Rapid Insights: English Teacher Rewrites the Rules of School-Based Comedies

Last week, FX released a hilariously provocative new comedy series that tackles hot-button issues through the lens of a dysfunctional public high school. Created by its star Brian Jordan Alvarez, the series focuses on the trials and tribulations of overwhelmed educators in an Austin, Texas suburb as they grapple with wily students, entitled parents, and modern-day issues like wokeness, social media, and red-vs-blue politics.

Here’s what you need to know about English Teacher:

Vault uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on specific KPIs: 
≤79 Disappointing  80-89 Challenging  90-109 Average  110-119 Promising  120+ Outstanding

How does this audience compare to other school-based series? 
It is gender-balanced. Other shows that focus on the inner workings of education often skew toward women, including Abbott Elementary, A.P. Bio, Glee, and A Teacher (all 61-69%); for English Teacher, however, we’re seeing a viewership that leans slightly to men (54%), placing it closest to outlandish dark comedy Vice Principals.

What about the show is most appealing? 
Its varied sense of humor. Its various jokes make up four separate top viewership drivers, from the miscommunications, generational differences, and Awkward & Funny Moments (136) between teachers and students, to the Sarcastic Humor (128) of its lead characters, to its biting satire of modern-day political topics and the overall education system (Topical Humor, 118; Satirical Humor, 116). English Teacher’s comedy helps buoy all four areas that are key to a show’s success: ratings, bingeability, social buzz, and longevity.

Why else are viewers tuning in? 
For a behind-the-scenes look at education. Just like Abbott Elementary, audiences appreciate English Teacher’s focus onWorkplace Dynamics (121) among Educators (121) in a School Setting (129), and its up-close-and-personal perspective on high school teachers struggling to deal with students, the curriculum, and each other is an important ratings driver.

What’s making the series so watchable? 
A diverse set of characters. The show’s titular English teacher is an LGBTQIA+ Protagonist (130) who loves his role as an educator but, among other frustrations, finds himself under investigation after kissing his boyfriend in front of the students. The show offers up his perspective as one of many unique takes on the complex culture clash that is high school today; the school’s students, parents, and other teachers similarly reflect a wide range of viewpoints (Cultural Diversity, 120) that play into the show’s satirical themes.

How’s the show’s social buzz?
Strong. Though its early August trailer release did not make many waves, online chatter shot to the top of our social buzz meter (maxing it out at 160) with the premiere of its first two episodes on September 2. Viewers are talking about its awkward comedic moments and diverse cast of zany characters.

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