Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week.
FX deservedly cleaned up in this year’s Emmy nominations — its “Shogun” and “The Bear” received the most and second-most awards of any series — but the network, which produces programming for both its own cable channel and for Hulu, doesn’t rest on its laurels, judging by its latest winning effort, the comedy series “English Teacher” (10 p.m. Sept. 2, FX; next day on Hulu).
Imagine a cross between ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” and the cultural specificity of Max’s “The Other Two” and you’ll get a sense of what “English Teacher” offers.
Created by and starring Brian Jordan Alvarez (“Will Grace” reboot, viral TikTok videos), the series focuses on a gay high school teacher in Austin, Texas, Evan Marquez (Alvarez), who’s constantly running a gantlet of politics among his school’s administration, students and their parents.
In the premiere episode, the school investigates Evan after a parent complains her son saw Evan kiss a fellow male teacher, his now ex-boyfriend (Jordan Firstman). Evan decries the parent’s complaint as homophobic and sets about defending himself.
In the second episode, airing at 10:30 p.m. Monday, Evan navigates the school’s annual Powder Puff football game when LGBTQ students object to the football players dressing up as cheerleaders because of the potential impact on trans students who will see their “gender-switching as a joke.” Evan brings in a friend who does drag to teach the guys how to engage in Powder Puff respectfully, but it also turns into a hilarious kerfuffle.
And that’s what’s most remarkable about “English Teacher”: It’s consistently funny as it pokes around the edges of what’s acceptable. It’s politically incorrect without being offensive.
Evan’s friend group of fellow teachers includes history teacher Gwen (Stephanie Koenig) and abrasive but loyal PE teacher Markie (Sean Patton).
“Hey, Froot Loop,” Markie calls after Evan.
“You can’t call me Froot Loop,” Evan replies.
“It’s just a nickname,” Markie says.
“Then why don’t you call me Cheerios?” Evan says.
“Because there ain’t nothing gay about Cheerios,” Markie says innocently.
Then there’s the school’s spineless principal, Grant Moretti (Enrico Colantoni), whose primary goal is to keep his job, not support his staff. When the Powder Puff guys-as-cheerleaders contretemps arises, Moretti tells Evan, “You just have to listen to [the students] complain. You don’t actually have to do anything about it!”
“Abbott Elementary” may have reopened space in prime-time for a school-set series that’s largely about the staff but “English Teacher” ups the ante with its focus on characters who are less likable than those on “Abbott” with subject matter that’s raw and topical.
Most importantly, “English Teacher” delivers consistent laughs, evincing a sunny disposition even in the face of complex and complicated societal issues that constantly — and usually hilariously — encroach on its high school classrooms.
