Okay, real talk. I’ve been trying to do this video for a week but it’s not easy coming up with something
to say about a character that was never actually on the show but has one of the most recognizable
names associated with Teen Wolf.
And then there’s the problem of what to show while I’m talking about Greenberg?
There are no pictures, no actual video of the character.
I guess this will have to do.
Okay, there are only a few things we actually know to be true about the Greenberg character
First, Greenberg is real.
There’s been some talk about how Jeff Davis likes to think that Greenberg is a figment
of Coach Finstock’s imagination.
But they never wrote him that way on the show.
Coach Finstock: Happy Birthday, Love Greenberg.
Coach Finstock: Let's go!
Even though we never saw him, he was written to be physically present on at least three
occasions in Season One.
He’s on the field during practice in Second Chance at First Line.
Coach Finstock: Greenberg, take a lap. Let's go. Faster Greenberg.
He’s in class during Heart Monitor.
Coach Finstock: Greenberg, put your hand down. Everybody knows you did the reading.
He’s at the dance during Formality.
And while those might still be chalked up to Coach’s imaginary friend – Stiles was
advanced to first line due to a pink eye outbreak caused by Greenberg in Lunatic.
And then Stiles acknowledges knowing Greenberg in the Season 2 episode Battlefield when
Coach asks him to play in Greenberg’s place.
Coach Finstock: Put on a helmet and get out there. You're in for Greenberg.
Stiles: What? What happened to Greenberg?
Coach Finstock: What happened to Greenberg? He sucks. You suck slightly less.
Despite the character’s obvious realness – Greenberg is never seen on screen.
I know a bunch of you guys think you’ve seen him.
There’s almost a cult of Greenberg with tons written about which extra or day-player
was seen on screen at the right moment or who twitched randomly in a scene when Greenberg
was mentioned.
There was even a faction convinced that Greenberg is this overly enthusiastic fellow.
Brian: State! State! State!
But, as annoying as that guy was – he was not Greenberg.
Greenberg was never on screen - according to all public sources I can find, there was
never any actor cast or appearing on any Teen Wolf call sheet assigned to play the part of Greenberg.
Coach Finstock: This is a rebuilding season people!
Then we get come to the end of Greenberg –
Coach Finstock: Lahey's gone. Greenberg, the one guy I actually wanted gone was held back, again.
he was apparently held back a grade meaning he was present during the beginning of Season 4.
But then he’s just never mentioned again through that season. After Scott and Pack
become seniors in Season 5 and right up through graduation at the midpoint in Season 6
we never hear about Greenberg again.
Maybe he was erased by the Ghost Riders?
I like that explanation, but it’s far more likely that with Orny Adams on a comedy tour
and off the show for the majority of Season 5, the writers just didn’t have much use
for his go-to student nemesis.
Coach’s appearances after his return were brief and very plot-focused leaving little
time for Greenberg adlibs or shenanigans.
Jackson: Is it over?
Coach: ~shouting~
Coach: Now it's over.
Of course, in universe, he might have just graduated since he’d been in school at least
as long as Scott and the others.
Alright – to review Greenberg was real and not a figment of anyone’s
imagination.
Greenberg was never seen and no actor was ever hired to play him.
Greenberg either graduated, quit school, or was disappeared by supernatural forces after
Season 4.
Thanks for watching.
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