After almost a month of waiting, the teachers and staff of Abbott Elementary are finally returning. The show’s long break is over, and ABC has set the official release date for the next new episode. Fans can mark their calendars for Wednesday, December 3, 2025. The episode will air in its regular time slot at 8:30 PM Eastern Time and Pacific Time. For viewers watching live on the East Coast, that means tuning in at 8:30 PM ET, while West Coast audiences can watch at 5:30 PM PT.
The new episode, titled “Goofgirl,” will bring the laughs back with stories focused on school clubs. This episode ends a four-week pause for the show, which last aired a new episode on November 5, 2025. If you miss the live broadcast, new episodes are available for streaming on Hulu the very next day, on Thursday.
Official Release Schedule and Where to Watch
The confirmation of the December 3rd date ends weeks of uncertainty for viewers. The break began after the sixth episode of the season, “No Phones,” aired on November 5th. During the following weeks of November 12th, 19th, and 26th, ABC filled the 8:30 PM time slot with other programming. This included the season finale of The Golden Bachelor and the 59th Annual CMA Awards.
The release pattern for this season means new episodes will air for two consecutive weeks in December before another break. Following “Goofgirl” on December 3rd, a holiday-themed episode titled “Birthday” is scheduled for December 10, 2025. After that, the show will go on its planned winter hiatus. The current plan is for the season to resume with its ninth episode on January 7, 2026.
For viewers who stream the show, Hulu remains the exclusive streaming home for new episodes. Episodes are typically available on the platform at 3:00 AM ET / 12:00 AM PT on the Thursday following the Wednesday night ABC broadcast.
What Happens in Episode 7 “Goofgirl”
The upcoming episode dives into the competitive and often funny world of after-school clubs at Abbott Elementary. The main story follows Gregory Eddie (played by Tyler James Williams) as his gardening club gets a surprise new member. The club, known as the Garden Goofballs, is a space Gregory cherishes. The official description for the episode states: “A new member joins Gregory’s Garden Goofballs”.
Sources indicate that the enthusiastic new member is none other than fellow teacher Jacob Hill (Chris Perfetti). Jacob’s eagerness to join the student gardening group is likely to clash with Gregory’s more reserved approach to running the club.
At the same time, Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson) is pursuing her own club ambitions. In a previous episode, “Camping,” Janine mentioned to Gregory that she wanted to start her own club at the school. In “Goofgirl,” she takes the next step by pitching a new club idea to Principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James). Given that Ava has taken over the school’s step team in the past and Janine’s fashion sense has been a joke between them, getting approval may not be easy.
The Full Cast Returns for New Adventures
The seventh episode will feature the show’s full main cast, ensuring all the beloved characters are part of the story. This includes:
- Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues
- Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie
- Janelle James as Ava Coleman
- Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard
- Chris Perfetti as Jacob Hill
- Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti
- William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson
The series, created by and starring Quinta Brunson, is a mockumentary-style comedy that follows the daily lives of teachers at an underfunded public school in Philadelphia.
Fan Reaction to the Mid-Season Break
The announcement of a several-week break so early in the season took some fans by surprise. When the show’s official Instagram account posted about the hiatus in early November, many followers shared their thoughts in the comments.
One viewer expressed their disappointment, writing, “What am i supposed to do for 3 weeks 💔”. Another comment highlighted the unusual timing, noting, “The season just started?! What the heck? No school break is 3 weeks long 😡”. The show’s social media post on November 1st had announced, “Following this Wednesday, classes will resume in December. Enjoy your break and stream #AbbottElementary on Hulu!”.
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Looking Ahead: More Episodes Before Winter Break
With the return on December 3rd, the show is entering a brief two-episode run before the winter hiatus. The season has a full order of 22 episodes, so after the December break, there will be many more stories to tell in 2026. Following Episode 8, “Birthday,” on December 10th, the current schedule shows the season returning on January 7, 2026.
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