The show stars comedianGabe Kaplan as the title character Gabe Kotter, a wise-cracking teacher who returns to his high school alma mater—the fictional James Buchanan High in Brooklyn, New York—to teach an often unruly group of remedial wiseguys known as the "Sweathogs" (the nickname reflecting the fact that the remedial classes were held on the very top floor of the high school). The school's principal was perpetually absent, while the uptight vice principal dismissed the Sweathogs as worthless hoodlums and only expected Kotter to attempt to control them until they inevitably dropped out.
Ninety-five episodes were produced during Welcome Back, Kotter's four-year run.[2] The show's producers did not know for certain that the show would be cancelled after the 1978–79 season due to declining ratings.[3]Kotter has no official finale with the long-awaited graduation for the Sweathogs. Instead, the last original episode dealt with a feud that ensues when Washington (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs) gets an after-school job Epstein (Robert Hegyes) felt was rightly his.
Pilot episode: Gabe is introduced to the Sweathogs on his first day as a teacher. In frustration, he quits, but the Sweathogs visit him at home and convince him to return.
4
4
"Whodunit?"
Bob LaHendro
Jewel Jaffe & Jerry Rannow
September 30, 1975 (1975-09-30)
Rosalie Totsy claims one of the Sweathogs got her pregnant as an effort to change her reputation.
5
5
"The Election"
Bob LaHendro
Eric Cohen & Tiffany York
October 7, 1975 (1975-10-07)
Vinnie runs for student body president, but his campaign is a disaster, despite Gabe's efforts.
Vernajean and Freddie decide to get married so they can stay together, but the Sweathogs convince them otherwise.
8
8
"One of Our Sweathogs Is Missing"
Bob LaHendro
Marilyn Miller
October 28, 1975 (1975-10-28)
Epstein gets in a fight with Todd Ludlow after insulting his date; Epstein loses and runs away for a couple of days.
9
9
"Mr. Kotter, Teacher"
Bob LaHendro
Jewel Jaffe & Jerry Rannow
November 4, 1975 (1975-11-04)
Mr. Woodman accuses Gabe of not following standard teaching procedures because he isn't teaching from the standard textbook. The Sweathogs come to his defense in front of the school board.
Gabe isn't happy about an old "perfect" schoolmate and his "perfect" wife visiting him.
11
11
"Barbarino's Girl"
Bob LaHendro
Eric Cohen
November 25, 1975 (1975-11-25)
Judy tutors Vinnie, and they start liking each other. The Sweathogs start cracking jokes, but Vinnie stands up for her.
12
12
"California Dreamin'"
Bob LaHendro
Michael Weinberger
December 2, 1975 (1975-12-02)
A new student (Bambi) pretends to be a surfer girl and distracts all the Sweathogs.
13
13
"Arrividerci, Arnold"
Bob LaHendro
Jewel Jaffe & Jerry Rannow
December 16, 1975 (1975-12-16)
Woodman promotes Horshack out of the Sweathogs, but he gets let back in after Gabe and the class convince him otherwise.
14
14
"The Longest Weekend"
Bob LaHendro
Carl Kleinschmitt
January 6, 1976 (1976-01-06)
Julie goes away on a ski trip to Vermont with a recently divorced friend. Gabe is lonely and prepares to visit her, but is interrupted when she comes home early.
15
15
"The Sit-In"
Bob LaHendro
William Bickley & Michael Warren
January 13, 1976 (1976-01-13)
The Sweathogs protest the cafeteria's liver by planning a food fight, but Gabe convinces them to have a sit-in as an alternate method of protesting.
16
16
"Follow The Leader: Part 1"
Bob LaHendro
Jewel Jaffe & Jerry Rannow
January 20, 1976 (1976-01-20)
The class votes to make Freddie the new Sweathog leader, which causes Vinnie to quit school. Julie is jealous of Gabe's attention to the Sweathogs, and goes to stay at a hotel.
17
17
"Follow The Leader: Part 2"
Bob LaHendro
Jewel Jaffe & Jerry Rannow
January 22, 1976 (1976-01-22)
The Sweathogs tire of Freddie as their leader, and Gabe convinces Vinnie to return to school. Julie forgives Gabe and moves back home.
18
18
"Dr. Epstein, I Presume"
Bob LaHendro
George Yanok
January 29, 1976 (1976-01-29)
Epstein wants to become a veterinarian, but is discouraged by his guidance counselor since his grades don't show that he can.
19
19
"One Flu Over The Cuckoo's Nest"
Bob LaHendro
Eric Cohen
February 5, 1976 (1976-02-05)
After a flu epidemic hits, Gabe combines the few remaining healthy students into one class.
The Sweathogs put on a telethon to raise $700 for new supplies so they can continue to have a class.
21
21
"Kotter Makes Good"
Bob LaHendro
George Yanok
February 19, 1976 (1976-02-19)
Gabe volunteers to take tests with the Sweathogs after Mr. Woodman can't find his senior exams. The records are found, but Gabe takes the tests anyway.
22
22
"Father Vinnie"
Bob LaHendro
Eric Cohen
February 26, 1976 (1976-02-26)
Vinnie's dying grandmother wants him to become a priest. Vinnie tries, but gives it up when he has to stop dating.
Season 2 (1976–77)
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original release date
23
1
"Career Day"
Bill Hobin
Eric Cohen
September 23, 1976 (1976-09-23)
Gabe is offered a job by a wealthy Asian (Pat Morita), but decides teaching is more important than wealth.
24
2
"Inherit The Halibut"
Bill Hobin
Neil Rosen & George Tricker
September 30, 1976 (1976-09-30)
The Sweathogs accuse Freddie (the class treasurer) of stealing some money to buy himself a new bike, and put him on trial.
The Sweathogs try to form their own gang in response to a scare from another gang. Gabe, Arnold, and Mr. Woodman act tough enough to scare both gangs out of any violent activity. (The title is a takeoff on West Side Story.)
26
4
"The Fight"
Bob LaHendro
Jewel Jaffe & Jerry Rannow
October 21, 1976 (1976-10-21)
Vinnie forgets to do Freddie's "show and tell" homework as promised, causing the Sweathogs to have a fight.
27
5
"The Museum"
Bill Davis
Bob Shayne
October 28, 1976 (1976-10-28)
The Sweathogs go on a field trip to a museum and meet its mysterious, superstitious curator (John Astin). In the process, they all get locked in a tomb of a mummy which supposedly holds a curse.
Gabe has a stomach pain, but is afraid to get a physical at the free clinic.
29
7
"Sweathog, Nebraska Style"
Bob LaHendro
George Yanok
November 11, 1976 (1976-11-11)
Julie's sister Jenny from Nebraska makes a surprise visit. Much to Julie's dismay, Jenny goes out with Epstein, but dumps him after getting a call from her ex-boyfriend.
30
8
"Sadie Hawkins Day"
Bob LaHendro
Steven Clements & Joyce Gittlin
November 18, 1976 (1976-11-18)
All of the Sweathogs have dates for the Sadie Hawkins dance except Vinnie, due to his insensitivity, so he attends alone. (Note: A then unknown Dinah Manoff guest stars on this episode. She would meet up with John Travolta again for 1978's Grease.)
Epstein's sister Carmen (Lisa Mordente) joins the Sweathogs, but he threatens to kill anyone who lays a hand on her.
36
14
"Caruso's Way"
Bob LaHendro
Jim Parker
January 6, 1977 (1977-01-06)
Mr. Caruso (Scott Brady) slaps Vinnie during gym class, and is late for his next class. Caruso refuses to apologize, despite Vinnie's apology, and challenges him to an arm-wrestling match.
37
15
"Sweatgate Scandal"
Bob LaHendro
Eric Cohen
January 13, 1977 (1977-01-13)
After a break-in at Principal Lazarus' office, the Sweathogs decide to investigate while working on the school newspaper.
38
16
"Kotter and Son"
Bob LaHendro
Nick Arnold & Peter Meyerson
January 20, 1977 (1977-01-20)
Gabe's father (Harold J. Stone), convinced that Gabe is in the wrong career, comes for a visit and observes him with the Sweathogs.
Gabe cannot afford a root canal, so he works a night job as Captain Chicken to pay for it; Julie thinks he's having an affair.
40
18
"Has Anyone Seen Arnold?"
Bob LaHendro
Nick Arnold & Peter Meyerson
February 3, 1977 (1977-02-03)
Horshack goes missing, and Vinnie takes his place as the lead in the school play, Cyrano de Bergerac. Part 1 of 2.
41
19
"There Goes Number 5"
James Komack & Bob LaHendro
Jewel Jaffe & Jerry Rannow
February 3, 1977 (1977-02-03)
The reason for Horshack's absence turns out to be the death of his fifth father. Horshack takes on the responsibility of providing for his mother and siblings, and gets a part-time job with his uncle. Conclusion.
42
20
"The Littlest Sweathog"
Bob LaHendro
Eric Cohen
February 10, 1977 (1977-02-10)
Gabe and Julie find out that she's pregnant.
43
21
"Radio Free Freddie"
Bob LaHendro
Peter Meyerson, Neil Rosen & George Yanok
February 17, 1977 (1977-02-17)
The Sweathogs are invited to go on the air at a local radio station. Freddie goes on after the other three decline, and becomes an instant success, but risks losing his friends. George Carlin and Fred Grandy guest star.
44
22
"I'm Having Their Baby"
Bob LaHendro
Neil Rosen & George Tricker
February 24, 1977 (1977-02-24)
While Gabe is away at a teacher's convention, the Sweathogs try to help Julie with her pregnancy, but make her even more uncomfortable in the process.
45
23
"I Wonder Who's Kissing Gabe Now"
Bob LaHendro
Nick Arnold & Peter Meyerson
March 3, 1977 (1977-03-03)
The art teacher tells Gabe she is in love with him and kisses him, despite his resistance. Gabe tells Julie but forgets to mention the kiss. Epstein backs up Gabe's story.
The Sweathogs reminisce about the last two years as they start a new semester.
47
2
"And Baby Makes Four"
Bob Claver
Eric Cohen
September 15, 1977 (1977-09-15)
48
3
The Sweathogs return to school as 11th graders, except for Vinnie. Julie goes into labor, and Woodman has to announce it over the school loudspeakers after Gabe threw him out of his classroom. Part 1 of 3.While Julie is giving birth to twins, Vinnie tries to get Gabe to talk to Woodman about letting him back into the 11th grade. Part 2 of 3.
49
4
"The Visit"
Bob Claver
Gabriel Kaplan
September 22, 1977 (1977-09-22)
Julie's parents come for an unexpected visit to see the twins, and Gabe has to sleep on the fire escape. The Sweathogs help Gabe get up the courage to ask them to leave. Conclusion
50
5
"Buddy, Can You Spare a Million?"
Bob Claver
Nick Arnold & Peter Meyerson
September 29, 1977 (1977-09-29)
Gabe and Vinnie fight over prize money from a lottery ticket.
A new student named Angie (Melonie Haller) wants to join the Sweathogs, but is denied membership because she is a girl.
64
19
"Epstein's Term Paper"
Bob Claver
Eric Cohen
January 19, 1978 (1978-01-19)
Epstein buys four term papers from Carvelli (Charles Fleischer) and the Sweathogs turn them in as their own, only to discover that Gabe wrote one of them 11 years earlier.
65
20
"There's No Business: Part 1"
Bob Claver
Gabriel Kaplan
January 26, 1978 (1978-01-26)
The Sweathogs convince Gabe to pursue his dream as a stand-up comic. His imitations of them are a success, and he gives up teaching for a job at a nightclub.
66
21
"There's No Business: Part 2"
Bob Claver
George Bloom & Beverly Bloomberg
February 2, 1978 (1978-02-02)
The Sweathogs and Mr. Woodman want Gabe to come back to teaching.
67
22
"What Goes Up"
Jeff Bleckner
Nick Arnold
February 9, 1978 (1978-02-09)
Freddie becomes hooked on prescription painkillers, but the only thing that saves him is Epstein's "vitamin pills."
68
23
"Goodbye, Mr. Kripps"
Bob Claver
Garry Ferrier & Aubrey Tadman
February 16, 1978 (1978-02-16)
Vinnie blames himself for his shop teacher's fatal heart attack, which came on while Mr. Kripps was yelling at him.
The Sweathogs are upset when Gabe becomes vice-principal (therefore not spending enough time with them), and decide to drop out.The Sweathogs decide to come back to school, after trying to get jobs at a hospital.
75
3
"Beau's Jest"
Norman Abbott
Earl Barret, Richard Hawkins & Liz Sage
September 18, 1978 (1978-09-18)
A new student, Beau De Labarre (Stephen Shortridge), is trying to take attention away from the Sweathogs.
Mr. Woodman goes to the hospital for surgery, and Vinnie, an orderly there, misplaces him while distracted in front of a bank of elevators. The Sweathogs make an exhaustive search over the massive 700-room facility.
80
8
"X-Rated Education"
Norman Abbott
Bill Greer & Kathy Greer
October 28, 1978 (1978-10-28)
The Sweathogs try to watch an X-rated film after it is accidentally switched with a sex education film intended to show to placate a group of disapproving conservative parents.
81
9
"The Barbarino Blues"
Norman Abbott
Linda Morris & Vic Rauseo
November 4, 1978 (1978-11-04)
Vinnie is depressed when the girl he wanted to break up with dumped him first.
82
10
"Washington's Clone"
Norman Abbott
Dinah Kirgo & Julie Kirgo
November 11, 1978 (1978-11-11)
A younger student tries to impress the Sweathogs by imitating Freddie.
83
11
"Frog Day Afternoon"
Norman Abbott
Earl Barret, Richard Hawkins & Liz Sage
November 25, 1978 (1978-11-25)
Horshack refuses to dissect a frog in biology class, which jeopardizes his grade.
84
12
"A Little Fright Music"
Norman Abbott
Earl Barret & George Bloom
December 2, 1978 (1978-12-02)
The Sweathogs try to change Mr. Woodman's school song to a disco version.
85
13
"A Winter's Coat Tale"
Norman Abbott
Earl Barret & George Bloom
December 16, 1978 (1978-12-16)
Vinnie's new coat is stolen by muggers.
86
14
"Bride and Gloom"
Norman Abbott
Earl Barret & George Bloom
January 13, 1979 (1979-01-13)
Epstein asks Vinnie to marry his immigrant cousin so she can get citizenship.
87
15
"Barbarino's Baby"
Norman Abbott
Linda Morris & Vic Rauseo
February 3, 1979 (1979-02-03)
Barbarino delivers a baby in an elevator. (This episode was the final appearance of John Travolta on the series.)
88
16
"The Goodbye Guy"
Norman Abbott
Suzanne Gayle Harris, Rick Hawkins & Liz Sage
February 10, 1979 (1979-02-10)
Epstein almost moves in with Mr. Woodman's niece (Georganne LaPiere) after falling in love with her, but the relationship falls apart.
89
17
"Come Back, Little Arnold"
Norman Abbott
Rick Hawkins & Liz Sage
February 24, 1979 (1979-02-24)
Horshack develops a drinking problem, after drinking liquor to get up his nerve with Mary. However, his altered personality only drives her away. Della Reese guest stars.
90
18
"The Sweat Smell of Success"
Norman Abbott
Earl Barret & George Bloom
March 3, 1979 (1979-03-03)
Epstein turns the school newspaper into a tabloid, and endangers his friendships in the process.
91
19
"The Gang Show"
Norman Abbott
Gene Perret & Bill Richmond
March 17, 1979 (1979-03-17)
Epstein and Freddie enter a talent show. Carvelli has bribed some judges, but Horshack and Beau take over. (Episode title is a takeoff on The Gong Show.)
92
20
"Oo-Oo, I Do"
Norman Abbott
Gene Perret & Bill Richmond
May 25, 1979 (1979-05-25)
93
21
Horshack proposes marriage to Mary after learning he has to move.Horshack and Mary get married, despite the Sweathogs' teasing.
94
22
"I'm Okay, But You're Not"
Norman Abbott
Richard Hawkins & Liz Sage
June 1, 1979 (1979-06-01)
Beau plays pranks on Mr. Woodman in order to redeem himself to the Sweathogs.
95
23
"The Breadwinners"
Norman Abbott
Linda Morris & Vic Rauseo
June 8, 1979 (1979-06-08)
While Horshack adjusts to married life, Freddie gets the job that Epstein was going to interview for, resulting in a fight.
