Let's get into the wayback machine and see a season 4 that "might have been..."

In my version, Gabe Kaplan is on board for all episodes as Mr. Kotter. John Travolta makes occasional appearances like he did in the actual fourth season, but there's no Beau. Carvelli and Murray are brought on board as supporting cast and as students of Buchanan High.

The theme of season 4 would be "senior year." The episodes would be more in the style of the previous three, but would reflect the fact that the Sweathogs are now seniors.

The final episode would be bittersweet: While the Sweathogs are about to (barely) graduate, we learn that due to budget cuts, Buchanan High is being shut down for good, which means Gabe will have to find a new job. Woodman decides he's had enough of the rat race and decides to retire once and for all.

Gabe is also disappointed to learn that the Sweatogs have decided not to continue their educations and have jobs lined up for themselves. He takes solace in the fact that were it not for him, the Sweathogs wouldn't have made it to graduation.

The final act of season four's finale would take place the following fall, as Gabe takes a teaching job at a local community college (this was Kaplan's proposed idea for continuing the series). He is introduced to his class...Washington, Barbarino, Horshack and Epstein. Gabe's reaction: "No...it can't be!"

The Sweathogs' post-high school jobs fizzled and threatened with eviction from their parents, they opted to try out community college. As Gabe is dealing with this, a teacher tells Gabe that Dean Farkle's replacement (the dean died suddenly) is also starting his first day at the college. Enter...Mr. Woodman!

Woodman is in disbelief at seeing Kotter and the sweathogs again. It turns out that his pension fund was invested in peanut energy ("thank you, Jimmy Carter") and got wiped out, so he decided to try out working at a college. He is upset at first, but realizes he can torment Kotter and the Sweathogs for four more years.

Welcome back.

First day bump.

Maybe the pro-Beau people will get on my case about this! ;)

First day bump.

Maybe the pro-Beau people will get on my case about this! ;)
there's pro-Beau people?

otherwise sounds good, better than having them all move into an apartment together as roommates.

I like you're idea. I also would have liked to see Rosalie and Verna Jean bumped up to regular status.

I like you're idea. I also would have liked to see Rosalie and Verna Jean bumped up to regular status.

Rosalie and Verna Jean were gone by that point, so that wasn't a factor in it for me. I think with Julie, Gabe, the Sweathogs and Woodman with Carvelli and Murray as side/supporting characters, that would have been enough for a half hour show.

Let's get into the wayback machine and see a season 4 that "might have been..."

In my version, Gabe Kaplan is on board for all episodes as Mr. Kotter. John Travolta makes occasional appearances like he did in the actual fourth season, but there's no Beau. Carvelli and Murray are brought on board as supporting cast and as students of Buchanan High.

The theme of season 4 would be "senior year." The episodes would be more in the style of the previous three, but would reflect the fact that the Sweathogs are now seniors.

The final episode would be bittersweet: While the Sweathogs are about to (barely) graduate, we learn that due to budget cuts, Buchanan High is being shut down for good, which means Gabe will have to find a new job. Woodman decides he's had enough of the rat race and decides to retire once and for all.

Gabe is also disappointed to learn that the Sweatogs have decided not to continue their educations and have jobs lined up for themselves. He takes solace in the fact that were it not for him, the Sweathogs wouldn't have made it to graduation.

The final act of season four's finale would take place the following fall, as Gabe takes a teaching job at a local community college (this was Kaplan's proposed idea for continuing the series). He is introduced to his class...Washington, Barbarino, Horshack and Epstein. Gabe's reaction: "No...it can't be!"

The Sweathogs' post-high school jobs fizzled and threatened with eviction from their parents, they opted to try out community college. As Gabe is dealing with this, a teacher tells Gabe that Dean Farkle's replacement (the dean died suddenly) is also starting his first day at the college. Enter...Mr. Woodman!

Woodman is in disbelief at seeing Kotter and the sweathogs again. It turns out that his pension fund was invested in peanut energy ("thank you, Jimmy Carter") and got wiped out, so he decided to try out working at a college. He is upset at first, but realizes he can torment Kotter and the Sweathogs for four more years.

Welcome back.


Great idea, would've been better than what went down.Of course, you would have to tweak it here and there, but solid.

Really nice ideas, Thong. I love this type of speculation/creativity!

We'll never know, obviously, but I think the show would have stood a better chance of succeeding had Gabe Kaplan stayed on board despite losing his battle with James Komack.

And Kaplan's idea of transferring everyone to a community college would have given the series a fresh setting (and possibly new characters) and possibly four more years on the air.

And they also changed the time slot from the traditional Thursday night slot to Monday night. You don't do that to a show like Kotter, whose ratings were strong, but not spectacular.