"Welcome Back, Kotter" (1975) TV series 1975-1979

Creators:

Gabe Kaplan
Alan Sacks
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

9 September 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A compassionate teacher returns to his inner city high school of his youth to teach a new generation of trouble making kids.

Plot Keywords:

School | High School | Teacher | Insult | Inner City

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Marcia Strassman	...	Julie Kotter (92 episodes, 1975-1979)
John Sylvester White	...	Mr. Michael Woodman (92 episodes, 1975-1979)
Robert Hegyes	...	Juan Epstein (92 episodes, 1975-1979)
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs	...	Freddie 'Boom Boom' Washington (92 episodes, 1975-1979)
Ron Palillo	...	Arnold Horshack (91 episodes, 1975-1979)
Gabe Kaplan	...	Gabe Kotter (79 episodes, 1975-1979)
John Travolta	...	Vinnie Barbarino (78 episodes, 1975-1979)

Series Directed by
Bob LaHendro		(38 episodes, 1975-1977)
Norman Abbott		(23 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bob Claver		(20 episodes, 1977-1978)
James Komack		(3 episodes, 1975-1977)
Bill Hobin		(2 episodes, 1976)

Series Writing credits
Peter Meyerson		(24 episodes, 1975-1978)
Eric Cohen		(16 episodes, 1975-1978)
Gabe Kaplan		(16 episodes, 1975-1978)
Alan Sacks		(12 episodes, 1975)
George Arthur Bloom		(12 episodes, 1977-1979)
Nick Arnold		(11 episodes, 1976-1978)
Jewel Jaffe		(8 episodes, 1975-1977)
Jerry Rannow		(8 episodes, 1975-1977)
George Yanok		(7 episodes, 1975-1977)
Earl Barret		(6 episodes, 1978-1979)
Rick Hawkins		(6 episodes, 1978-1979)
Liz Sage		(6 episodes, 1978-1979)
Beverly Bloomberg		(5 episodes, 1977-1978)
Gene Perret		(5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bill Richmond		(5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Linda Morris		(4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Vic Rauseo		(4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Neil Rosen		(3 episodes, 1976-1978)
George Tricker		(3 episodes, 1976-1978)
Steve Clements		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Joyce Gittlin		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Paul Mason		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)
Garry Ferrier		(2 episodes, 1978)
Aubrey Tadman		(2 episodes, 1978)
Ed Simmons		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
James Komack	....	executive producer (15 episodes, 1975-1979)
Alan Sacks	....	producer (12 episodes, 1975)
Thomas Hill	....	associate producer (11 episodes, 1975)
Michael Manheim	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1975-1977)
Claire Barrett Young	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Original Music by
John Sebastian		(1 episode, 1977)

Series Film Editing by
Terry M. Pickford		(23 episodes, 1976-1977)
Susan Jenkins		(8 episodes, 1975)
Les Shaw		(7 episodes, 1975)
Stephen McKeown		(5 episodes, 1975)
Manuel Martinez		(3 episodes, 1975)

Series Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster		(1 episode, 1975)

Series Art Direction by
Roy Christopher		(15 episodes, 1975-1979)
James Shanahan		(6 episodes, 1975)
Jim Shanahan		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Set Decoration by
Charles Kreiner		(1 episode, 1975)

Series Makeup Department
Harry Blake	....	makeup artist (11 episodes, 1975)

Series Production Management
Conrad Holzgang	....	production supervisor / executive in charge of production / ... (15 episodes, 1975-1979)
Gary Necessary	....	unit manager (10 episodes, 1975)
Paul Mason	....	production supervisor (2 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mary Hardwick	....	associate director (10 episodes, 1975)

Series Art Department
James Shanahan	....	assistant art director (6 episodes, 1975-1977)

Series Sound Department
Ron Estes	....	audio (9 episodes, 1975)
Bill Cole	....	audio (2 episodes, 1975)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Herb Margolis	....	lighting director (5 episodes, 1975)
Carl Pitsch	....	lighting director (3 episodes, 1975)
Les Shaw	....	video operator (3 episodes, 1975)
Lon Stucky	....	lighting director (3 episodes, 1975)

Series Casting Department
Jorge Luis Rodriguez	....	casting (11 episodes, 1975-1977)
Lynn Stalmaster	....	original casting (11 episodes, 1975)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Toni Vitale	....	costume supervisor / costumes / ... (12 episodes, 1975-1979)

Series Music Department
John Sebastian	....	composer: theme song / composer: theme music (14 episodes, 1975-1979)

Series Other crew
Earl Barret	....	executive story consultant / executive script consultant (23 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bill Daly	....	production clerk (23 episodes, 1978-1979)
Eric Cohen	....	script supervisor / creative consultant / ... (13 episodes, 1975-1978)
Jewel Jaffe	....	story editor / executive script consultant (12 episodes, 1975-1977)
Diane Katz	....	assistant to producer (12 episodes, 1975-1977)
Jerry Rannow	....	story editor / executive script consultant (12 episodes, 1975-1977)
Mei Ling Moore	....	production assistant (12 episodes, 1975)
Sandy Carrillo	....	administrative assistant (11 episodes, 1975)
Jim Cox	....	stage manager (11 episodes, 1975)
Moki de Marco	....	production assistant (11 episodes, 1975)
Linda Robertson	....	production assistant (11 episodes, 1975)
Maxine Surks	....	production assistant (11 episodes, 1975)
Christopher Cookson	....	engineering supervisor (10 episodes, 1975-1976)
Karl Messerschmidt	....	technical director (9 episodes, 1975)
Paul Miller	....	stage manager (9 episodes, 1975)
George Yanok	....	script consultant (7 episodes, 1975)
Sandy Dvore	....	komack logo (5 episodes, 1975)
Peter Meyerson	....	executive script consultant (4 episodes, 1975)
Susan Jenkins	....	video tape editor (3 episodes, 1975)
Stephen McKeown	....	video tape editor (3 episodes, 1975)
Giovanna Nigro	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1975)
James Woodworth	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• The Komack Company Inc.
• Wolper Productions

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1975-1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD) (compilation)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD) (season 1)
• Warner Bros. Television

Also Known As:

Kotter (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min (95 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-PG | Argentina:Atp | Singapore:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

ABC Television Center - 4151 Prospect Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

The Komack Company Inc.

Trivia:

This sitcom was not aired in Italy until John Travolta's big smash on the silver screen as Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever (1977), whose title was literally translated as "La febbre del sabato sera". This is why Italian adaptors decided to rename this sitcom "I ragazzi del sabato sera", i.e. "Saturday Night Guys".

Quotes:

Arnold Horshack: [gets on Epstein's case about his "notes from his mother"] "Please excuse Juan for being a sheephead." Signed: "Epstein's mother's veterinarian".

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Freaks and Geeks: Girlfriends and Boyfriends (#1.8)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Welcome Back

The Rise And Fall Of Its Own Roman Empire

It is a mystery to this day why this beloved sitcom has not been given the respect it so truly deserves. For one,it ranks highly among other shows of the 1970's that were so great from that decade which we truly remembered but also are still around in repeats: "All In The Family", "Sanford and Son","The Jeffersons","Good Times","One Day At A Time", "Barney Miller","Happy Days","Maude",and not to even mention "Different Strokes","What's Happening",and "Chico And The Man". These were the shows that we grew up watching but at the same time dealt with issues that were relevant in its day such as racism,divorce,abortion,civil rights,and unemployment not to mention being poor. The characters themselves which had their flaws whether pro or con(Archie Bunker, Fred Sanford,Maude Findley,James Evans,and George Jefferson not to mention Ann Romano)and these characters,when they had there say were either conservative,liberal,or moderate in their views of expression. And these are the characters that we can relate to upfront since during the 1970's we watch them with a candid viewpoint.

"Welcome Back Kotter",was one of those shows that we can relate with since it only ran for four seasons on ABC-TV from 1975 to 1979,and it was the launching pad for John Travolta,who emerged as a superstar in his own right because of this series. However,Gabe Kaplan may have been the star of show,but lets face facts here:It was John Travolta who was bringing in the ratings and the viewers for the show's first three seasons(1975-1977). During its first three seasons,it was nominated for its brilliant writing as well as its outstanding catchy theme song from John Sebastian,from the group "The Lovin Spoonfuls". The theme song itself is a standardized classic since during its heyday became a top ten hit and was also Grammy nominated. It was nominated for four Emmys between 1976,1978,1979-and basically won in 1976 for Outstanding Musical Score. The producers that made that show successful were the brilliant team of its creator(Gabe Kaplan)and producer,James Komack(who was also the show's executive producer)along with the writing team of Alan Sacks,George Yanok,and Eric Cohen. However,James Komack was also behind this series and also another classic 1970's sitcom,"Chico And The Man",which was on NBC.

"Welcome Back,Kotter",was about a dedicated teacher who wanted to return to his alma mater to try to deal with a bunch of remedial,misfit bunch of high school students that no one else wanted to deal with and to put it bluntly no one really cared. The casting was perfect for the NYC setting:from the nerd Horshack(Ron Palillo),the cool maverick Barbarino(John Travolta),the hot-headed Latino Epstein(Robert Hegyes), to the cool black male,Washington(Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs). There is also the school's principal,Mr. Woodman(John Sylvester). By the way,during the show's first three seasons,John Travolta wasn't the only one that became a mega superstar in his own right. However,the show was also a launching pad for Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as well,since he was still making movies when this series came out and continues to do so in movies and television and not to mention Broadway after the series ended. Also to point out the show made stars out of other actors as well including Vernee Watson,Debralee Scott,and Ron Palillo. The guest stars were also the focalpoint of the show including some that made their mark including a very teenage looking Michael Jackson,and not to mention others that would come on board as well. The timing during the first three seasons were awesome and purely magical and sometimes breathtaking within the first few episodes of the show. Then tragedy settles it which basically saw the decline of the show as well.

There were problems especially with actress Marcia Straussman,who was unhappy that her story lines on the show were limited. Another problem was the differences between Gabe Kaplan and James Komack and some of the writers on the show. The other problem was the disputes with the producers and network executives over at ABC who wanted control over the series. This led to Gabe Kaplan's lack of involvement over the show and its shows in the last two seasons of the series and some of the many problems which doomed it in which we never saw Kaplan much during the series final two seasons. In the show's final season,the episodes were silly not to mention unfunny and very sloppy. From there the actors on the show complained about the show's scripts since some of them were completely garbage. Not to mention the cast weren't teenagers anymore since they were grown adults playing adolescent kids,which goes to show they didn't looked like teenagers either. These were the factors led to the demise of the series in 1979,after producing 95 episodes. The other reason why the show demise? For one,it had to do with the leaving of John Travolta at the end of the show's third season especially when Travolta was a hot commodity in Hollywood after the huge success of the greatest disco-movie ever made,"Saturday Night Fever". After the series ended,Gabe Kaplan was never heard from again. The Rise and Fall Of The Kotter Empire.