Tracy Flick Can’t Win

Even if you don’t know Tom Perrotta, chances are pretty good that you know Tracy Flick. The indefatigable class-presidential-hopeful first made her mark in the 1998 book and 1999 film Election, going toe to toe with (and ultimately taking down) the teacher that everyone loved but hated her. Now, 20+ years later, Tracy is back, and her plans for Georgetown, law school, Supreme Court clerking, Appeals Court Judge, and so on haven’t exactly gone to plan: her ailing mother’s needs called Tracy back home, law school hit the skids, and now she’s an assistant principal at a middling-at-best high school in suburban New Jersey. When Tracy’s boss announces his retirement, Tracy’s first in line for the promotion, but as we all know, nabbing the role of head honcho is never as easy as it seems.

In this episode, we’re discussing Tom Perrotta’s uncanny ability to balance multiple narrators of different ages so well, the themes of regret and looking back on the past that are smartly on display in Tracy Flick Can’t Win, and the hot mess that is local school boards. We’re also sharing who is in our personal high school halls of fame, because why not? Go Vikings, Centurions, and Cardinals!