Class Is in Session: Best Quotes From ABBOTT ELEMENTARY’s ‘Mural Arts’

Melody McCune

The school unveils a new mural featuring characters from the TV show "Silly Socks" in Abbott Elementary Season 2 Episode 17, "Mural Arts."

Another week, another quote-worthy Abbott Elementary episode. “Mural Arts” boasts the immense challenge of following up last week’s banger of an episode, “Teacher Conference.” While I don’t think there are as many memorable quotes this go-round, there are plenty of hilarious moments and delightful character beats. Additionally, the outing continues the charter school plot initiated in the previous episode. Ava (Janelle James) incessantly asking Gabe (Shwayze) if he can paint her home even though he’s a mural artist is hysterical. 

Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) contend with the fallout from their kiss, culminating in Janine breaking up with Maurice (Vince Staples) while Gregory is present. Meanwhile, Jacob (Chris Perfetti) secures a mural arts program for his students. Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) discover a circulating petition bolstered by parents that aims to turn Abbott into a charter school. 

Below, I’ve compiled a list of quotes (and moments around the quotes) I loved from this week’s episode of Abbott Elementary. Class is in session!

RELATED: Class Is in Session: Best Quotes From Abbott Elementary’s ‘Teacher Conference’

MR. JOHNSON: Of course. I’ve survived every trend — SpongeBobAdventure Time, Gangsta Looney Tunes. Now there’s a Silly Sock show. I speak fluent Sock. 

I love the idea of Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) keeping abreast of pop culture trends. Not only that, but how he “survived” every trend as if it were akin to a bona fide war. Our favorite master of the janitorial arts has seen it all on the animation front. He should add his fluency in Sock to his resume. 

Ava and Gabe stand in a classroom while chatting happily in Abbott Elementary Season 2 Episode 17, "Mural Arts."
ABBOTT ELEMENTARY – “Mural Arts” Season 2 Episode 17 – (ABC/Gilles Mingasson) JANELLE JAMES, SHWAYZE

JANINE: Is this seat taken? ‘Cause I can stand. It builds chair-acter. 

Listen, as a world-weary Granine shipper; I was simultaneously nervous and excited to watch how Janine and Gregory interacted post-conference kiss. Janine’s reliance on dad humor hits close to home. I laughed out loud after she blurted that out, coupled with Gregory’s knee-jerk reaction of guffawing uncharacteristically. Look at these awkward babies. And, yes, Janine, standing can build chair-acter. 

MR. JOHNSON: Legacy is important. That’s why my picture’s hanging on the Wall of Flame for eating 50 spicy chicken wings at Wing Bowl. … The only difference between that MJ and this MJ is I can hit a curveball. 

Mr. Johnson establishes his legacy as a man who can eat 50 spicy chicken wings during Wing Bowl. That’s the textbook definition of a legend. Good ole MJ gets a handful of hilarious quotes in “Mural Arts.” I love the idea that his referring to himself as “MJ” could mean his first name starts with “M” or that it stands for “Mr. Johnson.” Sorry, Michael Jordan. This man can hit a curveball. I was today years old when I learned Jordan had a brief baseball career. 

RELATED: Top 20 Episodes of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

JANINE: I’m going to go to Bone Town with Mo, and then I’m going to break up with him. … I figured if I got to do this, I might as well be full of meat and covered in sauce. 

“Going to Bone Town With Mo” could be the name of a sexy bedroom song. This scene featuring Janine and Gregory cracked me up. Initially, when Maurice mentions hitting up Bone Town for dinner, Janine believes he’s referring to sex. Gregory reacts similarly, proving he and Janine are soulmates. The “meat and cheese” line after she clarifies her comment is still dirty. So, so dirty. Genius writing. 

Melissa shows something on her phone to Barbara while they stand outside the principal's office in Abbott Elementary Season 2 Episode 17, "Mural Arts."
ABBOTT ELEMENTARY – “Mural Arts” Season 2 Episode 17 – (ABC/Gilles Mingasson) SHERYL LEE RALPH, LISA ANN WALTER

AVA: He was the first one to call Jacob “Squidward.” Consider Joshua re-enrolled. 

This quote boasts another SpongeBob SquarePants reference uttered by none other than Ava. I love that Ava’s prerequisite for re-enrolling a student is his invention of a hilarious insult directed at a teacher. Now, if we learn that Jacob plays the clarinet, we’ll know he really is a real-life Squidward. 

RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: Barbara Howard

MAURICE: Look, man, you can have my baby, but not my baby backs. 

If this line doesn’t make you think about that famous “Chili’s Baby Back Ribs” jingle from the ’90s and aughts, well, you’re probably younger than me. Vince Staples’ delivery, plus the cleverness of the line, made me chuckle. Baby back ribs are serious business, hence the somber tone he adopts. Also, it should be noted that Maurice kinda sorta gave Gregory and Janine his blessing. I’m 100 percent reading too much into it, but please, give me this.

Gregory sits in a chair and laughs while Janine stands in front of him and laughs with him in Abbott Elementary Season 2 Episode 17, "Mural Arts."
ABBOTT ELEMENTARY – “Mural Arts” Season 2 Episode 17 – (ABC/Gilles Mingasson) TYLER JAMES WILLIAMS, QUINTA BRUNSON

What are your favorite quotes from “Mural Arts”? Sound off in the comments below! 

Abbott Elementary airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on ABC, with next-day streaming on Hulu

https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/janine-teagues-abbott-elementary-quinta-brunson/

Melody McCune
Follow me!

Leave a Comment