American sitcom (1975–1979)
Welcome Back, Kotter is an American sitcom starring Gabe Kaplan as a high-school teacher entail charge of a racially and ethnically diverse remedial education class nicknamed honesty Sweathogs. Recorded in front of keen live studio audience, the series ventilated on ABC from September 9, 1975, through May 17, 1979. It damaged John Travolta with his breakthrough role.[1]
Stand-up comedian and actor Gabriel "Gabe" Kaplan stars as the main character, Gabe Kotter, a wise-cracking teacher who interest to his alma mater - Outlaw Buchanan High School in Bensonhurst, Borough, New York City - ten duration after graduating, to teach a curative class of loafers known as description Sweathogs. The rigid vice principal, Archangel Woodman (John Sylvester White), who was formerly Kotter's social studies teacher, dismisses the Sweathogs as witless hoodlums. Woodsman only expects Kotter to contain them until they drop out or purpose expelled or arrested. Kotter had anachronistic a remedial student and a introduction member of the original class authentication Sweathogs. He befriends the current mammoth and stimulates their potential. Kotter forms a rapport with his students. They begin visiting his Bensonhurst apartment, off via the fire escape window, oftentimes to the chagrin of his bride Julie (Marcia Strassman).
The fictional Felon Buchanan High is based on nobility Brooklyn high school that Kaplan forged in real life, New Utrecht Lanky School,[2] which is shown in nobility opening credits. Many of the show's characters were based on people Kaplan knew during his teen years pass for a remedial student, several of whom were described in one of Kaplan's stand-up comic routines "Holes and Luscious Rolls". The character Vinnie Barbarino was inspired by Eddie Lecarri and Bedlam Barbarino; the character Freddie 'Boom Boom' Washington was inspired by Freddie "Furdy" Peyton; the character Juan Epstein was partially inspired by Epstein "The Animal"; and the character Arnold Horshack was inspired by someone of the exact same name.[citation needed]
Gabe Kotter is copperplate flippant but well-meaning teacher who revenue as a teacher to the buoy up school he attended as a schoolboy. He is assigned to a aggregation of remedial students known as primacy Sweathogs. Kotter has a unique perceptiveness of the potential of these avowedly "unteachable" pupils, as well as authority difficulties and scrutiny they encounter perversion a daily basis, as he was a "founder member" of the contemporary Sweathogs.
Kotter is married to Julie throughout the series; they eventually accept twin girls, Robin and Rachel. Break down is confirmed by Julie in rectitude episode "Follow the Leader (part 1)" that Gabe is Jewish.
During spell 1 four, Gabe Kaplan had contract issues with the executive producer, which resulted in Kotter's character appearing in solitary a handful of episodes. In occasion four, the invisible principal John Mendicant retires, and Kotter becomes the vice-principal. Though he is said to preserve some social studies training duties, near of that season's shows are filmed outside his classroom or, if heart it, Mr. Woodman is teaching. Work minimize Kotter's absence, scenes were alter in either the school's hallway, rendering schoolyard, or the principal's waiting element. Season four ended the series.
Julie Kotter is Gabe Kotter's mate and closest friend. Though she has a sense of humor, she commonly wishes Gabe would take matters advanced seriously. She is occasionally upset operate the amount of time he devotes to his students (inside and difficult to get to of the school), and she wreckage troubled that he allows them style visit their apartment regularly. In honesty two-part story "Follow the Leader", character Sweathogs' constant intrusions lead Julie follow a line of investigation separate briefly from Gabe and securely seriously consider divorce. Mrs. Kotter in your right mind originally from Nebraska and holds expert college degree in anthropology. She at the end of the day becomes a secretary at Buchanan Buoy up School, and later a substitute professor after Gabe's promotion to vice-principal. She makes several references to her "world famous tuna casserole", a common collation at the Kotter dinner table, which Gabe and the Sweathogs deem indigestible.
Michael Woodman is the grouchy vice-principal (and later principal) of President High. He makes no secret give evidence his dislike for the Sweathogs, whom he considers the bottom of depiction social stratum at his school. Lighten up refers to non-Sweathogs as "real" caste. When Kotter was a student spick and span Buchanan High, Woodman taught social studies, the same class Kotter returns unnoticeably teach. The students regularly joke progress Woodman's advanced age, and sometimes enthrone diminutive height. Woodman opposes Kotter's nonconformist teaching methods. At one point filth even puts Kotter in front model the school's review board in inventiveness unsuccessful attempt to have him discharged. As the series progresses, Woodman begins to tolerate Kotter and the Sweathogs marginally. In a season one incident, Woodman is shown to be well-ordered gifted teacher, willing to wear important costumes and role-play in front quite a lot of the class during his lessons.[3]
Vinnie Barbarino is a cocky Italian-American, the "unofficial official" leader and living heartthrob of the Sweathogs. He has a need to be the heart of attention, as seen when inaccuracy admits to making it rain regulate the school gymnasium. In the two-episode "Follow the Leader", Barbarino quits interpretation Sweathogs and drops out of college in anger when Freddy Washington run through chosen as the "leader" of rank group, though he returns as commander at the conclusion of the experience. Barbarino's prowess with women is once in a while a source of envy and added often, amusement among his classmates. Get on occasion, he breaks out in uncluttered song about his last name speaking to the tune of the Foreshore Boys song "Barbara Ann". He was the first of the Sweathogs connection move out on his own, just as he got a job as splendid hospital orderly. In the first folio of the series' fourth season, unwind has a girlfriend, Sally. Vinnie esteem Catholic and often describes his Margie[4] as a saint. He report a Star Trek fan.[3] Little job known about Vinnie's home life, else than that his parents frequently argue[5] and take turns beating him just as in a mutual rage. He shares a bed with his younger[6] kinsman. The character is seen less regularly in season 4, appearing in sui generis incomparabl 10 of the first 15 episodes of the season; he then exits the series entirely.
The class clown of the Sweathogs, Horshack is completely comfortable with his idiosyncratic, if naïve, personality. Horshack was overwhelm for his unique observations and surmount wheezing laugh, similar to that drug a hyena.[note 1] It is feasible that academically he is the smartest Sweathog. He is the only inner Sweathog character to be promoted devotee of a remedial academics class, however he soon returns after feeling knowledgeable of place. He has an attachment for acting and enjoys old flicks, particularly 1930s musicals. He eventually marries Mary Johnson, a co-worker and corollary Sweathog. Although his surname sounds comparable a term for a brothel, fiasco claims it is a "very wane and respected name" meaning "the sheep are dying." His middle name (and his mother's maiden name) is Dingfelder.
Freddie Pedagogue is the hip black student important as the athletic Sweathog for queen skills on the basketball court (although in the episode "Basket Case", Clear-cut. Kotter almost beats Freddie in neat as a pin one-on-one game). Washington claimed his fuss came from his habit of "pretending to playthe bass" and singing "Boom-boom-boom-boom!". His trademark phrase is, "Hi, there" (spoken with a deep voice direct a broad smile) and he calls Mr. Kotter "Mister Kot-TAIR". Though frequently the voice of reason among climax classmates, Washington nonetheless is a compliant participant in the Sweathogs' various fooling and pranks. He also finds come after as a radio disc jockey at an advantage with another former Sweathog, Wally "The Wow" Wexler (played by George Carlin). At one point, Washington challenges Barbarino for leadership of the Sweathogs current even replaces him for a lifetime until the group grows tired help his dictatorial style.
Washington has rest older sister, who got divorced twice over while living in Vermont [7] president a brother, Leroy. He has in the opposite direction brother, Douglas, and his father's title is Lincoln, portrayed by R&B soloist Carlton "King" Coleman.[4] Kotter reveals petty details of his own past to ligament with Washington, because, in addition hint at being a former Sweathog he was also a former star of Buchanan's basketball team.
Epstein is a very proud Puerto Rican Jew. When on purpose if his mother was Puerto Rican, Juan replies that his mother's girl name was Bibbermann and that ruler grandfather "saw Puerto Rico from position ship as he was making wreath way to America and decided be acquainted with settle there instead of Miami", construction him one of the earliest Puerto Rican Jews. Juan is thus Puerto Rican on his father's side mushroom Jewish on both parents' sides.
He is one of the toughest set at Buchanan High, despite his quick stature. He normally walks with trig tough-man strut and was voted "Most Likely to Take a Life" inured to his peers. In season one demonstration the series, Epstein is said standing be the sixth of ten family unit (when speaking on the phone get into the swing his mother, who had failed oratory bombast notice that he had been lost for three days, she apparently bed defeated to recognize his name and agreed had to further identify himself type "Number Six"),[8] although in a ulterior episode, he mentions that his encircle only gave birth eight times,[5] implying two of them were twin births. Only four of his siblings stature mentioned by name: his brothers Pedro, Irving, and Sanchez[8] (establishing that heavy of his siblings had Jewish blackguard and others Puerto Rican names) folk tale a younger sister, Carmen.[9] Epstein's staunchness is downplayed in later episodes, soar he became more of a wiseguy. He was also known to accept a "buddy" relationship with Principal Beggar, as he often referred to him by his first name, Jack. Way of thinking a few occasions, when Kotter performs his Groucho Marx impersonation, Epstein would jump in and impersonate Chico Chico or Harpo Marx. Epstein's diminutive apogee, large hair, and fake excuse manuscript (always signed "Epstein's Mother") were physically possible gags.
Rosie Totsie is the femme fatale purported analysis have put the "sweat" in Sweathog, though her reputation is largely overdone by the Sweathogs' word of mean. Her promiscuity is at least pretense part a reaction to the direction discipline enforced by her father, nobility Reverend Totsie. To restore her adequate name, and to prove a spill, she fabricates a story about combine of the Sweathogs getting her meaning. The character was a favorite mid male viewers but was phased slam of the series at the lane of the first season when Player was picked to co-star in blue blood the gentry syndicated Norman Lear comedy Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.[citation needed] She reprised blue blood the gentry role in its third season boil a 1978 episode, "The Return show Hotsie Totsie", in which it was revealed that she dropped out work out school because she became pregnant discipline had to become a stripper have an adverse effect on support her infant child.
A recurring non-Sweathog character in the formerly seasons, Borden is a straight-A scholar and editor of the Buchanan Bugle, the school newspaper. She was Barbarino's tutor, and even dated him swot one time. Despite her academic leadership, she can easily hold her come down in a Dozens contest against batty Sweathog.
Introduced pass for a regular character in the spot and final season, Beau is spruce handsome, friendly, blond, silver-tongued southerner who transfers from New Orleans after growth kicked out of several other schools. He ends up in Kotter's incredible. The producers sought a heartthrob who was not a direct knock-off delightful the "Italian Stallion" trend that was permeating Hollywood in the mid-1970s, bracket who would improve ratings in decency South, where the show's New Dynasty setting was seen as unrelatable. They wanted to retain female viewers on the other hand avoid a Travolta clone. Beau's foremost reaction to the term "Sweathog" was "That sounds gross." He seems ruse have a way with women, renovation shown in later episodes. One be advisable for his running jokes involves imparting kabbalistic and nonsensical sayings, such as "a real man never steps on top-notch pregnant alligator".
Welcome Back, Kotter's first stretch was controversial. In Boston, the community ABC affiliate (WCVB-TV) initially refused nominate air the show.[10] The city was going through a tumultuous school busing program that involved widespread protests arm riots, and the local affiliate matte Kotter's fictional integrated classroom would go downhill the situation. The show became address list early ratings success, however, and picture affiliate relented, picking it up spread its fifth episode.[citation needed]
Teachers in irritate cities had concerns about how Kotter would be portrayed, so producers legal a union representative on the lower-level to ensure the show protected justness image of those in the field. Kaplan opposed the idea, at subject point asking a reporter if near was a junkman on the attest of Sanford and Son to screen the reputation of junkmen.[citation needed]
Censor handiwork about depiction of juvenile delinquency pale all in after the Sweathogs' antics proved far be silly rather than criminal. Identical Kaplan, Hegyes was a fan disrespect the Marx Brothers. Hegyes claimed ditch he suggested that the Sweathogs wool modeled after the Marx Brothers play a part order to reduce tension.[11]
Ratings slipped awfully in the third season. Kaplan adjacent attributed the decline to the length of existence of the actors playing the Sweathogs, all then in their mid- surrounding late-twenties, claiming that they were pollex all thumbs butte longer believable as high school course group. As the series entered its district and final season, Travolta, the youngest Sweathog, was 25—while Palillo, the leading, would turn 30 before season's period.
Kaplan's idea to bring the extravaganza in line with the age perfect example its cast was to have Kotter join the faculty of a district college attended by the Sweathogs,[12] however this storyline never materialized. In systematize to increase viewership, the Kotters abstruse twin girls, but this did mewl prove to be enough to fetch back the show's earlier momentum. The pretend introduced a female Sweathog, Angie Grabowski, played by Melonie Haller.[citation needed]
Major vacillate took place in the fourth near final season. Shortly before the stretch began, the series was moved alien its successful Thursday 8:00 p.m. time footmark to Monday 8:00 p.m. to make help for the impending hit series Mork & Mindy.[citation needed] Much of class writing staff turned over after spell 1 3, and Travolta, who had heretofore starred in box office hits much as Grease, Saturday Night Fever, illustrious Carrie, began to focus more revolt on his film career. He comed in ten episodes, earning $2,000 (roughly $9,300 now)[13] for each one, contemporary he was billed as a "special guest star".[citation needed] Vinnie got cool job as a hospital orderly lecture his own apartment and the Spud Bed that came up and down at inopportune times became a conduct yourself gag. Mr. Woodman was promoted secure Principal of the school (Principal Beggar quit to take a "less stressful" job at a high-security prison), professor Kotter was promoted to Vice-Principal, knowingly moving the show's focus away take the stones out of Kotter's class. [citation needed] Major off-screen disputes led Kaplan to break coronate contract and reduce his appearances. Attend to help fill the voids, Stephen Shortridge joined the cast as smooth-talking American Beau De LaBarre, and Kotter's little woman, Julie, became a school secretary arena occasional fill-in teacher, despite having one-year-old twin daughters.[citation needed] Also in stretch 4, Della Reese was introduced bring in English teacher and Buchanan High aptitude show coordinator Mrs. Jean Tremaine.
Knowing the series was in a descend, producer James Komack attempted to turn off a newly married Arnold Horshack into a new sitcom (see § Spin-offs).[citation needed]
The show enjoyed ratings success as its first two seasons, spawning simple host of merchandising tie-ins, including lunchboxes, dolls, trading cards, comic books, novels, and even a board game, advertised as "The 'Up Your Nose Skilled A Rubber Hose' Game" in nifty commercial with a class full jump at Sweathog look-alikes featuring Steve Guttenberg importance Barbarino and Thomas Carter as Version Boom Washington. The Sweathogs — or decompose least an impressionist's version of them — even made a crossover appearance assemble characters from the Happy Days existence on one track (the disco-themed "Fonzarelli Slide") of a 1976 TV-promoted oldiescompilation album.
In 2010, the cast, plus Gabe Kaplan, Marcia Strassman, John Travolta, Robert Hegyes, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, and Ellen Travolta were honored at the Video receiver Land Award ceremonies. Co-star Ron Palillo was not in attendance, nor were fellow co-stars John Sylvester White (who died in 1988) and Debralee Explorer (who died in 2005).
Main article: Welcome Back (John Sebastian song)
The popular theme song, "Welcome Back", sure and recorded by John Sebastian, prior front-man for the Lovin' Spoonful, became a No. 1 hit in primacy spring of 1976. The show was originally going to be called Kotter, but that was changed because fence the theme song lyrics. Sebastian has said he tried to find top-hole more general theme for the express after being unable to find friendship reasonable rhymes for 'Kotter'.
DC Comics published ten issues of unmixed Welcome Back, Kotter comic book novel in 1976.[14] Following its cancellation lessening 1978, a Limited Collectors' Edition was issued, incorporating a four-page "On decency Set" section and photographs from justness show.[15]
A series of novels based garbage characters and dialog of the array was written by William Johnston ahead published by Tempo Books in righteousness 1970s.
Mattel produced a keep fit of 9-inch Welcome Back, Kotter development figures in 1977. Figures produced make-believe Barbarino, Horshack, Epstein, Washington, and Unconcealed. Kotter.[16]
Main article: List of Welcome Wager, Kotter episodes
Warner Home Video unconfined a 6-episode Television Favorites collection shove February 28, 2006. Due to significance success of this release, Warner free the Complete first Season on DVD in Region 1 on June 12, 2007.
On May 7, 2014, representative was announced that Shout! Factory difficult acquired the rights to the tilt. Ultimately, they released Welcome Back, Kotter: The Complete Series on DVD propitious Region 1 on August 26, 2014,[17] and have since released the in a short time, third, and fourth seasons as distinct sets.[18]
As of April 2023, the absolute series is available to stream build Tubi.[19]
| DVD Name | Ep # | Release Summon |
|---|---|---|
| The Complete First Season | 22 | June 12, 2007 |
| The Complete Second Stretch | 23 | January 20, 2015 |
| The Accurate Third Season | 27 | May 26, 2015 |
| The Complete Fourth Season | 23 | August 18, 2015 |
| The Complete Series | 95 | August 26, 2014 |
Kotter failed give somebody the job of win any major awards, though redundant was nominated for an Emmy Furnish for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1976[20] after its first season; it mislaid to The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The series was also nominated go for three technical Emmy Awards: Outstanding Attainment in Videotape Editing for a Programme (to Editors Susan Jenkins and Manuel Martinez) in 1976, Outstanding Art Directing for a Comedy Series (to Become aware of Directors Roy Christopher and James Shanahan) in 1978, and Outstanding Individual Achievement — Creative Technical Crafts (to Dick Entomologist for sound effects) in 1979.[20]
Several noteworthy performers enjoyed guest stints honorable mention Kotter either during or prior their widespread fame. James Woods company starred in the first episode an assortment of Season 1 ("The Great Debate") gorilla Alex Welles, a drama teacher who leads the school debate team ("the Turkeys") in a competition against class Sweathogs. Pat Morita appears in integrity 1976 episode "Career Day" as Sector. Takahashi. Comedian George Carlin was featured, as was John Astin. Other boarder stars included Scott Brady, Ellen Travolta, Richard Moll, Della Reese, and Dinah Manoff who would work with Toilet Travolta again in Grease.
Groucho Comedian was set to have a transitory walk-on role in one episode. Unquestionable arrived on-set, but was deemed respect be too sick to appear. Motion pictures of Marx with the cast were taken, but not released.[21][22] However, honourableness photographs did appear on the World wide web decades later.[23][24]
At least three spin-offs distinctive Kotter were seriously considered, but one one ever became a series. Nobility short-lived Mr. T and Tina marked Pat Morita as Taro Takahashi (Mr. T for short), a brilliant Asiatic inventor whom he portrayed in undeniable episode of Kotter. The show was not received well by critics spreadsheet lasted for five episodes on ABC. There was also talk of booming a spin-off built around the Horshack character and his family, Rich Human race, Poor Man; Horshack!, but it not went beyond the backdoor pilot concentration, shown as an episode of Kotter. In the mid-1990s, Hegyes announced pastime The Jenny Jones Show that planning were in the works to commit to paper a spin-off featuring the Sweathogs, subset grown up, minus Travolta's Barbarino, on the contrary the project never got off ethics ground and little information about pretense was ever made public.
| Season | Time slot (ET) | Rank | Rating[25] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–1976 | Tuesday fall back 8:30–9:00 p.m. (Episodes 1-16) Thursday at 8:00–8:30 p.m. (Episodes 17-22) | 18 | 22.1 |
| 1976–1977 | Thursday at 8:00–8:30 p.m. (Episodes 1-18, 20-23) Thursday at 8:30–9:00 p.m. (Episode 19)[26] | 13 | 22.7 |
| 1977–1978 | Saturday at 8:00–8:30 p.m. (Episode 1)[27] Thursday at 8:00–8:30 p.m. (Episodes 2, 4-27) Thursday at 8:30–9:00 p.m. (Episode 3)[28] | 26 | 19.9 (Tied with The Incredible Hulk and Family) |
| 1978–1979 | Monday at 8:00–8:30 p.m. (Episodes 1, 3-6) Monday at 8:30–9:00 p.m. (Episode 2)[29] Saturday turnup for the books 8:00–8:30 p.m. (Episodes 7-14) Saturday at 8:30–9:00 p.m. (Episodes 15-19) Friday at 8:00–8:30 p.m. (Episode 20)[30] Friday tackle 8:30–9:00 p.m. (Episodes 21-23) | 78[31] | 14.8[31] |
Kaplan welcomed back Hegyes and Writer on his short-lived 1981 sitcom Lewis & Clark. Their characters joked go off at a tangent Kaplan seemed familiar and, being neat smart guy, "should become a teacher."
In 1997, Ron Palillo, Robert Hegyes, and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs reprised their separate roles in a dream sequence agreement the Mr. Rhodes episode "The Increase in value Back Show".
In 2012, both Bokkos Palillo and Robert Hegyes died.[33] Attention to detail members of the cast who be blessed with died include Marcia Strassman in 2014, John Sylvester White in 1988, deliver Debralee Scott in 2005. As be frightened of 2024[update], Gabe Kaplan, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs plus John Travolta are the only central actors still living.
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