Oh! TikTok Star Sabrina Brier Played Janine’s Sub Jessca on ‘Abbott Elementary’ Last Night

Abbott Elementary once again solidified its berth as network TV’s hippest comedy by welcoming comic, actress, TikTok star, and viral reaction gif creator Sabrina Brier to the show last night. Brier — who fans had already spied in promotional material for Abbott Elementary Season 3 Episode 4 “Smoking” — appeared as Jessca, not Jessica, Janine’s (Quinta Brunson) latest rotating sub. Jessca and Janine butted heads thanks to the flighty substitute’s unorthodox approach to teaching the kids. While Jessca claimed she was only working at Abbott for the week, which she described as “mid,” you have to wonder if Abbott Elementary will bring the uber-popular comedian back for more down the line. (Or if this means Abbott will be tapping still more viral video stars in guest runs down the line…)

Abbott Elementary Season 3 has pushed Janine out of her comfort zone. The passionate educator has stepped out of the classroom for a bit to participate in a fellowship with the school district. This shift means that Janine and pals have more power to help their students, and, more importantly, that Janine gets to hang out with handsome, earnest Manny (Josh Segura). The downside? Janine can’t bond with her classroom. Instead, she can only have passing interactions with the children when she stops by Abbott on assignment.

Abbott Elementary Season 3 Episode 4 “Smoking” opens with Janine literally spying on her latest sub, Jessca. When Janine overhears the blonde tell a student that capitalizing proper nouns, like state names, doesn’t matter, she can’t help but butt in. For the rest of the episode, the uptight Janine attempts to subtly correct Jessca’s more free-wheeling methods (which include letting the students choose their own homework assignments). After Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) explains to Janine that every teacher is allowed to have their own style, Janine apologizes to Jessca. Jessca, in turn, reveals that she doesn’t even remember talking to Janine and that she’s quitting after this week.

But who is the very distinctive blonde playing Jessca? Where have you seen her before? And why is it a big deal that TikTok stars are invading Emmy-winning TV shows? Here’s everything you need to know about Abbott Elementary’s latest comic cameo, Sabrina Brier…

Who is Sabrina Brier? Meet Abbott Elementary‘s Jessca

Sabrina Brier is a 29-year-old American actress, comic, and influencer best known for her viral TikToks wherein she mocks the shallow habits of twenty-something besties. Her most famous video is called “That friend who only wants 1 on 1 time.” In the short TikTok sketch, she is flouncing around New York’s West Village in a floral sundress while talking to a female friend recording offscreen. The basic gist of the sketch is that Brier’s character was super excited to hang out with said friend, but bails as soon as she learns a third pal named Jessica (with an “i”) is joining them.

@sabrina.cinoman.brier

She needs all the attn #comedy #friends #nyc

♬ original sound – Sabrina Brier

The sketch specifically went viral because of Brier’s reaction to the news. “Oh!” she says. According to KnowYourMeme.com, Twitter users began using this specific moment as a reaction gif as early as March 2023. It soon became a mainstay on the platform now known as “X.”

Brier also made waves last summer when she appeared in one of the many videos created to promote comic Kyle Gordon’s song “Planet of the Bass.” Brier was the third actress cast as Biljana Electronica.

Sabrina Brier studied acting and improv comedy at Smith College. She’s one of many young comics who have turned to TikTok to promote their work and spread their comedy. Brier’s popularity is such that she currently has over 750K followers on TikTok and users immediately recognized her from her body language alone in an official Abbott Elementary teaser uploaded to the ABC comedy’s official TikTok account this week.

Considering how comedians have used social media platforms and video sites like YouTube and Vine for over a decade to break through, it’s really not all that wild that Abbott Elementary has embraced TikTok talent. If anything, Brier’s arrival on Abbott might hint that we’ll get more of her contemporaries on network TV before long. The bigger question is probably will we possibly see Jessca again?