Why Has 'Welcome Back Kotter' Failed in Syndication & In DVD Sales? - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ThomasE · 08-23-2011, 10:24 PM

Back in 2000, I was living in Tampa, FL. I came on one of my many visits to NYC to visit my family for Thanksgiving and bumrushed my aunt's VCR to tape as many eps as I could as they aired all night on the station with Ron Palillo as the host for the marathon. Now, Metro 1 has turned into NY1, 24 hour news station. Ugggh...

1960'sTVfan · 08-30-2011, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

the way you posted your last comment it sounded like you had a list of reasons why the show is not successful in syndication but didn't feel like posting them-lol

Not really, it's probably just one of those things where the show is currently out of fashion and not in the syndication rotation, but will likely come back again at a later date.

TMC · 06-01-2015, 02:35 AM

I'm guessing that WBK simply doesn't "hold up" (not necessarily for being "too dated") for several arguable reasons:
1) None of the sweathogs are plausible as high school students. They are all too old. This is true even in the first episode.

2) Gabe Kaplan/Kotter doesn't carry in a dramatic role. Kaplan's forte (pronounced fort) seems to be as a stand-up comedian.

3) The character of Kotter's wife is completely unsympathetic and shouldn't be interacting with the sweathogs. She seems to have a part only so Kotter doesn't have to spend all of his scenes with sweathogs.

4) The typical viewer is completely unable to identify with any of the characters.

5) It is really nothing but a disjointed string of one-liners. There is nothing touching or heartwarming about it at all.

6) The appeal of the show significantly plummeted after the first season and by the fourth season (the last) it totally sucked, especially with the addition of the Beau character and the frequent absences of Barbarino.

biffbronson · 06-01-2015, 08:06 PM

When you consider how hard it is to find some of the other school-related series that preceded it, like Our Miss Brooks, and some that came later, like Head of the Class, availability and syndication success haven't been bad for WBK...!

WBK was a very big hit and there was a lot of licensed merchandise. How well it holds up today is a different matter, but despite the actors being "too old" to play high school students (a very common situation in sitcom history), the series was very well cast and had elements in place for success.

And again it's certainly in good company among sitcoms that eroded in quality by their final seasons.

hatwink · 06-02-2015, 06:43 PM

Possibly, because of John Travolta's so-called Trangressions.

tlc38tlc38 · 06-02-2015, 06:53 PM

I own the complete series and I enjoy watching it once in a while but I honestly don't really care much for John Travolta-- I don't think he can act and he kinda creeps me out.

king of comedy · 06-02-2015, 08:18 PM

It hasn't aged well and looks horrible today.

TVFactFan · 06-03-2015, 01:02 AM

I think it's because it's not a family show and mainly geared toward men

Sonny Carson · 06-04-2015, 11:13 PM

The only high school show's that have done well in syndication are Saved By The Bell and Boy Meets World. Kotter is way better than Saved By The Bell at least. Along with Head Of The Class I think audience that grew up watching those show's don't want to see those show's again. I loved watching reruns of Welcomd Back Kotter on Nick At Night in the late 90s t I remember my dad saying "He didn't want to see a show about high school in the 70s anymore", he already saw Kotter and went to High School during that time.

king of comedy · 06-05-2015, 05:54 PM

Head of the Class was way better than Kotter.

TVFactFan · 06-05-2015, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king of comedy

Head of the Class was way better than Kotter.

Maybe better than season 4

Sonny Carson · 06-06-2015, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Maybe better than season 4

Agreed none of the studen's were as great of standouts as the " Original Sweat Hogs"(Epstein, Horshack, Washington, Barbarino). Howard Hessmen may have been better than Gabe Kapler though! Also I would pick Mr. Woodman over Mr. Samuels!

king of comedy · 06-07-2015, 05:23 PM

Howard Hessman can act. Gabe Kaplan has and will always will be a stand up comic.

Rewound50 · 07-28-2015, 10:19 PM

Since the show was geared to address social issues of it's day with busing and cultural blending, it was going to have a tough uphill battle maintaining relevance through the years as those social concepts were addressed and overcome. Stylistically it no longer fits with most fast paced comedic shows of today, but then again Starsky & Hutch doesn't work with CSI either.

Nostalgia is what most shows from the 70's offer today and why people watch them. There are still some solid social messages to retain from this show, so it's fun to watch to reminisce and occasionally get a thoughtful reflection.

It plays quite a bit on MeTV and seasons two through four were released last year along with a complete series set soon after. Commercially it seems to have found a second life from what I see. Who has reported this show is not holding up well after getting such a big push commercially last year on DVD and in syndication right now?

TVFactFan · 07-28-2015, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rewound50

Since the show was geared to address social issues of it's day with busing and cultural blending, it was going to have a tough uphill battle maintaining relevance through the years as those social concepts were addressed and overcome. Stylistically it no longer fits with most fast paced comedic shows of today, but then again Starsky & Hutch doesn't work with CSI either.

Nostalgia is what most shows from the 70's offer today and why people watch them. There are still some solid social messages to retain from this show, so it's fun to watch to reminisce and occasionally get a thoughtful reflection.

It plays quite a bit on MeTV and seasons two through four were released last year along with a complete series set soon after. Commercially it seems to have found a second life from what I see. Who has reported this show is not holding up well after getting such a big push commercially last year on DVD and in syndication right now?

This thread was started 4 years ago which was

1. Before Antenna TV

2. Before the DVD complete series release of WBK

08-23-2011, 10:24 PM	#16
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Back in 2000, I was living in Tampa, FL. I came on one of my many visits to NYC to visit my family for Thanksgiving and bumrushed my aunt's VCR to tape as many eps as I could as they aired all night on the station with Ron Palillo as the host for the marathon. Now, Metro 1 has turned into NY1, 24 hour news station. Ugggh...
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06-01-2015, 08:06 PM	#19
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,328	When you consider how hard it is to find some of the other school-related series that preceded it, like Our Miss Brooks, and some that came later, like Head of the Class, availability and syndication success haven't been bad for WBK...! WBK was a very big hit and there was a lot of licensed merchandise. How well it holds up today is a different matter, but despite the actors being "too old" to play high school students (a very common situation in sitcom history), the series was very well cast and had elements in place for success. And again it's certainly in good company among sitcoms that eroded in quality by their final seasons.
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06-02-2015, 06:53 PM	#21
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,257	I own the complete series and I enjoy watching it once in a while but I honestly don't really care much for John Travolta-- I don't think he can act and he kinda creeps me out.
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06-01-2015, 02:35 AM	#18
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,028	I'm guessing that WBK simply doesn't "hold up" (not necessarily for being "too dated") for several arguable reasons: 1) None of the sweathogs are plausible as high school students. They are all too old. This is true even in the first episode. 2) Gabe Kaplan/Kotter doesn't carry in a dramatic role. Kaplan's forte (pronounced fort) seems to be as a stand-up comedian. 3) The character of Kotter's wife is completely unsympathetic and shouldn't be interacting with the sweathogs. She seems to have a part only so Kotter doesn't have to spend all of his scenes with sweathogs. 4) The typical viewer is completely unable to identify with any of the characters. 5) It is really nothing but a disjointed string of one-liners. There is nothing touching or heartwarming about it at all. 6) The appeal of the show significantly plummeted after the first season and by the fourth season (the last) it totally sucked, especially with the addition of the Beau character and the frequent absences of Barbarino.

06-02-2015, 06:43 PM	#20
hatwink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 19, 2004 Posts: 773	Possibly, because of John Travolta's so-called Trangressions.

06-02-2015, 08:18 PM	#22
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	It hasn't aged well and looks horrible today.

06-03-2015, 01:02 AM	#23
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,991	I think it's because it's not a family show and mainly geared toward men

06-04-2015, 11:13 PM	#24
Sonny Carson Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 26, 2012 Location: Southfield, Michigan Posts: 395	The only high school show's that have done well in syndication are Saved By The Bell and Boy Meets World. Kotter is way better than Saved By The Bell at least. Along with Head Of The Class I think audience that grew up watching those show's don't want to see those show's again. I loved watching reruns of Welcomd Back Kotter on Nick At Night in the late 90s t I remember my dad saying "He didn't want to see a show about high school in the 70s anymore", he already saw Kotter and went to High School during that time.

06-05-2015, 05:54 PM	#25
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	Head of the Class was way better than Kotter.

06-07-2015, 05:23 PM	#28
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	Howard Hessman can act. Gabe Kaplan has and will always will be a stand up comic.

07-28-2015, 10:19 PM	#29
Rewound50 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 28, 2015 Location: Louisville Posts: 46	Since the show was geared to address social issues of it's day with busing and cultural blending, it was going to have a tough uphill battle maintaining relevance through the years as those social concepts were addressed and overcome. Stylistically it no longer fits with most fast paced comedic shows of today, but then again Starsky & Hutch doesn't work with CSI either. Nostalgia is what most shows from the 70's offer today and why people watch them. There are still some solid social messages to retain from this show, so it's fun to watch to reminisce and occasionally get a thoughtful reflection. It plays quite a bit on MeTV and seasons two through four were released last year along with a complete series set soon after. Commercially it seems to have found a second life from what I see. Who has reported this show is not holding up well after getting such a big push commercially last year on DVD and in syndication right now?