This article contains SPOILERS for Abbott Elementary.Abbott Elementary is one of the most popular modern comedies on the air, but the secret to its success lies in its great characters. However Abbott ElementaryThe main cast of characters are incredibly talented and notable in their own right, sometimes a secondary character steals the show and leaves a huge impact on viewers. Abbott Elementary Season 4's ratings were won largely by the show's witty writing, but it's the characters that make the sitcom's storytelling so effective.
The character roster continues to expand as more episodes are released, with Abbott Elementary Season 4 featuring Ava's father, Jacob's brother, Melissa's mother and others. to add to your supporting cast list. Regardless of how many scenes a character has, their role in the series cannot be underestimated. For every character that is present in an episode, there are ten people waiting for them to return. Some of the best secondary characters in Abbott Elementaryhowever, they have been around for some time.
10
Mr.
Jerry Minor
Morton, a science teacher at Abbott, first appears in Season 2, Episode 8 (“Egg Drop”). Although he initially appeared to be a stern academic Abbott Elementary slowly revealed the absurdity of Morton's character. Fellow professor Jacob Hill (Chris Perfetti) mentions Morton more often than the on-screen character, due to an inexplicable antagonism between the two. Every time Morton is involved, Abbott Elementary continues to let his character spiral and display his erratic behavior.
What makes Morton such a great character is his ability to arouse strong negative emotions in the audience. He's the kind of character people love to hate, and Abbott Elementary don't run away from it. The best sitcom rivalries sometimes become so popular that they become ubiquitous on the show, and the strange hatred between Morton and Jacob only gets more entertaining with time.
9
Gary
Bruno Amato
Gary, an Abbott vending machine operator, first appeared in Season 1, Episode 6 (“Gifted Program”). His obvious crush on Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter) made him an instant favorite, with his sweet flirtation backed by a genuine interest in her as a person. The two began dating, quickly establishing themselves as one of the best couples in the world. Abbott Elementary. Unfortunately, Melissa and Gary broke up in season 3 after a failed proposal.
Despite no longer appearing in the series, Gary's presence is still remembered fondly. He brought a much-needed kindness to the show, and his love for Melissa revealed a hidden depth to his character. Although Melissa is still a tough and serious person, her relationship with Gary showed a softer side that often goes unnoticed. Gary had to leave eventually, but everything he left behind made Abbott Elementary to improve.
8
Kristin Marie Schemmenti
Lauren Weedman
Kristin Marie Schemmenti, Melissa's previously estranged sister, first appears in episode 2 of season 2 (“Wrong Delivery”). Working at a rival school and harboring an old grudge involving family recipes, Kristin Marie was immediately a perfect addition to the show that grew out of Melissa's extreme, almost cartoonish, experience as an Italian-American. The Schemmenti family has continued to grow since the introduction of Kristin Marie, with Abbott Elementary Season 4 adding Melissa's mother in episode 8.
In addition to Lauren Weedman's incredible comedic instincts, Kristin Marie's character always adds a sense of levity to the scene. From the touching moment she and Melissa reconnect after fighting a common enemy to the way she insults Janine's height with a deadpan expression, Kristin Marie is always a delight. Her closeness to Melissa also provides endless opportunities for more Kristin Marie appearances in future episodes.
7
Ayesha Teagues
Ayo Edebiri
Ayesha Teagues, Janine's (Quinta Brunson) younger sister, first appears via video call in season 2, episode 14 (“Valentine's Day”). The total antithesis of Janine's cheerful disposition, Ayesha offers an interesting contrast that reveals the true extent of Janine's difficult childhood. Their mother often fought with Ayesha, which led her to move to Colorado to escape the tension. When she visits Janine, the awkwardness builds until the sisters have a bitter confrontation that results in Ayesha admitting that she felt like everyone compared her to Janine and thought she was deficient.
The addition of Ayesha's character allowed Abbott Elementary to explore a more serious aspect of Janine's character and show her in a negative light. Although many TV shows highlight the bonds between siblings, Abbott Elementary let your more positive, optimistic character harbor a touching detachment. The unexpected revelation that both sisters have been comparing themselves to each other opens up a new opportunity for Janine to step forward and succeed where her mother failed. And of course, any chance of Ayo Edebiri's wonderful return would be a gift.
6
Manny Rivera
Josh Segarra
Manny Rivera, an employee of the Philadelphia school district, first appears in season 3, episodes 1-2 (“Career Day”). After accompanying Abbott during the day, Manny took a professional interest in Janine and began the story of the third season of work in the district. Although he initially appeared to be a potential romantic rival for Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams), Manny remained respectful and aware of Janine's boundaries after his first advance was rejected.
Every time Manny appears in Abbott Elementaryhis infectious energy lights up the scene. After Janine resigned from the district and returned to Abbott, Manny's absence was immediately felt. Manny returned briefly Abbott Elementary Season 4 to help Ava, proving that her lovable character can return whenever she needs to interact with the district. His dedication to improving Philadelphia's schools makes him a credible character to include in future overarching stories.
5
Caleb Hill
Tyler Pérez
Caleb Hill, Jacob's younger brother, first appears in Abbott Elementary episode 7 of season 4 (“Winter Show”). Similar to Ayesha, Caleb seems to be the complete opposite of Jacob, creating tension. Similar to Janine, Jacob holds a grudge against his brother because of their parents. However, everything Jacob thinks about Caleb turns out to be wrong throughout the episode, forcing Jacob to take on the role of villain after a misunderstanding causes him to explode. After a sincere apology, the brothers reconcile.
Despite having only appeared in two episodes so far, Caleb has already left his mark Abbott Elementary. His easy charm and penchant for calling people “little baby” make him a bold addition to the supporting cast, but his physical distance restricts how often he can appear in future episodes. Caleb's presence provided a rare and much-needed glimpse into Jacob's personal life, so here's hoping Tyler Perez doesn't disappear completely.
4
Miss Ines
Summer Cree
Miss Inez, the Abbott librarian, first appears in season 3, episode 7 (“Librarian”). His addition to the cast offered a new dynamic for Abbott Elementarywith Miss Inez breaking the tradition of teachers taking books and filling the library at random. Inez's sense of professionalism and structure irritated Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph), but her commitment to tradition eventually gave way to her commitment to education when she realized that Inez improved the school.
Inez's effect on Bárbara provided one of the most moving moments in Abbott Elementarybut his character goes beyond being a harbinger of change. The Librarian reestablishes the central focus of the series, which is often forgotten because of the interesting character dynamics and personal stories: Abbott Elementary It is first and foremost about educators. Miss Inez and the library thrive in elementary school, cultivating a nostalgic sense of comfort from reading children's books with silly voices to her unique sense of style, two essential characteristics of a successful librarian.
3
Tariq Temple
Zack Raposa
Tariq, Janine's ex-boyfriend, first appears in season 1, episode 2 (“Electric lamp”). Tariq's role in Abbott Elementary evolved over time, becoming more unlikely and ridiculous with each new appearance. Tariq started out as a completely mismatched match for Janine, with the pair beginning their relationship in 8th grade. From their first appearance, it was obvious that the two had outgrown each other, but Tariq seemed financially dependent on Janine. After the inevitable split, Tariq goes from educational rap to a core member of Abbott's PTA, despite not having a child.
While some characters are remembered for their emotional depth or complicated relationships with the main cast, Tariq is nothing more than pure comic relief. He frequently abandons pop culture one-liners, does bad freestyles whenever possible, and canonically has a credit score of 380. His character's irresponsibility could have made him an antagonist in Abbott Elementarybut there's an endearing twist to Tariq's incompetence that makes him a fan favorite.
2
Shanae
Nikea Gamby-Turner
Shanae, an employee at Abbott's coffee shop, first appears in season 1, episode 2 (“Electric lamp”). Her rare appearance always adds a refreshing level of self-awareness to the show, as does her obvious annoyance at Janine spontaneously deciding “help” with lunch (which only gets in the way of real snack bars). Shanae being so far removed from the absurdity of the show only works because of how well Abbott Elementary revived the mockumentary genre. His facial expressions and less than amusing attitude towards the main cast are a hilarious extension of the heartfelt format.
Shanae's tendency to give her raw, unfiltered opinion is a welcome challenge to the naïve positivity often promoted by Janine. Although everyone works toward the same common goal, Shanae helps push others out of their comfort zone and better empathize with her coworkers. Shanae helps Gregory learn how to handle small talk, confronts Ava (Janelle James) with seriously forgotten issues in the cafeteria, and still tries to serve the students as best she can amid the wild misadventures of Abbott Elementary.
1
Erika
Courtney Taylor
Erika, Janine's best friend, first appears in episode 6 of season 2 (“Sweet Zombies”). After Janine and Tariq break up, Erika decides to comfort Janine by inviting her to a Halloween party. After realizing she gave up most of their mutual friends during the breakup, Janine accepts. Long before Janine and Gregory's romance was resolved in Abbott Elementary In season three, Erika pressured Janine to follow her feelings for Gregory. Their friendship continued to blossom, with Erika quickly becoming Janine's best friend outside of work.
Erika appreciates Janine for who she is, while encouraging her to be brave and make changes to be a more confident and independent person. Even when Janine isn't sure what the best course of action is, she lets Erika motivate her and give her advice. Erika is the healthiest platonic relationship in Janine's life, but her kind spirit lights up the entire show. She is a shining example of how wonderful Abbott Elementary Secondary characters can be, and every time she's mentioned it's a joy.