Aside from Mrs. Horshack (who we only got to see because she was part of the failed Horshack spinoff pilot), we never ever saw any of the other Sweathog parents.

There was even an fourth-season episode where they had a parent-teacher night and apparently, none of their parents were there. Or at least we never saw them.

I think it would have been interesting to see what they would have been like.

Definitely an unsolved mystery. Though Horshack's much married mom was seen a few times, we never saw the parents of the other sweathogs. Not even Beau's parents were seen or mentioned in the fourth season.

We really only have clues about them.

Barbarino's mother was a saint.

Epstein's parents were Jewish and something else.

We really only have clues about them.

Barbarino's mother was a saint.

Epstein's parents were Jewish and something else.

Sra. Epstein was Puerto Rican, I believe but we never saw her or Barbarino's sainted mother!

Of course, the fact that the Sweathogs' folks NEVER seemed to come to school even during times of duress on their sons' parts much less for parents' night, sporting events,etc. is a good indication that they'd long checked out of their sons' lives . Thus, the sons managed form their OWN family by re/creating themselves as Sweathogs- even capping it off by dragging Horshack along as their annoying tagalong kid brother [would any REAL criminal gang have recruited Horshack instead of just beating him up for kicks?] the Kotters' (taking turns) as their de facto, permissive if not coddling 'mother' and Mr. Woodman as their stern 'father' that they rebelled against.

I dont think there was ever a reference made to Freddie's parents on the show

Thus, the sons managed form their OWN family by re/creating themselves as Sweathogs- even capping it off by dragging Horshack along as their annoying tagalong kid brother [would any REAL criminal gang have recruited Horshack instead of just beating him up for kicks?]

You're probably right.

I've always contended that if the Sweathogs acted the way they did in a real NY 1970s school, they would have gotten beaten up, each and every one of them.

In the early episodes, Epstein was portrayed as being more menacing and was the closest they came to conveying any real kind of menace, but eventually, Epstein became more like Chico Marx and was pretty harmless for the most part.

Sra. Epstein was Puerto Rican, I believe but we never saw her or Barbarino's sainted mother!

Of course, the fact that the Sweathogs' folks NEVER seemed to come to school even during times of duress on their sons' parts much less for parents' night, sporting events,etc. is a good indication that they'd long checked out of their sons' lives . Thus, the sons managed form their OWN family by re/creating themselves as Sweathogs- even capping it off by dragging Horshack along as their annoying tagalong kid brother [would any REAL criminal gang have recruited Horshack instead of just beating him up for kicks?] the Kotters' (taking turns) as their de facto, permissive if not coddling 'mother' and Mr. Woodman as their stern 'father' that they rebelled against.

I think his mom was Puerto Rican, and his dad Jewish. The actor was of Hungarian Jewish descent I be!ieve.

would have been nice to see epstein's mother, the note writer

I think his mom was Puerto Rican, and his dad Jewish. The actor was of Hungarian Jewish descent I be!ieve.

Robert Hegyes was of Hungarian and Italian descent. Jon Bon Jovi was his cousin.

I think it would have added to the show if parents were shown. It makes no sense that they weren't. No parent teacher meetings? Lol

I think it would have added to the show if parents were shown. It makes no sense that they weren't. No parent teacher meetings? Lol

On the other hand, never seeing "Epstein's Mother" was part of the ongoing gag with Epstein and his hilarious excuse notes to Mr. Kotter.

It would have been like seeing "Mrs. Wolowitz" on The Big Bang Theory -- sometimes it's better to have a mysterious off-camera character.

However, I think if Kotter were being made today, we would eventually see all their parents at some point.

On the other hand, never seeing "Epstein's Mother" was part of the ongoing gag with Epstein and his hilarious excuse notes to Mr. Kotter.

It would have been like seeing "Mrs. Wolowitz" on The Big Bang Theory -- sometimes it's better to have a mysterious off-camera character.

However, I think if Kotter were being made today, we would eventually see all their parents at some point.

My Aunt is who 64 years old still today if you bring up Welcome Back Kotter the one thing she still remember is Epstein's Mother Note lol

I dont think there was ever a reference made to Freddie's parents on the show

I'm pretty sure Freddie mentions his father in an early episode. If I catch it next week when Antenna starts up I'll come back in here with the details.

Ellen Travolta was Arnold's mother.

Ellen Travolta was Arnold's mother.

Yes, but the only reason we ever saw her character was because she appeared in a two-part episode that was really a "backdoor pilot" for a Horshack spin off that thankfully, never happened.

I think what happened was, they shot the pilot, the network didn't think it was good enough to go to series and that was that.

Well, back then, producers like Komack didn't want to waste anything, so footage from that was repurposed into a two-part Kotter episode where we got to see into Horshack's private life outside of the school. And based on what I saw, I'm glad the network didn't give Horshack a spinoff.

Kotter was really based around Gabe and The Sweathogs and taking Horshack away from that ensemble would not have been good for the show.

I strongly agree! Horshack was my favorite character on Welcome Back, Kotter and he was very funny, even his laugh. Taking him off Kotter would have been a major shark jump and the show would have been canceled after two or three seasons.

I dont think there was ever a reference made to Freddie's parents on the show

I'm pretty sure Freddie mentions his father in an early episode. If I catch it next week when Antenna starts up I'll come back in here with the details.

I didn’t see the whole episode but I saw the part I needed. Basically Kotter and Freddy challenge each other to a basketball game. Afterwards Kotter is all sore and groaning and Freddy says his father makes those noises. They then compare the way Kotter and Freddy’s father each walk.

and the show would have been canceled after two or three seasons.

And then we never would have gotten all those fabulous season four episodes.

I didn’t see the whole episode but I saw the part I needed. Basically Kotter and Freddy challenge each other to a basketball game. Afterwards Kotter is all sore and groaning and Freddy says his father makes those noises. They then compare the way Kotter and Freddy’s father each walk.

sounds like season 3 or 4

sounds like season 3 or 4

Nah. Antenna started at the beginning today at 4pm, and I saw the end of the 4:30 ep. So season 1 episode 2. Here’s the plot…..

Basket Case
Welcome Back, Kotter: Season 1, Episode 2

Gabe has a problem when Washington makes the varsity basketball team and decides not to take his exams.

There was a band called Epstein’s Mother. They never had major success and are no longer active, but did exist at one point.

https://www.facebook.com/people/Epsteins-Mother/100077810007399/

My Aunt is who 64 years old still today if you bring up Welcome Back Kotter the one thing she still remember is Epstein's Mother Note lol

Signed,

Epstein's Mother

The note writing was funny! :D

I think of all of them, Epstein's family would have been the most interesting to guest star or even have a spin off show of ! ;)

Epstein's mother didn't really write the notes, though

And then we never would have gotten all those fabulous season four episodes.

There are a few that aren't bad. The season opener is pretty good -- one rare episode where Kaplan and Travolta are in the same episode together.