Welcome Back, Kotter

ABC (ended 1979)

23 TOTAL REVIEWS Write A Review
16 EPISODES ONLINE Watch Online
jekyll User Score: 1140
EDITOR

EDIT

Show Summary

Premiered: Sep 09, 1975
Status: Ended

Gabe Kotter, formerly a Sweathog, returns to James Buchanan High as a teacher and is assigned the remedial class to which he once belonged. Mr. Kotter is an involved and caring teacher, which one would have to be in dealing with a certain four students in his class, who end up in trouble on a regular basis -- lady's man Vinnie Barbarino, the always cool Freddie "Boom-Boom" Washington, the tough Juan (Luis Pedro Phillipo de Huevos) Epstein, and the sheepish Arnold Dingfelder Horshack.''''Welcome Back, Kotter was based on Gabe Kaplan's own high school experiences with redmedial education and a teacher who cared dearly for her students.'' ''Changes on the show.''''Gabe Kaplan left the series in the third season. He hadn't expected the show to run as long as it had. Kotter was made Vice-Principal, and thus was seen considerably less. John Travolta, of course, found his own place as a celebrity, leaving the show around the same time Gabe Kaplan did (returning every so often as a "special guest star"). The replacement for Barbarino was Beau, who didn't help things much. By now the show had essentially lost its two biggest stars.''''Theme song.''''"Welcome Back" by John Sebastian:''''opening credits''''Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out.''Welcome back to that same old place that you laughed about. ''Well, the names have all changed since you hung around. ''But those dreams have remained and they've turned around. ''Who'd have thought they'd lead ya (who'd have thought they'd lead ya) ''Back here where we need ya (back here where we need ya)? ''Yeah, we tease him a lot 'cause we've got him on the spot, welcome back. ''Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.''Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.''''end credits''The second verse of the full song plays partially over the end credits. It goes as thus:''''Welcome back, we always could spot a friend.''Welcome back, and I smile when I think how you must have been.''And I know what a scene you were learnin' in.''Was there something that made you come back again?''And what could ever lead ya (what could ever lead ya)''Back here where we need ya (back here where we need ya)? ''Yeah, we tease him a lot 'cause we've got him on the spot, welcome back. ''Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.''Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.''''Catchphrases.''''Welcome Back, Kotter was a breeding ground for memorable catch phrases. If you have one that's been overlooked, feel free to contact the editor.''''Gabe Kotter:''"Hey, Julie, wanna hear a joke?" (or similar dialogue)''''Vinnie Barbarino:''"What? Where?"''"I'm so confused!"''"Ooookay, fine."''"I said a ba-ba-ba-ba-Barbarino..."''''Freddie "Boom-Boom" Washington:''"Hi there."''"I don't happen to have it...handy."''''Juan Epstein:''"Signed, Epstein's mother."''''Arnold Horshack:''"Ooh! Ooh, ooh!"''"Hello. How are ya? I'm Arnold Horshack."''"Very impressive, Mr. Kotter!"''"Be brave, little soldier." (or "buckaroo")''...and a very distinctive laugh.''''DVD?''Welcome Back, Kotter has yet to be released properly on either video or dvd. Be sure to visit TVShowsonDVD to vote for Welcome Back, Kotter on dvd (you will have to register for free in order to vote).moreless

8.2

Average Rating: Great

327 votes

Your Rating: 10

"Perfect"
Your Rating: 9.5

"Superb"
Your Rating: 9

"Superb"
Your Rating: 8.5

"Great"
Your Rating: 8

"Great"
Your Rating: 7.5

"Good"
Your Rating: 7

"Good"
Your Rating: 6.5

"Fair"
Your Rating: 6

"Fair"
Your Rating: 5.5

"Mediocre"
Your Rating: 5

"Mediocre"
Your Rating: 4.5

"Poor"
Your Rating: 4

"Poor"
Your Rating: 3.5

"Bad"
Your Rating: 3

"Bad"
Your Rating: 2.5

"Terrible"
Your Rating: 2

"Terrible"
Your Rating: 1.5

"Abysmal"
Your Rating: 1

"Abysmal"

Rate It

Episode Guide

See All

S 4 : Ep 23	The Breadwinners	Aired 6/8/79	go Amazon Buy iTunes Buy
S 4 : Ep 22	I'm Okay, But You're Not	Aired 6/1/79	go Amazon Buy iTunes Buy
S 4 : Ep 21	Oo-Oo, I Do (2)	Aired 5/25/79
S 4 : Ep 20	Oo-Oo, I Do (1)	Aired 5/25/79
S 4 : Ep 19	The Gang Show	Aired 3/17/79

Watch Welcome Back, Kotter Full Episodes

See All

go

Amazon

Buy

iTunes

Buy

The Breadwinners

S 4 : Ep 23

Aired 6/8/79
go

Amazon

Buy

iTunes

Buy

I'm Okay, But You're Not

S 4 : Ep 22

Aired 6/1/79
go

Amazon

Buy

iTunes

Buy

The Sweat Smell of Success

S 4 : Ep 18

Aired 3/3/79
go

Amazon

Buy

iTunes

Buy

Bride and Gloom

S 4 : Ep 14

Aired 1/13/79

Welcome Back, Kotter News

See All

28

June 12, 2007 DVD Releases

By Ian Micklewright, Jun 07, 2007

dvd_weekly_roundup.jpg DeadwoodThe Complete Third Season Buy the DVD! More Deadwood Show Summary | Episode Guide | Forum The PracticeVolume One Buy the DVD! More of The Practice Show Summary | Episode Guide | Forum Kathy Griffin: My Life on the… more
15

Travolta is J.R. Ewing

By Colin Mahan, Apr 21, 2006

The movie version of Dallas has finalized the casting of two lead roles, those of oil tycoon J.R. Ewing and his cunning wife, Sue Ellen. Hollywood heavyweight John Travolta will play J.R., and pop star/actress Jennifer Lopez will play Sue… more

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Robert Hegyes

Juan Epstein
Gabriel Kaplan

Gabe Kotter
Marcia Strassman

Julie Kotter

Fan Reviews (23)

See All

Not a good show

2.5

"Terrible"

By tjtalman, Feb 19, 2011 Report Abuse

I may have only seen a few episodes of this show, but in my opinion they were just terrible, they were just not funny. Beside the fact i can't stand John Travolta (besides the occasional movie his in), I found that the teacher Mr.Kotter to be even more annoying. The show was just not for me i don't know if it was the kind of comedy style but i just couldn't stand the show. I'm sorry if you don't agree with what i say but this show i not my kind of show, and i don't think i would recommend this show to anybody.moreless

DO YOU AGREE?
1 3
An enjoyable show that has, sadly, lost its luster for me in the new century...

5.0

"Mediocre"

By BatJane, Feb 19, 2011 Report Abuse

As a kid growing up in the 1970s, I made "Welcome Back Kotter" appointment viewing when I wasn't doing schoolwork. I used to laugh at the antics of the Sweathogs, particularly since I was in a special education class of my own in Central Indiana. But upon renting the first-season episodes of "Kotter" on DVD, I somehow don't find the stories nearly as amusing as I did as a child. Now I find Horshack's noises to be irritating rather than amusing. Gabe's jokes fall so flat as to be dated. Because the social issues are not as prevalent as on "Sanford & Son", "Welcome Back Kotter" becomes one overblown live-action cartoon. This is a sad commentary on what should have been a timeless comedy enjoyed through the ages.moreless

DO YOU AGREE?
0 0
The best thing this show had going was its theme song.

5.0

"Mediocre"

By FlyGirl79, Feb 19, 2011 Report Abuse

oh, Mr. Kawter...it's not that hystARical

What is it about this show? The acting was mediocre and the lines were too scripted. The '70s styles were not attractive. The plots were never compelling nor were the endings surprising.

Still...I would watch it if they brought it back to Tv Land.

DO YOU AGREE?
1 2
It was a trendsetting show from the 70's

8.6

"Great"

By McBurgermeister, Feb 03, 2009 Report Abuse

Ok so it is time to fess up. Who didn't watch this show. A comedy centered around a group of misfit kids. That formula became a mainstay for comedy shows to follow decades later. The center of the show was the original misfit teacher himself, Mr Kotter. His students, each with different issues and personalities all fit in with someone we each knew or could associate with back in the day. There was Barbarino, the ladies man. We had one of those in high school. Horseshack, the nerdy guy, who wasnt smart, just weird. Freddie Washington the con man jock who tried to smooth his way past everything. And of course Juan Epstein, a Puerto Rican of Jewish decent tough guy, who tried to bully his way past those who got in his way. They are all familiar personality types, and the stroies were good, although the repeatetive nature of them sometimes got tedious in later years. But the best part of the show was always his narrative about his "uncle", a different uncle each week with a different bad joke at the end. Personally, at times, I kind of miss this kind of simplistic humor.moreless

DO YOU AGREE?
1 0
Ok, G - here's my review!

10

"Perfect"

By bapretzel2, Jun 22, 2008 Report Abuse

Just for you, G! Great show, you rocked!
Just for you, G! Great show, you rocked!
Just for you, G! Great show, you rocked!
Just for you, G! Great show, you rocked!
Just for you, G! Great show, you rocked!
Just for you, G! Great show, you rocked!
Just for you, G! Great show, you rocked!
Just for you, G! Great show, you rocked!
Just for you, G! Great show, you rocked!
Just for you, G! Great show, you rocked!
Just for you, G! Great show, you rocked!
Just for you, G! Great show, you rocked!
Just for you, G! Great show, you rocked!
Just for you, G! Great show, you rocked!moreless

DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Write a Review

Forums

Add a Topic See All

Last Activity

Replies

R.I.P Epstein
Sadly Robert Hedges aka Juan Epstein has passed away. He was the funniest sweathog.

By snake63, Jan 27, 2012

01/27/12

1
Reply
Who is your favorite sweathog?
My favorite sweathog is Barbarino. He is so dim witted and cute. What r some other favorite sweathogs and why?

By BARBARINOISHOT, Jun 25, 2007

09/22/11

6
Reply
Identfying an episode,
Can anyone ID this epsiode based on this one great scene that is forever etched in my mnd although I can't remember much of anythi...

By JonJax, Jun 26, 2009

07/26/09

2
Reply
Who watched this show?
Thought I'd see if anyone remembers this show. Write if ya'll do.

By SistersP3, Jan 03, 2006

04/11/08

22
Reply
Theme Song
Welcome back, Your dreams were your ticket out. Welcome back, To that same old place that you laughed about. Well the names...

By lipgloss77, Jan 08, 2006

06/24/07

7
Reply