Welcome Back, Kotter (Welcome Back, Kotter)

Member Name: Jelboy18

Product:	Welcome Back, Kotter
Date:	27/07/08 (164 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funny show, great cast - the start of John Travoltas career

Disadvantages: No reruns in Uk on Tv or available DVD's of all series

"Introduction"

Welcome Back, Kotter was an American Sitcom that aired for four years from 1975 to 1979. The program was originally broadcast on the ABC Network with an approximate running time of 23 minutes per episode. The series focuses on the life of a teacher, Mr Kotter, who comes back to his old school to teach a class of remedial students infamously known as the 'sweathogs'. This show is known as the starting grounds of the career of John Travolta, in his role of 'Vinny Barbarino.'

"Plot"

Gabe Kotter (Gabriel kaplan) returns to his old school now as a teacher. Having once been in the remedial class in James Buchanan High in Brooklyn, New York, he returns to teach the same type of students 'Social Studies'. Comedian Kaplan's character is a wise cracking teacher who takes the new Sweathogs under his wing.

Kotter and his wife Julie live in a small apartment, and each of the episodes start and end with Mr Kotter sharing a joke with his wife. This guarantees a small laugh before the program even begins. Each of the characters help fill up the storylines e.g. Vinny gets tutored, Epstein runs away from home etc etc. I have given the basic plot but to help understand the program, below is a small description of each of the students.

"The Students"

Vinny Barbarino (John Travolta) is the leader of the so called 'Sweathogs'. A stereotypical Italian American, Vinny is a ladies man, in the same way as Grease and Saturday Night Fever. At times Travolta becomes extremely comical when he enters one of his confused states.

Arnold Horshack (Ron Palillo) is the clown of the sweathogs. He is perhaps the most nonsensical and dim witted. His trademark is his ridiculous laugh which is in essence extremely loud panting.

Freddy "Boom Boom" Washington: "Hi there" - Freddy is a black African American student who has great sporting skills especially on the basketball court. He often becomes the voice of the class.

Juan Luis Pedro Philippo DeHuevos Epstein: Yes...a Puerto Rican Jew. This is possibly the only one I know in existence. Very produ of his heritage, Epstein always tries to act as the hardball. Of course he would always have an explanation for any misdemeanors or bad grades. This would come through the form of a note from...signed.....Epsteins Mothers Doctor.

"Why is it funny?"

Having watched the first series of this program I found something I really enjoyed and liked. This is a script with characters that can make you laugh just by looking at them. The lead character in Mr Kotter is fantastic. His jokes are at times hilarious and his approach to teaching is enjoyable to watch. At times he acts just like a student, countering something said by a sweathog with something more cheeky. The students each bring their own little addition the sitcom. Catchphrases were made famous though the 95 episodes, leading to the appearance of these characters on lunch boxes and cereals.

"Why on Eath is an 18 year old reviewing something from the 1970's?"

I have one answer. If something is funny to me, someone from a younger generation, then there is no reason why this program cant be appealing to other people my age or indeed to people who were alive during its run in America.

On a cruise 2 years ago I was getting ready for dinner in my room. After brushing my teeth and washing up I came out of the bathroom and started to get my clothes ready. While laying them neatly on my bed I heard some noise from the TV. I heard what I thought was Travolta. I was correct. I turned around and watched what was on TV. The channel was watching retro TV. I got to see 5 minutes and I was laughing out loud. Unfortunately I had no idea what was the name of the program. Luckily enough a few nights later, I heard some music from the same channel. It was the intro music to the program. Since this time I have been singing this little song for ages, even infecting it onto my brother. He hasnt even seen the program. The theme was recorded by John Sebastien and in the 1970's it was a number one hit for an entire year.

I have researched this program widely and I have found that it was aired in the Uk on ITV in 1981 for two years, showing 26 episodes. Therefore I know that some people will know about the show. However, most people I come across have no idea of its existence. This is why I was of the belief that I should do some sort of review.

"Welcome Back Kotter in Current Media"

I have heard references to this program in several new American sitcoms. However I never understood it until I saw the show. In Friends, Ross Gellar is referred to as looking like 'Mr Kotter' according to Joey in the flash back of Thanksgiving. In King Of Queens when Doug says his best vacation was in an RV, a flashback shows him watching Welcome Back Kotter in the back of the RV as a child while his parents were calling him to look at some of the landmark sites. Other references have come in Family guy and other shows.

The show has been mimicked in Saturday Night Live sketches and is currently an idea of a motion picture casting new actors into the roles is being constructed.

To people who may have heard of the name Gabe Kaplan, he is a comedian and professional poker player, winning large amounts of money through the World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker Championships. Most recently he is a commentator on a program known as high stakes poker.

"Conclusion"

There have been two DVD releases of the program. One consisted of six of the best episodes of the 4 series. After the success of this, they finally released the first series on DVD in June 2007.

The show has a great cast with good comic writers. The show has also had some interesting guest stars such as Pat Morita (karate Kid) and George Carlson (Bill and Ted). The show is an Emmy nominated program that will guarantee laughs.

As I said, I dont really believe that the primary review for this program should be made by someone so young but instead by someone who lived through that generation and experienced all 4 series. However, my opinion should still be valid in saying that it is an enjoyable program that provides great entertainment, especially in times you need a laugh.

4 Stars

Jelboy

Summary: Gabe Kotter returns to his old school to teach a class of remedial students, one being John Travolta