Watching television in the 70’s was a treat for me. One of my favorite shows was “Welcome Back, Kotter.” I remember one of my elementary school friends had the little metal lunchbox with “Welcome Back, Kotter” characters and sayings, such as Arnold Horshack’s famous “Up your nose with a rubber hose.” I always wished Mr. Kotter was my teacher.
The new DVD release of “Welcome Back, Kotter: The Complete First Season” is a wonderful treat. It’s been so long since I’ve seen the show it’s like watching a new series again. The series first aired in September 1975 and came to be a huge hit.
The sitcom was written by Gabe Kaplan and Alan Hicks. The series was based on Kaplan’s own high school experiences in a class full of underachieving students similar to the “Sweathogs” in “Welcome Back, Kotter.” In the series, Gabe Kaplan plays the lead character, Sweathog-turned-teacher, “Gabe Kotter.” At times he is as much of a cut-up as his students.
The series also starred Marcia Strassman (Julie Kotter); the late John Sylvester White (Mr. Woodman); Robert Hegyes (Juan Epstein); Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (Freddie “Boom Boom” Washington; Ron Palillo (Arnold Horshack); and John Travolta (Vinnie Barbarino). Of all the cast members of the series, John Travolta’s career took off and led him to movie hits such as “Saturday Night Fever,” “Grease,” and “Urban Cowboy.”
The DVD includes 22 episodes from its season debut. Special features include a featurette titled “Only a Few Degrees from a Sweathog.” Also included are the original screen tests of John Travolta, Marcia Strassman, Robert Hegyes, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, and Ron Palillo.
The popularity of the series has also inspired an upcoming movie version of “Welcome Back, Kotter,” which will keep the series name, but change the story location. The setting of the classroom will be in South Central Los Angeles, instead of Brooklyn. Actor/musician Ice Cube will play the lead role of Mr. Kotter.
Don’t miss this fantastic DVD. You’ll enjoy hours of laughs with this retro-DVD special!
This is an incredible DVD you won't want to miss.
Welcome Back, Kotter: The Complete First Season (1975) DVD
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