It’s already clear that Abbott Elementary is one of the best comedies of 2022. With its eccentric cast of characters and its feel-good atmosphere, it’s the type of series designed to appeal to those who want an old-fashioned sitcom that still manages to address pressing social issues (in this case, the underfunding of education).
A major part of the show's appeal stems from its delightful cast of characters, so it's’ worth taking a look at the people who inhabit this series’ world in order to determine which ones qualify as the most likable.
Mr. Johnson
One of the markers of a great sitcom series is its ability to create compelling and interesting secondary characters, and Abbott Elementary is no exception. While it’s obviously the teachers who demand the lion’s share of the attention and occupy the center of the series’ stories, Mr. Johnson is a very likable character, even if he does tend to be a bit more cynical and hard-edged than some of the other characters who appear. What’s more, he also does seem to have a genuine liking for the students that go to the school, which is something not every teacher can say.
Tariq
Janine’s boyfriend is another character that appears fairly frequently. On the one hand, it seems clear that he isn’t going to be regarded as one of the best boyfriends in television, in large part because he just seems so incompatible with Janine and what she wants out of life. However, it also has to be said that he’s a nice guy, and he seems to really care about Janine.
What’s more, he also shows that he has some skill as a rapper, and he develops a genuine rapport with the students that go to Abbott Elementary.
Gregory
For quite a while, it seemed as if Gregory was going to remain something of an enigma. As a substitute teacher, he seems to lack the same amount of investment in the school and its students as some of his fellow teachers. Very quickly, however, he has shown that he has a genuinely good heart and that he is, at the base of his personality, a very likable personality. Whether it’s making sure that Gregory’s and Barbara’s garden actually managed to grow something rather than dying or offering to Janine, he’s clearly someone who cares about others.
Melissa
Of all of the teachers that appear in the show, Melissa is on the surface the most prickly. She is definitely someone who has a low tolerance for fools, and it can be somewhat surprising that she gets on so well with the other of the staff. As with the other people that work at Abbott Elementary, however, it’s very clear that she loves what she does and that she is devoted to the students that have been given into her care. What’s more, she also shows that she has a softer side to her as well, making her quite likable.
Barbara
Like Melissa, Barbara is someone who doesn’t suffer fools gladly, and she takes a very pragmatic approach to education. Unlike, for example, Janine, she doesn’t want to give in to an optimism that she feels won’t be rewarded. At the same time, however, she does really value her students, and she wants what’s best for them.
While she may not always be especially receptive to Janine’s attempts to make friends with her, she still shows that she is remarkably likable and comionate, as she shows when she takes Greg under her wing.
Ava
There have been many great principals in television, and Ava is sure to be seen as one of those. However, it’s not because she is especially good at her job, because in fact she is quite bad at it, often sacrificing the interests of her students for her own benefit. Nevertheless, there is something about Ava that keeps her from being unlikable, and this may be due to the fact that she is so simply and apologetically who she is, without any apologies. The fact that she is willing and able to take care of an elderly relative adds a further layer of likability.
Jacob
This is something of a golden age for LGBT representation in television, and that’s what makes Jacob such an extraordinary character. In fact, it’s not even reveled that he’s gay until relatively late in the season. Like the other teachers, he cares very deeply about his students, and he does everything that he can to make sure that they receive the best education that he can give them. What’s more, he seems to genuinely care about Janine, and the innate sense of kindness that he exudes means that he is without question one of the most likable characters in the show.
Janine
Janine will surely go down as one of the best teachers to have appeared in television. She is almost overflowing with enthusiasm for her job, and she cares deeply and ionately about her students and her well-being. Even though her enthusiasm can sometimes work to her own detriment, there’s no question that she is still someone who makes Abbott Elementary better by just being there. Just as importantly, however, she also shows that she is willing to take advice from others whenever her own approach to an issue or a student proves to be ineffective.