The series follows the co-vice principals of North Jackson High School, Neal Gamby and Lee Russell, both of which are disliked for their personalities.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.15 million household viewers and gained a 0.5 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
At North Jackson High School, Principal Welles (Bill Murray) is retiring, having to tend to his sick wife.
He assembles the school's co-vice principals, Neal Gamby (Danny McBride) and Lee Russell (Walton Goggins), to make the Pledge of Allegiance with him as he is about to leave.
Russell has been making derogatory pamphlets insulting Gamby, while also trying to spend more time with teachers in order to boost his image.
Gamby is also trying to spend time with his daughter Janelle (Maya G. Love), while also conflicting with his ex-wife Gale (Busy Philipps) and her husband Ray (Shea Whigham), informing them that he was announced as principal despite no confirmation.
Gamby and Russell meet with Haas, who announces that Dr. Belinda Brown (Kimberly Hébert Gregory), an educator from Philadelphia, has been selected as Welles' successor.
Club gave the episode a "B" grade and wrote, "Like so many series premieres, 'The Principal' struggles to balance the need for storyline setup with the looser feel of the comedy.
"[6] Nick Harley of Den of Geek gave the episode a 3.5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "The premiere episode certainly has its laughs, from McBride deeming the students 'savages' and delivering foul-mouthed descriptions of the horrors of an in-school suspension, to the way Gamby dumps on his ex-wife's friendly new boyfriend Ray, played with every-man affability by Shea Whingham.
I'm certain Vice Principals has plenty of crude material left for McBride and Goggins, I just hope it adheres to a looser lesson plan in the future.