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Season 1 – Welcome Back, Kotter

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Welcome Back, Kotter Sep 1975 Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 7 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Gabe Kotter returns to his old high school -- this time as a teacher. He's put in charge of a class full of unruly remedial students called the Sweathogs. They're a bunch of wisecracking, underachieving and incorrigible students, and it takes all of Mr. Kotter's humor -- and experience as a former Sweathog himself -- to deal with his class.
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Welcome Back, Kotter — Season 1

Critics Reviews

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Jen Chaney Los Angeles Times Sep 12, 2018
[The Sweathogs] were supposed to be juvenile delinquents, but each of them is about as threatening as a Teletubby. Still, the four actors who played them remain likable. Go to Full Review Nathan Rabin AV Club Sep 12, 2018
A-
Kotter wasn't exactly gritty, but it was refreshingly non-slick. Go to Full Review Ken Tucker Entertainment Weekly Sep 11, 2018
B-
Travolta's Brooklyn accent is more convincing than that of anyone else in the cast, and, alone among his costars, he exudes a friendliness and vulnerability that makes the machine-gun pace of the jokes bearable. Go to Full Review Matt Cibula PopMatters Apr 11, 2019
7/10
All you need is a sense of humor, with a very high tolerance for corny vaudeville jokes and tuna casserole gags. Go to Full Review Sierra Filucci Common Sense Media Sep 11, 2018
4/5
'Kotter' rarely reflects the reality of its inner-city public school setting. But this breezy treatment allows for some memorable, if superficial, characters. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Sep 26, 2025 22 funny episodes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more isa e @RT65594135 May 2, 2023 watched as a kid, great nostalgia, good cast and amazing theme song See more B. B @b.b.2026 Apr 4, 2023 One of my favorite shows growing up as a kid in the late 1970s. The first 3 seasons are worth watching. Season 4 is mostly a dud and Travolta and Gabe Kaplan are not even in the show the last half of the season. See more Read all reviews
Welcome Back, Kotter — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Bob LaHendro

Director

James Komack

Director

Gabe Kaplan

Gabe Kotter

Marcia Strassman

Julie Kotter

John Sylvester White

Mr. Michael Woodman

Robert Hegyes

Juan Epstein

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 9, 1975 The Great Debate The Sweathogs go into verbal battle against the debate class. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 16, 1975 Basket Case Gabe has a problem when Washington makes the varsity basketball team and decides not to take his exams. Details Episode 3 Aired Sep 23, 1975 Pilot Gabe Kotter lands his first teaching job back at his old high school. Details Episode 4 Aired Sep 30, 1975 Whodunit? Rosalie Totzie announces that one of Gabe's students is the father of her unborn child. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 7, 1975 The Election When Barbarino decides to run for student body president, his campaign techniques create problems. Details Episode 6 Aired Oct 14, 1975 No More Mr. Nice Guy Mr. Woodman turns into a nice guy when he begins teaching again. Details Episode 7 Aired Oct 21, 1975 Classroom Marriage Gabe conducts a class on marriage, hoping to convince Freddie and Vernajean to wait before tying the knot. Details Episode 8 Aired Oct 28, 1975 One of Our Sweathogs Is Missing After losing a fight, Epstein disappears because he can't take the harassment from fellow Sweathogs. Details Episode 9 Aired Nov 4, 1975 Mr. Kotter, Teacher Gabe is suspended by Mr. Woodman and has to go before the review board on formal charges. Details Episode 10 Aired Nov 18, 1975 The Reunion Gabe is reminded of his humble position as a teacher when his old friend comes for a visit. Details Episode 11 Aired Nov 25, 1975 Barbarino's Girl A poor report card helps Gabe convince Barbarino to get a tutor. Details Episode 12 Aired Dec 2, 1975 California Dreamin' All the Sweathogs want the attention of a new student at Buchanan, but she only has eyes for Gabe. Details Episode 13 Aired Dec 16, 1975 Arrivederci, Arnold When Horshack is promoted to a higher class, everyone wants him to stay with the Sweathogs. Details Episode 14 Aired Jan 6, 1976 The Longest Weekend Gabe has trouble adjusting to being alone when Julie goes skiing with a girlfriend. Details Episode 15 Aired Jan 13, 1976 The Sit-In Gabe suggests that the Sweathogs stage a sit-in to protest the quality of cafeteria food. Details Episode 16 Aired Jan 20, 1976 Follow the Leader Barbarino is overthrown when the Sweathogs hold an election for class leader. Details Episode 17 Aired Jan 22, 1976 Follow the Leader Barbarino moves in with Gabe, and Washington makes life miserable for the other Sweathogs. Details Episode 18 Aired Jan 29, 1976 Dr. Epstein, I Presume ...? Epstein gives all his pets to Gabe when a counselor tells him he is not smart enough to be a vet. Details Episode 19 Aired Feb 5, 1976 One Flu Over the Cuckoo's Nest When the flu sweeps through Buchanan, the accelerated students are put in with the Sweathogs. Details Episode 20 Aired Feb 12, 1976 The Telethon In need of money for their class, Gabe and the Sweathogs decide that a telethon is the answer. Details Episode 21 Aired Feb 19, 1976 Kotter Makes Good Finals week at Buchanan finds Gabe studying with the Sweathogs to take his high-school final exam with them. Details Episode 22 Aired Feb 26, 1976 Father Vinnie Barbarino decides to become a priest following his grandmother's deathbed request. Details

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Season Info

Director
Bob LaHendro, James Komack
Executive Producer
James Komack
Screenwriter
Carl Kleinschmitt, Jerry Rannow, George Yanok, Eric Cohen, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Pat Proft, Jerry Ross, Peter Meyerson, Ann Gibbs, Jewel Jaffe Rannow, Joel Kimmel, Michael Warren, Tiffany York, Bo Kaprall
Network
ABC
Rating
TV-PG
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 9, 1975
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