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"Holiday Hookah" is the tenth episode of the second season and 23rd overall of Abbott Elementary. It first aired on December 7, 2022.
Description[]
On the last day of school before winter break, Janine is convinced by her friend to go to a popular Hookah Club where she runs into unexpected colleagues. Elsewhere, Jacob crashes Barbara and Melissa’s traditional holiday dinner and in the process begins to learn the true meaning of Christmas.
Plot[]
Zach is in the school library, singing in a choir with some students. He reveals to Janine while singing that he has been working at Abbott once a week as a volunteer. Jacob shares to Janine that he will not be joining Zach for the holidays in Pittsburgh because Zach’s family is very serious about their caroling and his voice is meant only for spoken work. He adds that he doesn’t want to risk being put on backup bells.
The mood is festive within the school as the holidays are about to start. The everyone is excited, most especially the teachers who are looking forward to letting loose and getting a much-needed time off. Janine shares to the camera that this will be her first holiday being single. She and Erika are planning to go out to a hookah bar later that night, where she will be dressed up to the nines with the hopes of meeting someone there.
In the library, the staff are exchanging gifts for their Secret Santas. Jacob comes in declaring that while he did not participate in the gift exchange due to seeing it as a capitalist holiday, he still gifts Barbara the humanely harvested poinsettia she asked for. Barbara thanks him, saying that it is perfect for her and Melissa’s annual Christmas Lounge dinner. According to Melissa, they have a tradition on the last day of school before break where they bring in some food and wine and have dinner together. Barbara says that it is their own little slice of heaven in between school madness and family chaos. Jacob comments on their little tradition and shares that he will be all alone for Christmas this year since Zach is going to be with family. Melissa drags Barbara away before the latter can invite Jacob to join them.
A little while later, Gregory notices Janine leaving early from their school function. Janine tells him that she’s meeting Erika, so she has to leave early to get ready. Gregory shares that he, too, will be going out with friends later that night. The two wish each other a good time as Janine leaves.
Jacob surprises Melissa by joining their annual Christmas dinner.
Meanwhile in the teachers’ lounge, Barbara and Melissa are preparing for their annual dinner when Jacob enters the lounge bearing a cake and some wine. He was invited by Barbara, but he assures Melissa that they will barely even notice that he was there with them.
Janine and Erika are in line outside the hookah bar. Janine is nervous about meeting other people, but Erika manages to calm her down. She tells her to leave Teacher Janine at home because tonight, they were getting “turnt.” A man greets the two as he is falling in line behind them. Janine turns and sees that the man is with Gregory. Gregory and Janine are both flustered upon seeing each other outside of school. Gregory is more surprised to see Janine look all made up. Ava then walks by and the two are doubly surprised seeing her while she is ignoring them both because she “does not speak ‘line.’”
In the bar, Janine is sitting uncomfortably and pulling up her dress due to the presence of her co-workers in the bar. Erika tells her that it isn’t that big a deal and points out that Janine’s own boss is doing an impressive circle twerk. Erika spots her future ex-boyfriend and goes to introduce herself, urging Janine to have fun before leaving. Janine notices Gregory, but he actively avoids making eye contact with her.
Back in the lounge, Jacob is slowly dampening the festive season with his endless anti-Christmas rants and Melissa is starting to get annoyed. Unfortunately, Jacob is oblivious to this while Barbara tries to mollify Melissa.
Maurice, Gregory’s friend, sees Janine sitting alone and attempts to talk to her. Gregory stops him so he tries to walk up to Ava. He is also stopped by Gregory who asks him to hit on anybody other than his co-workers. Maurice sees another woman and quickly forgets about Janine and Ava.
Seeing Janine sitting alone in her table, Gregory goes to her and engages in small talk. Being that they’re the only two in the bar who are not mingling and dancing, he asks Janine to dance with him. Janine accepts and the two awkwardly move towards the dancefloor.
Back in Abbott, Jacob is still ranting about the evils of Christmas and Melissa has had enough. She walks out into 30°F weather, with Barbara following shortly. Still oblivious to his effect on the festivities, he continues his rant with Mr. Johnson as his unwilling listener.
In the bar, Janine and Gregory are uncomfortably swaying in the middle of the dancefloor. Erika grabs Janine away from Gregory for a bit and tells her that she’s acting like she has someone waiting for her at home. Erika reminds Janine that she’s supposed to be having fun. After their peptalk, Janine finds Gregory.
Mr. Johnson telling Jacob that he's ruining Christmas for Melissa and Barbara.
In the teachers’ lounge, Mr. Johnson bluntly tells Jacob that he’s ruining Christmas. Jacob doesn’t see it at first, but Mr. Johnson tells him that Barbara and Melissa have chosen frostbite over staying with him, so Mr. Johnson asks what Jacob's deal is. Jacob shares that he never liked Christmas and that he does not have a lot of good memories around it. Mr. Johnson chides him and points out that he had a good chance to make a good Christmas memory tonight, and he blew it. He explains that this is the only time the ladies get a break, but he’s grinching up the place. Seeing the error of his ways, Jacob quickly bolts outside. Melissa and Barbara see him run off, so they get back inside.
In the hookah bar, Janine and Gregory are now dancing minus the awkwardness earlier. Ava interrupts their slow dance and the two are flustered. Janine excuses herself to get some air and Gregory follows her, leaving Ava behind.
Jacob emerges from a convenience store wearing a Santa hat and carrying a paper bag of stuff he just bought. He sprints back to school, but the school doors are locked. Mr. Johnson opens the doors for him, and he soon rushes towards the lounge. He finds Barbara and Melissa and says sorry for being a real grinch all night. He tells them that he came bearing gifts to apologize for his behavior. He gives another heartfelt apology explaining how tough the holidays are for him. The two accept his apology and his gifts, which consist of candy and some scratchers.
Janine and Gregory are now outside the bar. Janine tells Gregory that she had fun and Gregory returns the sentiment. It starts snowing and the two share a moment. Gregory inches closer to Janine, but they are interrupted by Gregory’s phone. Amber had sent him a message that she decided to come out. She says that she’s at a bar nearby and that she wants to meet up with Gregory. Janine tells him he should go, so he reluctantly leaves with Janine wishing him to have a good holiday break. Just then, Maurice calls to Janine to ask if she’s seen Gregory. She tells him that he just missed him. Maurice offers up trivia about snowflakes, figuring that Janine would like it because it’s science, revealing that Gregory had told him about the egg drop Janine did for her students. He finally introduces himself to Janine.
Barbara, Melissa and Mr. Johnson dancing to Christmas songs, with Jacob joining in.
Jacob calls Zach to tell him that he changed his mind and decided that he would come to Pittsburgh with him for the holidays. After the call, he joins Melissa, Barbara, and Mr. Johnson who are dancing to some Christmas songs.
Janine is still outside the bar, now alone, when Ava sees her. Ava asks her about her night. She tells Ava that while she met someone earlier, she’s planning on calling it a night. Seeing that Janine is all dressed up, Ava offers Janine to join her and her boyfriend in going to another bar, which Janine accepts. Ava’s boyfriend, who she has been dating for two years, arrives to pick them up. Janine silently squeals in shock as it is none other than four-time NBA champion, Andre “Iggy” Iguodala.
Starring[]
- Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues
- Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie
- Janelle James as Ava Coleman
- Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti
- Chris Perfetti as Jacob Hill
- William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson
- Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard
Guest Starring[]
- Courtney Taylor as Erika
- Andre Iguodala as Iggy
- Larry Owens as Zach
- Vince Staples as Maurice
Co-Starring[]
- Gerald Castle as Guy Aggressive Dancer
- Kyeema Mizell as Girl Aggressive Dancer
- Marae Allen as Kid Singer #1
- Kaden Chea as Kid Singer #2
- Savannah Austin as Kid Singer #3
- Lincoln R. Carter as Kid Singer #4
- Alysia Juniel as Kid Singer #5
- Dharma Brown as Kid Singer #6
Ratings[]
"Holiday Hookah" was watched by 2.627 million viewers, earning a 0.48 in the 18-49 rating demographics on the Nielson ratings scale.[1]
Media[]
Episode stills[]
References[]
- ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (December 8, 2022). SHOWBUZZDAILY'S Wednesday 12.7.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated. ShowBuzzDaily. Retrieved on December 12, 2022.