Abbott Elementary’s Most Surprising Friendship Addressed By Star Chris Perfetti

Chris Perfetti from Abbott Elementary is opening up about the show’s most surprising friendship, the one between his character, Jacob Hill, and Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter). When the show began, no one would have ever thought that Jacob and Melissa would have the friendship they do now. Melissa has been a teacher at Abbott Elementary for many years, unlike Jacob, and has a more realistic view of what it means to be a teacher and what comes with it, compared to Jacob. Despite these differences, Melissa and Jacob became roommates in season 3 following his breakup with Zach.

During an interview with ScreenRant, Perfetti discussed Jacob and Melissa’s unlikely friendship and whether their relationship had changed at all since they became roommates. Jacob and Melissa’s friendship has remained mostly the same since season 1 and is the perfect example of how opposites attract. Despite their very different personalities, they’ve been able to form a surprising bond built on respect and their shared love for their students.

ScreenRant: Jacob and Melissa’s friendship was unexpected. How would you say their working relationship has changed since they’ve become roommates?

Chris Perfetti: I would say not much. I feel like Melissa is a character who is kind of a tough nut to crack. I love Lisa so much. It’s such a weird thing to be with a character this long because I’ve known this character almost as long as I’ve known Lisa, and the line between Lisa and Melissa is ever blurring. Obviously, she’s such a gifted actor and she can do anything, but it’s interesting to see how our writers are sort of stealing things from our lives and what they know about us as people and sort of infusing that into these characters.

But Lisa is, like Melissa, endlessly loyal and a ferocious protector of the people that she cares about. I love her so much as a person, and so I’m so glad that they started that last season. I feel like there’s more to go. There’s more to milk out of the fact that they are roommates, and so I hope that Jacob doesn’t move out anytime soon. All of that is to say, she, I think has softened slightly just because we’re under the same roof, but I think we saw this season that she’s giving him just as much sh*t as she always has, and I think that just says more about that character than the situation that they’re in. But it’s kind of fun.

Quinta has been really good about, at times, subverting people’s expectations and showing you soft undersides of these people, but not throwing away what works about them. So like you said, it was really fun to see Jacob win a bit last year, but he’s not going to become a new person overnight.

He’s a three-dimensional person, and so we’ll see, hopefully, him win and lose and make a fool of himself and maybe find love. But the things that make Jacob, Jacob, being just sort of a social puppy dog and neurotic and a little naive and overeager, those things are hopefully never going to go away. That’s just kind of who he is. He’s always going to be saying something that he shouldn’t.

What Jacob & Melissa’s Friendship Means For Abbott Elementary Season 5

Their Friendship Is Entertaining

Jacob and Melissa’s friendship has become one of the most entertaining parts of Abbott Elementary. While they started more as frenemies, their relationship turned into a surprisingly sweet and supportive friendship, especially after they became roommates in season 3. Melissa’s tough attitude, paired with Jacob’s awkward and warmhearted personality, creates a friendship that’s both sweet and quite hilarious.

With Abbott Elementary season 5 less than a year away, their friendship could play an even bigger role. As Jacob and Melissa prepare for another year of growth and chaos at school, having each other to lean on adds the heart that fans enjoy when watching Abbott Elementary. No matter what is going on, Jacob and Melissa’s dynamic keeps the show funny and a little disorganized in the best way.

Our Take On Jacob & Melissa’s Friendship

They Will Always Be There For One Another

Jacob and Melissa are the most unlikely friends at Abbott Elementary, and their relationship is the most fun to watch. They seem like total opposites, but that’s exactly what makes their friendship work. Jacob and Melissa are very supportive of each other, even if they don’t express it the way most friends would. Melissa bringing in Jacob as a roommate after his breakup proves the pair have a real friendship, even if they don’t want to outright admit it. No matter what, Jacob and Melissa will always have each other’s backs.

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