Creator/Star Brian Jordan Alvarez on 'The English Teacher' – 'It Feels Very Real'

A few years ago, out actor, comedian, and writer Brian Jordan Alvarez had pretty much put writing and being a creator on hold to pursue acting jobs. As a performer, he is best-known for three seasons on "Will & Grace" (2018-2020) where he played Estéfan Gloria, as well as a featured role in the 2022 horror hit "M3GAN." But it was his original work on web series and on social media that made him well-known, which led him to receive a call from producer and writer Paul Simms ("Atlanta") to work on a project together. At the time, Alvarez had his role in "M3GAN" coming up and was looking to focus on acting. But Simms pushed him to create a project together. "It was a very moving thing. It's what you always want in life – somebody coming to you and saying, 'Hey, I know that you maybe don't feel like you can do it, but you can do it, and I believe in you.' It's a powerful thing and he's a special person to have," Alvarez told GLAAD in a recent interview.

What they came up with is "The English Teacher," the runaway hit that is opening a new chapter in Alvarez's career. In the series, Alvarez plays Evan Marquez, a gay high school teacher in Austin, Texas. "As one of the most progressive people in a liberal-leaning but mostly conservative school, he is on a comedic battleground regarding personal, professional, and political aspects of working at Morrison-Hensley High," GLAAD wrote.

On the show, which has eight episode available to stream on Hulu, Alvarez is joined by Stephanie Koenig, a cheerfully optimistic English teacher; a gruff, hetero gym teacher Sean Patton, who proves to be a gay ally; Enrico Colantoni as the pliable principal; and Carmen Christopher as the stoned-out guidance counselor. In his personal life, Evan deals with Malcolm, his ex- (played by Jordan Firstman), while flirting with Harry, a new teacher played by Langston Kerman.

With a soundtrack jam filled with '80s hits (Alvarez loves '80s music), the series follows Evan's journey through today's high school world, as GLAAD puts it, "with a hearty helping of comedy and battle of the Gen Z v. Millennial v. Gen X wiles. We also are treated to RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars winner Trixie Mattel playing the character Shazam, one of Evan's friends who teaches football players how to become the perfect drag queen for the annual Powderpuff Football Game."

Alvarez told GLAAD that the inspiration for the series came from his own high school experience. Though he grew up in rural Tennessee, he attended high school in a nearby town – a liberal oasis in the Red state. He sees Austin, where he set the series after spending much time there, as a place that reflects his own experience – "this blue city in this red state," he said, and a great inspiration for comedy. "There was so much to write for... there's just all these different attitudes and perspectives and seeing people get along, not get along, agree, not agree – that to me is good soil for comedy."

He also said playing a teacher hits close to home. "My mom is a Spanish instructor at a university. My sister is a media arts teacher. So it's sort of in my blood. It's almost like when people say, 'I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV.'"

He said he is happy not only with the show's success, but the broad spectrum it is reaching. "I have been happy with the big spread of ages of people that really are enjoying the show. People will say, 'Oh my gosh, I watched this with my mom and my grandma, and we were all laughing, and we usually don't like the same stuff.' so I was I loved that."

He continued: "I just hope that it's a show that people love and can't get enough of. My favorite compliment for the show is when people say, "I watch the episodes three times in a row because there's not a new one yet so I just keep watching the ones you've already released." To me, rewatchability is such a thing. I think we're all like this. I watch my favorite things again and again. I've watched the movie 'Prometheus' like probably 100 times. I think it's a perfect movie – also 'All About My Mother' by Pedro Almodovar – and 'Dirty Dancing!'"

He is also thrilled that both his comedy and the show's messaging is hitting home with audiences. "Shining a light on characters like these, and doing it with hard comedy is something that I'm so grateful to get to offer the world. And the response has been amazing. I'm so grateful to play this part and it just means a lot to me. I got to show up and play Evan; this gay man who's doing his best and I love the character, the show, and all the characters. I love Gwen – and, you know, I love the unexpected friendship between Markie and Evan. I think that that really means something to people. I love how Evan is in and out of it with his ex-boyfriend. I feel that's me. When I watch it, I go, 'This feels very real.'"