Abbott Elementary season 6, episode 6, opens with Mr. Johnson collecting a pile of leaves in front of the school. He offers to let the Abbott crew jump into the pile...for a price, of course. Only Jacob and Janine take him up on his offer, despite injuring themselves in the process. However, the childhood nostalgia doesn't last for long when they realize they're not alone. A skunk is enjoying the beautiful benefits of autumn right alongside them.
Inside, Ava pulls the step team out of class to rehearse before the big show. If they win, they'll get a trip to Disneyland, so they have to get it right.
Barbara interrupts practice to collect a parking pass from Ava. She volunteered to work as an aide for the dancing competition and is excited to see her students compete. The step team? Not as enthusiastic. According to Ava, they don't think anyone believes in them because there was a time when their own principal didn't. To lift their spirits, Barbara recommends that Ava talk to Janine.
In the teachers' lounge, Melissa tells Gregory she got him a Saturday reservation at a restaurant called Disotto's. Gregory loves the idea, except he might be out of $500 by the end of the night. That said, he reassures himself that it will all be worth it when he and Janine are engaged.
Just then, Jacob walks in and sees that Gregory is "glowing." Melissa tells Jacob that Gregory's going to propose the following night at Dissoto's, and he quite literally screeches with joy. He wishes he could be there, but Gregory makes it clear that he's not invited.
Janine tries to stay positive
Ava interrupts Janine's class to ask her to give the team a dose of her "toxic positivity." For a second, Janine hesitates because she's trying to keep her weekends open for Gregory's upcoming proposal. But that quickly changes when Ava says she and the team need her. An ecstatic Janine then agrees to help. She stops by the library to tell Gregory she'll be busy on Saturday and hints that he has plans for them. But he plays coy. Instead, Gregory says he'll go with her to the competition.
The following day, Barbara checks in as a volunteer at the step competition, only to find Tariq doing the same. She asks him what he's doing there, and he says he volunteers full-time. According to Tariq, no one pays him to do anything.
Backstage, Ava notices how good the other teams look and asks Janine to give Abbott's step team a pep talk. She tells them to remember that no one is perfect and to be themselves. The positivity motivates the girls until one of them, Naveah, gets injured during their practice.
With their best dancer out, the team grows agitated. To make matters worse, Jacob and his podcast crew arrive and request an interview. But Ava and Janine shoo them away. Jacob thinks that a massive cover-up is happening behind the scenes. According to him, this could be their Watergate.
Meanwhile, Tariq helps audience members find their seats...in his own unique way. Barbara isn't a fan and questions Tariq about the email blast he sent to Abbott's PTA group asking them to attend the step competition. Unfortunately, Tariq sent the email to Paul Thomas Anderson instead of the school's PTA. He makes sure to send it to the right group this time, but Barbara notes that it may be too late.
The step competition takes a dramatic turn
Melissa and Gregory take their seats, while Gregory expresses his concern about his dinner reservation. He wants to move it, but Melissa warns that Disotto reservations are hard to come by. After they finish talking, a man comes by and sits in the seat next to Melissa. She asks him to move over, but he refuses. Not one to back down, Melissa grunts in disapproval.
Backstage, a doctor wraps Naveah's leg while Janine tries to lift their spirits. She gives the team a mismatched speech of encouraging phrases, with Ava's commentary in the background. However, the team doesn't respond well to her positive outlook.
At the same time, Gregory calls Disotto's to reschedule his reservation. The only problem? The waiter on the other end of the line doesn't speak English. Gregory tries using a stereotypical Italian accent, but the waiter hangs up.
Meanwhile, Melissa and her annoying seat partner battle to see who leaves first. It might just be Melissa.
While Gregory struggles with his reservation, the step team watches their competition take the stage. Unfortunately, this only makes the Abbott students feel worse. To cheer them up, Janine checks if the PTA group has arrived. But Tariq tells her that they are still on their way. To stall, he volunteers to get on stage and sing the national anthem, but Barbara says that's a terrible idea. She'll do it instead.
Abbott shows up and shows out
Thankfully, Abbott's PTA group shows up just in time to save Barbara and Tariq from turning the step competition into their personal concert.
Meanwhile, Gregory and Melissa exchange tasks. While Melissa reschedules his reservation, Gregory gets her annoying seat companion to leave.
Backstage, the step team tells the Abbott crew that they don't think they'll win. Janine tries to inspire them, but Mr. Johnson stops her. The team doesn't need a pep talk; they need a swift kick in the butt. And who better to give them that than Ava?
Motivated by Ava's wartime speech, the group takes the stage and goes extremely well. Offstage, Tariq and Barbara agree that they make a good team. However, the moment takes a weird turn when Tariq leans in for a kiss, much to Barbara's shock and disgust.
Jacob and his podcast team are on the scene to report the good news when the step team wins the competition. They're going to Disneyland!
Afterwards, Melissa tells Gregory that she was able to reschedule his reservation at Disotto's. The only problem is that Janine signed the couple up to chaperone the Disneyland trip...on the same day as their new reservation.
Disneyland proposal anyone?
Abbott Elementary airs every Wednesday at 8:30/7:30c on ABC.
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