| Episode |
"Open House" is the tenth episode of the first season of ABC's hit mockumentary-sitcom Abbott Elementary. It was directed by Jennifer Celotta and written by Brian Rubenstien. The episode first aired on ABC on March 22, 2022, with 2.64 million viewers and received positive reviews from critics.
Description[]
Janine prepares to meet her student's mother during open house, while the rest of the faculty uses the time to relax; Gregory is taken aback when he learns how Ava got the principal job; Barbara's daughter's visit creates a commotion.
Plot[]
Janine plays double dutch with a couple of students, but they ask her to hurry which messes up her timing. Jacob enters with ease with Janine looking a bit jealous.
Janine prepares for her conversation with Nina's mother.
In the teachers' lounge, the teachers are discussing their preparations for the school’s open house. Gregory is confused why the others are preparing for things to pass time with. Being that it is his first open house, they tell him that while the event is open to all parents and anyone in the neighborhood, barely anyone comes as they are busy working, or just don’t want to show up. Melissa notices Janine is preparing like she is about to take the bar. Janine replies that this open house is make or break for her since this is the only time the mother of one of her students, Nina, has to discuss her daughter’s struggles in class.
Ava planning to DJ during Abbott's open house.
Ava enters the lounge with plans to DJ during the open house. Gregory comments that the superintendent is coming and wonders why she isn’t acting more like a principal. Ava reveals to him that she got her job by blackmailing the superintendent. This confession takes Gregory by surprise. He spirals, thinking everything he has done, from studying and majoring to become a principal, was all for nothing. He did everything right, but Ava still became the principal because she blackmailed the superintendent.
The open house starts and Janine is anxious because she isn’t sure Nina’s mother is coming. She goes to Barbara to rehearse what she is going to say. She tells the camera that Barbara is her mentor and that she considers her as her mother. In Barbara’s classroom, Janine meets Barbara’s daughter, Taylor. Janine tells Taylor how lucky she is for having a mother like Barbara. It gets weird as she tries to join in their bonding and calls herself Barbara’s work daughter.
In the library, Melissa invites Jacob to play poker, but he declines, saying that he didn’t really play. Melissa insists and Jacob gives in. Melissa then calls Mr. Johnson to buy in, too. Meanwhile, Ava is DJing which is broadcasted in the school’s PA system. The superintendent enters her office and she confidently carries on, reminding him that she has dirt on him.
Back in Barbara’s classroom, Barbara and Taylor make plans for dinner and Janine chimes in and gives her restaurant recommendation. Janine then offers to give Taylor a tour around Philly, but Taylor tells her that she’s actually from Philly but that she’s visiting from New York to see her mother. Janine asks what Taylor does for a living and she answers that she represents a global brand. Barbara interrupts and says that Taylor sells booze. Barbara expresses her disapproval as it is against her Christian beliefs. Taylor thinks her mother is not supportive of her since she did not follow in her footsteps and become a teacher. She walks out and Barbara follows. Janine tries to make Barbara feel better but Barbara brushes her off and tells her to prepare for her conversation with her student’s mother. She goes back to her classroom. Still anxious, she calls Nina’s mother to remind her about the open house.
Taylor and Gregory meet.
Meanwhile, in the library, the three start to play poker when they spot Gregory looking disheveled. Gregory tells the camera that nothing matters anymore so he’s given up trying. Taylor enters the lounge and spots Gregory. They exchange introductions, when Barbara calls Taylor to talk.
With Nina’s mother still not in attendance, Janine takes it upon herself to fix Taylor and Barbara’s relationship. When she arrives at Barbara’s classroom, however, she sees the two have made up. As she tries to quietly leave, she inadvertently turns off the lights and they turn to her. She apologizes for the interruption and leaves.
Ava is giving the superintendent a "tour" of the school, also telling him her plans to turn a room inter her "woman cave," where she will spend her time taking naps and watching TV. Gregory comes across the two and reintroduces himself to Superintendent Collins. The superintendent remembers him stating that he gave a good interview. Gregory sarcastically congratulates him for hiring Ava instead.
Janine and Nina's mother talking about Nina's struggles in class.
While Janine waits for Nina’s mother, she texts her mother, which goes unreplied, as with the other texts she had sent her. With the open house over, she leaves and bumps into Nina’s mother. The mother tries to explain why she is late, but Janine refuses to hear her "excuses" and goes on a tirade which is clearly about her own mother. The confused mother explains that she is a nurse and that there was an emergency at the hospital. Janine realizes her mistake and apologizes. The two go ahead and discuss Nina’s struggles and try to figure out how to help her at home.
Jacob shows his hand to Melissa and Mr. Johnson.
Back in the library, Melissa is holding a flush and refuses to accept Jacob going all in. Jacob tells her that she doesn’t need to treat him like a kid and she accepts his bet. She celebrates winning, showing her flush but Jacob shows her a four-of-a-kind. Jacob clears out the table and Melissa notices Jacob smirking while doing so. Melissa surmises that Jacob was actually hustling them. He confesses that during his time doing Teachers Without Borders, they had a lot of free time, so they would just play cards and sleep with each other. Melissa is impressed but tells him that she will one day get revenge and that he should look over his shoulder for the rest of his life.
Janine finds out that Gregory has a date with Taylor.
Janine finds Gregory at the teachers’ lounge and Gregory notices that she is in a good mood. She shares that she had a successful talk with Nina’s mother. Janine notices that Gregory’s posture is not as perfect as before and asks if he’s okay. She then asks him to go out to celebrate her big teacher win. Gregory tells her he can’t. Taylor then enters the lounge to see if Gregory is ready for their dinner date. Taylor suggests one of the restaurants Janine mentioned and Janine just looks on as the two leave.
Ava is wrapping up her “tour” with the superintendent. He reminds her of the school board meeting that will be happening in a couple of weeks. Ava smugly tells him that she’ll be asking for extra funding for next year and that he will give it to her. The superintendent then reveals to her that he got divorced and got remarried to the deaconess he was cheating with. He then tells her that if her presentation to the school board is anything like the tour she just gave, she’s in a lot of trouble. Ava is speechless when she realizes that she no longer has dirt on him and that she might be getting fired.
Janine sees the other teachers leaving as she looks at her phone, waiting for her mother to reply. Barbara goes up to her and says that her "work mom" is free and that they should have dinner together. Janine excitedly accepts and Barbara asks her about her conversation with Nina’s mother while they leave the school together.
Ava feeling down after finding out that she might lose her job.
Meanwhile, Ava is staying at her office and playing some music. She is in low spirits after the news. Mr. Johnson tells her that he has to turn the lights off. Ava ignores him and sings her blues away.
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
- Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard
Guest Starring[]
- William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson
- Reggie C. Hayes as Superintendent Collins
- Iyana Halley as Taylor Howard
- Mia Hunt as Monica (Nina's Mom)
Co-Starring[]
- Adriene Brathwaite as Jamar's Mom
- Khloe Lawrence as Jump Rope Girl #1
- Alyssa Simone as Jump Rope Girl #2
Ratings[]
"Open House" was watched by 2.639 million viewers, earning a 0.54 in the 18-49 rating demographics on the Nielson ratings scale.[1]
Media[]
Episode stills[]
References[]
- ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (March 23, 2022). SHOWBUZZDAILY'S Tuesday 3.22.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals UPDATED. ShowBuzzDaily. Retrieved on December 12, 2022.