English Teacher Is the Year’s Best New Sitcom

As a lifelong TV enthusiast who’s seen more sitcoms than I care to count, let me tell you, it’s been a long time since I’ve been this excited about a new show. FX’s “English Teacher” is a breath of fresh air in today’s stale TV landscape. The way Brian Jordan Alvarez balances humor with relevant social issues is nothing short of masterful.

2023 was an unusual and thin year for television, as the immediate effects of Hollywood’s strikes in 2023 added to the ongoing contraction within the streaming industry. This contraction had already started before the actors and writers went on strike. The consequences have been wide-ranging, from postponed seasons of popular shows like “The Last of Us” and “Severance,” to the sudden termination of many series. Shows such as “This Fool,” “Rap Shit,” “Our Flag Means Death,” and “Minx,” notably those with diverse casts and progressive themes, were particularly affected among sitcoms. So far in 2024, there’s been a scarcity of new comedies to fill the gap left by these shows.

Beginning September 2nd, step into the world of FX’s English Teacher, created and starring the versatile Brian Jordan Alvarez. This isn’t a dramedy, action comedy, or adult animation; it’s an authentic sitcom set in a suburban high school in Austin, Texas. Although comedy series usually need time to find their groove, English Teacher exudes self-assuredness right from the start, skillfully blending humorous character elements with pertinent insights about the evolving landscape of public education. Without a doubt, it’s the best new sitcom of the year so far. Most significantly, it’s a must-see for anyone craving television that brings forth genuine, audible laughter.

In the TV series “English Teacher,” Alvarez plays Evan Marquez, a passionate young English teacher at Morrison-Hensley High School, striving to impact his students positively. However, his mission is complicated by the very students he aims to educate. In the pilot episode, Evan and his colleague Gwen (Stephanie Koenig) observe that the students are less open-minded than before; for example, they ask for a balanced view on the Spanish Inquisition, making it difficult to distinguish between sincerity and irony. The conflict between progressive millennials and apathetic Gen Z has been noticeable in social media discussions for some time. “English Teacher” is one of the first shows to realistically portray this generational clash of perspectives. In a particular scene, Evan, who identifies as a cisgender gay man, is assigned to clarify nonbinary identity to a class he doesn’t typically teach. Yet, it turns out that the students are just as knowledgeable about gender identity as he is; they’re merely trying to provoke their teachers into making foolish statements for TikTok videos.

For Evan, the challenge lies in his colleagues not fully supporting his progressive views. The character Enrico Colantoni portrays, Principal Grant Moretti, is a compassionate yet weary administrator maintaining a tactical neutrality. When a conservative parent lodges a complaint against Evan for publicly displaying affection with Malcolm (Jordan Firstman), Grant allows the investigation to proceed. Markie (Sean Patton), the school’s libertarian figure, similar to Ron Swanson but less charming, advises Evan to defend himself with an indignant letter declaring: “I am being unfairly targeted because I am a proud gay man.” However, Evan responds by saying: “I’m not that boastful.” The solution involves Evan, content just to keep his job, agreeing to refrain from dating coworkers. This agreement is quickly tested upon the arrival of an attractive new teacher (Langston Kerman’s Harry), who appears interested in him.

In a unique and uncontrived manner, Alvarez often chooses conflicts that resonate with audiences without resorting to cheap gimmicks. His viewpoints, slightly left-leaning, are presented in a way that avoids being didactic or moralistic. For instance, in one episode, Evan confronts Markie about a gun club, which Evan considers inappropriate given the rise in school shootings. However, Markie, who heads the group, justifies it as a “firearms safety program” and explains that Texas is a state where many children will have access to guns regardless of whether they’re taught how to handle them safely or not. In another episode, the reality TV star Trixie Mattel, from ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’, appears as a friend of Evan’s, helping football players learn about drag queens. This is in response to complaints from the school’s LGBTQ+ group about the boys’ sexist performances during the annual powderpuff football game.

In a show like “English Teacher,” issues might not be as complex as they are in the series we’re discussing, given that its closest comparison, “Abbott Elementary,” features younger students and a more distant culture war. The faculty in that show, despite their differences, work together for the betterment of their underfunded school. By setting his show in a conservative suburb of a liberal city, Alvarez captures the intricate blend of demographics and political agendas. He is aware of the deceitful maneuvers of affluent parents and the skepticism of some teenagers who have been honing their skills for what seems like a lifetime in the “oppression Olympics.” One of Evan’s students even claims to have “asymptomatic Tourette’s.” Instead of criticizing this situation, which is undeniably problematic, the series finds the absurd humor in the minor power struggles and posturing among the junior varsity.

Although the overall framework appears strong, there’s room for improvement in some of the finer aspects of the series. Koenig delivers an endearing, bright portrayal, but after watching six episodes (out of eight in the first season), I find myself knowing very little about Gwen beyond her husband recently losing his job. The last member of the faculty team, counselor Rick (played by Carmen Christopher), comes off as a typical bro, consuming protein bars, flooding everyone with questionable investment advice, and never quite warranting his own storyline. (In terms of comparison, if Koenig is Ron Swanson from Parks and Rec, then Rick is Tom Haverford.) These flaws can be easily addressed. To transform English Teacher into a more harmonious series, it merely needs what every classic sitcom has had in abundance: time.

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2024-08-26 20:06