Do you think the 4th season would have been better if Gabe Kaplan had stayed on full time and appeared in all the episodes?

Hypothetically speaking, let's say that Gabe, despite his opposition to Executive Producer James Komack's changes to the show, decided to be professional and play Kotter in all the season's episodes, instead of the handful he appeared in. (I always thought it was weird that Gabe Kaplan was credited above the title for every episode, even though he wasn't in every show and that Travolta was credited as a "Special Guest Star" only in the episodes he appeared in).

Now, I have no doubt that the loss of Travolta would have hurt the show: Travolta had become a major star in 1978 due to Saturday Night Fever and Grease, and his fans were most likely disappointed that he was reduced to a handful of appearances in the 4th and final season.

But I think Kaplan's presence would have softened the blow. Instead, two of the key members of the five man ensemble were gone and the three remaining cast members were left to fend for themselves with a new Sweathog and supporting characters like Woodman and Mrs. Kotter.

Too much had changed when season four debuted -- and I'm sure the changing of the time slot (Kotter had been on Thursday nights since season 1) didn't help either.

Maybe if he had stayed, it would have been different. He wanted it to be in a community college which would have been really interesting

Maybe if he had stayed, it would have been different. He wanted it to be in a community college which would have been really interesting

My premise is that the show stays at Buchanan High, as James Komack decreed it would be and Gabe Kaplan decides to go along with it, even though he doesn't agree with the format.

Maybe if he had stayed, it would have been different. He wanted it to be in a community college which would have been really interesting
he suggested that Kotter takes a teaching job at a community college and Barbarino etc.graduate and also go there and he ends up being their teacher again. Then they could go on for 4 season and the situation would be believable.

^And the situation in a community college might've helped get a 5th season!

^And the situation in a community college might've helped get a 5th season!

I think it might have.

But I think Travolta would have left completely. He was a major movie star and probably saw no future in TV.

^That seems likely.

Komack should have just listened to Kaplan. If Gabe would have stayed it probably would have been more watchable but the show had nowhere else to go with this format. I never even watch the 4th season whenever it airs.

Komack should have just listened to Kaplan. If Gabe would have stayed it probably would have been more watchable but the show had nowhere else to go with this format. I never even watch the 4th season whenever it airs.


The 4th season is why I am not in a rush to buy the whole series on DVD

Komack should have just listened to Kaplan. If Gabe would have stayed it probably would have been more watchable but the show had nowhere else to go with this format. I never even watch the 4th season whenever it airs.

Egos can be a bad thing and neither Kaplan nor Komack was willing to back down.

Since Komack was the boss, the changes were made and ultimately, killed the show.

The 4th season is why I am not in a rush to buy the whole series on DVD

The Travolta episodes aren't bad, but some of the non-Travolta 4th season episodes are kind of depressing.

It seems to me that in some of the later episodes, Ron Palillo was burned out. He didn't have the same kind of enthusiasm he'd had in the earlier seasons. Maybe he was reacting to the dissension on the set and/or realized the show was going downhill.

Still, I'm glad I have the entire series on DVD.

I am buying WBK next month! After a year and a half of not having it, I'll finally have the complete series!

I am buying WBK next month! After a year and a half of not having it, I'll finally have the complete series!

It's worth it. To have it all in one box set is pretty cool.

This was a great TV show for about two seasons. Should have only lasted two seasons. No shame in producing a great TV show for two or three seasons, and it shouldn't drag on when key characters go missing. Ensamble shows can survive losing a member and adding people over time, but this was a show about a relationship between a teacher and his students.

One thing was that obviously the students were in their mid twenties. Ironically, the only one who looked like a teenager was the oldest student, Ron Pallilo who played Horseshack. Later on in life, he was a well liked drama teacher in a high school somewhere before he died.

Something which would have been a better setup was that Kotter was a JobCorps teacher, with high schoolers and drift less barely graduated in a job setting, with the four doing knucklehead stuff which the mentor gets in trouble and has to defend his crew. That is something limited about doing a high school show anyway, the actors are usually on average 20 or 21 and if the show is a hit what happens (like Head of the Class, or Dobie Gillis or a lot of shows)

When Gabe Kaplan left, what was the point? It was his show.

I don't think it would've mattered much if Gabe would have been in every episode of the dreaded 4th season. Travolta was on to bigger things, the sweathogs were way too old, and the writers ran out of ideas. For me, the thing that made the show so great for the first couple seasons was the chemistry between the cast, but the actors could't keep playing 16 year-olds and when they tried to make them "grow up" it didn't work and wasn't funny anymore.

I don't think it would've mattered much if Gabe would have been in every episode of the dreaded 4th season. Travolta was on to bigger things, the sweathogs were way too old, and the writers ran out of ideas. For me, the thing that made the show so great for the first couple seasons was the chemistry between the cast, but the actors could't keep playing 16 year-olds and when they tried to make them "grow up" it didn't work and wasn't funny anymore.


False, Gabe being seen would have made season 4 a little more watchable instead of having no Gabe or Vinny

I think when we examine shows that were coming to their natural conclusion, you have to keep in mind that the dawn of the 80's were upon this country and everything was evolving away from the fads and big stars that defined the 70's. Very soon almost everything that was iconic about the 70's would be deemed "uncool" and artists from Travolta to the Bee Gees to KISS were soon to be so unpopular they couldn't get themselves locked up. So whatever the creative differences might have been, there was really very little that could have been done even if the entire team were in place. Times were changing and so were tastes. I think that's why people like me love these shows so much because they really capture those last few years of life in my favorite decade. Those were great times to be alive and be a kid. No decade since has ever come close.

I don't think it would've mattered much if Gabe would have been in every episode of the dreaded 4th season. Travolta was on to bigger things, the sweathogs were way too old, and the writers ran out of ideas. For me, the thing that made the show so great for the first couple seasons was the chemistry between the cast, but the actors could't keep playing 16 year-olds and when they tried to make them "grow up" it didn't work and wasn't funny anymore.

I agree. It was just creepy seeing them act like high schoolers, when we just knew they were 30 years old. It wouldn't have made it better if Kaplan was there. Just more sad.

It was creepy. They tried to make the characters evolve and mature, but what made the show funny was when the Sweathogs were not mature. So making them "grow up" didn't work. It reminds me of what was later done with The Bradys show in 1990. No one wanted to see serious, grown up Bradys. ;) Plus, I think the Kotter writers ran out of ideas too. I mean I remember the one episode when Epstein fell for Julie's sister from Nebraska (one of my favorite episodes!) and then they pretty much repeated that plot later with Epstein falling for Woodman's niece.

So well said, you hit the nail on the head! Everything comes full circle and it wasn't until the 90's that those things you mentioned became hip again. I also feel that most TV shows from the 70's went on far too long, but that was the norm back then because there were only three networks. Look at how long Good Times, What's Happening, Happy Days, Sanford and Son ect. went on and those shows were obviously not as good later as they were in their first couple seasons.
I feel very fortunate to have grown up in the 70's. I find myself watching those shows I grew up with now and loving them. I have no interest in current TV shows. I even notice I am discovering 70's shows that I did not see as a kid and really enjoying them too. Stuff like Room 222, Mod Squad, ect. It makes me feel good to be able to sit down and watch a TV show knowing it will be simple and clean and remind me of my childhood. I think many adults feel this way. The innocence is long lost, so many people gravitate towards the classic TV shows!

I think when we examine shows that were coming to their natural conclusion, you have to keep in mind that the dawn of the 80's were upon this country and everything was evolving away from the fads and big stars that defined the 70's. Very soon almost everything that was iconic about the 70's would be deemed "uncool" and artists from Travolta to the Bee Gees to KISS were soon to be so unpopular they couldn't get themselves locked up. So whatever the creative differences might have been, there was really very little that could have been done even if the entire team were in place. Times were changing and so were tastes. I think that's why people like me love these shows so much because they really capture those last few years of life in my favorite decade. Those were great times to be alive and be a kid. No decade since has ever come close.

I feel very fortunate to have grown up in the 70's. I find myself watching those shows I grew up with now and loving them. I have no interest in current TV shows. I even notice I am discovering 70's shows that I did not see as a kid and really enjoying them too. Stuff like Room 222, Mod Squad, ect. It makes me feel good to be able to sit down and watch a TV show knowing it will be simple and clean and remind me of my childhood. I think many adults feel this way. The innocence is long lost, so many people gravitate towards the classic TV shows!

Amen! I can not connect on ANY level with today's programming. I mean...my God... Naked and Afraid? I have absolutely no understanding for why this country acts so sexually deprived. It's ridiculous. Television back in the 70's was art. It had something to say about society. I'm afraid to think what today's television says.

Same here, I just can not relate to any of the newer shows even if I try. And reality shows are the worst...just basically very annoying people arguing for an hour with fake "drama". I often wonder how people can watch that stuff?
The 70's was the most diverse decade. Look at how many different styles of music, movies, and TV shows came from the 1970's. Now all entertainment is like cars...they look all the same. ;)

False, Gabe being seen would have made season 4 a little more watchable instead of having no Gabe or Vinny

Right. If Kaplan could have reined in his ego and tried to make the best of it, I think the last season would have been better.

At least there would have been a Kotter in WBK.

They should have retitled the show Welcome Back, Mrs. Kotter, because Julie was in the show a lot more than Gabe.

So well said, you hit the nail on the head! Everything comes full circle and it wasn't until the 90's that those things you mentioned became hip again. I also feel that most TV shows from the 70's went on far too long, but that was the norm back then because there were only three networks. Look at how long Good Times, What's Happening, Happy Days, Sanford and Son ect. went on and those shows were obviously not as good later as they were in their first couple seasons.
I feel very fortunate to have grown up in the 70's. I find myself watching those shows I grew up with now and loving them. I have no interest in current TV shows. I even notice I am discovering 70's shows that I did not see as a kid and really enjoying them too. Stuff like Room 222, Mod Squad, ect. It makes me feel good to be able to sit down and watch a TV show knowing it will be simple and clean and remind me of my childhood. I think many adults feel this way. The innocence is long lost, so many people gravitate towards the classic TV shows!

So very true! The 70's was really an era where I absolutely sat in front of that television as did my parents. I watched these shows while my folks watched Columbo, Mannix, McMillan and wife, and Hawaii Five-O. They were special times and I will always look back on them with great fondness.

So very true! The 70's was really an era where I absolutely sat in front of that television as did my parents. I watched these shows while my folks watched Columbo, Mannix, McMillan and wife, and Hawaii Five-O. They were special times and I will always look back on them with great fondness.

It was a great time to be a TV kid. So many great shows to watch and enjoy.

Yeah, if Gabe had stayed on, it could have been more watchable, but they would've had to make some adjustments on the scripts.

Yeah, if Gabe had stayed on, it could have been more watchable, but they would've had to make some adjustments on the scripts.

I think it still would have suffered because of Travolta's absence and the change in direction, but Kaplan would have helped hold things together better.

We'll never know what might have been...

True, but it possible they could have pulled off another season or two.

True, but it possible they could have pulled off another season or two.

Not with the direction they were going in, IMO.

I think they should have gone with Kaplan's premise about everyone moving over to a community college. They might have gotten another year or two out of it had they done that.

We'll never know.

Not with the direction they were going in, IMO.

I think they should have gone with Kaplan's premise about everyone moving over to a community college. They might have gotten another year or two out of it had they done that.

We'll never know.
I agree