I think they are, both shows are entertaining and welcome back kotter would have a slight edge if the Vinny Barbarino character didn't leave the show in season 4.

Welcome Back Kotter is all right, but I like Good Times much better.

I disagree. Welcome Back Kotter was entertaining, but not nearly as much as GT. IMO

WBK is more entertaining, IMO. GT could get a little overdramatic sometimes, and even though Vinnie left in the last season, I'd still watch 1978-1979 WBK over any of GT.

I find Welcome Back Kotter more entertaining.

I never got into Good Times.

I disagree. Welcome Back Kotter was entertaining, but not nearly as much as GT. IMO

Is WBK better than the Penny era of Good Times?

I disagree. Welcome Back Kotter was entertaining, but not nearly as much as GT. IMO


I agree!

Both shows were quite entertaining. I would not say equally because there were two different situations going on with both shows. The one thing that took the enjoyment from both shows were the backstage battles that was going on. With key cast members being written out of the show and unhappy cast members the shows were hard to watch. When John Amos was fired from GT the show was never the same and Esther Rolle's performances as Florida did not have the same drive. On Kotter the battle between Gabe Kaplan and Marcia Strassman filtered out on the screen. If you watch Marcia's performance as Julie Kotter she looked pissed off. Then in the final season when Kaplan was not on that put the nail on the coffin.

Welcome Back Kotter is better. I never really liked Good Times. :p

Welcome Back Kotter is better. I never really liked Good Times. :p


Yeah Good Times was more of a dramedy. Not fun to watch sometimes

"Welcome Back Kotter" was much better than "Good Times". Always plenty of laughs in every episode and a great cast making it very entertaining. Very watchable. "Good Times" was too dramatic and focused too much on too many serious topics instead of giving us laughs. The point is that it was not funny and very unwatchable.

Good Times to me wasn't a "sitcom." It was like M*A*S*H and All In The Family in that it combined comedy and drama. You have to look at it on a different level. It was entertaining in a different way from a standard sitcom.

Now, Welcome Back Kotter was pure sitcom. It was never supposed to be heavy-handed or have deep messages. In fact, when they tried to get "relevant" during season four (Horshack's alcoholism, Mary's suicide attempt), it backfired. The show lost two key cast members (Kaplan and Travolta) and changed hands creatively, which resulted in the show's cancellation.

Cast changes hurt GT as well. John Amos was a good actor who provided a strong presence as James Evans. Once he departed, the show unraveled, with Esther Rolle leaving and then coming back. Funnily enough, GT and Kotter were both cancelled during the 1978-1979 season. Not the best of times if you liked either or both of these shows.

I like Good Times, but Welcome Back Kotter is better.

These are two of my top favorite shows ever, sitcom or otherwise.

I guess if you're taking the word "entertaining" literally, WBK was probably a more "entertaining" show than GT, but all the serious topics they touched on on Good Times is exactly the reason why I like it. Even as a little kid I appreciated that GT stood out from other shows with the drugs, child abuse, J.J. getting shot, etc. episodes. There was a realism there, and especially when you see those episodes for the first time as a young kid, those episodes stay in your memory. WBK wasn't a serious show, and I was fine with that too. I just get different kinds of entertainment from each show.

I'll say this: I can watch Good Times episodes without John Amos and Esther Rolle no problem. WBK episodes without Gabe Kaplan and John Travolta? No thanks.

These are two of my top favorite shows ever, sitcom or otherwise.

I guess if you're taking the word "entertaining" literally, WBK was probably a more "entertaining" show than GT, but all the serious topics they touched on on Good Times is exactly the reason why I like it. Even as a little kid I appreciated that GT stood out from other shows with the drugs, child abuse, J.J. getting shot, etc. episodes. There was a realism there, and especially when you see those episodes for the first time as a young kid, those episodes stay in your memory. WBK wasn't a serious show, and I was fine with that too. I just get different kinds of entertainment from each show.

I'll say this: I can watch Good Times episodes without John Amos and Esther Rolle no problem. WBK episodes without Gabe Kaplan and John Travolta? No thanks.



So you are telling me that you can watch the Penny Eps of Good Times but not the WBK eps with Freddie, Epstein, and Arnold????????????-LOL

So you are telling me that you can watch the Penny Eps of Good Times but not the WBK eps with Freddie, Epstein, and Arnold????????????-LOL

Yep, I'll take Penny over Beau anyday. I can't wait for the GT season 5 dvd to see THE IRON!!!

Good Times to me wasn't a "sitcom." It was like M*A*S*H and All In The Family in that it combined comedy and drama. You have to look at it on a different level. It was entertaining in a different way from a standard sitcom.

Now, Welcome Back Kotter was pure sitcom. It was never supposed to be heavy-handed or have deep messages. In fact, when they tried to get "relevant" during season four (Horshack's alcoholism, Mary's suicide attempt), it backfired. The show lost two key cast members (Kaplan and Travolta) and changed hands creatively, which resulted in the show's cancellation.

Cast changes hurt GT as well. John Amos was a good actor who provided a strong presence as James Evans. Once he departed, the show unraveled, with Esther Rolle leaving and then coming back. Funnily enough, GT and Kotter were both cancelled during the 1978-1979 season. Not the best of times if you liked either or both of these shows.

So True So True. Shows aren't the same when main characters leave the show. Or when they try to replace a character with a different actor...ie Roseanne with Becky, Family Matter with Harriette.

So True So True. Shows aren't the same when main characters leave the show. Or when they try to replace a character with a different actor...ie Roseanne with Becky, Family Matter with Harriette.

In addition to replacing a well-loved actor, there's also the issue of chemistry. You may well have good replacement actors, but if there's no chemistry between them and the other cast members, it won't have the same fire and dynamics. This applies to both actors taking over a part or those who play a new character to fill a void created by another's departure.

I think they are, both shows are entertaining and welcome back kotter would have a slight edge if the Vinny Barbarino character didn't leave the show in season 4.

Disagree. I think that Good Times was a more well-rounded show, with a cast that, as a group, was more skilled. (John Amos and Esther Rolle were incredible!) I liked WBK too, but an awful lot of the show was a one-note joke.

I will concede that later seasons of GT fell into the one-note trap too,(DYNOMIIIITE!!), but overall, I still think that GT was better.

Kotter was a good show.

The best part of Good Times was the opening song.
"Fish don't fry in the Kitchen"
"Farts don't stink in the sink"
or was is...
"Easy money rip offs"
"Good times!"
"Layed off"
"Good times!"

I never get them straight. I just know the songs. And the skinny black kid that yells "dy.no.mite". Back in college we used to yell that all the time when someone wanted everyone else to chug. Good times!

Good Times is much better to me - in the first 3 seasons.

Where else but WBK could you hear a line lke-"Put the Sunday Times where the Sun don't Shine" Or In your ear with Rosie Grier"LOL Classic. Honestly I think season 1 of WBK is better than every season of Goodtimes.

Let me put an end to this ridiculous comparison! Retro, you make some weird comparisons! While I am at it, you got strange taste in characters. You can't compare GT and WBK! The only thing that had in common was that they aired in the 70s. One was about a poor black family in the projects, and the other was about a teacher coming back to teach misfits in his old high scool.

Gabe Kaplan was a lame comedian and so was Jimmie Walker. Good Comparisons.

Good Times had 3 good seasons. the forth one wasn't bad. Kotter maybe had 2 good ones.

Good times was the better all around show. It covered realistic issues. However, watching a sitcom for 4 years taking place in a class room with the same students and the teacher's home sort of grows on you. Those up your nose jokes were not funny either. Neither was the lame uncle jokes.

Good Times isn't much better, but it gets my vote over Kotter.

Let me put an end to this ridiculous comparison! Retro, you make some weird comparisons! While I am at it, you got strange taste in characters. You can't compare GT and WBK! The only thing that had in common was that they aired in the 70s. One was about a poor black family in the projects, and the other was about a teacher coming back to teach misfits in his old high scool.

Gabe Kaplan was a lame comedian and so was Jimmie Walker. Good Comparisons.

Good Times had 3 good seasons. the forth one wasn't bad. Kotter maybe had 2 good ones.

Good times was the better all around show. It covered realistic issues. However, watching a sitcom for 4 years taking place in a class room with the same students and the teacher's home sort of grows on you. Those up your nose jokes were not funny either. Neither was the lame uncle jokes.

Good Times isn't much better, but it gets my vote over Kotter.




Good times was just too real for me. I think GT is the only Sitcom to have a character die on the actual ep

Good times was just too real for me. I think GT is the only Sitcom to have a character die on the actual ep
You seemed to be very critical of Good Times and it is listed as one of your favorite shows, what gives?

You seemed to be very critical of Good Times and it is listed as one of your favorite shows, what gives?


This may surprised you but GT imo only had two GOOD seasons, while WBK had 3 Good seasons which to me makes it the better show to watch. Season 3 of GT was just too much drama. TOO MUCH. WBK only had drama behind the scenes, not behind the scenes and on the show

I am very fond of both of these shows, but I am slightly partial on Good Times; the last season of WBK was AWFUL with the debut of that moron Beau.

I am very fond of both of these shows, but I am slightly partial on Good Times; the last season of WBK was AWFUL with the debut of that moron Beau.


As much as I hate Good Times final season, WBK's final season was worst. Its to bd these 2 classic shows couldn't have went out with a bang.

As much as I hate Good Times final season, WBK's final season was worst. Its to bd these 2 classic shows couldn't have went out with a bang.



I agree, th 4th season of Welcome Back Kotter is the only season that is not more entertaing than Good Times.

This may surprised you but GT imo only had two GOOD seasons, while WBK had 3 Good seasons which to me makes it the better show to watch. Season 3 of GT was just too much drama. TOO MUCH. WBK only had drama behind the scenes, not behind the scenes and on the show
I don't understand some of your responses half of the time. Lots of sitcoms have drama behind the scenes, including Good Times. Good Times is always at the top of your pick in a lot of catergories, and James Evans is one of your top characters. HE was one of the reasons why there was drama on camera. I know GT had drama, it was meant to be. Sounds like you are twisting things. And to knock it down a couple of catergories to a sitcom no less than Welcome Back, Kotter just is sort of weird.

I don't understand some of your responses half of the time. Lots of sitcoms have drama behind the scenes, including Good Times. Good Times is always at the top of your pick in a lot of catergories, and James Evans is one of your top characters. HE was one of the reasons why there was drama on camera. I know GT had drama, it was meant to be. Sounds like you are twisting things. And to knock it down a couple of catergories to a sitcom no less than Welcome Back, Kotter just is sort of weird.



I'm not knocking Good Times, it's just in a different category than WBK. These are the 70's Sitcoms in the Fun to Watch Category

Welcome Back Kotter
Jeffersons
Sanford and Son
Alice


And these are the Sitcoms that was fun to watch but could be TOO DRAMATIC

Good Times
All in the Family
Maude
One Day a Time

I think they are. Both still provide plenty of belly laughs 30+ years later.

I've always liked both shows equally and watched both every week without missing an episode, my whole family loved both shows.