'Abbott Elementary' Fans React to Taraji P. Henson's Bittersweet Cameo as Janine's Mom
etonline.comTaraji P. Henson has officially made her debut, and it was an emotional ride! The award-winning actress was the highly anticipated guest star of the season's penultimate episode, aptly titled «Mom.» Henson starred as Vanetta, Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson)'s estranged mother who shows up unexpectedly right before the schoolteacher plans to vacation in Ocean City — Maryland, not Jersey — over the Memorial Day weekend.On Wednesday's episode, Vanetta visits Janine during the school day, telling her that she «grew worried» when Janine didn't answer her call, so she came to check up on her.
But Janine notes that the pair haven't «spoken in like six months,» and their estrangement becomes more obvious as she takes her mother around to meet her co-workers.Although Vanetta is quick to let Ava (Janelle James) know that she will kick the a** of anyone making fun of her baby girl, she doesn't let that stop her from trying to manipulate her into paying for a late phone bill with guilt.
Barbara's (Sheryl Lee Ralph) protectiveness over Janine pushes her to intervene on her behalf and, wanting to keep Janine from giving her mother the vacation money she earned, Barbara offers to give Vanetta the money for her phone bill instead.But Janine overhears and, realizing her mother has been attempting to manipulate her into giving her the money, she offers a compromise: Janine will convince the phone company to offer Vanetta a payment plan that Janine will cover for the first two months, but after that, her mother is on her own.
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