“Most people are just coming for the comedy, which excites me the most,” she says
Season 2 looks to build on that foundation while pushing the characters into new territory. The writers have experimented with unexpected pairings, more outlandish set-ups, and episodes that break the usual standard quo. “We knew the formula works, but we also wanted to see how far we could push different characters,” Koenig explains.
As English Teacher returns, Koenig sat down with Parade for an exclusive interview to discuss Season 2, Gwen’s journey and the talented women she's shared sets with.
English Teacher resonated with audiences in a big way. Did you feel that response over the past year?Yeah, I mean, I felt it in a bunch of different ways, from different demographics. In the beginning, we knew it was very timely and dealing with hot-button issues, and we were curious how that would land. But I’m always approached by teachers who just enjoy it for being relatable, separate from the topical stuff. That was nice to see, especially since none of us were teachers prior. We didn’t have teachers in the writers’ room, but we had parents chiming in. Brian and Paul Sims really have a finger on the pulse of teens—what’s cool, what’s troublesome. And most people are just coming for the comedy, which excites me the most. Laughing every three seconds.
As you mentioned, you wrote the dinner party episode this season. Last year, you did Powder Puff, which was a standout. How did you approach both of these big event episoes?Powder Puff felt like a slam dunk, because it could go in so many directions and felt like a sports movie arc in 22 minutes. That excited me, especially coming from a dance background. I was terrified, though. It was my first writing job, and suddenly Brian was like, “Steph, you’ll write it.” I was excited and terrified, but it turned out well. With the dinner party, I didn’t have a preference at first, but when it came up, Brian asked if I wanted it. Again, I was nervous, but I thought it was so funny and unique. We hadn’t spent a whole episode inside someone’s house before. It’s farcical, and it was fun to bury myself in it, outline it, then script it. Shooting was amazing—getting all the characters together in one house, following them through private conversations.
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Did filming in a high school bring back personal memories?I expected that, especially during the pilot at a different high school. That felt weird. But the school we shoot in now feels smaller and doesn’t look like mine, so it doesn’t bring it back. Honestly, high school is a blur. Mine was huge—500 kids in my graduating class—and I was more focused on dance outside of school. High school is hard; you don’t realize until later how much you blur out.
You’ve also worked on some amazing shows the last few years—The Offer, Lessons in Chemistry—and now have an A24 project coming. What have you gotten from those roles?I’ve been lucky to work with incredible women. Just huge stars around my age who are so successful. Brie Larson set a great example, Juno Temple, Kaylee Cuoco—they take agency in their acting. Working with Miles Teller, too. Recently, I did an A24 movie directed by Jody Hill with Zac Efron and Nick Braun. It’s a dark comedy, and Zac is so funny, even when serious. I think it will show a new side of him. The script was one of the best I’ve ever read—so exciting from the first page.
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