Abbott Elementary Season 4 Eps 6-8 Recap

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[00:00:28] Elementary Season 4 Episode 6 The Deli, Episode 7 Winter Show and Episode 8 Winter Break are over,

[00:00:56] but class is now in session here on Recap Kickback. It's me, your host Chappelle, and we've had a bit

[00:01:02] of a break for the Thanksgiving holiday, but we are back to talk about the most recent pack of

[00:01:07] Abbott Elementary episodes here on RecapKickback.com. And with me, per usual, the principal of the podcast,

[00:01:14] we're back, baby. It's Gia Worthy. Gia, what's up?

[00:01:19] Hello, Chappelle. You look great. I wish I could say like long time no see, but we saw each other

[00:01:38] tree holiday specials during the RHAP live watch party and then we could watch the last 30 minutes of Survivor.

[00:01:47] That seemed like a fair trade, right? We had to watch all 90 minutes of Operation Italy, just like a super fan's

[00:01:53] worst nightmare.

[00:01:55] Mm-hmm. And yet, we got to do it. We didn't get to do Abbott. You know, like...

[00:02:00] We didn't get to watch Abbott at all. We didn't do Abbott. Yeah.

[00:02:03] We didn't.

[00:02:03] What's up with that? Like, wow.

[00:02:05] I know.

[00:02:05] I felt like...

[00:02:06] I thought it was a great compromise.

[00:02:08] Especially because, look at this. Now we have basically what? 90 minutes of Abbott to talk about.

[00:02:13] We have our The Deli episode and then we got the 60-minute winter special episodes as well.

[00:02:19] So we got the winter show and the winter break to talk about.

[00:02:22] And so much has happened in this short amount of time.

[00:02:25] I have been so excited to talk to you about this. I cannot wait to get into all the shenanigans.

[00:02:31] Yes, exactly. I am very excited to talk about these episodes. I think it was such a strong

[00:02:38] two-parter with the holiday episodes. They work as their own episodes, but they can also be

[00:02:43] watched together. I recommend watching them together because they were great.

[00:02:48] And even The Deli, it feels weird to be talking about the two-part holiday episode and The Deli

[00:02:54] is kind of its own separate thing, but it was a strong episode. I was happy to watch it.

[00:02:59] Had some great character moments in there.

[00:03:02] Yeah. Let's just talk about The Deli first.

[00:03:05] And then we will get into the winter of it all.

[00:03:09] Because The Deli, like you said, it's a plot episode in a way,

[00:03:13] but it's going to separate us from the two big moments that we have

[00:03:17] in The Winter Show and The Winter Break, which I think Abbott does holidays really well.

[00:03:21] We've talked about this before. Halloween, we've had some iconic Christmas or winter episodes in the past.

[00:03:29] I'm thinking of Gregory and Janine outside of the bar.

[00:03:32] So we got a lot to get into over there.

[00:03:35] As they do.

[00:03:36] I'm surprised we survived that.

[00:03:37] Okay. So now let's talk about The Deli because I think once we get that out of our way,

[00:03:42] we can really make a meal of the winter.

[00:03:44] Now, the drama we have here is that we get to find out that the golf course,

[00:03:51] we know they're here and they are trying to keep the Abbott students at bay,

[00:03:56] you know, because like no one's happy about the golf course moving in,

[00:03:59] but Abbott's going to play ball a little bit for some bribery, I guess I should say, right?

[00:04:05] You scratch our backs, we scratch yours.

[00:04:07] The most recent favor that the golf course needs is that the Abbott kids are so cool

[00:04:11] that they play in the construction zones around, you know, the golf course

[00:04:16] because it's their neighborhood.

[00:04:17] They're allowed to. It's their...

[00:04:19] How dare they?

[00:04:20] Right. But the other kids do it too.

[00:04:23] So the golf course people figure if you get the Abbott kids to stop

[00:04:26] because they're so influential, then the other kids will stop as well.

[00:04:29] And so they need to now, you know, make it worth our while

[00:04:32] to tell our kids to stop playing in their own neighborhood.

[00:04:34] And so we come up with the idea that they could provide some gym equipment,

[00:04:39] including basketballs, footballs, and even a parachute, but not for skydiving.

[00:04:43] This man at the golf course, he does not understand what the parachute is for.

[00:04:48] Gia, tell me, you know, the parachute.

[00:04:50] Of course I knew what they were talking about.

[00:04:52] What is wrong with this man?

[00:04:53] Immediately. That is an artifact of a staple of physical education in America.

[00:05:03] And I don't know what they're doing at rich people schools, but...

[00:05:07] And sanity that you did not know what kind of...

[00:05:10] You think your kids are going skydiving and not having the greatest time of their life

[00:05:14] in a rainbow assorted parachute?

[00:05:17] And then it's like...

[00:05:18] And they even got the motions right where they're like...

[00:05:22] And then you go inside.

[00:05:23] I'm like, yes, yes.

[00:05:25] I got...

[00:05:26] Oh, it took...

[00:05:27] The only thing that would have made it better is, you know, those...

[00:05:30] They're like little skateboards, but they're square.

[00:05:32] And they're just like, you sit on them.

[00:05:34] Yeah, you slide around.

[00:05:35] So because I was very short and close to the ground, I killed it.

[00:05:39] I killed the little boards.

[00:05:42] I was hitting people's ankles.

[00:05:43] Oh, it was so good.

[00:05:45] That was when I really shined.

[00:05:47] Yeah.

[00:05:49] I have so much nostalgia just thinking about that parachute, okay?

[00:05:52] I was like, okay, we got to keep the podcast tight.

[00:05:54] We got three episodes to talk about, but I was like, I could talk about the parachute

[00:05:57] for at least 45 minutes.

[00:05:59] Are the kids losing recipes?

[00:06:00] They don't do that no more?

[00:06:01] Because this guy...

[00:06:02] Or maybe he's not tapped in.

[00:06:04] I think that they don't have those at like whatever...

[00:06:09] I assume boarding school that he went to.

[00:06:12] He had an uptight upbringing, if you will.

[00:06:16] But the ones that know, know.

[00:06:20] And I will give Abbott a pass because they do not have the funding for such a luxury.

[00:06:25] But for us, the parachute...

[00:06:29] I just assumed there was like one in every school.

[00:06:32] Like you open the school and the parachute is just there.

[00:06:34] It's like the Bob and Duke.

[00:06:36] Exactly.

[00:06:37] It's like if you pause it, you have certain things already there.

[00:06:40] You built the school, the parachute just appears.

[00:06:43] So very odd to me that this man didn't understand what was going on.

[00:06:46] But the teachers at Abbott, they know what's up.

[00:06:48] They got to get the supplies.

[00:06:50] And so there's a few big moments in the deadly episode, including something I know you've been

[00:06:56] dying to talk about.

[00:06:57] Ava has been contacted because she is that girl.

[00:07:01] And they need the other principals to be that girls as well.

[00:07:05] And so Ava has been contacted to do an Ed talk.

[00:07:08] Now, at first, she's not into it.

[00:07:10] She's like, tell them I'm busy.

[00:07:11] Tell them I'm on Survivor?

[00:07:15] Gia, why do they keep doing this to us?

[00:07:17] I feel like this is about us specifically.

[00:07:19] I tweeted at you immediately when I watched.

[00:07:22] There was a Survivor reference.

[00:07:25] Somebody on that show watches Survivor regularly.

[00:07:28] I am just saying.

[00:07:30] And somebody that is responsible for writing Ava's character.

[00:07:35] And when I tell you, it made me so happy because that is an excuse I would use as well.

[00:07:40] But and let's not forget the biggest offense here that it was Manny, as we can expect here

[00:07:48] to ruin our fun, that he wanted her to do a talk for free.

[00:07:52] For free.

[00:07:53] It's a volunteer opportunity.

[00:07:55] I'm giving you my labor and you are asking me to do it for free.

[00:08:01] For free.

[00:08:03] Yeah.

[00:08:03] What is free?

[00:08:04] He made that up.

[00:08:06] He made that up.

[00:08:06] I'm with Ava on this one.

[00:08:07] An unpaid talk to the other teachers to benefit the district for why.

[00:08:11] Y'all broke?

[00:08:11] Y'all got no money.

[00:08:12] Y'all can't afford to pay me a stipend or something like that for my time.

[00:08:16] This sounds ghetto.

[00:08:17] I don't like it.

[00:08:18] Don't like it.

[00:08:19] I didn't know the district was so ghetto, Manny.

[00:08:23] Well, it's a little hood over there.

[00:08:24] I'm not going to lie to you.

[00:08:25] And then they have the nerve to look down on Ava.

[00:08:28] Anyway, we'll get to it.

[00:08:29] They want the Avalanche, right?

[00:08:31] They want the things that Ava brings to the table because underreported.

[00:08:35] Things are looking great now that Ava's in charge of the school, okay?

[00:08:39] You know, absences are down.

[00:08:41] Grades are up.

[00:08:42] After school programs, we've seen the step team, the gardening.

[00:08:47] Her impact has been felt here, okay?

[00:08:49] And they need to spread this Ava, you know, the Ava like aura to all these other schools

[00:08:55] in the district to all the other principals.

[00:08:57] But she's got a few topics that she's running past Manny that he doesn't really love too much.

[00:09:02] Okay.

[00:09:02] Now tell me what you think about her topic.

[00:09:04] Which one is your favorite?

[00:09:05] She has one is the art of the scheme.

[00:09:10] Two, intimidation as motivation.

[00:09:12] And three-

[00:09:12] I did like intimidation as motivation.

[00:09:14] Right.

[00:09:15] And then three, Kelly Rowland as motivation.

[00:09:17] And I thought all three actually kind of sound, it sounds solid to me.

[00:09:23] I, listen, first of all, I want to see the Kelly Rowland as motivation slide.

[00:09:28] The fact that we didn't even get to see it is criminal.

[00:09:31] However, my favorite was withholding pay.

[00:09:35] Yes.

[00:09:36] Because, because, because listen, that's shady.

[00:09:39] Because ain't y'all doing that to Ava?

[00:09:40] Because why, why are y'all not paying that lady?

[00:09:42] Exactly.

[00:09:43] Didn't you say, Manny, that is illegal?

[00:09:45] And what are you doing?

[00:09:47] Withholding pay for an experience?

[00:09:50] Right.

[00:09:52] Make it make sense, Manny.

[00:09:53] It sounds like a double standard.

[00:09:55] So, so yeah.

[00:09:57] So everyone's kind of happy for Ava in a way.

[00:09:59] They really want her to do it.

[00:10:00] It's a big deal.

[00:10:02] But, you know, her approach is a little too hood for Manny, as Ava says.

[00:10:07] Which again, that's saying a lot coming from this district.

[00:10:11] And so she's kind of second guessing herself.

[00:10:14] She doesn't really want to do it because they want her to do it the right way and not

[00:10:17] the Ava way.

[00:10:18] But the Ava way gets results.

[00:10:20] Janine has to sit down with Ava and tell her, hey, you might have some unorthodox approaches,

[00:10:25] but look at the material.

[00:10:27] Look at the school.

[00:10:28] It's so much better off with Ava.

[00:10:30] Yeah, we've come so far since season one where people were literally calling for Ava's

[00:10:34] job.

[00:10:35] And now she's the face of the district and no one could tell me different.

[00:10:40] And Ava would hate that I say this on a public platform like this, but I have to say it.

[00:10:46] Janine and Ava are becoming friends.

[00:10:48] They're besties.

[00:10:49] They're besties.

[00:10:50] She doesn't want to admit it, but they're besties.

[00:10:53] Yeah.

[00:10:54] Yeah.

[00:10:54] It's true.

[00:10:56] So after a call from Janine, Janine does call the district and like have to talk to them

[00:11:01] because, you know, they've already told Ava no.

[00:11:04] And things go well considering that the district hates Janine.

[00:11:08] I mean, don't get me wrong.

[00:11:09] Janine played in their face for half a season.

[00:11:12] And so it feels like they have an axe to grind.

[00:11:14] I don't even know if Ava was the problem here.

[00:11:16] Maybe it was Janine all along, you know, and they were just using Ava, you know, as an

[00:11:19] excuse to punish Abbott.

[00:11:20] Which is what we've been trying to say this entire show.

[00:11:24] It's Janine's fault.

[00:11:26] Yes.

[00:11:26] I mean, look at the material.

[00:11:28] And so Ava ends up getting back in their good graces enough to start, do an actual presentation

[00:11:35] called The Principal Principles.

[00:11:37] And it's a hit.

[00:11:38] It's about how it's not about the means.

[00:11:40] It's about the end result.

[00:11:43] And Ava is so, I guess, so celebrated in this moment that people are even telling her, you

[00:11:48] know, you can make money.

[00:11:49] Like people will actually pay you to do this job and do it for free for this district.

[00:11:53] And so now Ava's demanding a thousand dollars minimum to talk to people.

[00:11:58] And I respect it.

[00:12:00] Yep.

[00:12:01] Can't blame a queen for hustling.

[00:12:03] No, not at all.

[00:12:04] Especially when these people have you working for free.

[00:12:06] Um, so one of the, one of the other storylines that I, and I gotta sweep it under the rug

[00:12:12] for, uh, you know, no pun intended, but what did you think about my MVP child of this,

[00:12:18] of the, this three episode block?

[00:12:20] Listen, when Mr. Johnson is approached by Chad, I just, my heart smiled, Gia.

[00:12:27] This is like perfect.

[00:12:28] I remember him when he was Mr. Johnson Jr.

[00:12:30] You know?

[00:12:32] Yeah.

[00:12:34] Oh my God.

[00:12:35] I cannot, I know technically it has been what the Halloween episode was season two,

[00:12:42] the season four.

[00:12:43] So it's been like two years and kids grow fast, especially, uh, young boys like, um,

[00:12:49] like Chad over here.

[00:12:51] So I'm like, Oh, when I saw you were like, you were yay big.

[00:12:54] Now look at you, Chad.

[00:12:55] But I, I want them to continue this until like graduation.

[00:13:00] There is something so special about their bond that we don't always.

[00:13:06] And this is not like a, you know, we see, we've seen like Gregory and his students or

[00:13:12] Gregory and his dad, like black men bonding with other black men.

[00:13:15] But this is a child that for some reason just connects with Mr.

[00:13:20] Johnson.

[00:13:21] And even though Mr.

[00:13:22] Johnson was threatening a lawsuit for copying his likeness at one point, he was more than

[00:13:28] happy to allow Chad to shadow him for the day.

[00:13:32] So I just love this bond that they have with these two.

[00:13:36] I don't know if it's like a father son type of bond.

[00:13:40] I don't know if it's like, um, mentor mentee.

[00:13:44] I guess that's kind of what it is here, but in chat, not really one to like question the

[00:13:49] problem.

[00:13:49] He's just rolling around with along with it.

[00:13:51] He like wants to pick apart Mr.

[00:13:53] Johnson's brain.

[00:13:53] And it is so nice when Mr.

[00:13:56] Johnson gets appreciation like this.

[00:13:58] Yeah.

[00:13:59] I love this a lot because Mr.

[00:14:00] Johnson is a sanitation worker or a janitor, whatever you want to call him.

[00:14:03] But it's a legitimate career that people can look at as a, like as a future.

[00:14:08] Right.

[00:14:08] And Chad was following him and shadowing him like potentially because maybe this is something

[00:14:12] he wants to do.

[00:14:13] He obviously admires Mr.

[00:14:14] Johnson in a way because he dressed up like him for Halloween.

[00:14:17] And so now he's like, Mr.

[00:14:18] Johnson's dope.

[00:14:19] We have obviously been giving Mr.

[00:14:20] Johnson his flowers since the first time we ever touched the microphone here at

[00:14:23] elementary.

[00:14:25] We knew.

[00:14:25] So to see Chad being like, yeah, you're who I kind of want to follow.

[00:14:29] That's so dope.

[00:14:30] And Mr.

[00:14:30] Johnson's going to give him all the keys that he needs.

[00:14:33] And because the real part, the real important things you have to learn about this job is,

[00:14:37] you know, sweep before you mop and then chaos is inevitable.

[00:14:40] You got to make sure that you're watching the chaos.

[00:14:42] Like that's the other thing.

[00:14:43] Chaos is going to happen.

[00:14:44] Make sure you can see it when it happens.

[00:14:47] Nothing wrong with observing a little chaos.

[00:14:48] I like this.

[00:14:49] I started considering career change.

[00:14:51] Mm hmm.

[00:14:52] And also gloves slow you down.

[00:14:54] I do not agree with that philosophy.

[00:14:56] However, I understand.

[00:14:58] I would not want to question Mr.

[00:15:01] Johnson's process, but I have diagnosed OCD, so I will be using gloves.

[00:15:05] I will continue.

[00:15:06] I don't care if it slows me down.

[00:15:07] And our boy Chad got Mr.

[00:15:10] Johnson some gloves.

[00:15:11] I was like, I see.

[00:15:12] So y'all got me in here smiling at this damn show.

[00:15:15] I teared up.

[00:15:16] A little bit.

[00:15:17] Right.

[00:15:17] I did.

[00:15:18] It was so it was so sweet.

[00:15:20] I don't know.

[00:15:21] You know what?

[00:15:22] I need to watch back in the first episode.

[00:15:24] I'm wondering, was Chad there for his Illuminati talk?

[00:15:28] And oh, like, is this where he was like, this is the man I want to be when I grew up?

[00:15:32] Because same.

[00:15:33] But I like I have so many questions, but I love this so much.

[00:15:39] I also would love a cut scene of like young baby Chad explaining to his mom that he wants

[00:15:46] to be Mr.

[00:15:47] Johnson for Halloween.

[00:15:48] He's like, I want to be.

[00:15:50] And they're like, Mr.

[00:15:51] Johnson, is that like from a TV?

[00:15:52] No, our janitor.

[00:15:53] Our janitor.

[00:15:54] You got to see him.

[00:15:55] He's crazy.

[00:15:56] He's great.

[00:15:56] You know, his mother delivered because that costume was on point.

[00:15:59] She said my baby is going to be him to a T.

[00:16:02] Yeah, they ate that.

[00:16:03] They really did.

[00:16:05] Another person who I don't want to I don't want to brief.

[00:16:07] I don't want to blow past the deli too quick, but another standout character that I think

[00:16:10] we love to like to highlight our little background characters who show up.

[00:16:15] Daya.

[00:16:17] Where does she come from?

[00:16:19] Are we are we?

[00:16:20] Is she a regular now?

[00:16:22] Yeah, because Ava's assistant Daya.

[00:16:26] She's like, hey, what is like the interaction they have?

[00:16:31] I love it.

[00:16:32] And I'm thinking, have you ever seen her before?

[00:16:35] This is new, right?

[00:16:35] I love we know we've seen her before, but like in small increments, like in the third

[00:16:42] season where art.

[00:16:45] Maybe also the second season, I think where they had.

[00:16:50] Who was it?

[00:16:51] Um, they were looking for like the teacher's aides.

[00:16:54] Yeah.

[00:16:55] That when Ashley wasn't.

[00:16:56] Yeah.

[00:16:56] Season Ashley was there.

[00:16:57] Yeah.

[00:16:57] She was there for that.

[00:16:59] And I think she was there when also they were looking for some replacements for Janine.

[00:17:06] That's where she comes at.

[00:17:07] But I'm obsessed with Daya.

[00:17:10] Yeah.

[00:17:10] I know she's not a child, but she is my MVP.

[00:17:13] Yeah.

[00:17:14] No, she she's a sneaky fave of mine.

[00:17:16] I'm like, all right, put her with the cafeteria staff.

[00:17:19] We're starting to build a roster of people.

[00:17:22] So I had to make sure we highlighted her before we got into one other child.

[00:17:27] We're gonna get one other child.

[00:17:28] What was that?

[00:17:29] I just apologize.

[00:17:30] I had a moment of clarity in the minute of us praising Daya as we should.

[00:17:35] Again, Daya, we love her.

[00:17:37] Yeah.

[00:17:37] Chad was one of the kids that was left at the left behind during the field trip.

[00:17:45] Right.

[00:17:45] Mr. Johnson.

[00:17:47] Yeah.

[00:17:48] That stays with Mr. Johnson and his little breakfast club because he has the permission

[00:17:52] slip that signed Chad's mom on it.

[00:17:54] I'm like, that's the moment.

[00:17:57] That's when it happens.

[00:17:59] We needed that.

[00:18:00] Thank you.

[00:18:01] Listen, Abbott.

[00:18:02] I feel like I just stole the Declaration of Independence.

[00:18:04] Like I made that connection.

[00:18:07] That really, it really makes me smile because I'm like, how far do we go with that relationship?

[00:18:11] Right?

[00:18:12] Like how, like, is it like he gets the fifth grade and he's like,

[00:18:14] I'm going to a different school.

[00:18:16] Mr. Johnson's at the graduation.

[00:18:17] Like, you know, what are we doing?

[00:18:17] You know what I'm saying?

[00:18:18] So.

[00:18:19] I imagine.

[00:18:20] Yeah, it has to be right.

[00:18:22] Like, at least they have to show it.

[00:18:25] Now I am invested in this pair.

[00:18:28] So I need to see like, okay, is this someone that comes back after graduating?

[00:18:33] Because again, we are looking at Abbott being like 10 plus seasons and I will have enough.

[00:18:36] I don't care if they jump the shark in between it.

[00:18:39] I want every episode and I want it immediately.

[00:18:41] And I will accept any crazy plot line that they have here.

[00:18:44] We'll take it.

[00:18:45] But like, do we get.

[00:18:46] Yeah.

[00:18:47] Do we see Mr. Johnson at Chad's graduation?

[00:18:49] Is that is Chad going to be like keeping in touch with us?

[00:18:53] Are we going to hear about his exploits in high school when he gets to that stage?

[00:18:58] I don't know how far this grade go.

[00:19:01] These.

[00:19:02] How like what grade does Jacob teach?

[00:19:04] See, like I thought he was teaching the fifth graders or they seem like a little bit older.

[00:19:08] Right.

[00:19:08] I thought he was like, no, you know, because I think Mr. Morton teaches seventh grade science

[00:19:14] or eighth grade science from like when we did the edge.

[00:19:17] I think it goes up until eighth grade.

[00:19:20] You're right.

[00:19:21] Because Barbara teaches kindergarten.

[00:19:22] Gregory teaches first.

[00:19:24] Melissa teaches second.

[00:19:25] Janine teaches second.

[00:19:26] And then, like you said, Mr. Morton teaches.

[00:19:30] He's either seventh or eighth grade.

[00:19:32] And I think Jacob's kids are in that.

[00:19:35] That's how they have their little rivalry.

[00:19:37] Right.

[00:19:37] Because they're in like the same grade, I believe.

[00:19:40] Right.

[00:19:40] Now, can we keep Chad around until eighth grade?

[00:19:43] You know, do we have enough Abbott to get there?

[00:19:45] We.

[00:19:46] How old is this child?

[00:19:47] What grade is he now?

[00:19:49] How old is this baby?

[00:19:50] You know?

[00:19:50] What grade?

[00:19:51] I mean, like can they can have them like they could have them stay back a few years.

[00:19:57] Right.

[00:19:58] Yeah.

[00:19:58] Super eighth grader.

[00:19:59] Yeah.

[00:20:00] Or would you like like retcon it and be like, oh, he's only in third grade, you know,

[00:20:03] or something like that.

[00:20:04] He's just just really tall.

[00:20:05] Do like Bob's Burgers.

[00:20:07] Those kids have had 10 Christmases, 10 Halloweens, and they have been 9, 11 and 13 forever.

[00:20:12] Yeah, exactly.

[00:20:13] Exactly.

[00:20:14] No, love that relationship.

[00:20:15] But also we got another kid.

[00:20:17] He did not get my MVP award, but I do have to highlight my boy Nate.

[00:20:20] He's eating paper.

[00:20:22] He ate Peter Rabbit cover and all.

[00:20:25] I need to just say he ate that roll up.

[00:20:30] He was exactly the kid that he had that same expression on his face.

[00:20:37] He was so proud of his paper eating habits.

[00:20:40] Yeah.

[00:20:41] Nate was a star.

[00:20:43] Give him the Oscar now.

[00:20:44] I'm sorry.

[00:20:45] He knew the role he was given.

[00:20:47] He knew his motivation.

[00:20:48] He eats the paper.

[00:20:51] And he's a star.

[00:20:52] A legend is born.

[00:20:54] Absolutely.

[00:20:55] Yeah.

[00:20:55] No, he was dope.

[00:20:56] I remember when Janine's talking to Ava and Ava's like, oh, maybe he just wants attention.

[00:21:00] And no, I think it was Janine was talking to Gregory.

[00:21:02] He's like, oh, does he want attention?

[00:21:03] And she goes, no, he does it for the passion.

[00:21:05] He does it for the love of it.

[00:21:06] I was like, oh, yeah.

[00:21:07] This kid's a real kid.

[00:21:08] You can see the passion in his eyes.

[00:21:09] That is an actor.

[00:21:10] Yeah.

[00:21:11] He came here.

[00:21:12] He came here to eat.

[00:21:13] And he did.

[00:21:14] And yeah, so I wanted to shout out to Nate as well before we got into our main storyline

[00:21:18] about the deli.

[00:21:20] Because gentrification is happening.

[00:21:22] And clearly, the golf course is a big source of, you know, kind of like the precipice of where

[00:21:26] that is.

[00:21:27] But the deli that is near the school is being shut down.

[00:21:30] And it's being replaced with a smoothie shop.

[00:21:33] Now, everybody who's ever been in a gentrified neighborhood will tell you that the moment

[00:21:37] gentrification happens, you got to find a smoothie shop.

[00:21:39] There's a smoothie shop or a coffee shop that just popped up somewhere that nobody asked

[00:21:42] for.

[00:21:43] A lot of times a pink berry, you know, but I mean, there's so many other options out there.

[00:21:48] This one happens to be a fruit.

[00:21:50] There it is, Gia.

[00:21:52] I'm sorry.

[00:21:53] Can I just say, I laughed so loud when Gregory said on blended knee.

[00:21:59] On blended knee was the best one.

[00:22:01] That was amazing.

[00:22:01] Straight up.

[00:22:02] I said, wait a minute, because I might pull up to unblended knee.

[00:22:06] I don't even like smoothies that much.

[00:22:09] Like they are not a meal that everybody says that they are.

[00:22:12] And I have beef with that.

[00:22:14] But I would stop at a place called unblended knee.

[00:22:18] You got to.

[00:22:20] Yeah.

[00:22:21] But this opens up an interesting conversation because Gregory's kind of like, I don't mind

[00:22:26] if the smoothie shop comes.

[00:22:27] And as the episode goes on, the other teachers are drawn into the smoothie orbit as well,

[00:22:33] because the smoothies are really good.

[00:22:34] But Gia, do the quality of the gentrification matter when gentrification is happening?

[00:22:40] Because a lot of times people will say this neighborhood neighborhood didn't have nice things.

[00:22:44] And now it does.

[00:22:46] Because why are we pushing back against this?

[00:22:49] Now, Liz, I could.

[00:22:50] I could go into my rant about how we need to dismantle the whole system and start up again,

[00:22:58] because while gentrification, the smoothie shop feels inconsequential,

[00:23:04] but will lead to things like what parents were concerned about at the parents throwing

[00:23:08] ass meeting about being priced out of their own neighborhoods, which I think is very fair.

[00:23:14] They should also deserve nice things.

[00:23:16] I can understand why the smoothing shop has appeal to it until it starts to come with higher

[00:23:27] rent prices, more everything's more expensive now.

[00:23:31] Like it's we're building up to something that is more harmful in the long run than good.

[00:23:40] However, I totally understand wanting nice things in your neighborhood because like,

[00:23:46] can like my city has gone through some similar changes like that.

[00:23:52] And you can see the process happening.

[00:23:56] And they have a casino now in our neighborhood, which I am not a fan of.

[00:24:00] But you can't tell me I'm not a little excited every time I go into that casino and go to their

[00:24:05] fancy, they have a fancy movie theater with reclining chairs and a bar and food.

[00:24:10] Like you can sleep in there.

[00:24:12] Yeah.

[00:24:12] It is like the charcuterie experience there.

[00:24:15] Yeah.

[00:24:16] So like, do I go to that movie theater?

[00:24:18] Any chance I want to see a movie in theaters?

[00:24:21] Absolutely.

[00:24:22] Yeah.

[00:24:23] We like nice things.

[00:24:24] You know, we just don't want the neighborhood taking over because you get a nice thing.

[00:24:28] Right.

[00:24:28] So the quick way I like to explain is like, imagine your favorite park has a playground.

[00:24:33] It has like old swings.

[00:24:34] It's kind of raggedy, but it's your favorite place.

[00:24:36] You always go there.

[00:24:37] Everybody, you know, goes there.

[00:24:38] It's the spot.

[00:24:39] One day the people move into the area and they're like, hey, we're going to fix the park.

[00:24:42] They built this new fancy playground.

[00:24:43] And you're like, this is nice.

[00:24:44] You know, there's a cafe here.

[00:24:46] There's, of course, a smoothie shop, an unblended knee right there at the park.

[00:24:50] You're like, what could, how could this be bad?

[00:24:52] Well, at first it sounds nice.

[00:24:54] But then some of your old neighbors who don't have as much money start to feel like they don't

[00:24:58] belong anymore, just in general.

[00:24:59] Right.

[00:25:00] Like they're like, oh, you know, like this is really nice, but like it's not what I'm used

[00:25:03] to.

[00:25:04] But also this unblended knee is expensive as well.

[00:25:07] Right.

[00:25:08] And then, you know, property taxes are going up, too, because we got to pay for the upkeep

[00:25:11] of this nice park.

[00:25:13] And the rent is going up in the neighborhood, of course, because of that.

[00:25:16] And over time, some of them have to move away to find cheaper places to live.

[00:25:19] So it's kind of like change is happening.

[00:25:22] And while it can make it look nicer or make nicer things come, it can also make it harder

[00:25:25] for people who live there to stay alone, enjoy the things.

[00:25:28] And so you bring in new people.

[00:25:30] Right.

[00:25:30] Because the golf course is doing this.

[00:25:31] The golf course is the real problem.

[00:25:33] So it is causing because there's a golf course.

[00:25:35] Now you need a smoothie shop.

[00:25:37] And that means you need one less deli.

[00:25:39] And although they're OK with one less deli happening at first, you know, Jacob is the

[00:25:44] one I think who was supposed to hold us down here.

[00:25:47] Gia, it was like, listen, I don't I I knew Gregory was not down for the cause.

[00:25:52] I knew Melissa and Barbara could be bought.

[00:25:54] But Jacob let me down because I just didn't think the allure of these smoothies would get

[00:25:59] to him so quickly.

[00:26:00] He he fished it out of the trash can.

[00:26:06] He knew it.

[00:26:07] No, the acai berry.

[00:26:08] He could smell it.

[00:26:10] I could not.

[00:26:12] But again, Barbara and Melissa being bought with this free smoothie samples.

[00:26:18] Not surprising.

[00:26:19] I totally.

[00:26:20] Yeah.

[00:26:20] Like typical them.

[00:26:22] I applaud them for their consistency in these matters.

[00:26:25] Um, I never expected Gregory to care.

[00:26:29] He likes like six foods.

[00:26:31] Let him have this.

[00:26:32] The smoothies is on that list.

[00:26:34] OK, fine.

[00:26:36] And.

[00:26:37] But Jacob was my holdout.

[00:26:40] Oh, and yeah, you are so close to getting somebody on the side of the blacks.

[00:26:46] Um, I'm not.

[00:26:48] I mean, the group for anybody concerned.

[00:26:53] And they.

[00:26:55] Oh, it was devastating.

[00:26:56] It was such a high high.

[00:26:58] And then it was.

[00:26:59] All right.

[00:26:59] Nope.

[00:26:59] He also tried the smoothie and enjoyed it.

[00:27:02] And now wants to go back on all of the canvassing that he did to try to save this deli.

[00:27:10] Yeah.

[00:27:11] But sadly, um, the canvassing has already been done and the blacks have found out about it.

[00:27:17] The community, the community organization called the blacks is outside of Jacob's classroom,

[00:27:23] outside in the streets protesting because they got to stop this deli thing.

[00:27:27] Somebody has alerted them that the deli is getting shut down.

[00:27:29] And so they're outside with their sides demanding that the smoothie shop, uh, not happen.

[00:27:35] Unfortunately for them, they're protesting outside of the deli shop and not.

[00:27:39] The smoothie shop.

[00:27:40] So it really doesn't go that far, but the landlord does catch on that this is a problem.

[00:27:46] And he agrees to let the deli guy stay a little, uh, a lot longer.

[00:27:50] Uh, you know, cause he don't want no drama with the blacks.

[00:27:52] I mean.

[00:27:52] Yes.

[00:27:53] Did you blame him?

[00:27:54] Who does?

[00:27:54] Yeah.

[00:27:55] I, whoever came up with that acronym for the parents organization, I knew they felt like

[00:28:04] they were creating magic there.

[00:28:06] I just didn't know it.

[00:28:07] They were like, we have a joke that we can use forever.

[00:28:11] Yeah.

[00:28:11] No, this is a good one.

[00:28:12] And so, uh, yeah, the, they saved the deli and the teachers are pissed.

[00:28:17] The teachers are not happy.

[00:28:18] Uh, but, but you know, the, the, the neighborhood is better off, right?

[00:28:21] Like we, we're going to make sure that we keep things the same for a little bit, especially

[00:28:25] like, because just because the golf course is coming in doesn't mean we have to push everybody

[00:28:28] else out.

[00:28:28] So it's like, you can have nice things without making the people in the community suffer

[00:28:32] for getting the nice things.

[00:28:34] Right?

[00:28:34] Like you can't just like paint over your oppression with a smoothie.

[00:28:37] It doesn't work like that.

[00:28:38] Uh, and so the deli does agree to give out free smoothies and appreciation and apparently

[00:28:43] they're trash.

[00:28:43] So.

[00:28:44] A menthol flavored smoothie.

[00:28:46] Um, I'm all set, but I have to say those, those hoagies looked a lot better than any

[00:28:52] smoothie I've ever seen.

[00:28:53] So I'm kind of on the side of the deli.

[00:28:55] Yeah.

[00:28:56] Me and you, this, I'm not, I'm not anti smoothie, but I'm definitely pro pro food, you know, pro

[00:29:01] food.

[00:29:01] If you told me to pick either a smoothie or a hoagie, I am picking the hoagie.

[00:29:06] Like there is nothing in a smoothie that will sustain me for a long period of time.

[00:29:11] And then I'll get cranky and hangry and everyone's be like, Gio, what's your problem?

[00:29:14] I'd be like, I had a smoothie for lunch and now I hate everything.

[00:29:18] Okay.

[00:29:18] None of that happens.

[00:29:20] That's a really good point.

[00:29:21] I don't think I've ever been happy after having a smoothie.

[00:29:23] If anything, I have a smoothie before I go eat something for real, because the play play.

[00:29:27] I need real food.

[00:29:28] I'm grown man.

[00:29:29] Um, but yes, that is the deli.

[00:29:32] And Gia, you have anything else you want to add from that episode before we take a break

[00:29:35] and come back to talk about the winter of it all?

[00:29:38] I, I feel like I did have something at some point, but it was overall just, it was still

[00:29:44] strong episode.

[00:29:45] A little disappointed in the teachers here for, uh, not, uh, following through with the,

[00:29:52] uh, anti smoothie organization.

[00:29:55] But I understand.

[00:29:56] I understand.

[00:29:56] We had a lot of side stories this episode too.

[00:29:59] There were like five of them.

[00:30:00] Yeah.

[00:30:01] I think you, you tagged me in the thing on Twitter where it was like, oh, look, a white

[00:30:05] man out here stopping, uh, uh, what was, what did Melissa's quote?

[00:30:09] What was it?

[00:30:09] It was like, oh yeah.

[00:30:10] Uh, a white man coming in and preventing a community of color from, I just watched this

[00:30:17] episode again last night.

[00:30:18] It was like, yeah.

[00:30:19] Like stopping progress from in a community of color or something like that.

[00:30:24] Yeah.

[00:30:24] Which is, which is, I mean, Jacob did fall.

[00:30:27] The fact that it's Melissa saying it is even funnier.

[00:30:30] Right.

[00:30:30] Cause Melissa, but Melissa got a hood pass.

[00:30:32] You know what I'm saying?

[00:30:32] Like she can't come to the kick out, but they'll save her a plate.

[00:30:34] You know what I'm saying?

[00:30:35] So, you know, cause we'll talk, we'll talk about Melissa's, uh, allyship, uh, in the

[00:30:41] final episode.

[00:30:42] Cause she was ready to, uh, send a certain, uh, racist to a early grave at one point.

[00:30:48] So like that's the kind of allyship I look for in a friend.

[00:30:51] He was going to meet his maker or somebody else, but we'll talk about that right after

[00:30:55] this break.

[00:30:56] When we come back to talk about winter show and winter break right after this.

[00:31:01] Okay.

[00:31:02] So we've gotten the deli out the way.

[00:31:04] Let's talk about this two part.

[00:31:06] I guess it's not really a two parter, right?

[00:31:07] But it was like a double episode situation that they gave us for, for the Thanksgiving

[00:31:11] break.

[00:31:12] It was.

[00:31:13] So I, there's only one part of the first episode that really connects into the second

[00:31:20] episode.

[00:31:21] And it's the last minute and a half of the entire episode, everything else.

[00:31:26] It could be treated as two separate episodes.

[00:31:28] However, if you're getting into the holiday spirit, I just recommend watching them both together.

[00:31:33] They were lovely.

[00:31:34] Yeah.

[00:31:35] I love them.

[00:31:35] But yeah, you're right.

[00:31:36] There's not a lot of through line between the two of them, but there's a little bit,

[00:31:39] but.

[00:31:40] Oh yeah.

[00:31:41] Nevermind.

[00:31:41] There is one storyline that follows through into the next episode.

[00:31:45] I forgot.

[00:31:45] Yeah.

[00:31:45] Yeah.

[00:31:46] We'll talk about it.

[00:31:47] It's the winter show.

[00:31:48] The winter show is coming up.

[00:31:49] Obviously the end of the, the semester is coming upon us and we got to celebrate Christmas

[00:31:55] or maybe not.

[00:31:57] Maybe we need to celebrate something that everybody can join into.

[00:32:00] We have a young girl named Khadija who does not celebrate Christmas.

[00:32:04] It's not, it's not in her religious, you know, like repertoire.

[00:32:08] So she's like, Hey, I have to sit out, but it's not really fun to see a little kid sitting

[00:32:12] out.

[00:32:12] I really felt bad for her, especially when, I mean, we don't see this often, Gia, but

[00:32:17] that kids start bullying now.

[00:32:19] Where are we?

[00:32:19] What that's happened?

[00:32:20] We just, I'm used to them bullying.

[00:32:22] Can I fight five-year-olds?

[00:32:23] Like, I know, I know they are acting, but I felt something in that moment and it was

[00:32:28] rage.

[00:32:29] Yeah.

[00:32:30] I'm used to them bullying the teachers.

[00:32:32] You know, when they start talking about, yeah.

[00:32:34] When I'm talking about Janine smoking and stuff like that, I'm like, yeah, drag her, get

[00:32:37] him again.

[00:32:38] You know?

[00:32:38] Drag those potheads.

[00:32:39] Right.

[00:32:40] But they were picking on Khadija and I was like, I don't, I do not like this at all.

[00:32:44] Khadija was minding her own business, sitting on the stairs, just waiting for your little

[00:32:48] Christmas show to be done.

[00:32:50] I think, and those kids, they did a little too much there.

[00:32:53] They, they were a little too into their role at that moment.

[00:32:56] Yeah.

[00:32:57] They, they acted a little too well.

[00:32:58] We need to talk to their parents.

[00:32:59] Yeah.

[00:33:00] So, uh, one of the things I noticed in this episode is that, uh, we're talking about some

[00:33:05] traditions that, you know, maybe in modern days don't really go over too well, but some

[00:33:10] of the teachers are stepping into the roles pretty well.

[00:33:12] I thought this was a great episode for Barbara.

[00:33:15] Um, the same Barbara who was like, I refuse to stop bobbing for apples.

[00:33:20] All my Halloween traditions need to stay the same.

[00:33:23] Was so quick to come to the rescue of Khadija in this moment to make sure that she got to

[00:33:27] celebrate the winter holidays instead of, or the winter season instead of Christmas.

[00:33:32] I felt like, I was like, look at Barbara growing up, you know, like I just felt like, you know,

[00:33:35] you're not too old to learn, you know, anything new or to, you know, be a little bit more progressive

[00:33:40] in your views.

[00:33:41] Yeah.

[00:33:42] And I also think it was important for it to be Barbara specifically.

[00:33:47] That is the person leading the charge on changing the, uh, Christmas show to a winter show to

[00:33:54] be more inclusive.

[00:33:55] Because one of the first things we learn about Barbara is that she is a woman of God.

[00:34:00] So we know that she celebrates Christmas and we know that this is an Christianity that Christmas

[00:34:07] is a big deal.

[00:34:08] It's like one of the two big ones, you know, you get like two big holidays, Christmas and

[00:34:12] Easter that at the very least, you got to go to church those two days or around those

[00:34:17] two days.

[00:34:18] Um, yeah.

[00:34:19] And maybe New Year's Eve, if you were real, if you're a real fake church goal, you got to

[00:34:23] hit New Year's Eve too.

[00:34:24] Cause yeah, exactly.

[00:34:24] But like Barbara and Barbara's not in a, in that Rolodex.

[00:34:30] She is, she is there every week, but yes, she is consistent.

[00:34:35] I am consistently not there.

[00:34:37] So props to props to, uh, Barbara there, but like, because Barbara is the one that is, um,

[00:34:46] leading the charge.

[00:34:47] I feel like it was a very nice portrayal of a, uh, Christian woman who was very proud of

[00:34:54] her faith.

[00:34:54] Also making space for a situation where a child is being excluded because of their religious

[00:35:02] beliefs.

[00:35:03] So I feel like it's important that someone of a different faith is able to empathize

[00:35:08] with somebody else of a different faith about, we want to make sure everyone is included

[00:35:11] and it doesn't have to be an attack on her, on Barbara's religion by turning a Christmas

[00:35:18] show into a winter show.

[00:35:19] So I was very happy to see that from Barbara.

[00:35:23] Yeah.

[00:35:24] No, that was very well put.

[00:35:25] I didn't even think about Barbara's connection as far as like just being super religious, but

[00:35:28] I think you're right.

[00:35:30] Um, because if anybody was going to put up a fight, you know, you would think like

[00:35:34] stereotypically it would be Barbara, right?

[00:35:35] Like, no, my God got to be in this, you know?

[00:35:38] But it's like, yeah, you don't have to celebrate Christmas at a school in period.

[00:35:42] That's the sentence.

[00:35:42] You don't have to celebrate Christmas at a school.

[00:35:44] The end of the semester can happen.

[00:35:45] You do nothing for Christmas and God ain't gonna hate you.

[00:35:48] Yeah.

[00:35:48] So to have a celebration for the winter, it's not anti-God.

[00:35:53] It's just not pro-Christmas right now.

[00:35:55] You have all winter break to celebrate Christmas and we see that you will.

[00:35:58] And so, um, I thought that that was a great moment from Barbara now that you mentioned it.

[00:36:02] Um, especially because like I said, she's not really one to, to give into tradition too

[00:36:07] quickly, uh, like to give up her tradition too quickly or what she's known.

[00:36:10] Um, and especially cause these kids are, these kids are kind of upsetting me.

[00:36:13] They don't know DMC's, uh, you know, uh, Christmas time.

[00:36:16] They don't know Christmas in Hollis.

[00:36:18] There's no Christmas in Hollis.

[00:36:19] The kids, they're losing recipes.

[00:36:22] I don't like it.

[00:36:23] Um, and they have to come up with their own Christmas song in this episode.

[00:36:27] Now the kids came up with a song on their own.

[00:36:29] Barbara was trying to make her own, I'm sorry, holiday song, winter song.

[00:36:33] But the kids came up with their own.

[00:36:35] I tried to get some lyrics.

[00:36:37] I'm pretty sure they said, hot cocoa makes me fart in there.

[00:36:39] Yeah.

[00:36:40] That was, that was the.

[00:36:41] The standout.

[00:36:42] The wham line.

[00:36:43] The banger line.

[00:36:44] It was like, yeah, it was.

[00:36:45] Yeah.

[00:36:45] I saw it on my, I, I watched with Subtext.

[00:36:48] Titles on my TV over here.

[00:36:50] And I cannot remember what the, um, what the first line was, but the second line was

[00:36:55] definitely hot cocoa makes me fart.

[00:36:57] And honestly, like a bit of a banger on there.

[00:37:01] Yeah.

[00:37:01] Yeah.

[00:37:02] Um, it was snowmans are scary and hot cocoa makes me fart.

[00:37:06] And you know what?

[00:37:09] It is a non-denominational winter song.

[00:37:12] Right.

[00:37:12] They did what needed to be done.

[00:37:13] And so they are, they are changing their, their program to, you know, to make sure that

[00:37:18] it's inclusive.

[00:37:19] And Janine is in charge of the step team and she is having to change the step teams program

[00:37:24] as well, because they're going, they're going to step along with the, the kindergartners

[00:37:28] and their songs.

[00:37:29] So this is very cute.

[00:37:31] Uh, normally Ava would be involved in the stepping, but Ava's kind of got a side plot

[00:37:36] here.

[00:37:38] And I think we got to talk about it.

[00:37:39] I think we kind of, we talked about it a little bit when this man first showed up, but this

[00:37:43] man, Ocean, um, him and, him and Ava, this is going to be a thing, right?

[00:37:50] Like this is going to be a thing.

[00:37:52] Yes.

[00:37:52] However, I have one complaint about those glasses.

[00:37:56] Besides the glasses.

[00:37:57] Okay.

[00:37:58] Glasses are a separate issue.

[00:37:59] I have two complaints now, I guess.

[00:38:02] In the, I feel like this is moving a little too fast.

[00:38:06] I wanted them to hate each other a little bit longer.

[00:38:10] Well, he ever hated her.

[00:38:13] She just, yes, but she's not, she's not picking up what he put down in a lot of ways.

[00:38:18] I don't know.

[00:38:18] He was, I don't know, he was a little frustrated with her at the very beginning of his introduction

[00:38:24] and not the fun kind of frustration.

[00:38:26] So I just feel like we could in some way just make the spike go on for a little bit longer

[00:38:34] before we get into this flirty territory on here.

[00:38:37] It's just moving a little too fast for me as someone that reads a lot of, uh, enemies

[00:38:41] to lovers books.

[00:38:42] Yeah.

[00:38:44] Just slow it down a little bit.

[00:38:45] Damn, Abbott's not going anywhere.

[00:38:47] Right.

[00:38:47] And, and, you know, a mockumentary is always going to find an IT person to hate.

[00:38:52] Right.

[00:38:53] Uh, and so, uh, this, this is no different, but like, okay, Ava, he hasn't really done

[00:39:00] nothing to you.

[00:39:02] She just seems so unenthused by his, uh, his whole being.

[00:39:07] But there, like you said, it's still somehow, it's still a little flirty.

[00:39:12] Like how, how is she doing?

[00:39:13] Is it just the looks on her face?

[00:39:14] Cause she's not actually flirting with this man.

[00:39:16] It's like, she's more like just acknowledging his existence and then smiling about it after.

[00:39:21] And I'm like, yep, they're in love.

[00:39:22] Yep.

[00:39:23] Like they're going to get married.

[00:39:24] What else is happening?

[00:39:26] Okay.

[00:39:27] We have to pick a relationship to ship.

[00:39:29] Are we more in on Janine and Gregory or this one?

[00:39:33] Oh, well, listen, we put in our work for Janine and Gregory.

[00:39:39] We put in time.

[00:39:39] Okay.

[00:39:40] We put in time and effort and work and time.

[00:39:46] So much time.

[00:39:47] We had a, maybe this will happen in season two.

[00:39:49] And then season three, we had to get through the Janine-Tariq relationship with enough

[00:39:54] time so that Tariq could leave in a respectful way and still become a regular character later

[00:40:00] on.

[00:40:00] Like we put in so many hours of this relationship that like we needed, we needed that.

[00:40:07] We needed a win here.

[00:40:08] So I couldn't be doing all of these different like relationship tropes at once.

[00:40:15] Okay.

[00:40:16] I needed a win this season.

[00:40:17] It's been a very long year and we finally got it.

[00:40:20] It was very happy.

[00:40:21] I've had two breakups.

[00:40:22] We've been through a lot.

[00:40:23] We've been through a lot.

[00:40:24] We've been through a lot this season or not.

[00:40:28] Well, not this season, but like the past year or so.

[00:40:31] It's been a lot.

[00:40:32] We ended relationships.

[00:40:35] We learned about Melissa and the firefighter guy are still kind of seeing each other.

[00:40:40] Yeah.

[00:40:40] We'll talk about that too, for sure.

[00:40:42] Yeah.

[00:40:42] Yeah.

[00:40:42] I'm just like, I can't keep up with all of you.

[00:40:45] I need you all to make up your minds.

[00:40:47] Yeah.

[00:40:47] But not O'Shaughna and Ava.

[00:40:49] I need you to drag that out a little bit longer.

[00:40:51] I'm sorry.

[00:40:52] It's just not as satisfying when you get it right away.

[00:40:55] Okay.

[00:40:56] Put a pin in it.

[00:40:56] So I'm going to readdress it later on because I have, I have, I have a, just a thing I want

[00:41:00] to just bring across your desk later on principle.

[00:41:03] Okay.

[00:41:03] So we'll come back to that.

[00:41:05] But yeah.

[00:41:06] So the projector issue is going to be fixed by O'Shaughna.

[00:41:11] But in like Ava and him are spending a lot of time together working get out.

[00:41:15] The chemistry is palpable.

[00:41:16] It really is.

[00:41:18] But you know, we don't really get a lot.

[00:41:19] Like you said, it's kind of like a, it's like a, like almost like a,

[00:41:22] like a frenemy type of situation or it's not, it's like, it's flirty enough, but not enough

[00:41:26] to where we're like, oh yeah, ship them.

[00:41:28] Even though, you know, I love Ava and I kind of want her to have everything that she wants

[00:41:31] in life.

[00:41:31] So she wants it, whatever.

[00:41:33] But, uh, we have to talk about Melissa.

[00:41:36] Cause this is the storyline that kind of carries over.

[00:41:39] She meant he's having a Christmas celebration at her house and she's having the she meant he's over.

[00:41:46] This big Italian, uh, Christmas is going to happen.

[00:41:49] And she's also got a guest coming.

[00:41:50] Caleb Jacob's little brother is coming to town.

[00:41:54] And, um, yes, this is, I'm sorry.

[00:41:58] I love Caleb.

[00:41:59] I love him.

[00:42:00] You can't, no one can make me hate Caleb.

[00:42:02] He's so good.

[00:42:04] I love Caleb.

[00:42:06] Yeah.

[00:42:06] Like Caleb was a mate.

[00:42:08] Can he count as our kid MVP of this episode?

[00:42:11] Cause he was great.

[00:42:12] I think he can have it.

[00:42:13] I think he can have it.

[00:42:14] Yeah.

[00:42:14] Right.

[00:42:14] He can have it.

[00:42:15] Yeah.

[00:42:15] He was, I mean, I hate, I hate to take it from Khadijah, but like, I'm sorry.

[00:42:21] Caleb Khadijah, Khadijah was top two.

[00:42:23] Now I think she's number two.

[00:42:25] Listen, we can give it to Khadijah and then Caleb can be like an honorable mention.

[00:42:28] Okay.

[00:42:29] Okay.

[00:42:29] Yeah.

[00:42:29] Yeah.

[00:42:30] That feels fair, but she worked her little, she acted her little bit off too.

[00:42:34] Good for her.

[00:42:35] She did.

[00:42:36] But Caleb, Caleb, Caleb, Caleb.

[00:42:39] I loved Caleb.

[00:42:42] I have a feeling this will be another semi-regular character we get in the future because he was

[00:42:49] so much fun in these two episodes.

[00:42:51] He really held his own against the advocate and he fit right in there.

[00:42:54] Right.

[00:42:55] Like it was incredible.

[00:42:57] Yeah.

[00:42:58] Yeah.

[00:42:58] And Jacob kind of, I don't want to be like, they favor, but I think this is a good casting

[00:43:03] for Jacob's brother.

[00:43:04] I thought like.

[00:43:04] Oh, they look like brothers.

[00:43:07] Who is this man?

[00:43:08] Hold on.

[00:43:08] Let me see.

[00:43:08] Caleb.

[00:43:09] I typed in Caleb and my algorithm was like, I have elementary.

[00:43:13] I'm so sick.

[00:43:14] It knows me at this point.

[00:43:19] Says Tyler Perez.

[00:43:21] I've, I've never seen him before.

[00:43:22] I don't think, but, um, I was very happy with him in this role.

[00:43:26] He comes in as, uh, Jacob's little brother who was kind of like the golden child.

[00:43:31] Right.

[00:43:31] The family says he could do no wrong.

[00:43:33] He even had a pregnancy scare in high school that they didn't care about.

[00:43:35] Right.

[00:43:35] And so this kid is like walking on water as far as Jacob is concerned.

[00:43:40] And he doesn't like it.

[00:43:41] He actually stopped coming around his own family for years because he just got tired of being

[00:43:45] compared to Jacob.

[00:43:46] I mean, to, uh, to Caleb.

[00:43:48] When Caleb showed up and G, I know you have a bunch of siblings, but this is the type of

[00:43:54] energy that my little brother has.

[00:43:55] My little brother is this guy.

[00:43:56] Like, is he good at any one particular thing?

[00:43:59] No, but he's like above, he's like average at everything and good enough to fake it to

[00:44:04] where you would think he would be good at everything.

[00:44:06] He's like, he's mostly personality.

[00:44:08] He's got a smile that will light up a room and it just gets under my skin because I actually

[00:44:12] have to do stuff to be like, my brother just exists.

[00:44:16] And people were like, no, he's perfect.

[00:44:18] Oh yeah.

[00:44:19] Yeah.

[00:44:19] So I loved it because I was like, damn, I could definitely see what Jacob's talking

[00:44:24] about, but Jacob was kind of tripping because Caleb didn't even do nothing to him.

[00:44:28] I feel there's a lot going on in that.

[00:44:32] I feel like they are tiptoeing around the fact that Jacob and Caleb's parents are likely

[00:44:40] homophobic or at the very least expected Jacob and Caleb to both be like Caleb basically,

[00:44:50] um, where they are, they are men.

[00:44:52] They are, uh, straight.

[00:44:54] They are going to be in professions like a TikTok, uh, physical trainer or something.

[00:45:00] Yeah.

[00:45:01] Yeah.

[00:45:02] Which also like props to Caleb, um, what is his TikTok?

[00:45:07] But that's a different issue for, that's a different issue for a different time.

[00:45:10] But the, like, that is like, we are tiptoeing around that fact.

[00:45:16] It is strongly hinted at what that is the reason why Jacob does not go around his family.

[00:45:23] Even Caleb acknowledges it at the end of his episode that like, even though Jacob does know

[00:45:28] that he is not like their parents, it is still hard to be around him sometimes.

[00:45:33] And I had a very similar experience with some of my siblings before I love them dearly,

[00:45:39] but like, it can be hard when like, I worked to be funny.

[00:45:42] Okay.

[00:45:42] Like I, this was, I put blood, sweat and tears.

[00:45:45] So much trauma went into my sense of humor.

[00:45:48] What do you mean?

[00:45:48] They're all just naturally funny and smart and good.

[00:45:51] Absolutely not.

[00:45:53] Absolutely not.

[00:45:54] So.

[00:45:55] It gets to just exist.

[00:45:56] And it's not fair.

[00:45:58] Truly.

[00:46:00] Melissa.

[00:46:02] Melissa immediately invites Caleb to dinner after putting Jacob on the waitlist, like

[00:46:07] the time he was on the waitlist for Morehouse.

[00:46:09] Yeah.

[00:46:10] Like the same.

[00:46:11] I love that this is a continuing story that Jacob was on a waitlist for Morehouse.

[00:46:16] Incredible.

[00:46:16] And honestly, it does not shock me at all that he applied for Morehouse.

[00:46:20] I understand.

[00:46:21] It doesn't shock me that he was waitlisted either, to be honest.

[00:46:23] Um, but yeah, Caleb has a little chaotic energy and everybody kind of likes that.

[00:46:28] Okay.

[00:46:28] So they're like, all right, he's coming.

[00:46:30] Uh, if he can win over Melissa as a Giants fan, you know, because he's a Cowboys hater

[00:46:36] first and foremost, then he can win over everybody.

[00:46:38] He like, like he wins over Gregory because he doesn't corner people with small talk.

[00:46:42] He's everything.

[00:46:43] Jacob is not.

[00:46:43] And Jacob is just so threatened by it that eventually he has to put a stop to it.

[00:46:48] Cause Caleb gets invited to the podcast club, which we know is Jacob's like, that's

[00:46:53] like his baby.

[00:46:54] Like he's, he wanted to be in that club so bad.

[00:46:56] He wanted to be the club.

[00:46:58] And now Caleb's in there telling Jacob's stories and all kinds of stuff.

[00:47:03] He shuts it down.

[00:47:04] And Gregory has to rewind the tape a little bit to actually let Jacob know how Caleb feels

[00:47:10] about him.

[00:47:10] I mean, I mean, Caleb really loves his brother, you know, and it's very obvious.

[00:47:14] Yes.

[00:47:14] Yeah.

[00:47:15] Yeah.

[00:47:16] He, he loves his brother and admires him, which I think is the big, big thing here is

[00:47:22] that even though he doesn't always express it in the most sensitive manner, I will say,

[00:47:28] um, he does love his brother a lot and really looks up to his older brother for all of the

[00:47:34] things he was able to do as somebody that is always concerned about what other people

[00:47:39] think about him.

[00:47:39] So even talking about his, uh, Jacob going to prom by himself, Caleb thought that was

[00:47:46] so cool, even though Jacob thought it was terrible and hated every moment of it.

[00:47:52] So it's interesting, especially with seeing sibling dynamics that you often see, like go

[00:47:58] through the same experiences, like having the same parents or growing up in the same house,

[00:48:02] but you have different experiences along the way.

[00:48:05] So I think this was very reflective of that and it was very nice to see.

[00:48:10] I just, I love their, their brotherhood and we get a lot less tension between the two of

[00:48:18] them in the next episode.

[00:48:19] And it was so good to see them just be brothers.

[00:48:23] Yeah, I agree.

[00:48:24] Um, another person who's in this episode very briefly is Tariq.

[00:48:27] Um, I love that the PTA has sent Tariq to go yell at Barbara about how she was ruining

[00:48:32] Christmas for everybody because we just, we have to keep Tariq within arm's length.

[00:48:36] He doesn't work here, but he's always here.

[00:48:39] He said his, my feet just take me where I need to go.

[00:48:42] And I respect that.

[00:48:43] I wish I had that schedule, but listen, and I have a problem with this parents throwing ass.

[00:48:49] Okay.

[00:48:50] Because they were so adamant that you can have nuts or razor blades in the cupcakes during

[00:48:57] Halloween and you're going to have bobbing for apples.

[00:49:00] I still kind of understand that one, but still they were very adamant that you cannot do bobbing

[00:49:04] for apples, but Christmas is just too big of a tradition that we can't just switch it to

[00:49:11] winter.

[00:49:11] Like you're still having an event.

[00:49:13] And it's just, and also this song nonsense does not make any sense because winter wonderland was

[00:49:20] right there.

[00:49:20] Like, why are we not right?

[00:49:22] Like I just solved it.

[00:49:24] Yep.

[00:49:24] Yep.

[00:49:25] It's done.

[00:49:26] I fixed it.

[00:49:27] They owe you a thousand dollars.

[00:49:29] They do.

[00:49:30] Don't worry.

[00:49:31] Yep.

[00:49:31] For my consultation.

[00:49:33] Yeah.

[00:49:34] The other person who's really under, uh, utilized in this episode is Gregory.

[00:49:38] And for a reason that we will talk about in the next episode, because Gregory, no one's

[00:49:43] taking him seriously.

[00:49:44] He doesn't have a haircut.

[00:49:45] And, uh, we've talked about this earlier throughout the season.

[00:49:49] Realist thing imaginable.

[00:49:51] Uh, look, my hat is on currently.

[00:49:54] Yes.

[00:49:54] Because I do not have a haircut and it will not come off until I'm sitting in a barber's

[00:49:58] chair.

[00:49:58] Okay.

[00:49:58] No one will see me.

[00:50:00] Yep.

[00:50:00] Because if you don't get a haircut, everyone's going to make comments about your hair.

[00:50:04] Exactly.

[00:50:05] Um, we saw this earlier in the dad fight episode, Gregory couldn't even fight because like,

[00:50:10] uh, the, the dad had to say like, Hey, wait till I get a haircut.

[00:50:12] I'll be back tomorrow.

[00:50:13] You know, we, we're making these haircuts a part of the Abbott universe and I like it

[00:50:17] because it's true.

[00:50:18] Um, so Gregory does go get a haircut and, um, it's not his barber.

[00:50:23] He has got a standing barber, which is my nightmare, which is literally like nightmare

[00:50:27] fuel.

[00:50:28] I have woken up out of my sleep because somebody else was cutting my hair and I was not ready.

[00:50:32] Um, but this new barber is Keith David.

[00:50:37] When I tell you, I screamed because I love Keith David so much.

[00:50:43] He is like very much like Chris Summers.

[00:50:47] One of my favorite voices and animation, but also just an amazing actor in general.

[00:50:54] I love this man so much.

[00:50:57] And they're trying to make me hate Keith David.

[00:50:59] And let me tell you something.

[00:51:01] Their propaganda was working hard in the second episode of this two-parter, but you will never

[00:51:06] make me hate Keith David.

[00:51:09] Absolutely not.

[00:51:10] Yeah.

[00:51:11] This was crazy.

[00:51:12] First of all, shout out to Keith David for being here.

[00:51:15] I, like you said, I scrumped.

[00:51:16] Uh, I saw a tweet that said, um, Keith David is the male Shirley Ralph and it just makes

[00:51:22] sense.

[00:51:22] And I said, yeah, absolutely.

[00:51:24] I said, no notes, no questions.

[00:51:26] I know exactly what you mean when you say that.

[00:51:27] Yep.

[00:51:28] Keep a job, David.

[00:51:30] Yes.

[00:51:31] Mm-hmm.

[00:51:32] Him and Kiki Palmer's next.

[00:51:33] I just know.

[00:51:34] I feel it.

[00:51:35] Yeah.

[00:51:36] Oh my God.

[00:51:36] So Keith David is here as Ava's dad and also a barber here locally in Philly.

[00:51:43] And so, um, in our next episode, that is going to be a problem because when we get to the

[00:51:47] winter break, uh, we will hear that Ava does actually does not have any relatives in the

[00:51:53] neighborhood.

[00:51:53] And that is a conflicting report, but we'll talk about that in just a moment.

[00:51:56] Um, I want to start with these teachers on winter break stealing or supplies from

[00:52:02] the school.

[00:52:03] Um, look, I feel like if y'all are working for free, which a lot of teachers are in a

[00:52:10] lot of ways, right?

[00:52:10] They work way past eight to five.

[00:52:12] They get paid to work from eight to five.

[00:52:14] And then they go home and they grade papers off the clock.

[00:52:17] And then they have teacher conferences off the clock.

[00:52:19] And then they go the extra mile for the people off the clock.

[00:52:22] And they do ed talks for people off the clock.

[00:52:25] Y'all can give them some toilet tissue.

[00:52:28] Listen, as somebody that has never, never, ever, ever stolen office supplies from their

[00:52:37] place of work, I would never do such a thing.

[00:52:41] Not me.

[00:52:42] Ever, ever, ever.

[00:52:43] Nope.

[00:52:44] I understand completely.

[00:52:45] Right.

[00:52:46] Steal your tree.

[00:52:47] Steal your toilet paper.

[00:52:48] They don't need it.

[00:52:49] Take those cups.

[00:52:51] Right.

[00:52:51] Don't get caught.

[00:52:52] They're not using them.

[00:52:53] Yeah.

[00:52:53] Don't get caught.

[00:52:54] But also they ain't using them.

[00:52:56] They ain't using them.

[00:52:57] Okay.

[00:52:57] But if you're going to get caught, you might as well be caught by other teachers that

[00:53:02] have come to steal stuff or a principal that has come to take the whole tree.

[00:53:06] Right.

[00:53:07] So I'm not mad at this at all.

[00:53:09] Do what you got to do.

[00:53:09] If you're a teacher out there, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

[00:53:11] If you're not a teacher, this ain't for you.

[00:53:12] But if you are working education and you know that you overworked and that these supplies

[00:53:16] are just sitting around waiting for you, do what you need to do.

[00:53:19] Okay.

[00:53:19] Steal that stapler.

[00:53:20] No one's looking.

[00:53:21] That part.

[00:53:21] They're not going to miss it.

[00:53:23] And so we have to prep because like I said, the Chimenti Christmas is coming.

[00:53:27] And Melissa's got, this is probably one of the best holiday meals that I've seen on

[00:53:33] television since The Bear because that stressed me the hell out.

[00:53:37] This was way better than that, but it definitely gave me the same vibe because Melissa has

[00:53:41] a big old family that is going to want to come and have a lot of opinions about Melissa.

[00:53:46] And Melissa is here to prove a point.

[00:53:48] She says, they think that because I'm unmarried that I don't know how to hold it down for the

[00:53:53] holidays.

[00:53:53] They've taken me out of rotation and I'm here to prove to them that they are

[00:53:57] messing with the wrong one.

[00:53:58] I love Melissa so much in this episode.

[00:54:02] I love her.

[00:54:04] Love her so much.

[00:54:05] Love Melissa as a character.

[00:54:07] The show would not be the same without Melissa.

[00:54:09] And I felt her pain in this moment.

[00:54:13] Now, I don't want to cook anybody meals, but people always have opinions about single

[00:54:20] women, especially around the holiday season and how this must be a reflection on,

[00:54:27] really anything.

[00:54:28] Like, though, they use her being single as an excuse for everything.

[00:54:35] Like, clearly she can't cook well.

[00:54:37] She's single.

[00:54:38] She's single.

[00:54:39] And her house kills men.

[00:54:41] We will get into that later.

[00:54:43] Nothing is good enough for these people.

[00:54:46] Nothing.

[00:54:46] Nothing.

[00:54:47] Especially because she's not married.

[00:54:49] Right.

[00:54:50] Now, her family's kind of rude to Melissa, but we learned a long time ago that that's Melissa's

[00:54:55] love language anyway, because when Melissa's sister showed up, I got very excited.

[00:54:59] I'm sorry.

[00:55:00] That lady's awful to Melissa and I still love her.

[00:55:02] What's it?

[00:55:02] Krista J?

[00:55:03] What's her name?

[00:55:05] Krista Marie.

[00:55:06] Krista Marie.

[00:55:06] Krista Marie showed up and I was like, hey, that's my girl now.

[00:55:10] She was rude.

[00:55:10] But also, she can stay.

[00:55:13] Can I also?

[00:55:13] She was the nice one of the group.

[00:55:16] Like, she was the nicest one there.

[00:55:19] Out of all of her, there was like sibling.

[00:55:22] I love that we didn't see any of the kids.

[00:55:23] They were just hanging in the basement the whole time.

[00:55:25] Like, iconic of them.

[00:55:28] Just keep them all down there.

[00:55:30] They'll sort themselves out.

[00:55:33] But the whole family, like sisters, brothers, her mom, her racist uncle, they're all there.

[00:55:42] And Jacob and Caleb.

[00:55:44] And Barbara and Gerald.

[00:55:47] Gerald's all MVP of this episode to me.

[00:55:49] Per usual.

[00:55:50] Per usual.

[00:55:51] He's here for the dessert.

[00:55:52] We love Gerald.

[00:55:52] That's it.

[00:55:53] Yeah.

[00:55:54] So, we got this big family.

[00:55:56] And they're all being rude.

[00:55:58] But Melissa's got it.

[00:55:58] She's on a mission.

[00:55:59] She's got Barbara on deck.

[00:56:01] She's got Jacob on deck.

[00:56:02] They are trying to make this the best meal ever.

[00:56:05] Caleb's there.

[00:56:06] You know, so that, you know, things are working out.

[00:56:09] But she's got this uncle.

[00:56:11] And I hear that this is a thing.

[00:56:12] That people be having racist uncle.

[00:56:13] Now, I don't have a racist uncle.

[00:56:15] I have a bunch of uncles that you got to tell to shut the fuck up sometimes.

[00:56:18] But not any racist uncles.

[00:56:20] You know, but I definitely got to tell them, hey, shut up.

[00:56:23] You know, and you have to be able to say that with your whole chest at the holidays

[00:56:26] and be okay with what happens next.

[00:56:28] Because we're moving on, y'all.

[00:56:30] We're moving past these old views, these outdated views.

[00:56:33] We got to grow up.

[00:56:34] We got to grow up.

[00:56:35] We got to be kind to people or you can't stay here.

[00:56:38] And so, Melissa's family is very much acknowledging there's a bigot in the house.

[00:56:42] And Melissa quickly shepherds him right on up the stairs.

[00:56:46] Go and get it.

[00:56:47] Because you can't be trusted down here with normal people.

[00:56:49] And I really love that.

[00:56:50] That's how you advocate for your guests.

[00:56:52] You tell them to get the hell out.

[00:56:54] Did you also scream when he said this is going to be one of those woke dinners?

[00:56:58] I yelled.

[00:56:59] I yelled.

[00:57:00] And that wasn't even like the craziest part.

[00:57:02] Because when he was like, and you said, oh, Jacob, you and Nancy.

[00:57:06] And I was like, Nancy?

[00:57:07] He's like, yeah, that guy over there.

[00:57:08] I was like, wait, his brother?

[00:57:10] Yeah.

[00:57:10] Yeah.

[00:57:10] I'm done.

[00:57:11] And Caleb held those wine glasses together so well right before he was about to beat that uncle's ass.

[00:57:18] Uncle Archie, which I can only assume is named after Archie Bunker, also famous racist.

[00:57:24] Yeah.

[00:57:25] Famous reference.

[00:57:25] That's just brilliant, brilliant job by all.

[00:57:29] Yeah.

[00:57:29] Even more brilliant, killing him.

[00:57:31] He goes upstairs and he dies.

[00:57:32] And I was like, yep, there you go.

[00:57:35] And I was very happy.

[00:57:36] Now, there was a tiny, a tiny part of me that thought, is he really dead?

[00:57:41] But when Caleb said, I checked his pulse and he's dead.

[00:57:44] I said, OK, Caleb, I believe you.

[00:57:47] You're a physical trainer.

[00:57:49] You would know if somebody doesn't have a pulse.

[00:57:52] He, I watched.

[00:57:53] So I watched this episode through, right?

[00:57:55] I watched it twice.

[00:57:56] So I knew what happened the second time I watched it, but not the first.

[00:58:02] So I thought this whole episode that this man was really dead.

[00:58:04] And, you know, I was, I was hopeful Barbara's, uh, Barbara's words would come to, we don't

[00:58:09] judge people that are about to meet their maker or the other guy.

[00:58:13] I want that tattooed on my forehead.

[00:58:15] I love that so much.

[00:58:18] But when we watched it, when I watched it the second time, let me tell you, they made

[00:58:22] sure to not put the camera on Caleb's hand when he was checking for a pulse, because

[00:58:28] you do not see his hand and where it is on his face.

[00:58:33] This is, this is why the writing of this show is so good.

[00:58:36] Yeah.

[00:58:37] Because I was so invested in, okay, now what happens now that he's dead?

[00:58:41] Because this, does this ruin Melissa's dinner?

[00:58:44] What happens?

[00:58:45] And Melissa is like, nah, I'm not letting this ruin the dinner.

[00:58:48] Obviously we're just going to keep the, keep the party going and nobody can know.

[00:58:52] Uh, and so I was like, okay, then now let's see what happens.

[00:58:55] Now we do get some hiccups in this plan because, uh, when Jacob found the body, he yelled into

[00:59:01] the life alert or the death alert as they're calling it here that, uh, someone has died.

[00:59:06] And so the notification has been sent to the EMTs, the paramedics and the fire department,

[00:59:10] uh, which is unfortunate for Melissa because she didn't invite her fire department bag to

[00:59:14] Christmas.

[00:59:17] She did not, but he respected her wishes, which is a plus and did not really question it either.

[00:59:28] Right.

[00:59:28] So, which I appreciate from it.

[00:59:31] And you know what?

[00:59:32] I like this firefighter dude.

[00:59:34] We'd like him.

[00:59:34] We'd be around for a little bit longer.

[00:59:36] Yeah.

[00:59:37] But you can't come to Christmas because then they would say, oh, Melissa's got a man.

[00:59:41] Obviously she couldn't hack it as a single woman.

[00:59:43] You know what I'm saying?

[00:59:44] Yeah, exactly.

[00:59:45] But also as somebody with family that can be very mean, I related to this so much.

[00:59:52] Oh.

[00:59:52] And I tell them to their face and like, you will not meet anyone I date until it's like

[00:59:56] a step away from an engagement.

[00:59:58] Cause y'all are mean.

[01:00:00] Okay.

[01:00:00] And the people I date are not built for that.

[01:00:03] Me and my cousins have all threatened to pop up married.

[01:00:06] Like, and just to be like, Hey, when y'all get the, when y'all get the elope notification,

[01:00:10] just go with it.

[01:00:11] Yep.

[01:00:11] When you get the invite, just know this was your fault.

[01:00:14] This could be prevented.

[01:00:16] We've all talked about it in our family.

[01:00:18] It's a tradition that like, if you bring somebody to Thanksgiving, that is like, that

[01:00:23] is the, that is the moment.

[01:00:24] That's like the checkout line.

[01:00:25] If they come to Thanksgiving, then we expect to see them and sit in then like four weeks

[01:00:29] at Christmas, or you don't need to be at Christmas cause you're with them because y'all

[01:00:32] are about to get married.

[01:00:33] Like that's so like, when someone shows up at Thanksgiving, we pull you to the side

[01:00:37] at that point.

[01:00:37] Like, Hey, if this was Halloween, we wouldn't say nothing.

[01:00:41] It's only been, there's only a month difference.

[01:00:43] But if this was Halloween, we would say nothing.

[01:00:47] If they came to Christmas alone, like just like out of the blue, just came to Christmas,

[01:00:50] we still wouldn't respect it.

[01:00:52] Thanksgiving is where we're like, so what, what is this?

[01:00:54] What are y'all, y'all, y'all, y'all, y'all.

[01:00:56] Who's your little friend here?

[01:00:57] Right.

[01:00:57] Exactly.

[01:00:58] Now we need an introduction, you know?

[01:00:59] And so we, I totally understand.

[01:01:02] So keeping him away, it's not a bad idea, especially when her family's acting like this.

[01:01:07] But they even find fault in Melissa when they find out she got a man.

[01:01:11] And like, that explains why the food's so good.

[01:01:13] I knew she had somebody living here.

[01:01:15] I was like, this is good.

[01:01:17] The writing is so good.

[01:01:19] They love it.

[01:01:20] They all love the food.

[01:01:21] They try to be really nice about it in their own way, but they, they, they really enjoy

[01:01:25] the food and Melissa almost gets away with keeping her dead uncle upstairs until he comes

[01:01:32] downstairs.

[01:01:32] Cause he's not dead.

[01:01:34] Yep.

[01:01:34] Yep.

[01:01:35] He was, um, unfortunately, um, checking your pulse is not in the forehead.

[01:01:42] It is down near the neck.

[01:01:45] Um, which again, we did not see when he was checking it, but that is where Caleb actually

[01:01:50] checked for a pulse.

[01:01:51] And then he put it on, he put his hand on Jacob's forehead and said, you don't have

[01:01:57] a pulse either.

[01:01:59] And that's also where I screamed.

[01:02:02] Yeah.

[01:02:02] Yeah.

[01:02:03] It's the writing is so good.

[01:02:05] That's all I can say.

[01:02:06] Amazing.

[01:02:06] Um, her uncle did not die, but the Christmas party would have been a little bit better.

[01:02:10] Had he, had he died actually.

[01:02:12] Um, but Melissa was successful.

[01:02:14] I liked that this was a win for her.

[01:02:16] Um, you know, despite all the drama and all the things she really did show her family that

[01:02:20] she knew what she was doing.

[01:02:22] And it seemed like in their own way, they were all grateful for what had happened.

[01:02:25] Um, which is good because, uh, we got a Mr. Johnson sighting.

[01:02:29] He showed up to pass out a gift.

[01:02:31] And I was like, okay, cool.

[01:02:34] Yeah.

[01:02:34] Mr. Johnson making his rounds.

[01:02:36] We will see that he's on his way to the North pole by the end of the episode.

[01:02:39] These passive aggressive ass gifts though.

[01:02:42] Like, can we actually lift out what he gave people?

[01:02:45] He gave Melissa red hair dye for her Ruth, which he tells her he gives Janine socks for

[01:02:53] her big ass feet.

[01:02:55] Big ass feet.

[01:02:56] And she, he gave Gregory a book of how to have a personality.

[01:03:01] Yeah.

[01:03:01] Yeah.

[01:03:02] It's cooking them all.

[01:03:03] Okay.

[01:03:04] We did not get to see what he gave Ava and Barbara.

[01:03:07] Cause he didn't have the gift for them cause they weren't at home.

[01:03:10] Oh, and his gift to Jake, Jacob got the nicest gift, which is that he was informed that he

[01:03:15] is taking Mr. Johnson sledding.

[01:03:17] On Sunday.

[01:03:18] At 8am.

[01:03:19] Yeah.

[01:03:19] See you in a couple of days.

[01:03:21] You know, uh, I respect it.

[01:03:23] Mr. Johnson cooking, giving away the gifts.

[01:03:26] Honestly though, I think that is what Jacob would want from Mr. Johnson for Christmas.

[01:03:29] You know, sometimes I wonder, you know, like maybe if it was Gregory, I think Jacob

[01:03:33] would jump at it, but the fact that Mr. Johnson has voluntold him that he's going to come pick

[01:03:37] him up at eight o'clock in the morning to go out and be in the cold.

[01:03:39] I don't know.

[01:03:40] I don't know.

[01:03:41] But that's how you give gifts away.

[01:03:43] Okay.

[01:03:43] First of all, you hand deliver them.

[01:03:45] Make sure that people see your smiling face when you do it.

[01:03:47] And then you head to the North pole to go support the dancers and the prancers and

[01:03:52] the vixens.

[01:03:53] Yep.

[01:03:53] And we love that.

[01:03:54] We love people supporting small businesses and working women.

[01:03:57] Yeah.

[01:03:58] There you go.

[01:03:58] So Mr. Johnson, again, one of the MVPs of the batch.

[01:04:02] No one's surprised.

[01:04:03] And he had money in that bag.

[01:04:04] So like, you know, if you're going there, you better be tipping accordingly.

[01:04:08] You should tip her.

[01:04:09] You should tip her.

[01:04:09] That's not even a joke.

[01:04:10] That is serious.

[01:04:11] You tip accordingly.

[01:04:12] Mm hmm.

[01:04:13] Mm hmm.

[01:04:13] So let's get to the meat and potatoes of this all.

[01:04:18] Gregory and Janine's first Christmas together as a couple.

[01:04:22] Oh my God.

[01:04:23] It's supposed to.

[01:04:23] This is cute as hell.

[01:04:25] I love this head ass couple.

[01:04:27] Oh, they, and that's the thing.

[01:04:29] Gregory, don't push back on the onesies.

[01:04:30] I'm not going to wear that.

[01:04:31] Sir.

[01:04:32] Y'all were just the mosquito and Amber and Mr.

[01:04:35] DNA for Halloween.

[01:04:36] Don't act like you too good.

[01:04:37] I don't like that.

[01:04:39] Tell me that you are not the most comfortable in your life in that onesie.

[01:04:43] Gregory be so for real.

[01:04:45] I'm, I'm a onesie guy.

[01:04:46] And no one knows this about me.

[01:04:48] No one ever seen me in one.

[01:04:49] I wore one for, um, yesterday.

[01:04:52] That was my work from home attire yesterday.

[01:04:54] Yes.

[01:04:55] Yes.

[01:04:55] I have a, I have a sick onesie.

[01:04:57] It's whenever I get sick, when I get really, really sick, I wear the onesie because it

[01:05:01] makes me feel like, okay, like, like a security blanket.

[01:05:03] And no one's never seen me in it for, for the most part.

[01:05:06] Like a couple of people see me in it, but when they do that, like, Oh God, you look awful

[01:05:09] because I'm in the onesie.

[01:05:10] Yes.

[01:05:10] But look, a head ass onesie, couple's costume for Christmas.

[01:05:14] I'm sorry, Gregory.

[01:05:16] You should just lean into it.

[01:05:17] This is where you are now.

[01:05:18] This is you, you should like this.

[01:05:20] Why are you acting brand new?

[01:05:21] Yeah.

[01:05:22] So don't act like you need to watch basketball as a trade.

[01:05:25] You get to be with Janine.

[01:05:27] Okay.

[01:05:28] She should be so lucky to buy you a matching onesie.

[01:05:32] Right.

[01:05:32] And if not just with Janine, you also get a knock on the door from our girl, Ava.

[01:05:40] Ava is the only person who took Janine's empty invitation to come hang out with her and Gregory,

[01:05:45] uh, you know, as, as gospel.

[01:05:47] She said, okay, I'll show up.

[01:05:48] And she did.

[01:05:49] She showed up.

[01:05:50] She brought gifts.

[01:05:51] Uh, I believe it was head ass mugs.

[01:05:53] You can put that in either order.

[01:05:54] It was so cute.

[01:05:55] Yeah.

[01:05:56] And she tells us that she visited her granny and she doesn't have any other family there

[01:06:01] in Philly.

[01:06:02] But like we said earlier, Gregory definitely met her dad.

[01:06:05] And so Ava's hanging out with them despite the fact that she has family somewhere.

[01:06:10] And so eventually Gregory has to go talk to Ava and try to figure out, okay, what's going

[01:06:14] on?

[01:06:15] Because is everything okay?

[01:06:17] You know, like, you know, if something's not right, you could tell us, but you can't

[01:06:21] just camp out here with us for Christmas and not, you know, and not tell us why, especially

[01:06:25] if you lie to us about your family situation.

[01:06:27] Yeah.

[01:06:28] Yeah.

[01:06:29] And I had a feeling we've had moments in other episodes where Ava also alludes to the

[01:06:36] fact that her parents, I don't know if it is any particular, like both, both parents

[01:06:41] or just the one were absent in her life for a good amount of time.

[01:06:48] So that is even when, before we got to this episode, I kind of assumed that's where I

[01:06:55] was heading, but that's definitely where it had, uh, where it was heading this episode

[01:07:02] about, uh, Ava owning up to the fact that like, obviously it isn't a good relationship.

[01:07:07] She's not going to forget that her dad lives in Philly, but also she doesn't want Janine

[01:07:14] to know because Janine would try to make a Christmas miracle happen with it and try to

[01:07:21] reconnect mother and, or not mother, sorry, father and, uh, daughter, even though that

[01:07:26] is not what Ava wants.

[01:07:28] Yeah.

[01:07:29] And so Janine and Gregory are kind of having a little, a little, uh, couple spats because

[01:07:33] Janine's like, oh, so you keeping secrets for Ava now?

[01:07:35] And I'm like, Janine, come on, stop it.

[01:07:37] Stop playing.

[01:07:38] You know, like y'all are all friends enough to where you should know if I'm telling you,

[01:07:41] I can't tell you, I can't tell you.

[01:07:43] But, you know, I think she's kind of in like, you know, the same first Christmas together.

[01:07:47] So she's like, I got her arms folded up.

[01:07:48] She's putting her foot down and Ava has to step in because she hears them arguing.

[01:07:52] She's like, okay, let me shut this down.

[01:07:54] Very small apartment.

[01:07:56] Right.

[01:07:57] Tiny apartment.

[01:07:57] Um, and so she, she tells them like, Hey, it's cool.

[01:08:01] I don't want you going out and trying to do your Keebler elf thing and making things.

[01:08:06] Okay.

[01:08:06] I just let it go.

[01:08:07] But Gregory was looking out for me.

[01:08:09] And so, uh, you know, we see Janine kind of be like, okay, I understand.

[01:08:13] We know Janine gets it.

[01:08:15] But yeah, this is like the last we're going to hear about Janine and Ava's dad.

[01:08:20] Right.

[01:08:20] Because there's no way Janine is not about to go do exactly what Ava thinks she's going to do.

[01:08:24] This is the woman that harassed Kevin Hart to see if that was her father.

[01:08:30] Yeah.

[01:08:31] Um, but also I just, even if it was anybody else being cast as Ava's dad, I would say this

[01:08:41] was a one-off thing.

[01:08:43] Right.

[01:08:43] Or it, you know, I wouldn't be shocked if it was, there's no way they booked Keith David

[01:08:48] for two minutes and I'm never going to see him again.

[01:08:52] There's going to be something happening that I don't know if it'll be Janine being the one

[01:08:59] to connect them or if it's going to be like, cause her dad, because Ava's dad freely offered

[01:09:06] out that information that his daughter was a principal at a school.

[01:09:09] No indication that they don't talk.

[01:09:13] So I'm wondering if it's going to be something down the line of Ava's dad trying to reconnect

[01:09:20] with his daughter.

[01:09:22] Um, I don't know what to make of that, but we've already seen one absentee parent on TV

[01:09:31] with this, with, uh, Ava's mom, Veneta.

[01:09:34] So I wouldn't be shocked.

[01:09:36] I would say if, um, on either, if this actually comes up to be like a positive thing for Ava,

[01:09:43] like she does get to reconnect with her dad in a healthy way, or if it's just, uh, going

[01:09:47] to be a, no, I don't want to connect with my, uh, with my dad.

[01:09:53] And I mean that, and I think either would be acceptable, but also like it's Keith David.

[01:09:58] It's Keith David.

[01:09:58] It's Keith David.

[01:10:00] You can't just have him on for two seconds.

[01:10:02] I'm sorry.

[01:10:03] I would bet money.

[01:10:05] I would bet money that Janine is going to have a hand in this.

[01:10:08] It's just like Ava called it.

[01:10:10] I feel like Janine let it go too easily.

[01:10:12] Like, oh, okay, cool.

[01:10:13] It's like, I can't really do nothing about it.

[01:10:15] Cause it's Christmas Eve and I'm here with Gregory.

[01:10:17] Yeah.

[01:10:18] Well, give it some time, you know, uh, maybe come, you know, like the next, uh, the next holiday.

[01:10:23] I don't know, say Patrick's day or something like that.

[01:10:24] I don't know.

[01:10:25] Some, some going to come up and it's going to be a reason why.

[01:10:28] And I just feel like Janine's not going to be able to help herself.

[01:10:31] And it's okay because Janine and Ava, they're kind of besties.

[01:10:35] Not lying.

[01:10:35] Like they spent Christmas together.

[01:10:38] This is good.

[01:10:39] This is good.

[01:10:40] So I can see that being a source of conflict later on.

[01:10:42] But right now I think it gives us a lot to think about, um, when it comes to what Ava's

[01:10:47] relationship is with her dad.

[01:10:48] And I kind of want to see what Keith David's personality is going to be.

[01:10:51] Cause we know how Ava is.

[01:10:53] Let's meet the asylum that raised her.

[01:10:55] You know what I'm saying?

[01:10:56] I want to see if Keith's going to be doing like her.

[01:10:57] Or didn't raise her.

[01:10:58] Right.

[01:10:58] Right.

[01:10:59] Or that too.

[01:11:00] So I want, I definitely want to see what happens with that.

[01:11:03] Uh, and I also love that, uh, Ava was just hanging out with them until the party bus

[01:11:06] came because that was so real.

[01:11:08] Yep.

[01:11:08] I, I haven't, I don't know.

[01:11:11] He seemed very jovial in his little cameo at the end of the first episode of this two

[01:11:17] parter.

[01:11:18] I haven't, he's going to be like a little swindler.

[01:11:21] I can, I can already picture it.

[01:11:23] I'm ready.

[01:11:23] I'm ready.

[01:11:23] Who do you think Ava got it from?

[01:11:25] The art of scamming.

[01:11:27] Yeah.

[01:11:27] Like this is, I feel like we need that energy from Keith David.

[01:11:30] Oh, I'm so excited.

[01:11:32] Listen now, separate from all of this PSA.

[01:11:36] If you do not, if you decide you want to go with no contact with your parents, that

[01:11:40] is totally fair.

[01:11:42] And I imagine you have to go through a lot to get to that point.

[01:11:46] So we respect that.

[01:11:47] We do.

[01:11:48] But because it is Keith David and Ava, I want this relationship to be mended.

[01:11:55] Yeah.

[01:11:56] If they have a bigger, more realistic approach to it, I will understand, but I really want

[01:12:01] them to work it out because I can't in good consciousness hate Keith David.

[01:12:06] He was a Disney villain and I was still rooting for him.

[01:12:08] Like you can't make me hate this man.

[01:12:11] Yeah, no, you're right.

[01:12:12] I needed to hear both sides of the Princess and the Frog for sure.

[01:12:14] I was like, hey, I need to.

[01:12:16] Yeah, I'm with you on that one.

[01:12:18] We would love to see more from Keith David, but that wraps our holiday conversation.

[01:12:22] I do.

[01:12:23] Before we finish talking though, of course, Quinta nominated for a Golden Globe again.

[01:12:29] Give her her things.

[01:12:31] Now she is up against the bear, which I'm so sick of the bear.

[01:12:35] It's not a comedy.

[01:12:37] It is not a comedy.

[01:12:38] I don't know why they, and they got so much backlash last Golden Globes for putting them

[01:12:44] in the comedy category.

[01:12:45] Or I think the Emmys did.

[01:12:46] One of them did.

[01:12:47] Yeah.

[01:12:47] I know damn well the bear is not a comedy.

[01:12:49] Right.

[01:12:50] And they still insist that they put it in the comedy cap, put it in a drama where it belongs

[01:12:56] and let Abbott have their spotlight because there is no damn way that we should not have

[01:13:01] had more nominees in that category.

[01:13:03] And you know, it should have been Abbott Elementary.

[01:13:05] I'm sorry.

[01:13:06] It's just, it's not, the bear is not a comedy.

[01:13:09] Screw the bear.

[01:13:09] I don't care about the bear.

[01:13:11] Yeah.

[01:13:12] I mean, shout out to Ayo, Ayo Debery.

[01:13:15] Like I need that.

[01:13:16] Oh, Ayo.

[01:13:17] I love you.

[01:13:18] You're incredible.

[01:13:19] I hope you get all the awards, just not the Golden Globe for actresses in a comedy.

[01:13:25] Yeah.

[01:13:25] Cause that, it's not a comedy girl.

[01:13:27] We love you, but it's not a comedy.

[01:13:29] You can't put Ayo in everything and then call it a comedy.

[01:13:32] I'm sorry.

[01:13:32] All right.

[01:13:33] Bottoms was great.

[01:13:34] Bottoms was great.

[01:13:35] But she isn't a drama on the bear.

[01:13:37] Right.

[01:13:38] So give her that.

[01:13:39] Yes.

[01:13:40] But yeah, that's it.

[01:13:41] That's our big three episode block.

[01:13:44] We did it.

[01:13:45] Oh, it was so great.

[01:13:47] This was so fun.

[01:13:49] And we really didn't go too much over what our normal time was.

[01:13:52] So I think we spaced it out really well.

[01:13:54] Yeah.

[01:13:54] I was like trying to figure out a way to give it its time.

[01:13:57] But each of these episodes was bangers for sure.

[01:13:59] I was really like, oh my God, are we going to give them enough space to like really like,

[01:14:04] you know, to fill in the stuff.

[01:14:05] But I think the two episodes that we paired together, the winter break and the other episode,

[01:14:09] the winter show, I think they really do compliment each other.

[01:14:13] You know, like we can get into all the jokes in the Melissa Chimente dinner and stuff like that,

[01:14:18] which they're good, but we didn't have to spend that much time on them.

[01:14:21] But we have another break, Gia.

[01:14:23] We're coming back in a month.

[01:14:25] January 8th is episode nine of season four and January 15th is episode 10 of season four.

[01:14:32] And so that means we will not be back until the week of January 15th in 2025 to talk about

[01:14:36] the next batch of Abbott elementary episodes.

[01:14:39] Have you heard the other news about this next batch of Abbott elementary episodes?

[01:14:44] Go on.

[01:14:46] It is the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia crossover episodes.

[01:14:50] Yeah, we love that.

[01:14:52] And the people over at the Laughing Crying podcast, Dr. Amanda and Ariel have reached out

[01:14:57] about potentially a crossover of our own because them being experts on It's Always Sunny and

[01:15:03] us being the foremost, first and foremost podcast about Abbott elementary.

[01:15:07] We might need to do a thing.

[01:15:08] So we'll be in talks.

[01:15:11] Yeah.

[01:15:11] I love it.

[01:15:12] I think, I think we need to, I think it's a must.

[01:15:15] Yeah, it should be fun.

[01:15:16] And so in the meantime, make sure you like this YouTube video.

[01:15:20] We're on YouTube, youtube.com slash at recap kickback.

[01:15:24] We'll bring you to our page where we have a whole Abbott elementary season four playlist.

[01:15:27] You can click like on this very video.

[01:15:29] Make sure you subscribe to the podcast, youtube.com slash at recap kickback or subscribe to the

[01:15:34] podcast on whatever your podcatcher is on your apps, on your phone, recapkickback.com slash

[01:15:39] subscribe to keep up with all the things we have going on here and for more Abbott elementary

[01:15:43] updates.

[01:15:44] Because again, this is the Abbott elementary podcast.

[01:15:47] Okay.

[01:15:47] And no one can tell me different.

[01:15:49] So sorry, I just let out a big yawn.

[01:15:52] No, no, it's good.

[01:15:52] Gia, where can the people find you in the meantime?

[01:15:55] You can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, blue sky and tick tock at classically Gia for all

[01:16:02] of my reality TV shenanigans and regular TV shenanigans.

[01:16:06] I just like television on, I don't know, our on silent podcast.

[01:16:10] I do our weekly recap of survivor 47 call on our podcast.

[01:16:15] I don't know about that.

[01:16:16] And I also do weekly recaps written on inside survivor with my good friend, Christine

[01:16:21] Palin.

[01:16:22] So check those out.

[01:16:23] And we're about to go into the off season of survivor as well.

[01:16:28] So I'm hoping to have some fun podcasts come out in the meantime during the off season.

[01:16:34] So more on that shortly.

[01:16:37] Yes.

[01:16:38] And because Gia and I will be talking about Abbott for a while, we have some Christmas specials

[01:16:42] to talk about too here.

[01:16:44] Gia, why don't you let people know what's coming?

[01:16:47] We are going to know.

[01:16:49] Do we want to do one?

[01:16:50] We're doing all three seasons, right?

[01:16:53] Or we have to.

[01:16:54] Yes.

[01:16:54] So Chappelle and I have talked about it.

[01:16:57] And by that, I mean, I had the show I've been wanting to do a recap for forever.

[01:17:02] It is a South African show on Netflix, incredibly popular.

[01:17:07] And one of my favorite shows to ever come out on Netflix.

[01:17:11] During the Christmas season, we will be doing a recap of How to Ruin Christmas, seasons one,

[01:17:17] two and three.

[01:17:18] Now there's for those of you that haven't listened to it yet.

[01:17:21] It is absolutely fantastic show.

[01:17:25] Highly recommend it.

[01:17:26] But there are only three episodes in the first season and they're all about an hour long.

[01:17:33] And then I believe seasons two and three have four episodes, but they're a very easy watch,

[01:17:39] very funny, very heartfelt.

[01:17:42] R.I.P. to Busi Lurayi, who was the star of the first two seasons.

[01:17:47] But incredible cast overall.

[01:17:49] So I'm very excited to do this during the off season and have some Christmas specials coming out.

[01:17:56] But this will be such a treat.

[01:17:58] I love this show so much.

[01:17:59] And it's it's one that's very special to me.

[01:18:02] And I can't wait to share that with all of you.

[01:18:04] And I can't wait to talk about it.

[01:18:06] And so Gia and I will be back to talk about that.

[01:18:07] Let's try to get those out in the next couple of weeks so that everybody has some joy,

[01:18:10] the Christmas holidays with us.

[01:18:12] OK, fine.

[01:18:12] I'll binge watch it again.

[01:18:13] Yeah, I think I think we got to.

[01:18:15] And so, yeah, make sure you check us out.

[01:18:17] Follow Gia at Classically Gia on all the social media platforms.

[01:18:20] Keep up what she has going on.

[01:18:21] And then, of course, follow me at Recap Kickback on all platforms to see what we got going.

[01:18:26] Because we got a lot of stuff coming your way.

[01:18:27] But make sure you're subscribed or you're at least tapped in on social media

[01:18:31] so that you don't miss out on any of the fun coming your way.

[01:18:34] Until next time, class is over.

[01:18:36] But we will catch you all later.

[01:18:37] Peace.

[01:18:37] Peace.

[01:18:38] Peace.

[01:18:39] Peace.

[01:18:39] Peace.

[01:18:40] Peace.

[01:18:41] Peace.

[01:18:41] Peace.

[01:18:43] Peace.

[01:18:43] Peace.