It’s been fairly clear since we met them within the sequence premiere that Abbott Elementary lecturers Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) share loads of qualities that may make them a very good romantic match. They’ve additionally had loads of causes to not pursue their mutual attraction, which each elucidated in the Season Two finale final summer season. When the present returned for its strike-delayed third season final week, the celebs have been, as soon as once more, misaligned. When the 2 reunited after spending the summer season in several cities, Janine thought possibly now she could be interested by relationship Gregory. However Gregory has spent their separation getting over her; it’s in line with what we find out about his character that, as soon as he’d mentally closed that door, he wouldn’t contemplate opening it up once more.
No matter what Gregory says, nevertheless, the documentarians filming him do catch photographs of him trying warily at Manny, a brand new staffer from the varsity district who’s interested by attending to know Janine higher — on knowledgeable degree, for now, however there’s no cause to suppose that’s the place issues have to stay. If Abbott’s producers have a longer-term plan for Gregory and Janine, and different companions are going to cycle in earlier than it involves fruition, we have to consider one other man Janine may discover is doubtlessly on Gregory’s degree. And since Manny is performed by Josh Segarra, I do.
A Tisch graduate and headlining Broadway veteran, Segarra’s dozens of display roles have displayed his spectacular vary — even, in the event you can consider it, some true bastards, like sadistic jail guard Stefanovic within the final two seasons of Orange Is the New Black, and supervillain Adrian Chase/Prometheus in a number of seasons of Arrow.
However likelihood is that if you recognize Segarra’s identify, it’s from his many current comedic roles. Since I used to be out of the audience for Segarra’s 52-episode run on The Electrical Firm beginning in 2009, I first turned conscious of him on USA’s Sirens. Whereas the present focuses on a trio of Chicago EMTs — seasoned professionals Johnny (Michael Mosley) and Hank (Kevin Daniels) and the rookie, Kevin Bigley’s Brian, that they’re attempting to coach — Johnny’s on-and-off ex Theresa (Jessica McNamee) can also be within the image, since she’s a cop and the emergencies they reply to ceaselessly trigger her and Johnny to cross paths. Theresa’s companion on the job is Billy (Segarra), a goofy golden retriever of a person. Whereas everyone knows ACAB, that may not be the rule if All Cops Have been Billy.
There are variations between Billy and Lance, the character Segarra would originate just a few years afterward The Different Two. Initially on Comedy Central (after which its second season moved to HBO Max… after which its third to simply Max), The Different Two begins with a breakout on-line pop hit for lovable Ohio teen Chase Goals (Case Walker), then explores how his fame adjustments the lives of his twentysomething siblings Brooke (Heléne Yorke) and Cary (Drew Tarver), who’ve but to get their lives off the bottom in New York. Brooke is principally homeless because the sequence begins, however she nonetheless thinks she’s too good for Lance, whom she’s dumped, however who nonetheless involves a household dinner when Chase and the children’ mom Pat (Molly Shannon) come to city.
Whereas being screamingly humorous and impressively joke-dense, the present additionally has lots to say about present enterprise, fame, social media {and professional} burnout. Amongst its many sorts of affection tales is that of Brooke and Lance. Yorke and Segarra have unbelievable chemistry: They’re lovable individually, and as scene companions, her manic vitality is complemented superbly by his cheerful mellowness. After the 2 spend the primary two seasons largely failing to attach, the third revolves partially across the producers good option to have Lance abandon his profitable profession in trend design to serve his fellow New Yorkers throughout COVID by turning into a registered nurse. So whereas Brooke has spent loads of time pushing Lance away from a perception that he isn’t adequate for her, his taking up this vocation convinces her that she isn’t adequate for him, and her a number of meltdowns over it take the season to a few of its most memorable moments. It’s most likely for the very best that the present ended when it did, however a part of me would have beloved to see Segarra and Yorke taking part in Lance and Brooke till one of many three of us died.
A number of months after saying goodbye to Lance, nevertheless, we get to welcome Abbott Elementary’s Manny. He and Janine meet at knowledgeable growth day. Although Janine offers an interview to the documentary group claiming that she’s finished “attempting to combat the chances” inherent in instructing at an underfunded public college, she will be able to’t assist suggesting that Abbott placed on a profession day, and Manny acknowledges her ardour. Like the remainder of the lecturers Manny meets, Janine is cautious of empty guarantees coming from the district, then alarmed when he means that she take a short lived depart from her classroom for a fellowship working together with his group — a place she finally accepts.
It’s nonetheless early days within the season, so we nonetheless can’t know the place issues will go for Manny and Janine. Perhaps they’ll stay pleasant colleagues. Perhaps we’ll discover out Manny’s preternatural sweetness has been concealing some form of skilled depravity — funds sources he’s delaying allocating, for bureaucratic causes. (The horror!) However I really feel fairly positive that Brunson, who additionally created the present, wouldn’t solid somebody as dreamy and hilarious as Segarra simply to be Janine’s platonic pal — and if she did, I don’t know why she would log off on dressing Manny in that gold chain; that’s not a glance that works on each man, however Manny’s pulling it off, and you’ll inform he is aware of it.
So may this pairing go nowhere? Positive. However everyone knows what normally occurs when two cute characters spend loads of time collectively, as a result of we’ve all seen TV earlier than. We spent the primary two seasons watching Janine and Gregory discovering their approach towards one another earlier than bouncing off in reverse instructions. Now Janine is on the market, and there’s a brand new man in her path. It positive looks like, in the long run, Manny’s function is to be an impediment between Janine and Gregory. And even when Janine and Gregory’s happiness is what we in the end need, hanging out with a Josh Segarra character looks like a great way to go the time till it occurs.
