Which English Teacher Character Are You?

Learn More About English Teacher

English Teacher premiered on FX in September 2024, created by, written by, and starring Brian Jordan Alvarez as Evan Marquez, a gay English teacher at the fictional Morrison-Hensley High School in Austin, Texas. The show quickly earned a reputation as one of the sharpest, funniest new sitcoms in years, praised for tackling the modern culture wars around identity, politics, and workplace etiquette without ever feeling like a lecture.

The premise follows Evan as he navigates the day-to-day absurdities of teaching in a school where every small decision — what to wear, what to say, who to date — can spiral into a district-wide controversy. Alvarez, who first built a following through viral internet sketches and the web series Gay Boyfriend, brings the same rapid-fire, self-aware comic energy to Evan, a character who is deeply well-intentioned but often his own worst enemy.

Evan's best friend and fellow teacher Gwen Sanders, played by Stephanie Koenig, provides much of the show's warmth. Gwen teaches history, considers herself Evan's biggest supporter, and is far less concerned with being right than with having a good time and standing by her friends. Her chaotic energy plays off Evan's anxious idealism perfectly, and the two share some of the show's best comic chemistry.

Rounding out the faculty are Markie Hillridge, the school's supremely confident gym teacher and self-styled alpha male, played by Sean Patton, and Rick, the terminally checked-out guidance counselor played by Carmen Christopher, who would rather hang out with the teachers than do any actual counseling. Enrico Colantoni plays Principal Grant Moretti, the school's perpetually exhausted administrator, who spends most of his time trying to stay neutral on every issue while quietly caring about the people in his building more than he'll admit.

Much of English Teacher's humor comes from how quickly ordinary situations spiral into full-blown scandals, fueled by group chats, parent complaints, and social media, all filtered through Evan's tendency to make everything about a bigger principle. The show has been praised by critics for finding real, specific comedy in the anxieties of modern institutional life, from HR meetings to school board politics, without turning any single character into a punchline.

Season 2 continued to expand the show's world, giving more screen time to the supporting cast while keeping Evan's earnest, occasionally reckless idealism at the center. Despite strong reviews and a loyal audience, FX opted not to move forward with a third season, closing the book on Morrison-Hensley High after two seasons.

Even in its short run, English Teacher carved out a distinct comedic voice: silly, specific, and unafraid of contradiction, treating its characters — however ridiculous their choices — with real affection.