education.

 

 

 

 

I have worked at a library for almost 30 years. I do not have a Masters in Library Science so I am considered a "specialist". Most people who do not have a masters at least have attended a 2  year college and have an LTA certificate. It stands for Library Technical Assistant. I didn't need one as I had a 2 years associates and that trumped the LTA. So if they have an LTA program, while the person might not be a "librarian", they are probably in training to be one. 

TBH, there are people with degrees that I have worked with thru the years at the reference desk and I was better at the job then they were. And I would cover the desk with my 2 year degree while Mr. or Ms. Masters asked me for help. 

[chitowngirl]

Has it ever been mentioned how long Janine’s Fellowship is for? If it’s for the whole school year, I can definitely see her going back to the classroom sooner. 

[possibilities]

I think they said it was for 6 months.

[MicheleinPhilly]

I do have a Master's in Library Science but I don't work in a school or public library. I had similar volunteer experiences with the Free Library of Philadelphia while in school and I learned more from the non-Master's folks who had been in the trenches for decades than I did from the degreed folks sitting in an office running the branches. Experience is always key in library settings. It's sort of the flip side to Gregory wanting to be a principal despite never having been a teacher. 

[libgirl2]

17 minutes ago, MicheleinPhilly said:

I do have a Master's in Library Science but I don't work in a school or public library. I had similar volunteer experiences with the Free Library of Philadelphia while in school and I learned more from the non-Master's folks who had been in the trenches for decades than I did from the degreed folks sitting in an office running the branches. Experience is always key in library settings. It's sort of the flip side to Gregory wanting to be a principal despite never having been a teacher. 

I'm at a public library. I have worked on so many patron questions thru the years,  in addition to showing them how to use a computer or a tablet. 

I have located scholarly articles, even helped a woman get her PHD. And then we had a patron ask us how he could determine the sex of a parrot. Interesting times.... 

Edited March 21 by libgirl2

[vibeology]

37 minutes ago, dmmetler said:

My only problem with bringing in the CC students is that library science isn't a degree offered at 2 year schools. Essentially, they'll be getting an untrained volunteer, when the pilot was with someone who obviously knew she was doing. It'll be great experience for the college students, but it's not going to be the same as having a trained librarian. 

I'm from Canada so post-secondary works differently but our equivalent to a community college would offer a two year diploma for something like Library Technical Assistant or Library and Information Technician. Is that not something offered in the US? I assumed they'd be getting students in program like that who could use the experience. It's not a Librarian but its probably someone passionate about the field with some level of training and knowledge.

Tariq coming up with a great fundraising idea like a teachers vs. students basketball game but then totally messing up the execution is very on brand. The whole cold open was gold. 

[jah1986]

I thought it was a great episode, I laughed throughout. I especially loved all the shoutouts to South Philly, Passyunk (Avenue) and Tasker (Street), that's a real hometown girl running the show. Loved Janine attacking the cpr test with the hand slap at the end, I think he was scared to fail her.

Glad Ava recognized what she has at Abbott and that Gregory got a win just for being himself.

[emma675]

I laughed so hard at the cold open, I watched it twice. Ava shoving small children, kicking the basketball, and then pushing Gregory in a fury cracked me up. Plus, Jacob getting hit by the ball while sitting on the bench and Barbara scoring in the wrong basket. I cracked up. 

[Empress1]

19 hours ago, txhorns79 said:

Ashley from Fresh Prince. 

She looks great.

6 hours ago, MicheleinPhilly said:

That cold open had me on the floor.

I laughed through the whole thing. Jacob getting hit all those times, the (adorable) little girl sprawled on the floor after Ava blocked her shot, Tariq, Barbara scoring of the wrong basket … I howled.

[Annber03]

I laughed harder than I probably should've at everyone getting hit in the face with the ball in that cold open :p. Everyone's facial reactions in that moment were just gold. I'd be all for more basketball scenes like that when possible on this show :D. 

The part of the panel that amused me the most was Gregory trying to slip between the two tables when he was talking...and he couldn't get through so finally he just gave up and sat down :p. 

[DearEvette]

Ok the cold open of the basketball game had me howling. Every single bit was funny.

I love how every  teacher, except I think Barbara, got hit in the face with the ball. I clocked the score at one point and I think it was 14 to 2.  Gregory and Tariq getting into it.  Jacob getting hit twice!!  But most especially Ava bodying what had to be a first grader. LOL.  I watched again and saw she never touched the kid.  But that flop was perfection, worthy of a world cup soccer player.  Made wonder about how the director told the kid to act 'Now remember, you have to trip and fall, really dramatically!!'

And once again, the message the show delivers through the comedy is on point.  I work at a very expensive college.  Very.  My God.  And frankly it is a shame that Community Colleges get looked down upon, because they offer valuable education and experience and students come out without a lot of debt and with some ready skills and training.  And not everyone can afford or even should go to a 4 year private expensive school.

Also enjoyed the latest iteration of changing relationships.  I did appreciate the little hiccup between Barbara and Melissa.  And of course Jacob wilding out after his break up. And Janine doing the CPR, kicking he dummy and giving the fire capt a dap was great.

I agree that Janine will be back in the classroom in the not so distant future.

I do agree the Panel subplot fell flat for me.  But dang, Ava looked gorgeous. And yeah I totally despised Bizarro Gregory.

[HyeChaps]

What a coincidence that both of Melissa and Jacob's hookups were at the CPR training.

Edited March 21 by HyeChaps
typo

[marceline]

That cold open was hilarious. That saidI found Gregory off-putting during the game. He's always been competitive but I hated how he flipped the table at the end. It just felt wrong to me that he would do that in front of the kids.

I like the evolution we're seeing in Janine. I like her We're slowly watching her become the next Barbara or Melissa.

Love Keegan Michael Key and hope he recurs.

 

 

[mrsbagnet]

8 hours ago, JenLily said:

He was Captain Holt's honeypot in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. I was delighted to see him again.

Karan Soni is also in a cute romantic drama called 7 Days. It's on Hulu.

I think the kid that Ava blocked was the one who broke two toilets last season.

Edited March 22 by mrsbagnet

[raeb23]

42 minutes ago, mrsbagnet said:

Karan Soni is also in a cute romantic drama called 7 Days. It's on Hulu.

He also was in Miracle Workers with Quinta. I noticed he was credited as the director of last week's ep, nice to see him on screen.

I wish they'd give Josh Segarra more to do, he was great on The Other Two.

Loved the cold open.

[Red Bridey]

I hated basketball when I was in high school because the ball *always* hit me in the face. So I was enjoying the cold open immensely!

[Annber03]

3 minutes ago, Red Bridey said:

I hated basketball when I was in high school because the ball *always* hit me in the face. So I was enjoying the cold open immensely!

I laways like to joke that the reason I liked dodgeball when I was in school was 'cause ducking when a ball came at you was the point :p. 

[JenLily]

11 hours ago, raeb23 said:

He also was in Miracle Workers with Quinta.

Oh my gosh, I completely forgot he was in Miracle Workers! He's hilarious there, too, but for some reason the one episode he was on Brooklyn Nine-Nine is imprinted in my brain so deeply that that's what I immediately thought of when I heard his voice.

[Empress1]

15 hours ago, DearEvette said:

But dang, Ava looked gorgeous.

She really did. She/Janelle James looks great in white and I liked the loose waves in her hair rather than the bone-straight look.

[kwnyc]

I need a gif of Ava posterizing the first grader NOW! I laughed out loud and so hard.

[incandescent]

Tariq is so damn funny. Of course he's president of the PTA after dating a mom for a few months (at most). Charming ass bum.

[pasdetrois]

On 3/21/2024 at 11:43 AM, peeayebee said:

I meant to ask: Does the actor always talk like that? There's something weird about his voice, but it works with this character. He's a little weirdo.

I will always love KMK because of his voice work in the animated movie Storks. He plays the fierce alpha male wolf who falls in love with a baby and stops at nothing to protect her. 

Miss Barbara with her hair mussed for the first time, fiercely playing basketball. Was she wearing her pearls?

How wonderful for Janine that she can do two things she loves: cool school district projects and teaching children.

 

Edited March 24 by pasdetrois

[Badsamaritan]

That open was GOLD, JERRY! I so wish they could give ensemble awards because these Abbott kids are perfection. The little girl that Ava blocked played that scene like a pro. The look on her adorable wee face, the arm out like, 'Did you just see what this grown adult did to me??' The kids clapping when Barbara made a basket for them, all the shots to the head the teachers took. I laughed so hard I almost asphyxiated. 😂

I'm so proud of our girl. She is taking charge and like Ava, she is that bitch. When she jumped in and did her CPR test after slipping in and out, kicked the dummy, dapped the teacher, and bounced? I felt like a proud parent, my chest got big ngl lol. Of course she remembers her CPR. If she'd been there when the instructor was quizzing them, she would've got everything right. Because that's not something she's gonna half-ass, ever. Like she said, shit ain't changed in 3 years, she got this. And, did Manny have a look when Janine mentioned she had to renew her CPR certificate in order to go back to teaching? I kinda felt like he might have been interrupting her on purpose, but to what end exactly? So that she stays at the district because she's doing well at the work, or because he wants to get with her? Or both? I get this feeling he's ambitious, and he's eyeing her like he wants her to be his power couple partner. If he did try to sabotage her certification, he can go all the way to Hell in his turtleneck and sports coat, do not pass Go. 😒

Their guest star game is very good. Hey Tatyana! You look good, hunni. Someone on Twitter suggested Yvette Nicole Brown as Barbara's younger sister and now I want that more than anything. 

I've seen panelists like that, lots of cliches with no substance. I loved seeing Ava loving on her Abbott family. They're a great group of teachers and even her vain self can see that. 

Jacob's new guy is also Dopinder the cab driver in the Deadpool movies. 

Edited March 24 by Badsamaritan

[luna1122again]

On 3/21/2024 at 10:58 AM, MicheleinPhilly said:

 

And once she goes back, can we get rid of Manny for good? I'll take Keegan Michael-Key any day, but the poorly dressed serial killer can go away. He just doesn't work for me AT ALL. 

I'm always happy to see KMK, he's so funny and handsome. But I love Josh Segarra/Manny and hope he sticks around even if Janine goes back to teaching full time. He'll always be Lance to me, the most charming golden retriever of a man alive, and Manny seems of a similar vein. And I do love his charmingly weird cadence. 

[SnapHappy]

Tariq keeps surprising everybody, I think.  He was such a loser in season 1, I kinda love how they keep dropping him into situations that he would never really seem logical to be in.  

No telling what he's going to be next.

[Js Nana]

Thank you, Quinta Brunson, for creating Abbott Elementary and thank you to Warner Bros. for producing it.

[SnapHappy]

Primetimer main page has a short article on AE and the way the writers made her similar to Amy Pohler's character, Leslie Knopfe in 'Parks & Rec".  

It's definitely worth a read, as they soon realized that nobody wanted Janine T. to be a punching bag, and her naivete' about some things could be embraced instead of ridiculed. 

I am SO glad they went that way with the writing.  

[kathyk2]

14 hours ago, SnapHappy said:

Primetimer main page has a short article on AE and the way the writers made her similar to Amy Pohler's character, Leslie Knopfe in 'Parks & Rec".  

It's definitely worth a read, as they soon realized that nobody wanted Janine T. to be a punching bag, and her naivete' about some things could be embraced instead of ridiculed. 

I am SO glad they went that way with the writing.  

I think during the first season she was a punching bag. Nothing went right for her and we saw Tariq use Janine. Janine has become more confident and it's great to see. I think people confuse optimism with being naive  and Janine is an optimist.

[Joimiaroxeu]

The teachers were trying to go hard in the paint against CHILDREN! 😯

Richard Tyler Williams, on all platforms.

Have to x 2 that -1.

Melissa and Jacob's messy hookup business spilling out.

I keep forgetting that Janine went to an Ivy League school.

If you balance your breakfast you'll balance your blessings. Poor Gregory, that made no sense.

Barbara can understand the newfangled dating. Geez, Melissa.

Avi being coy with Jacob. And now Jacob's falling in love.

Crystal might've needed some peanut butter to go with that jelly Ava served her. Ava and Abbott Elementary stay winning, Crystal. If you don't know you better ask somebody.

Keegan-Michael Key and Tatyana Ali were a great guest stars.

Quote

can we get rid of Manny for good?

I like Manny, in small doses. His voice is like warmed syrup and butter to me. Yum.

[rollacoaster]

On 3/21/2024 at 12:25 PM, libgirl2 said:

I have worked at a library for almost 30 years. I do not have a Masters in Library Science so I am considered a "specialist". Most people who do not have a masters at least have attended a 2  year college and have an LTA certificate. It stands for Library Technical Assistant. I didn't need one as I had a 2 years associates and that trumped the LTA. So if they have an LTA program, while the person might not be a "librarian", they are probably in training to be one. 

TBH, there are people with degrees that I have worked with thru the years at the reference desk and I was better at the job then they were. And I would cover the desk with my 2 year degree while Mr. or Ms. Masters asked me for help. 

Former Senior Library Service Specialist of 27 yrs here. I cosign ALL OF THIS.