Tonight, MeTv airs part 1 of the season four opener, "The Drop-Ins."

This episode is Beau-free and actually features Gabe Kaplan. Not sure if Travolta is in part 1, but he's most likely in at least part 2, which means that the original Sweathogs and Kotter will actually appear together in a season four episode!

:eek:

Tonight, MeTv airs part 1 of the season four opener, "The Drop-Ins."

This episode is Beau-free and actually features Gabe Kaplan. Not sure if Travolta is in part 1, but he's most likely in at least part 2, which means that the original Sweathogs and Kotter will actually appear together in a season four episode!

:eek:


I have to start setting my reminder, I am so stuck on All in the Family at 9:30pm lol

Tonight, MeTv airs part 1 of the season four opener, "The Drop-Ins."

This episode is Beau-free and actually features Gabe Kaplan. Not sure if Travolta is in part 1, but he's most likely in at least part 2, which means that the original Sweathogs and Kotter will actually appear together in a season four episode!

:eek:


I just watched it. Vinnie wasn't in the show till the very end!

Was kind of sad in a way, like the beginning of the end! :( One thing that is good about this season is the opening and closing. Shows more street scenes from Brooklyn, more that the other seasons! I love the Welcome back Kotter song and when they show Brooklyn! ;)

This first episode isn't that bad. Kotter is in the full show and I like the fact that he's not sure about this new job, especially when he is forced to take notice of the change when he disciplines the Sweathogs.

Travolta coming in at the end with his new stylish duds is to me a sort of acknowledgment that he's no longer just a Sweathog like his old buddies, but rather, that he is now a superstar.

Things will go downhill from here, but this wasn't too bad. This confirms my belief that if Gabe Kaplan had put his ego aside and been a part of the show, it wouldn't have been as bad. I think the lack of Travolta would have hurt the show regardless, but maybe it wouldn't have been as bad.

Obviously, we'll never know...

Just set my reminder to watch the Drop Ins later tonight

Just set my reminder to watch the Drop Ins later tonight

I haven't seen this season in a long time, but I think this is quite possibly the final episode in which Gabe and all four original Sweathogs appear together in the same episode.

:(

I haven't seen this season in a long time, but I think this is quite possibly the final episode in which Gabe and all four original Sweathogs appear together in the same episode.

:(


The highlight of that episode is when Epstein and Arnold found out Freddie's middle name was PERCY:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


Arnold: "you mean I been pushed around all these years by a percy? LOL

then freddy said well its a lot better then being killed by one!! lol

This first episode isn't that bad. Kotter is in the full show and I like the fact that he's not sure about this new job, especially when he is forced to take notice of the change when he disciplines the Sweathogs.

Travolta coming in at the end with his new stylish duds is to me a sort of acknowledgment that he's no longer just a Sweathog like his old buddies, but rather, that he is now a superstar.

Things will go downhill from here, but this wasn't too bad. This confirms my belief that if Gabe Kaplan had put his ego aside and been a part of the show, it wouldn't have been as bad. I think the lack of Travolta would have hurt the show regardless, but maybe it wouldn't have been as bad.

Obviously, we'll never know...


Totally!!! Vinnie in his stylish duds, he just didn't seem like Vinnie anymore. he was John Travolta than! :( No offence to John, he is a great actor, but he really outgrew his Vinnie Barbarino role. :( In the scenes at the hospital when he was working, that was OK, he still seemed like Vinnie, but at the end of part 2, when he was sitting in the classroom with the other sweat hogs in those clothes with the hat on, he really didn't fit in! :(

John and Gabe did appear in last night's episode, "Don't Come Up And See Me Sometime."

Seeing Beau in this episode really confirms for me that he was an unnecessary add-on character. He seemed out of place, especially since this episode centered around Barbarino.

Having seen the first episode's scenes with just Epstein, Washington & Horshack, I truly believe they would have been off as a trio for the non-Barbarino episodes. Beau didn't fit in -- he looked like a male model and seemed way too polished to be a Sweathog. He would have been better cast as one of the rival kids from the "normal" class like a Todd Ludlow

John and Gabe did appear in last night's episode, "Don't Come Up And See Me Sometime."

Seeing Beau in this episode really confirms for me that he was an unnecessary add-on character. He seemed out of place, especially since this episode centered around Barbarino.

Having seen the first episode's scenes with just Epstein, Washington & Horshack, I truly believe they would have been off as a trio for the non-Barbarino episodes. Beau didn't fit in -- he looked like a male model and seemed way too polished to be a Sweathog. He would have been better cast as one of the rival kids from the "normal" class like a Todd Ludlow


Was the Beau character supposed to be from Texas?

I didn't really notice Barbarino's change of attire that much -- I guess I don't look at the men's fashions as much as hot '70s women's...!

It looks as though Kotter, Epstein, and most notably Mrs. Kotter all are wearing shorter hairstyles. And Kotter's mustache has been trimmed down a LOT! Horshack looks a little different too. In my opinion, Freddie and Woodman changed the least in appearance.

I like the extended scenes of the opening, but the dividing into 4 pictures is a little unnerving.

Yeah Epstein and Kotter's shorter hairstyles was related to thw changing times

Was the Beau character supposed to be from Texas?

I think he was from Louisiana, which is one reason why I think Beau didn't fit in. A character from the South hanging out with characters from Brooklyn seems like an odd combination.

It looks as though Kotter, Epstein, and most notably Mrs. Kotter all are wearing shorter hairstyles. And Kotter's mustache has been trimmed down a LOT! Horshack looks a little different too. In my opinion, Freddie and Woodman changed the least in appearance.

If I'm not mistaken, Kotter also had a beard by the end of the season.

If I'm not mistaken, Kotter also had a beard by the end of the season.

He did. Kotter showed up for the last couple of episodes of the season sporting a beard.

Last night they showed the episode where they introduced Mary Johnson, who decided to jump off the window ledge.

This was apparently the beginning of Komack's issue-oriented shows. Bad decision. This was a terrible, almost-Afterschool Special-like episode.

Kotter was a pure sitcom and this kind of thing seemed really out of place alongside the episodes from the past three season.

Last night they showed the episode where they introduced Mary Johnson, who decided to jump off the window ledge.

This was apparently the beginning of Komack's issue-oriented shows. Bad decision. This was a terrible, almost-Afterschool Special-like episode.

Kotter was a pure sitcom and this kind of thing seemed really out of place alongside the episodes from the past three season.


I forgot to set the reminder last night because of TV One's What's Happening/Good Times/Jeffersons Marathon

I forgot to set the reminder last night because of TV One's What's Happening/Good Times/Jeffersons Marathon

You didn't miss much. The problem is that Mary Johnson just comes off as a whiny kid who's looking for attention -- nothing more, nothing less. Like a less interesting version of Jan Brady.

Had she been in a few episodes and say, established friendships with the characters and maybe have been shown increasingly to be unhappy, I think I might've had sympathy for her character. This was a character that needed some building up for awhile in my opinion.

But the writing and storyline is so lazy and uninspired that it fails to elicit any kind of real emotion (at least for me) for this character. This really illustrates to me that Komack was out of touch by this point and tried to fix a show that wasn't broken in terms of its' comedic style.

You didn't miss much. The problem is that Mary Johnson just comes off as a whiny kid who's looking for attention -- nothing more, nothing less. Like a less interesting version of Jan Brady.

Had she been in a few episodes and say, established friendships with the characters and maybe have been shown increasingly to be unhappy, I think I might've had sympathy for her character. This was a character that needed some building up for awhile in my opinion.

But the writing and storyline is so lazy and uninspired that it fails to elicit any kind of real emotion (at least for me) for this character. This really illustrates to me that Komack was out of touch by this point and tried to fix a show that wasn't broken in terms of its' comedic style.


I wish that sexy Judy Borden returned for a guest appearance in season 4 lol

I wish that sexy Judy Borden returned for a guest appearance in season 4 lol

Yeah, but they would have encouraged her to jump! ;)

Wasnt Angie a sweathog in Season 3? I guess she disappeared as well.

Wasnt Angie a sweathog in Season 3? I guess she disappeared as well.

Yes she was, even to the point where Melonie Haller, the actress who played Angie, was credited alongside the other cast members in the opening sequence.

But her character never really caught on and it seemed like a forced attempt at diversity, so the character just disappeared like you said, with no explanation as to what happened, really.

Now, if they had brought Angie back as the girl who wanted to jump, it would have had more weight, because she was an established character and some viewers knew who she was and might have actually cared about her dilemma.

Yes she was, even to the point where Melonie Haller, the actress who played Angie, was credited alongside the other cast members in the opening sequence.

But her character never really caught on and it seemed like a forced attempt at diversity, so the character just disappeared like you said, with no explanation as to what happened, really.

Now, if they had brought Angie back as the girl who wanted to jump, it would have had more weight, because she was an established character and some viewers knew who she was and might have actually cared about her dilemma.

I'm drawing a black and don't even know who Angie is LOL

I'm drawing a black and don't even know who Angie is LOL

She was a character introduced during the third season who the producers tried to make into the fifth sweathog. Like I wrote before, they even put her name in the opening credits as a co-star on some of the episodes she appeared in.

She was kind of neither here nor there for me. Not a bad character, but she didn't really seem to fit in by my reckoning. On the other hand, she fit better than Beau and it's possible that if the character stuck around, maybe she would have eventually found her niche and become part of the ensemble.

Watched 3 discs of this season this past week after having not seen Season 4 in years.... I forgot how bad this season was. Didn't get to the last disc but boy I miss Mr. Kotter.
Though it IS a good season for Mr. Woodman and Mrs. Kotter.

The character of Arnold Horshack in Season 4 seems to be so much different that past episodes. First off, looking at RP - he looks like he's drowsy in a lot of the episodes. The jokes from all the characters are really bad. Also, I did not like the sort of "Preachy/Dramatic - After school specials" type of episodes such as Arnold's drinking problem, Mary's attempted suicide, etc.

Beau does not even seem to fit well with the other SHs (even when he's in scenes with John Travolta).

Stupid question - why would the Principal (Mr. Woodman) be teaching the "Remedial Class"? - I would've thought it to be more natural for Mrs. Kotter to be a substitute instead of Office Secretary. Yes, she is a Substitute in 1 or 2 episodes of S4 but mainly you just see her in the Administration office.

Well it sounds like I will be only watching those season 4 episodes one time and never again

I'll watch it again when I get the DVD set. Maybe there's some cut scenes that will make these episodes magically better.

:eek:

I'm watching the episode with Horshack's drinking problem and it's amazing how deadly serious it's been so far. Even in other sitcoms where characters have a drinking problem, it's played with much more humor than in this episode. All the scenes so far with drunk Horshack show him as loud, angry, and bitter, and Ron Palillo seems to really be overacting in this episode.

And we're just about to see the scene where Horshack strikes Mary and she crashes into the table.

I'm watching the episode with Horshack's drinking problem and it's amazing how deadly serious it's been so far. Even in other sitcoms where characters have a drinking problem, it's played with much more humor than in this episode. All the scenes so far with drunk Horshack show him as loud, angry, and bitter, and Ron Palillo seems to really be overacting in this episode.

And we're just about to see the scene where Horshack strikes Mary and she crashes into the table.


This **** is awful

This was back in the '70s when you developed a drinking problem and it went away in only thirty minutes.

Almost as bad as the Family Ties episodes where Alex becomes addicted to amphetamines for all of a few days before he goes cold turkey and never does it again.

I liked the episode with Horshack getting drunk. I thought he played it well although he was literally taking a sip of the alcohol so I wonder how drunk you could get off of a sip of booze.

Last night they had the episode with the talent show. Almost an ugh.

The funniest part was Carvelli's song....yeahhh.

season 4 is ending right at the time when the show will be once a week starting in sept

I think the last season 4 episode is Tuesday of next week

season 4 is ending right at the time when the show will be once a week starting in sept

I think the last season 4 episode is Tuesday of next week

Once a week? That's a bummer. I've been enjoying seeing it nightly this summer.

Once a week? That's a bummer. I've been enjoying seeing it nightly this summer.


yeah starting in september the show will only come on tuesdays nights 9pm to 10pm

I'm reaching the end of S4 on the DVDs, myself, and I agree... these episodes are a lot more difficult to get through than I remember them being when Nick at Nite aired the show.

Unlike the previous poster, I like Beau. He just hasn't had much to do since his first episode, outside of a decent scene with Travolta in Barbarino's Blues.

And Gabe Kaplan is sorely missed, especially in shows like drunken Horshack, or whenever someone else gives a speech to the Sweathogs.

I also agree that the serious episodes are played too serious. Drunken Horshack, for example... no laughs, no comedy. Comedy wasn't a problem when Boom Boom was hooked on speed! And the message STILL got across!

Season 4 lives up to the name I started calling it long ago... "trainwreck season".

I'm reaching the end of S4 on the DVDs, myself, and I agree... these episodes are a lot more difficult to get through than I remember them being when Nick at Nite aired the show.

Unlike the previous poster, I like Beau. He just hasn't had much to do since his first episode, outside of a decent scene with Travolta in Barbarino's Blues.

And Gabe Kaplan is sorely missed, especially in shows like drunken Horshack, or whenever someone else gives a speech to the Sweathogs.

I also agree that the serious episodes are played too serious. Drunken Horshack, for example... no laughs, no comedy. Comedy wasn't a problem when Boom Boom was hooked on speed! And the message STILL got across!

Season 4 lives up to the name I started calling it long ago... "trainwreck season".


what made his scene with Travolta so decent?

what made his scene with Travolta so decent?

Well, the novelty of Beau and Barbarino together didn't hurt.

But, IMO, it was a decent scene with the new resident Sweathog ladies man trying to help out the old guard.

There's something else I've noticed about some of the season 4 episodes that I don't think I noticed in earlier seasons: the lighting on the set seems really dim. Like in the talent show episode from last night; everything looked really darkly lit.

There's something else I've noticed about some of the season 4 episodes that I don't think I noticed in earlier seasons: the lighting on the set seems really dim. Like in the talent show episode from last night; everything looked really darkly lit.


On the DVD or me-tv?

There's something else I've noticed about some of the season 4 episodes that I don't think I noticed in earlier seasons: the lighting on the set seems really dim. Like in the talent show episode from last night; everything looked really darkly lit.

I noticed that too.

With all the behind the scenes changes in S4, perhaps they got a new technical crew, as well... which would account for the change in lighting style.

Yeah Epstein and Kotter's shorter hairstyles was related to thw changing times

yeah, in late 1978, 1979, most of the guys who were known for the afro's were wearing shorter hair.Even Edmund Sylvers had his hair trimmed.

On the DVD or me-tv?

MeTV. I seem to notice it more in the episodes with Della Reese than the others. Or maybe it's just my imagination, since those episodes have almost half the original cast missing (Mr. Kotter, Barbarino, and even Mrs. Kotter), so the show seems darker to me with all the absences.

I also agree that the serious episodes are played too serious. Drunken Horshack, for example... no laughs, no comedy. Comedy wasn't a problem when Boom Boom was hooked on speed! And the message STILL got across!.

I still howled when Barbarino kept saying "Gimme drugs, gimme drugs!"

Season four is nearing its end, as tonight's episode was part 1 of "Ooh-ooh, I do," where little Arnold Horshack proposes marriage to his beloved, Mary Johnson.

Whenever I watch part 2, I always realize how much Barbarino is missing from the episode. Ya think he'd be here for something like this.

I know that Travolta had done his quota of episodes by this point, but I wonder if they even asked him to come back one last time.

At least Gabe will be back for the final two episodes as WBK gets toward the finish line.

Season four is nearing its end, as tonight's episode was part 1 of "Ooh-ooh, I do," where little Arnold Horshack proposes marriage to his beloved, Mary Johnson.

Whenever I watch part 2, I always realize how much Barbarino is missing from the episode. Ya think he'd be here for something like this.

I know that Travolta had done his quota of episodes by this point, but I wonder if they even asked him to come back one last time.

At least Gabe will be back for the final two episodes as WBK gets toward the finish line.


I read the DVD Review for WBK and looks like only one season is edited for season 4

Season four is nearing its end, as tonight's episode was part 1 of "Ooh-ooh, I do," where little Arnold Horshack proposes marriage to his beloved, Mary Johnson.

Whenever I watch part 2, I always realize how much Barbarino is missing from the episode. Ya think he'd be here for something like this.

I know that Travolta had done his quota of episodes by this point, but I wonder if they even asked him to come back one last time.

At least Gabe will be back for the final two episodes as WBK gets toward the finish line.

Vinnie really should have been at the wedding. Like you said John Travolta probably made his quota of eps. , this should have really been one that was included though. An important thing as a fellow sweat hogs wedding! It is good that Mr. Kotter will be there. A bearded Mr. Kotter! ;)

I wish Kelly, Mr. Woodman's niece would be there and catch the bouquet! Than her and Juan will be the next ones getting married :) ;) I wished that romance wasn't over so quickly!

Saw the episode last night. It was very weird to see people who were so young getting married (or at least people who were supposed to be so young). I remember reading an interview with Ron Palillo where he comments that he was really only a few years younger than Gabe Kaplan, and it became tough in later seasons to play a high school kid when he was 27.

Saw the episode last night. It was very weird to see people who were so young getting married (or at least people who were supposed to be so young). I remember reading an interview with Ron Palillo where he comments that he was really only a few years younger than Gabe Kaplan, and it became tough in later seasons to play a high school kid when he was 27.



You mean it was tough for him to play a SPECIAL HIGH SCHOOL KID:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

What did you all think of the music that was played at the wedding? And the minister was the musician!! LOL!!!! The sweat hogs really looked nice though!!!! And Arnold didn't buy Mary a ring??

What did you all think of the music that was played at the wedding? And the minister was the musician!! LOL!!!! The sweat hogs really looked nice though!!!! And Arnold didn't buy Mary a ring??
I saw him putting a ring on her finger but it only fit on her thumb

I saw him putting a ring on her finger but it only fit on her thumb


Yeah that was Mr. Kotter's ring right? I was tired and watching from my bed, but I'm sure there was no ring and Gabe looked at Julie, and she nodded and Gabe took his wedding ring off and gave it to Arnold to get through the ceremony. That's why it was so big for her, it was a man's ring. :D

Yeah that was Mr. Kotter's ring right? I was tired and watching from my bed, but I'm sure there was no ring and Gabe looked at Julie, and she nodded and Gabe took his wedding ring off and gave it to Arnold to get through the ceremony. That's why it was so big for her, it was a man's ring. :D


Well that means Arnold was a LOONEY TOON lol

Didnt watch the episode? Was it any good? Was it one of the better season 4 episodes?

Didnt watch the episode? Was it any good? Was it one of the better season 4 episodes?


Which one?

Reminder: tonight is the series finale.
EDIT: Apparently, they're skipping to part 3 of the premiere.

Reminder: tonight is the series finale.
EDIT: Apparently, they're skipping to part 3 of the premiere.


Wrong, tonight is the 1st episode of the series

Wrong, tonight is the 1st episode of the series
I know that now.

Wrong, tonight is the 1st episode of the series


YAY!!! Vinnie and Mr. Kotter are back!!!! :)

YAY!!! Vinnie and Mr. Kotter are back!!!! :)


Vinny told Mr. Kotter, "Off my case toilet face" LOL :lol: :lol:

Vinny told Mr. Kotter, "Off my case toilet face" LOL :lol: :lol:



Yeah!! :lol: :D I wish so bad I could say that to my boss ! "Off my case toilet face" Could you imagine calling someone a toilet face? :lol: :D

Saw the episode last night. It was very weird to see people who were so young getting married (or at least people who were supposed to be so young). I remember reading an interview with Ron Palillo where he comments that he was really only a few years younger than Gabe Kaplan, and it became tough in later seasons to play a high school kid when he was 27.
that's exactly why Gabe Kaplan suggested that for the 4th season they have Mr. Kotter transfer to a community college not knowing that the sweathogs also transfer there, and he ends up being there teacher again. That way they could go on for 4 more seasons and the situation would be believable. But ABC ignored him and that's partly why he was hardly in the 4th season.

Vinny told Mr. Kotter, "Off my case toilet face" LOL :lol: :lol:



And tonight he said to Todd "Off my case, Potato face"!!!! :lol: :D

The funny thing about the final episodes is that while the guys are still in high school (with apparently no end in sight), they were all making their forays into the adult world:

Horshack & Mary got married.

Epstein & Washington got jobs.

Barbarino was already working at the hospital.

Had there been a season five, I think it would have to have been their senior year. But who knows if Kaplan and Komack could have come to an agreement over the direction.

But now that the show has played through season four, it's now going to be seen once a week on Thursdays (2 episodes), so it'll take longer to run through the four seasons as they've gone back to the beginning.

Now it's time for me to get the complete series box set! It's too bad Kaplan didn't do some commentaries on the season four episodes he was in. I would like to have heard him elaborate on what season four could have been...

:)

The funny thing about the final episodes is that while the guys are still in high school (with apparently no end in sight), they were all making their forays into the adult world:

Horshack & Mary got married.

Epstein & Washington got jobs.

Barbarino was already working at the hospital.

Had there been a season five, I think it would have to have been their senior year. But who knows if Kaplan and Komack could have come to an agreement over the direction.

But now that the show has played through season four, it's now going to be seen once a week on Thursdays (2 episodes), so it'll take longer to run through the four seasons as they've gone back to the beginning.

Now it's time for me to get the complete series box set! It's too bad Kaplan didn't do some commentaries on the season four episodes he was in. I would like to have heard him elaborate on what season four could have been...

:)



This was the box set I was getting in December until the Jeffersons was released on DVD. So looks like I won't get this one until January or Feb pf 15

The series started in Grade 10, so by season 4 they should have been in the 2nd year of remedial college.

The series started in Grade 10, so by season 4 they should have been in the 2nd year of remedial college.

TV time tends to work differently compared to real life time. It can be either slower or faster depending on the show's needs.

The character of Arnold Horshack in Season 4 seems to be so much different that past episodes. First off, looking at RP - he looks like he's drowsy in a lot of the episodes. The jokes from all the characters are really bad.

Agreed, I've been re-watching season 4 lately on DVD and it does seem like Ron Palillo is going through the motions with Horshack in some episodes. It seems like maybe he was tired of the character.

http://screenrant.com/behind-scenes-tv-show-feuds-fights-shocking/

http://screenrant3.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Gabe-Kaplan-and-Marcia-Strassman-in-Welcome-Back-Kotter.jpg?auto=format&cs=tinysrgb&q=50&w=786&h=393&fit=crop

Gabe Kaplan was a comedian who played the lovable, wisecracking teacher in Welcome Back, Kotter for four seasons. Though the cast started off strong and united, it didn’t take long for cracks to form.

Marcia Strassman, who played Kotter’s wife Julie, was miserable doing scenes with Kaplan. According to People, Strassman said that “it has always been hard to act with him, especially in intimate scenes. I hate the series. I pray every day for a cancellation.”

After Strassman finally revealed the feud publicly during a press event, other cast members were forced to take sides as well.

It escalated to the point that the fourth and final season saw several Kaplan loyalists on the staff fired, and Kaplan himself was reduced to appearing in only a handful of episodes (despite having the show named after his character). Strassman somehow also ended up getting saddled with even more to do on a show she wanted out of. In this feud, there was no clear winner– everyone lost something.

http://screenrant.com/behind-scenes-tv-show-feuds-fights-shocking/

http://screenrant3.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Gabe-Kaplan-and-Marcia-Strassman-in-Welcome-Back-Kotter.jpg?auto=format&cs=tinysrgb&q=50&w=786&h=393&fit=crop


It's sad that Marcia had to make this public, because the show could have gone on without her, even at its heights.