Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Abbott Elementary season 4 episodes 16 and 17, “Books” and “Karaoke”

While Abbott Elementary’s cast of characters is as wacky as any classic workplace sitcom lineup, but the show’s subject is no laughing matter. While it might not be a piece of kitchen-sink realism, Abbott Elementary is much more invested in portraying real-life issues facing teachers in public schools than the likes of Parks and Recreation or Brooklyn Nine-Nine were in addressing realistic problems with the police or local government institutions.

Even Janine and Gregory’s Abbott Elementary love story might have reached a long-awaited happy ending when the pair started officially dating in season 4’s premiere, but this wasn’t the end of their problems. In season 4, episode 17, “Karaoke,” Janine wanted Gregory to attend the staff’s karaoke night, but he needed to work a shift as a rideshare driver.

Why Gregory Gets A Second Job In Abbott Elementary

Gregory Became A Delivery Guy and A Rideshare Driver In Season 4

An episode earlier, in episode 16, “Books,” Gregory revealed that maintaining a romantic relationship was putting a strain on his finances. Fortunately, he didn’t blame Janine for this but instead noted that a qualified teacher should be able to live off their salary and still take their partner out for dinner once in a while without worrying about paying utility bills the next week. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the reality for Gregory, and he ended up taking on not just a second job as a delivery guy, but also a third one as a rideshare driver.

Gregory struggled to balance the modest expenses of dating and the necessary cost of living.

ittedly, the sight of Gregory shamefacedly delivering pizzas to a PTA meeting in his own school while simultaneously trying to drop a customer off at the airport was hilariously chaotic. However, the underlying challenges Gregory faces are no joke. While Abbott Elementary’s principal Ava treated herself to a walk-in wardrobe in her office, Gregory struggled to balance the modest expenses of dating and the necessary cost of living. He is not alone in this fight, either.

Gregory's Salary Woes Is Rooted In A Major Real-World Problem For Teachers

Abbott Elementary’s Gregory Story Reflects A Sobering Reality

According to a study by the Learning Policy Institute (reported in The Hill), a staggering 17% of American teachers have to take on a second job to afford to live. The fact that almost one-fifth of American teachers work a second job proves that Abbott Elementary is addressing a very real issue when the show depicts Gregory deciding between capitalizing on surge pricing and attending a karaoke night with his colleagues. For far too many teachers, having a social life and keeping the lights on are mutually exclusive goals, and even with a second job, it can be hard to remain financially stable.

Through Abbott Elementary season 4’s Ava storyline, which has seen her shake down shady developers for more school funding, the sitcom has indirectly addressed the financial hardships facing public schools. However, as funding becomes more sparse and the cost of living increases, teachers taking on second jobs has become more prevalent and the show’s depiction of characters like Gregory becomes all the more important. What makes this story more compelling is Gregory’s meticulous personal planning.

Unlike the flighty Jacob or the outright unhinged Mr. Johnson, Gregory is a sensible, cautious teacher who can be relied on to make reasonable choices and safeguard his future. As such, the fact that he can’t afford to live on a teacher’s salary is truly saying something. This message is reflected in the reality of teacher incomes, which have dropped by over six percent in the last ten years. More and more, making a living from teaching is something that is out of reach even for someone as fastidiously responsible as Gregory Eddie, as Abbott Elementary season 4 depicts.

How Abbott Elementary Can Solve Gregory's Issues

Abbott Elementary Season 4’s Gregory Plot Sets Up A Great Ending Gregory and Janine

Luckily, there is an obvious solution to Gregory’s money woes, and it is one that can fast-track one of the show’s best existing storylines. Gregory and Janine can solve their financial problems by moving in together, thus reducing their rent. This would also take their relationship to the next level by the end of season 4, which is neither too soon nor too late for the sensible duo. Abbott Elementary season 4 proved Janine has grown a lot since she lived with her last partner, the comically irresponsible Tariq, and the couple are ready for this next step.

Of course, if Gregory hadn’t struggled with balancing his three jobs throughout “Books” and “Karaoke,” the stakes for the pair moving in together would be a lot lower. Conflict is at the heart of comedy and drama alike, so for the pair’s future plans to have serious stakes, Abbott Elementary needed to put Gregory in a trickier position. It took three years of the pair working together before Gregory finally worked up the courage to ask Janine out, so he definitely needed a financial crisis to even consider the commitment of moving in together.

Abbott Elementary Continues To Prove Why It's An Acclaimed Sitcom Through Gregory's Story

The Mockumentary Balances Character Comedy and Social Satire Perfectly

Since Abbott Elementary’s worst character Mr. Morton infamously married a coworker only for this whirlwind romance to end in a messy divorce, it makes sense that Gregory and Janine want to take things slowly. However, it is clear to viewers that the show’s central couple is endgame and that their romance is as bulletproof as that of The Office’s Jim and Pam or New Girl’s Nick and Jess. As such, it makes sense for Abbott Elementary to force the cautious couple into living together, and the best way to do this is by challenging Gregory’s finances to breaking point.

Abbott Elementary season 4 continues the sitcom’s careful balancing act of blending social satire with some of the best sitcom relationships on TV.

This highlights Abbott Elementary’s skillful ability to blend relatable character comedy with real-life social commentary, as the show brings up a major issue like insufficient teacher pay in tandem with an emotionally charged storyline like Janine and Gregory moving in together. In doing so, Abbott Elementary makes what could seem like a dull political issue feel real. Thus, Abbott Elementary season 4 continues the sitcom’s careful balancing act of blending social satire with some of the best sitcom relationships on TV.

Source: The Hill

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