English Teacher

Nailed it. Haha. So I wasn't impressed with the promos, but this is a clever satire of teaching at high school in 2024. This isn't for everyone, but they hit the multifaceted influences of politics on education and every changing Zoomer / Alpha generation. The obsession with phones and recording teachers is real. The high schoolers saying they feel targeted, bullied, and triggered while exchanging insults is spot on. The teachers are obvious caricatures of very familiar teacher stereotypes. The only thing not believable is how small the football stadium is at a high school in Texas, and the students look like they're in their early 20s. If you like silly sitcoms that are spoofs of teaching high school, you'll like this. If you don't like it, then don't watch it.

Am reviewing after only one episode, but based on that, would offer a cautious recommendation. The actors do a commendable job, and the writers nail the myriad issues in today's cultural/political environment that high school students, their parents, and the teachers have to navigate in today's overheated times. In doing so, there are a handful of laughs intermixed with some more poignant moments, and those make for entertaining viewing. But the overall tone tends to run a bit shrill and overplayed which diminishes the impact. Worth giving a look but at least so far not the succeess one might hope for.

Glee this ain't. And that's a good thing. Nails the highs and lows of trying to get by and teach in a public school in today's environment. The comedy is heightened, at times verging on full on satire. The lead character, the English teacher, is gay, so of course there's going to be some focus on lgbt+ issues with him and in the high school itself. But the show enjoys making light of both extremes in our polarized society, left and right. If lgbt+ is all it takes for you to not want to give this, or any show a shot, then I suppose it's not for you. And by that same token, good luck in life if that's all it takes. But for others, I hope you'll give it a try, especially the second episode. The episode seems to be playing out somewhat like a feel good cliché movie, and then there's a hilarious reveal.

Also, somebody commented that they thought this was going to be a wholesome workplace comedy. First off it's on FX. Do you not know what their brand is? And it's a TV MA show. Do your homework. Silly criticism. It's FX - which tends to mean it's daring and groundbreaking in some way. There's some mild swearing and adult content. Move on.

It's a refreshing situation-comedy full of satire and sarcasm, it's not politically correct and it is very, very funny. I'm glad that the censors didn't butcher it by cutting pictures, topics and dialog. It plays against stereotypes, like Markie the PE teacher and coach who is smart and has figured out the students and is not a stereotypical brainless jock/coach.

The scripts for the first three episodes I've seen are very original, with great characters who are well written. The dialog is funny and original. Brian Jordan Alvarez, Stephanie Koenig, Sean Patton and Enrico Colantoni are exceptional. And kudos to the young actors/actresses who play the students, they're very good.

FX only ordered 8 episodes, this should have received 18 or 22 episodes it's so well written. This will be copied by other networks because it's so original. I normally hate sit-coms because they'd stupid and not funny, this one is very funny without a laugh track or an audience.

This is what good writing looks like.

I consume a lot of comedy -- A LOT -- and this was the best pilot I've seen in a very long time. The cast is strong and the relationships between every character feel incredibly natural. The dialogue is on point as well. I've seen too many school based shows where the students just don't sound natural. These ones do.

I'm only two episodes in, but I can already tell this is a show I'll be rewatching many times --- the world feels real and I'm immediately immersed.

Give it a chance, especially if you love workplace comedies like I do. You won't regret it.