Abbott Elementary star Tyler James Williams casts doubt on whether Gregory and Janine will actually get together. Created by Quinta Brunson, who also leads the series as Janine, the comedy premiered in December 2021 on ABC and quickly became a success with audiences and critics. The story is told in the style of a mockumentary, centering around a group of teachers – and the hilariously blunt principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James) – doing their jobs despite being drastically underfunded and lacking in important resources and facilities.
Sweeping the Emmy Awards, with a win in the Outstanding Comedy Series category, the key to Abbott Elementary has been the dynamics between its characters. Some, like the friendship between Melissa and Barbara, have been in place for years. Others, like the reluctant bond between Jacob (Chris Perfetti) and Gregory (Williams), are taking more time to grow. But there is one relationship, between Janine and Gregory, that has garnered a lot of attention from fans.
In an interview on The Late Late Show with James Corden, James promoted Abbott Elementary season 2 and discussed whether Gregory and Janine will eventually become a couple. The Emmy-nominated said that, contrary to popular opinion, Brunson hasn't decided yet if the characters get together or not. Williams also said that the question depends on how long the series ultimately lasts:
It depends how long they want us to go. I can confirm this—that Quinta has not made a decision about ‘will they or won’t they?’ I think everyone assumes that it’s a ‘will they?’, that they will eventually, but she is just like… ‘I’m not positive they’ll go that way.’
Why Janine & Gregory Probably Will Get Together Eventually
Even though the Abbott Elementary cast has largely been reluctant to make any definitive claims about the future of Gregory and Janine, it's hard to imagine the show avoiding the pairing for the entirety of its run. The comedy continues to build their chemistry, though that's often done through lingering looks and relatively brief scenes, and it implicitly points to some sort of eventual payoff. Even if the two teachers don't live happily ever after, which is a possible outcome, given the show's realistic outlook, it's likely that they'll at least test things out.
For all of the comparisons between Abbott Elementary and The Office, many of which are only surface-level, there is a certain Jim & Pam quality to the Janine and Gregory moments. The mockumentary setup allows audiences a window into the fact that Janine and Gregory do pine for each other, sneaking glances and leaving whole sentences unsaid when they think the other isn't noticing. Even if it won't happen in the next run of episodes, some sort of resolution is inevitable as the series progresses.