After penning a fire op-ed that gets published in The New York Times, angry readers pelt Abe with tomatoes in the street. Soon after, he's offered a job with The Village Voice as a theater critic, a prospect that greatly excites him after his disastrous exit from Bell Labs. Abe is one of the more static characters on the show. He only accepts change when he's prepared for it in advance and his by-the-book, critical attitude is his most consistent characteristic. After spending years working as a mathematics professor, Abe is elated to have done something that elicits such a strong reaction. It's the first time viewers see Abe excited at the prospect of change, rather than his usual begrudging acceptance.
Meanwhile, Joel has been busy with a venture of his own. In the season finale, titled "A Jewish Girl Walks Into the Apollo...," Joel opens up his nightclub in Chinatown (via IMDb). He is shown happily celebrating with his new girlfriend, Mei (Stephanie Hsu), although Midge steps in to do some stand-up when technical difficulties threaten the evening. When Joel's first introduced in the pilot episode, he's not a likable character. He's immature, mediocre, and selfish, but he slowly works his way towards redemption. By the Season 3 finale, Joel has become much more sympathetic. By the end of the season, Joel is a much more secure person than the man who fled with Midge's suitcase in the pilot.
