Another week, another hilarious Abbott Elementary episode. Season 4 Episode 11, “Strike,” reminds us that teachers are superheroes. When the bus drivers strike to fight for the fair pay they deserve, the teachers go above and beyond to help their students. Janine even drives a party bus that blasts “Fergalicious.” I now feel my school bus experience was deprived of such an iconic track.
Below, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite quotes from “Strike.” Class is in session!
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Never Answer
MELISSA: “I don’t answer calls from numbers I don’t know. Or numbers I do know.”
This is one of the most relatable quotes I’ve heard on this show. Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) is a woman after my own heart. I, too, avoid answering the phone like the plague, although sometimes it’s a necessary evil. If I had my way, we would only communicate via texts (and I would anxiously try to avoid those, too).
How does Melissa contact her “guys” when she needs something done discreetly? Carrier pigeon?

AVA: “I hate bosses. That’s why I became a principal, so I don’t have any.”
GREGORY: “You have bosses.”
AVA: “Point to them.”
Seriously, Gregory (Tyler James Williams). Are the bosses in the room with us now? Ava (Janelle James) legally has her superiors, but in reality, she answers to no one. It’s an out-of-sight, out-of-mind thing.
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Clean at Home
MR. JOHNSON: “I plan on spending the rest of the day remote cleaning.”
Since “Strike” deals with remote learning, this quote from Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) made me giggle. Mostly because I tried imagining what “remote cleaning” would look like. Did Mr. Johnson go home and clean his house while on Zoom? Or did he clean the various TV remotes stashed around his house?

O’SHON: “I’m working on upgrading the routers and putting in range extenders. Although, it seems like your router is already in great shape.”
AVA: “Everything about me is.”
If you’ll allow me to be materialistic for a moment — Abbott Elementary never fails to bless us with beautiful men. O’Shon (Matthew Law) is no exception. I’m digging this slow burn between him and Ava. Eventually, she’ll see the light. As for the above exchange, Ava’s always armed with a rapid-fire, quick-witted reply.
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Move, Milk…
JANINE: “She can be the sun and the moon and the planets. She just can’t be the Milky Way because she’s lactose intolerant. Which I can relate because, uh, Milky Way? More like milk, get out of my way. Right?”
Janine (Quinta Brunson) is so adorably awkward, and this aspect of her character resonates with me on a profound level. I’m also a Non-Dairy Queen. I love this quote because of Brunson’s delivery. It also radiates big dad joke energy. I can imagine my dad saying this and cracking himself up.
What are your favorite quotes from “Strike”? Sound off in the comments below.
Abbott Elementary releases new episodes every Wednesday at 8:30 pm EST on ABC, with next-day streaming on Hulu.
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