S04.E04: Costume Contest

[chitowngirl]

It's Halloween at Abbott Elementary and Janine and Gregory proudly show off their couple's costume, but it fails to translate; Barbara faces pushback from parents concerned about hygiene and her beloved apple-bobbing tradition.

[atomic]

Preview of the Halloween costumes. I saved the best for last. 😉

Spoiler

 

[Crashcourse]

Jacob looked kinda handsome as Pat Sajak.  Loved the hair.

Ava/Blade cracked me up with the line about Wesley Snipes hating taxes--'cause that was true.

The kid was right.  Janine and Gregory should have been dinosaurs instead of those stupid costumes.

Barbara was annoying and stupid for insisting they have the apple bobbing.  I'm glad the kids stood their ground about not wanting to do it 'cause it's nasty. 

The main characters don't do much for me anymore.  The kids and characters who pop up periodically like Tariq and Morton are saving this show.  I'd also like to see the IT guy again.

 

[Galileo908]

All the costumes were killer! I caught a Space Jam one and a Moon Girl.

Ava slayed as Grace Jones with a Sword Blade. "I kill vampires and I hate taxes!" Loved Jacob as Pat Sajak (yes, he bought the suit BEFORE he found about his politics...) And Janine and Gregory are suck dorks, dressing as Mr. DNA and the mosquito in amber. And Melissa dressed as Sweet Cheeks! And Sweet Cheeks as Melissa!

Cree Summer, the voice actor, won't do voices. Oh, the irony.

I felt for Barbara tonight, and I was cringing hard during that costume contest. I'm glad that Work Bestie Melissa was there to make it better. I'm surprised the kids didn't want to bob for apples, but they're right. It's gross. (EDIT: especially after the Ringworm ordeal! Barbara really did learn nothing from that.)

I am living for Ava saying "headass." And Barbara's "Oh, I am seeing a HEAP of headassery." And GOD, that Ash Wednesday couples costume is clever, as was the GOAT Mohammed Ali.

Edited October 31 by Galileo908

[possibilities]

Ava looked fantastic.

[Annber03]

LOL, the kid coming in at the beginning dressed like Jigsaw from Saw...XD. 

And "Ash Wednesday". Amazing. 

So like Gregory and Janine to pick a couples' costume idea that the others either don't get or get but don't care for :p. But I'm glad they ultimately stuck with it in the end. The two of them settling in to watch Jurassic Park together at the end was cute. 

I feel for Barbara with the whole tradition thing. I can see why some parents might take exception to the whole "bobbing for apples" thing, especially in recent years, but that mom certianly could've made her point a lot more nicely. I'm glad she got to have some fun with Melissa at the bar later. 

Love Jacob as Pat Sajak (though the kids not knowing who he is made ME feel old :p!). 

Ava looked absolutely BADASS as Blade. I did laugh at the Grace Jones comment, though, 'cause I had the same thought :D. 

 

 

Edited October 31 by Annber03

[Galileo908]

1 minute ago, Annber03 said:

Love Jacob as Pat Sajak (though the kids not knowing who he is made ME feel old :p!). 

I get the kids not understanding the Jurassic Park costumes, but not Wheel of Fortune! None of those kids had grandparents that watched it?!

And not for nothing, but I saw a Supermarket Sweet cosplay group at NY Comic Con last weekend and they were amazing. They had the inflatables, the buzzers, and one of them was dressed as David Ruprecht.

[kathyk2]

Melissa was adorable I loved Jacob as Pat Sajak the wheel was a nice touch. I thought Mr. Johnson's costume was more obscure than Janine and Gregory's. Barbara was over the top she has to be willing to adapt.

[kathyk2]

1 hour ago, Galileo908 said:

I get the kids not understanding the Jurassic Park costumes, but not Wheel of Fortune! None of those kids had grandparents that watched it?!

And not for nothing, but I saw a Supermarket Sweet cosplay group at NY Comic Con last weekend and they were amazing. They had the inflatables, the buzzers, and one of them was dressed as David Ruprecht.

I think the kids were told not to recognize Jacob. Wheel of Fortune has been on television for decades.

[Galileo908]

15 minutes ago, kathyk2 said:

I think the kids were told not to recognize Jacob. Wheel of Fortune has been on television for decades.

I meant the kid characters. I'm very sure some of those kid actors have seen Wheel of Fortune.

[txhorns79]

I don't know.  I felt like this episode was a little mean spirited, maybe?  It felt like some of the comments being made to Janine and Gregory were less in good fun, and more just putting them down again and again. 

I will also say that I don't believe that Barbara, even in a bad moment, would ever instruct the students to hide something from their parents.  It felt very off brand for her.  The same with her not knowing that Pat Sajak had retired.  If she's as big a fan of the show as she made herself out to be, it seems almost impossible that she would not know that.

I did like Ava's costume, and laughed that someone thought she was just "Grace Jones with a sword."

20 minutes ago, Galileo908 said:

I'm very sure some of those kid actors have seen Wheel of Fortune.

Yeah, even if they don't know Pat Sajak, I'd think they would recognize the wheel. 

[Blakeston]

I liked the other episodes of the season a lot more than this one.

It certainly had its moments (like Melissa and Sweet Cheeks's costumes), but a lot of it was Janine and Gregory hemming and hawing about whether people would get their costumes. There was never any question in my mind that they would stick with them and be true to themselves, despite no one else appreciating it.

And the "Barbara reels because she can't do her tradition" plot was done better in the season one finale at the zoo, when she realized that the lizard she showed to her class every year had been put out to pasture. I allso agree that it was very out-of-character for her to tell the kids to lie to their parents.

 

[BAForever]

Melissa and Sweet Cheeks were adorable. Janine and Gregory are both nerdish (him more, but she is too), so this costume story line was good. The cold open of the white kid being Black Panther was hilarious. 

Maybe an unpopular opinion, but Mr. Johnson can go away forever.

[EtheltoTillie]

This show is going downhill. 

[MaryMitch]

I loved Janine and Gregory's costumes! I wouldn't have known who they were without an explanation, but I like costumes that require imagination and skill to put together.  (The idea of using DNA from a mosquito in amber has always fascinated me.)

[buttersister]

Jacob as Pat Sajak, in the wig, with the wheel. 

Least expected and best, after Ash Wednesday, which was spot on.

[Boofish]

I don't expect any kid to know Wheel of Fortune. Just to be sure, I did a pole of my nieces, nephews and grandsons. The age range is 22, 16 (both obviously knew, although the 16 year old didn't know Pat Sajak by name, just recognized the wheel.) 12 and 7 had not one clue. So in conclusion, I thought it was realistic.

I felt for Janine and Gregory (although their costumes were dumb lol.) One year me and Mr. Boofish went as the Marx Brothers and people thought he was the Monopoly man and spent the whole day asking "who the hell was I supposed to be" A few people on our age range got it. Then that night we went to a costume contest for PBS and came in 3rd place. Now mind you, it was at least 200 people out there. My husband said "there was only 3 places. 1st, 2nd and everyone else who didn't win" 😂

One year we went as Rick and Michonne and absolutely crushed it

[Crashcourse]

3 hours ago, EtheltoTillie said:

This show is going downhill. 

Yeah, I'm right there with you.  The kids are the best part of the show for me now.

Also, why are there no other teachers in the break room?  

[tennisgurl]

I just wanted to yell though the screen "ignore the haters, you guys look great!" every time anyone threw shade at Gregory and Janine's costumes, I knew right away what they were. I'm as dorky as they are apparently! I didn't love how much everyone was making fun of their costumes and calling them stupid, sometimes I think the ribbing on this show can go a bit far. Especially because I feel like a lot of people in the real world would have got it? Or am I just in my own little nerd couple bubble as well? 

Not as much fun as the baby Thanos Halloween episode, but still a lot of fun. Melissa and Sweet Cheeks as each other were adorable, I thought Jacob actually looked surprisingly good as Pat Sajack (I think it was the hair) but Ava was my costume winner. Grace Jones with a sword for the win!

Every season we get a "Barbara hates change" episode, I thought that the parents not being thrilled about the kids for bobbing for apples is fair, but come on with the cupcakes. They think Barbara is going to bake razorblades into the cupcakes? Or nuts?

It turns out Melissa was behind the whole "razorblades in the cupcakes" myth after a prank on her cousin went wrong. Of course!

[Crashcourse]

I had hoped Melissa was joking when she said she put a razorblade in a cupcake for her cousin.  Turns out she's one sick bitch.

[DearEvette]

Aww..  seeing Courtney and Andrew looking so much older!  It was just yesterday he was wearing his kufi giving her power daps and Courtney was waging psychological warfare on Janine. Where has the time gone. 🫣

I loved Ava's outfit as well as the end tag with her vamping it out with the trick or treaters.

The teed up the Melissa's outfit so well with last week's episode. And she totally won!

Poor Janine and Gregory. LOL. I saw Jurassic Park at least three times and still don't remember Mr. DNA and mosquito.  They are too nerdy even for nerds.  I will say the construction of Gregory's outfit was well done.  I liked the effect of it still looking very cartoon-eqsue in the real world.

Barbara's melt down was cringe to see.  I kinda call foul on her insisting that these kids would know Pat Sajak.  Yeah, she is older but one thing older people know is the "Kids today...' phenomenon where they are into their newfangled things and aren't hip on certain other things.  It felt belabored.

Wakanda Forever!!

[kathyk2]

7 hours ago, BAForever said:

Melissa and Sweet Cheeks were adorable. Janine and Gregory are both nerdish (him more, but she is too), so this costume story line was good. The cold open of the white kid being Black Panther was hilarious. 

Maybe an unpopular opinion, but Mr. Johnson can go away forever.

I have another unpopular opinion I don't like Barbara. I hate how she throws a tantrum when she doesn't get her way. If Janine did that viewers would hate her.

[pvandal]

I kept wondering why Jacob didn't say he was now Ryan Seacrest. Especially once they mentioned Pat Sajak's retirement and politics.

[kathyk2]

2 minutes ago, pvandal said:

I kept wondering why Jacob didn't say he was now Ryan Seacrest. Especially once they mentioned Pat Sajak's retirement and politics.

Jacob should have dressed up as Ken Jennings with a Jeopardy board. The kids wouldn't have known who he was.

[peeayebee]

19 hours ago, Galileo908 said:

I get the kids not understanding the Jurassic Park costumes, but not Wheel of Fortune! None of those kids had grandparents that watched it?!

Yeah, I didn't buy that. Maybe none of the kids have ever watched Wheel of Fortune, but I would think at least some of their parents or grandparents have.

I was disappointed in this ep. Like others here, I didn't like how Barbara behaved -- The show was really pushing her can't let-go-of-tradition thing. I also didn't like how put-out Janine and Gregory were about no one getting their costumes, and then their conviction that they'd definitely win the contest. I didn't mind their costumes. I think they were creative and nerdy, and that's enuf, but the way they acted about no one getting it was annoying.

Loved when Jacob guessed Jennifer's Body for their costumes. I also liked when he ran around the bar shouting praise for J&G's costume at the bar. That was cute and sweet.

And of course Grace Jones with a sword was a great line.

I think my favorite costume was Sweet Cheeks and Miss Schemmenti. When she revealed "Miss Schemmenti" I laughed and clapped. Excellent.

Was the parent who talked to Barbara about no bobbing for apples also the bartender?

I don't know Jimmy Butler. (I just googled him.) I know what emo is, but was there some particular reason Mr Johnson came as emo Jimmy Butler?

I also just googled Skibidi Toilet. I had no. idea.

Never heard of headass.

The final scene with Blade and the vampires was nice. It took a lot of the bitter taste out of my mouth.

 

[Crashcourse]

Janine's pointed hat made me nervous just looking at it.  I'm glad she didn't walk into someone and poke them in the eye. 

[atomic]

1 hour ago, peeayebee said:

I don't know Jimmy Butler. (I just googled him.) I know what emo is, but was there some particular reason Mr Johnson came as emo Jimmy Butler?

It was just a funny thing when Butler randomly showed up to NBA media day with that emo style last year. Mr. Johnson really did nail the look.

[Trini]

43 minutes ago, atomic said:

It was just a funny thing when Butler randomly showed up to NBA media day with that emo style last year. Mr. Johnson really did nail the look.

I don't watch this show (or basketball, apparently!) but I caught this episode; and I thought 'Jimmy Butler' was some type of mash-up and/or pun, and thought nothing more of it. But now you're telling me this look was real?!  😂

[DearEvette]

52 minutes ago, atomic said:

It was just a funny thing when Butler randomly showed up to NBA media day with that emo style last year. Mr. Johnson really did nail the look.

And   the AE students would absolutely get this reference before they would Pat Sajak.

[ItCouldBeWorse]

On 10/30/2024 at 10:07 PM, Galileo908 said:

I get the kids not understanding the Jurassic Park costumes, but not Wheel of Fortune! None of those kids had grandparents that watched it?!

 

On 10/30/2024 at 10:07 PM, Galileo908 said:

I get the kids not understanding the Jurassic Park costumes, but not Wheel of Fortune! None of those kids had grandparents that watched it?!

Alex from last season (who lived across the street and watched The Price is Right with his grandmother instead of going to school) might know.  Unless he's in bed by the time it comes on.

On 10/31/2024 at 3:20 PM, tennisgurl said:

Every season we get a "Barbara hates change" episode, I thought that the parents not being thrilled about the kids for bobbing for apples is fair, but come on with the cupcakes. They think Barbara is going to bake razorblades into the cupcakes? Or nuts?

Yeah, that made no sense unless they have a school-wide rule about not bringing in any homemade food for distribution to the class.

I didn't understand the part of the opening where Janine asked the little girl in the curly red wig if she was Ice Spice, the little girl said something that sounded like "no, lice" and Janine made her take the wig off and put it with the rejected costumes.  That's not how she would react to lice, so what did the little girl say?

Edited November 7 by ItCouldBeWorse

[peeayebee]

19 minutes ago, ItCouldBeWorse said:

I didn't understand the part of the opening where Jsnine asked the little girl in the curly red wig if she was Ice Spice, the little girl said something that sounded like "no, lice" and Janine made her take the wig off and put it with the rejected costumes.  That's not how she would react to lice, so what did the little girl say?

I missed that too. I'd like to know what she said.

[HyeChaps]

Barbara had quite a bit to drink at the bar and then was going to drive home . . .

[DearEvette]

1 hour ago, ItCouldBeWorse said:

I didn't understand the part of the opening where Jsnine asked the little girl in the curly red wig if she was Ice Spice, the little girl said something that sounded like "no, lice" and Janine made her take the wig off and put it with the rejected costumes.  That's not how she would react to lice, so what did the little girl say?

She said 'Like'. That was Ice Spice's most famous song?  I think. Definitely not age appropriate for first or second grade.

Edited November 1 by DearEvette

[peeayebee]

@atomic, love your new avatar!

[schnauzergirl]

100% bored by this episode and am sad about that.  For me, Abbott is losing its charm.

[atomic]

1 hour ago, peeayebee said:

@atomic, love your new avatar!

Thank you! Of course Melissa was reading Sweet Cheeks her beloved Peter Rabbit. 😅

[dmmetler]

I snorted at the "Do Skibdi toilet next" because that is SUCH a big thing for my students. (My intern commented one day that "That's the fourth kid who Skibidi'd me today!)
 

I also loved the kids NOT wanting to Bob for apples. I mean, these are kids who went through school shut downs due to COVID. They're going to be germ-aware. 
 

And the "Why aren't you dinosaurs"....

[deatoya]

I think the Black Panther costume was a nod to 'how you can do black characters successfully without doing blackface ' that some people still do not understand in 2024.

I think it's a tossup if kids this age know what wheel of fortune is. Their parents are probably mostly young enough that it wasn't something they watched and that MAYBE their grandparents watched.  I know a lot of little kids watch the price is right but that makes sense because it's a daytime show. I'm an old mom of a young kid so I know what is ways and liked it, but my mom hated WofF. Like we would argue about watching that or another show after Jeopardy and she was an old lady 🤣 

[Enigma X]

My only issue with Janine and Gregory's costume is that they didn't realize it was obscure.

I get what they are trying to do with the Barbara character but feel like they take her too far and she becomes a caricature.

[Lovecat]

23 hours ago, DearEvette said:

Wakanda Forever!!

Janine, when the kid pulled up his mask:  Oh!  Maybe just Wakanda Today.  And keep your mask on!

[Ilovepie]

What is happening to this show???? First the dumb ringworm episode and now this. What is with the Barbara character assassination? Barbara is not this dumb! How tone deaf to not see why the parents and kids would be grossed out by apple bobbing. I would have thought the school district would have shut that down a long time ago! And then telling the kids to keep a secret from their parents???!??? Very gross, especially since she teaches very young kids. Not funny at all. The final straw was her coming unhinged over children not knowing Pat Sajak??? All of this was totally out of character for her! Boooooo!!!!!!

Absolute loved Ava, Jacob, Melissa and Mr. Johnson's costumes. Totally hilarious! The best moments were the reveal that the other half of Melissa's couples costume was Sweet Cheeks dressed as her! I love her obsession with that guinea pig! 

My other favorite moment was Ava staying in Blade character and spontaneously "fighting" the kids dressed as vampires when she exited the bar and then switching into principal mode and telling them to get home because there was school in the morning or something like that. The final Blade pose was hilarious. 

[peachmangosteen]

On 10/31/2024 at 3:12 PM, Crashcourse said:

Also, why are there no other teachers in the break room?  

Because they don't wanna pay people to be extras lol.

Season 1 was great but since then for me it's been very hit or miss. Every season there are some episodes that have me in stitches from start to finish and then some like this one that are just basically outright terrible, albeit with some good moments, usually involving the kids or Ava.

And any episode that is heavy on Janine/Gregory is a real miss for me because they have sadly steadily become almost unwatchable to me.

[cinsays]

On 10/31/2024 at 3:31 PM, Crashcourse said:

I had hoped Melissa was joking when she said she put a razorblade in a cupcake for her cousin.  Turns out she's one sick bitch.

yeah, i don't find that at all amusing, how was that ever something cute? cute costume with her mini-me though.

also didn't like ava waving the sword around. 

jacob as pat was the only thing i really liked about this episode.

[kathyk2]

2 hours ago, peachmangosteen said:

Because they don't wanna pay people to be extras lol.

Season 1 was great but since then for me it's been very hit or miss. Every season there are some episodes that have me in stitches from start to finish and then some like this one that are just basically outright terrible, albeit with some good moments, usually involving the kids or Ava.

And any episode that is heavy on Janine/Gregory is a real miss for me because they have sadly steadily become almost unwatchable to me.

I disagree I love seeing them together. Janine has become more confident since season one and it's nice to see a couple who get each other instead of trying to change each other.

[Vanderboom]

On 10/30/2024 at 10:02 PM, Galileo908 said:

Cree Summer, the voice actor, won't do voices. Oh, the irony.

Actually laughed out loud at this one. Would anyone even get an Elmyra or Kida costume these days? Is asking that question aging me like Barbara?

 

On 10/31/2024 at 9:27 AM, BAForever said:

Maybe an unpopular opinion, but Mr. Johnson can go away forever.

I get it. I love Mr. Johnson, but having his brand of . . . eccentricity appearing every episode takes away from his overall impact. As @Enigma X said, there's a difference between a character and a caricature.

[Joimiaroxeu]

OMG, who would let their innocent child go dressed as Ice Spice?

Barbara called herself the #1 trick. Yikes. Loved her tiger makeup.

Yeah, in the post-pandemic world I don't see bobbing for apples being a great idea either. But that PTA parent was a little wacky with all her concerns.

The librarian as Cat in the Hat was perfect. So she had on two hats?

(On a related note, the Dr. Seuss books were the first ones I read when I was able to start checking things out from the library on my own. Seeing Ms. Inez's costume hit different when I remembered that.)

Headassery. (Is "head ass" or "headass" a Philadelphia thing? I'd never heard it before.)

Sweet Cheeks' little red Melissa wig was adorable!

Actually, I'd love to see Sheryl Lee Ralph as the letter turner on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. Not permanently, just as a guest turner.

[peeayebee]

7 minutes ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

Barbara called herself the #1 trick. Yikes. Loved her tiger makeup.

It looked great, and after she bobbed for apples, all the smears were hilarious.

Quote

The librarian as Cat in the Hat was perfect. So she had on two hats?

I didn't catch that.

Quote

Sweet Cheeks' little red Melissa wig was adorable!

And she was wearing a little leather jacket!

Quote

Actually, I'd love to see Sheryl Lee Ralph as the letter turner on Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. Not permanently, just as a guest turner.

I'd love that, too. I haven't watched WoF in ages. I knew about Sajak retiring, but has Vanna said anything about doing the same?

[Galileo908]

4 hours ago, Vanderboom said:

Would anyone even get an Elmyra or Kida costume these days? Is asking that question aging me like Barbara?

I saw a Kida costume at NYCC a few weekends ago. But as for a kid getting it? That's a very good question.

[sugarbaker design]

I've never heard of Ice Spice, Jimmy Butler, nor have I seen Jurassic Park so I didn't get J&G's costumes.  Headass was new to me also. However I did get Wednesday, but alas not Ash.

[roseslg]

My 9yo doesnt know what wheel of fortune is or pat sajak. I am sure none of her friends do either.  That wasn't a shock.