Are Janine and Gregory End Game? All About 'Abbott' Season 3

The will-they-won't-they continues.

Get your pencils sharpened and your backpacks zipped, because ABC’s smash hit Abbott Elementary is set to return for a Season 3. No back-to-school blues here—fans of the series can’t wait for class to be in session.

The show, created by Quinta Brunson, centers on Janine Teagues (Brunson), a second-grade teacher at the fictional Philadelphia public school Abbott Elementary who’s determined to make a difference.

As she navigates life as a teacher at Abbott, Janine faces many challenges and gets support—and a fair share of mocking—from the rest of the staff, including wise kindergarten teacher Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph), totally unqualified Principal Ava (Janelle James), goofy history teacher Jacob (Chris Perfetti) and tough teacher Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter). She also has a close friendship and very shippable will-they-won’t-they dynamic with fellow teacher Gregory (Tyler James Williams).

Related: Find Out Quinta Brunson's Favorite Place

Abbott Elementary was an instant hit among critics and audiences alike. Season 1 was nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards and won in three categories, including Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy.

So what’s on the curriculum for Season 3 of Abbott Elementary? Listen up!

Is there a Season 3 of Abbott Elementary?

Yes, there will be a Season 3 of Abbott Elementary. The renewal was announced at ABC’s Television Critics Association panel in January. Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group, called the renewal “richly deserved,” stating, “Abbott Elementary is the gift that keeps on giving, and I look forward to many more magnificent episodes of this brilliant, authentic, and just plain funny series.”

Do Janine and Gregory get together at the end of Season 2 of Abbott Elementary?

Janine and Gregory shippers got a victory when the pair finally kissed at the PESCA conference in Season 2, Episode 16. But the will-they-won't-they couple did not get together in the Season 2 finale.

Here's what happened: At an overnight field trip at The Franklin Institute, Gregory admits to Janine—at Jacob's encouragement—that he has feelings for her. The moment is interrupted when the kids spot Barbara wearing her CPAP machine and flip out because they think she's an alien. But eventually, Janine and Gregory have more time to talk and she's able to tell him how she feels. "I like you too," she says. "Like, a lot."

Alas, she says she doesn't want to move forward with a romantic relationship because she doesn't want to hurt Gregory and ruin what they have. Would she have made the same decision had her ex Maurice not called her "selfish" earlier in the day? Who knows. Only time will tell if Janine and Gregory are end game.

"She’s maturing, he’s maturing," Brunson said in a post-finale interview with TV Line. "We wanted that mature path to continue for them both as individuals. I kind of want the characters to be able to grow a little bit more as individuals, so we can see where they land."

Co-showrunner Justin Halpern echoed that sentiment earlier, in an interview with The Wrap. “We first focus on each individual character and then we’ll constantly be looking at, ‘OK, well, what would actually happen if they were in this position at this point in the season?’”

“So we don’t look at it as, ‘When are we going to get these two together or not get them together?’ We look at it as, ‘Hey, let’s really pay attention to the characters and grow the characters,’ so that when we make whatever decision we make, you as an audience believe it and feel like it’s real.”

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Who is cast in Abbott Elementary Season 3?

It’s highly likely that the majority of the cast will return for Abbott Elementary Season 3, including:

Quinta Brunson (Janine Teagues)

Brunson stars as Janine, a sweet, determined second-grade teacher at Abbott Elementary who often gets in over her head. She is also the creator of the series and is an executive producer and writer. Prior to Abbott, Brunson starred in the HBO sketch comedy series A Black Lady Sketch Show. She is also known for her video career at BuzzFeed. For Abbott Elementary, Brunson won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series; she is also the first Black woman to be nominated three times in the comedy category in a single year.

Tyler James Williams (Gregory Eddie)

Williams plays Gregory, a substitute teacher who goes full-time at Abbott after being rejected from the job of principal; he has a crush on Janine. He is best known for starring as Chris Rock on Everybody Hates Chris. He also played Noah on The Walking Dead and has had lead roles in films such as Let it Shine and Dear White People. His performance as Gregory was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Janelle James (Ava Coleman)

James plays Ava, the wisecracking and very unqualified school principal. Outside of Abbott, James is known for her comedy and career as a writer on shows such as Black Monday and Central Park. For her role as Ava, she was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

Lisa Ann Walter (Melissa Schemmenti)

Walter plays Schemmenti, a tough, opinionated teacher at Abbott and a close friend of Barbara’s. She is best known for playing Chessy in The Parent Trap. She's also been a standup comedian, talk show host and reality TV judge.

Sheryl Lee Ralph (Barbara Howard)

Ralph plays Barbara, a kindergarten teacher who has many years of experience and wisdom under her belt. Some highlights of her long film, television and stage career include playing Deena in the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, Dee in the sitcom Moesha, President Kelly in Motherland: Fort Salem and Madame Morrible in the Broadway musical Wicked. She was nominated for a Tony Award for her Dreamgirls performance. For her performance as Barbara, she won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, becoming the first Black woman in 35 years to win in that category.

Chris Perfetti (Jacob Hill)

Perfetti plays Jacob, an awkward, lovable gay history teacher who prides himself on trying to do the right thing, but can’t always read the room. He is known for his roles as Tim on Crossbones, Brady on Looking and Ben on In the Dark. Perfetti was nominated for a Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance as Jacob.

William Stanford Davis (Mr. Johnson)

Davis plays Mr. Johnson, the school’s quirky custodian. He is known for his roles as Potato Pie on Ray Donovan and Coach Max on Swagger. Williams was nominated for an NAACP Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance as Mr. Johnson (he lost to Tyler James Williams!).

Other possible returning actors and guest stars include Zack Fox as Janine’s ex-boyfriend Tariq Temple, Naté Jones as Gregory’s ex-girlfriend Amber, Larry Owens as Jacob’s boyfriend Zach, Lauren Weedman as Melissa’s sister Kristin Marie Schemmenti, Keyla Monterroso Mejia as Melissa’s classroom aide Ashley Garcia, Ayo Edebiri as Janine’s sister, Ayesha Teagues, and Taraji P. Henson as Janine’s mother, Vanetta Teagues.

What is the Abbott Elementary Season 3 release date?

ABC has not yet announced a release date for Season 3. Season 1 ran from December 2021 to April 2022. Season 2 premiered September 2022 and will end April 2023. Season 3 is likely to premiere in the last quarter of 2023.

Has Abbott Elementary started shooting Season 3?

Neither ABC nor the cast has not announced that filming has begun.

How many episodes are in Abbott Elementary Season 3?

We don’t know yet how many episodes are in Season 3. Season 2 was 22 episodes (upped from 13 episodes in Season 1), and there’s a good chance Season 3 will match that number.

How to watch Abbott Elementary Season 3

Season 3 of Abbott Elementary will air on ABC, with episodes available to stream on Hulu the next day.

Is there an Abbott Elementary Season 3 trailer?

There is no trailer yet for Season 3 of Abbott Elementary. Expect one from ABC when we get closer to the season premiere!

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