Brian Jordan Alvarez’s marketing techniques draw attention to the greatest show of the year.
“English Teacher” is the product of creator-star Brian Jordan Alvarez that made it on The New York Times’ list of the best shows of 2024. It frequently tackles controversial subjects, including gun violence and book bans. (FX Productions)
If your social media algorithm is similar to mine, it has been impossible to escape the inexplicably alluring dancing of Brian Jordan Alvarez. From the grocery store to the airport to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s Art+Film Gala, Alvarez delivers daily on his lip-synced profession of love accompanied by his signature dance to “Breathe” by Olly Alexander.
The video is always accompanied by a caption along the lines of “Stream English Teacher.” TikTok and Instagram viewers were captivated, and the most popular of Alvarez’s dance videos reached 11.3 million views on TikTok.
His marketing worked — at least, based on my personal experience. While I drove by the “English Teacher” billboard without thinking twice, the lyrics “What’s that supposed to be about, baby? / Go free up your vibe, stop acting crazy” permeated my brain until the only cure was to watch “English Teacher.”
I’m so glad I did.
Released at the beginning of September, “English Teacher” is an FX sitcom created by and starring Alvarez. The comedy follows Evan (Alvarez) as a — you guessed it — English teacher at an Austin, Texas high school. As with any sitcom, there is a wacky case of characters: the quirky and upbeat best friend (Stephanie Koenig), the gruff but ultimately lovable co-worker (Sean Patton) and the often useless boss (Enrico Colantoni).
The show also includes a gorgeous guest-starring role from drag icon and “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” season-three winner Trixie Mattel.
“English Teacher” is so incredible it even made it onto The New York Times’ annual list of best TV shows.
In a time where “The Bear” generates debates about distinguishing between comedy and dramedy, “English Teacher” manages to be purely funny throughout, even when grappling with the day-to-day issues in high schools.
When the other great school sitcom “Abbott Elementary” was gaining popularity, there were a few requests for creator and star Quinta Brunson to have an episode featuring a school shooting. Brunson rejected, telling Glamour, “I don’t want to open up my show to that political violence … I’m a huge advocate for eradicating gun violence in this country, but I don’t think my show has to carry that.”
This is not to say “Abbott Elementary” is superficial or not a topical show; with an overarching theme about the shortcomings of the United States education system specifically in low-income or predominantly underrepresented communities, “Abbott Elementary” has shone a light on issues in education many previously overlooked. Still, Brunson drew a line for her comedy.
“English Teacher” does confront gun violence, although not through a school shooting, but through the creation of a controversial school gun club. “English Teacher” does handle the extremely delicate topic sensitively, but it is still clear the main goal is comedy.
“We always want to write the show with empathy, and mostly we want to make you laugh,” Alvarez told The Hollywood Reporter about the episode.
It is incredibly difficult to take such a politically charged and tragic topic without losing the fact the show is a comedy first and foremost. Even when students deliver devastating lines about how “they are used to it,” their deadpan delivery still brings humor into the scene. Before any scene can get too emotionally laborious for the viewer, a joke about “antielectricity parents” or a silly ghost costume breaks it up.
“English Teacher” follows in the path of “The Good Place,” where you are challenged to think about your morals in a light-hearted show, but “English Teacher” may be even better in its comedic timing and quick jabs.
The sitcom does not stop at guns; “English Teacher” tackles topics such as homophobia and book bans. Evan is an openly gay teacher, and within the first five minutes of the pilot, controversy is already introduced: A mom reported Evan for kissing his then-boyfriend in front of students.
Throughout the show, even though Evan always has a clear stance on the issue of the episode, the opponent (whether it be the gun-touting leader of the school’s gun club or the homophobic mom) is given empathy for their values.
To be clear, the show is not excusing or justifying homophobia. It is instead understanding that there is room for people to grow past their bigotry. We are left with hope that the mom has a chance to learn; that she may reconnect with her son who has recently come out.
“The show isn’t mad at you. And it welcomes you,” Alvarez said. “It welcomes you to watch it and to think about it.”
The show and its controversial topics aren’t driven by anger, although that emotion may be present, but instead, it showcases a hopeful way forward. In general, the show unequivocally and unashamedly expresses queer identity, presents challenging ethical questions to its viewers and represents the challenges of modern teaching in a time where there are fears for the future of the Department of Education.
That being said, focusing too heavily on the show’s great ability of social commentary distracts from its best ability: being hilarious.
Kimberly Aguirre is a senior writing about comedy. Her column, “Comic Relief,” runs every other Tuesday. She is also the editor in chief of the Daily Trojan.
