History Recap / FamilyTiesS2E3TheHarderTheyFall

* TrashTalk: During parent-teacher night, Tedesco calls one student "Larry the Loser" and a "pimple-faced liar," suggests another student needs to lose weight and then tells his mother that she also needs to lose weight and then calls an elderly woman "grandma" as he shoves her as he tries to walk out the door.

* HilarityEnsues: Why the administration at Harding High allowed Mr. Tedesco to get away with his behavior for this long -- this is implied to be at least his second year at the school, as he says he had Mallory in a class the previous year -- is very puzzling and troubling. Additionally, even if they were provoked, Steven and Elyse might both be facing criminal charges for punching Tedesco.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: When Alex finally realizes Mr. Tedesco for who he is -- a vile, crude, cruel individual -- he calls him out in front of his parents, telling him his recommendation letter now means nothing and that rather than accept his opinion that he's above his parents, he'd feel lucky if he is ever as good as they have been.

So Steven goes to the school on his way home from work the next day to apologize for Elyse punching him, but when Tedesco starts making highly inappropriate and personal remarks about Elyse, Steven tries to leave (and perhaps meet with the principal about Tedesco). But Tedesco presses on and whispers something in ear that is implied to be very crude, prompting Steven to hit Tedesco. When Steven tells him what happened and tries to explain that Tedesco is nothing more than a class-A jerk, Alex is mortified and is sure that his letter of recommendation -- Tedesco's cousin is said to be on Dartmouth's staff, an influential professor at that -- is being withdrawn.

* BrutalHonesty: How Mr. Tedesco might justify his insulting remarks and, truth be told, his teaching philosophy.

It's parent-teacher night at Harding High School, and while Steven agrees to go to Mallory's teachers, Elyse visits Alex's. Her first stop is to his favorite teacher, Reuben Tedesco, who teaches (among other language arts classes) European literature. It isn't long before Tedesco proves himself to be nothing short of hostile, rude, insulting, condescending and highly inappropriate with his remarks. Elyse stands up for the other parents by asking Mr. Tedesco to immediately apologize, but that only emboldens him to the point where -- when the parents block his exit to demand his apology -- he shoves an elderly woman. Elyse snaps and hits Tedesco in the jaw.

Alex is upset. After all, he likes what appears to him to be a take-charge, no prisoners, no-nonsense stand firm attitude ... and admittedly Mr. Tedesco is exceptionally knowledgeable in literature. He can't understand his mother's impression of him as nothing short of a rude human being who has no business teaching literature ... or in any classroom, for that matter.

So Steven goes to the school on his way home from work the next day to apologize for Elyse punching him, but when Tedesco starts making highly inappropriate and personal remarks about Elyse, including one he whispers in her ear and is implied to be very crude, Steven hits Tedesco. When Steven tells him what happened and tries to explain that Tedesco is nothing more than a class A jerk, Alex is mortified and is sure that his letter of recommendation -- Tedesco's cousin is said to be on Dartmouth's staff, an influential professor at that -- is being withdrawn.

To make one final attempt at smoothing things over and salvage his letter of recommendation hopes, Alex invites Mr. Tedesco over for dinner, and tells his parents, Mallory and Jennifer to be on their best behavior. Tedesco is himself and Alex tries gamely to keep things up, but when they leave the room and Tedesco presents Alex his letter of recommendation ... the teacher finally presses his luck by telling him that he's impressed that Alex is ''better'' than his parents. He, after all, doesn't fly off the handle or act like those savage imbeciles his parents after all.

Alex finally realizes that his parents were right about Tedesco, but overcoming the urge to physically assault his teacher, he instead hits him harder ... with words: For as focused on his success, both present and future as he is, he is proud of his parents and if he winds up half as successful as they have been, he'll be happy. He then rips up the letter and tells his teacher to leave.

* DeadpanSnarker: Tedesco's personality is full of this, and perhaps a reason why Alex initially connects well with him.

* FistOfRage: Which amazingly, Alex holds back. Perhaps knowing he might get expelled from school if he were to assault his teacher (even if he deserved it), Alex decides his words hit hard enough and tells him to leave.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: When Alex finally realizes who Tedesco is -- a vile, crude, cruel individual -- he calls him out in front of his parents, telling him his recommendation letter now means nothing and that rather than accept his opinion that he's above his parents, he'd feel lucky if he is ever as good as they have been.

** Given the few comments he does make to their parents, it can be implied Tedesco uses these frequently with his students ... and perhaps incredibly cruel with such criticism.

* EvilTeacher and SadistTeacher: Mr. Tedesco, and we mean sadist and cruel. Eventually, Alex realizes he doesn't like him that much after all.

It's parent-teacher night at Harding High School, and while Steven agrees to go to Mallory's teachers, Elyse visits Alex's. Her first stop is to his favorite teacher, economics teacher Reuben Tedesco. It isn't long before Tedesco proves himself to be nothing short of hostile, rude, insulting, condescending and highly inappropriate with his remarks. Elyse stands up for the other parents by asking Mr. Tedesco to immediately apologize, but that only emboldens him to the point where -- when the parents block his exit to demand his apology -- he shoves an elderly woman. Elyse snaps and hits Tedesco in the jaw.

Alex is upset. After all, he likes what appears to him to be a take-charge, no prisoners, no-nonsense stand firm attitude ... and admittedly Mr. Tedesco is exceptionally knowledgeable in economics. He can't understand his mother's impression of him as nothing short of a rude human being who has no business teaching business ... or in any classroom, for that matter.

So Steven goes to the school on his way home from work the next day to apologize for Elyse punching him, but when Tedesco starts making highly inappropriate and personal remarks about Elyse, including one he whispers in her ear and is implied to be very crude, Steven hits Tedesco. When Steven tells him what happened and tries to explain that Tedesco is nothing more than a class A jerk, Alex is mortified and is sure that his letter of recommendation is being withdrawn.

To make one final attempt at smoothing things over and salvage his letter of recommendation hopes, Alex invites Mr. Tedesco over for dinner, and tells his parents, Mallory and Jennifer to be on their best behavior. Tedesco is himself and Alex tries gamely to keep things up, but when they leave the room and Tedesco presents Alex his letter of recommendation ... the teacher finally presses his luck by telling him that he's impressed that Alex is ''better'' than his parents. He doesn't fly off the handle or act like savage imbeciles after all. Alex finally realizes that his parents were right about him and overcoming the urge to physically assault his teacher, he instead hits him harder with words: For as focused on his success, both present and future as he is, he is proud of his parents and if he winds up half as successful as they have been, he'll be happy. He then rips up the letter and tells his teacher to leave.