Word on the street is that sitcoms are dying. If that seems hard to believe, let me remind you that we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of Friends this year. While Friends could easily be called the last great traditional American sitcom (that’s THIRTY years ago, I’ll remind you), the modern network sitcom is still clinging to life support, with occasional flashes of brilliance (see Abbott Elementary) proving that perhaps the format is not quite ready to die just yet.
One such example of comedy genius is English Teacher, a series which just finished its first season of eight episodes on FX, which you can find streaming on Hulu. But don’t be fooled,
English Teacher may look like a traditional sitcom, but it’s far from. While there may be the basic elements of traditional format within (one central character, an ensemble cast made up of basic tropes, and one open setting that allows for revolving stories each week), English Teacher makes up its own rules, including a killer retro ‘80s soundtrack (heaven), zero laugh track, and no true cliché in sight.
And it’s so good.
Disney’s more risqué counterpart to Abbott Elementary (which DOES feel like a more traditional sitcom), English Teacher is a confoundingly smart show set in a modern Austin, Texas high school and centers on the school’s English teacher, Evan Marquez, played by Brian Jordan Alvarez. Evan is openly gay (although he really can’t be an openly gay teacher in Texas, which causes some problems), and is passionate about being a teacher. He’s also passionate about being passionate, especially when he feels there are issues that come up for his students that should be addressed, no matter how much of a hot potato or a hot button topic it may be, like drag, gay rights or gun control. This show does not shy away from issues of the day, and approaches them in extremely matter-of-fact ways, led by a passionate performer at the center who is charming in all the bull-in-a-china-shop ways.
The writing is insightful and without b.s., doesn’t pander and finds the humor hidden deep within our own pearl-clutching “how dare you” superiorities. Our hero is flawed and insecure, yet he’s passionate and good hearted. There are characters on both sides of the political divide, and none are painted with a single (or simple) brush. While the show clearly has a liberal bent, it doesn’t shy away from the complications that exist in most parts of the country, and the challenges most kids today have growing up in it.
I am a huge fan of Abbott Elementary (which airs on ABC and also streams on Hulu, please find it if you haven’t already), because of its purity and its celebration of teachers and all they do for humanity (and it’s funny as hell). English Teacher takes it a step further, as the kids are older, can handle more serious subjects, and the world is a much more complicated place. There’s no protecting them, it’s time to have all the discussions, but you’ve got to do it with compassion, with balance and with humor. English Teacher does it right and hits all the right notes. There is no word yet on a second season, but here’s hoping the powers that be can keep this great thing going.