I don’t think WBK could have had a long run - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Schmo · 07-27-2019, 09:02 PM

I don’t think Welcome Back, Kotter could have had a long run. The primary reason is that the actors playing high-school students were obviously well into adulthood when they were cast. Can you really expect a sitcom set in a high school to be on the air for ten seasons and have actors well into their thirties playing students?

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.p.../DawsonCasting

DJM77 · 07-27-2019, 09:30 PM

I read that Gabe Kaplan's idea for a 5th season was that Mr. Kotter would get a new job teaching college somewhere and that the sweathogs would end up being his students there. So there's that.

Mr. Television · 07-27-2019, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmo

I don’t think Welcome Back, Kotter could have had a long run. The primary reason is that the actors playing high-school students were obviously well into adulthood when they were cast. Can you really expect a sitcom set in a high school to be on the air for ten seasons and have actors well into their thirties playing students?

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.p.../DawsonCasting

Happy Days did. Ron Howard was 20 when HD came on. Anson Williams was 24. Donny Most was 20. Henry Winkler was nearly 30.

OH Nuts! · 07-28-2019, 08:47 AM

I pegged the show as a likely candidate for a short run NOT because of anyone’s age but because of poor writing—the plots were often cliched and tired-and the characters felt more like charactures than real people.

Happy Days flourished because of great acting and GOOD writing. On Happy Days the characters weren’t one dimensional.

Mr. Television · 07-28-2019, 10:10 AM

WBK didn't have a long run mainly because Travolta left the series and Kaplan and Komack had a feud which resulted in an unwatchable 4th season. When I watch reruns I never watch the last season.

TVFactFan · 07-28-2019, 03:15 PM

This show actually did better in the ratings than Bob Newhart it's first two seasons

king of comedy · 07-29-2019, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM77

I read that Gabe Kaplan's idea for a 5th season was that Mr. Kotter would get a new job teaching college somewhere and that the sweathogs would end up being his students there. So there's that.

That could have worked.

Chocolate Moose · 07-30-2019, 04:51 PM

Hmmmm Dunno. I liked it while the original cast was on.

treky · 08-01-2019, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM77

I read that Gabe Kaplan's idea for a 5th season was that Mr. Kotter would get a new job teaching college somewhere and that the sweathogs would end up being his students there. So there's that.

that could have worked, but unfortunately ABC rejected the idea.

Dr. Thong · 10-07-2019, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

that could have worked, but unfortunately ABC rejected the idea.

It wasn't ABC who rejected the idea, it was Executive Producer James Komack.

And this sparked a war of egos between star and co-creator Kaplan and Komack, who was his boss

TVFactFan · 10-07-2019, 09:02 PM

the sweathoggs wasnt college material

hatwink · 11-05-2019, 04:59 PM

But they were JC material. And being in the real world a bit more might have sparked some genius buried somewhere.

BestTVever · 02-14-2021, 04:52 PM

It was excellent the first season. The second season was ok but the show jumped the shark once the twins were born. Gabe leaving was pathetic. Most scenes in the last season were not even in a classroom.
I also think there are only so many scripts you can write about a classroom of kids. IMHO, this is also the reason Head of the Class was only good for about 2 seasons. Gosh it got so ridiculous at the end (both shows).

TVFactFan · 02-14-2021, 06:24 PM

Julie was never needed along with the awful addition of Beau

DEH55 · 02-21-2021, 11:01 PM

Travolta leaving. Beau replacing him. Kotter there part time. The show is named after Kotter and he is not there. Lol Julie working at the school. Della Reese joining. Horshack falling in love and having a drinking problem. The last season was crap.

07-27-2019, 09:02 PM	#1
Schmo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 24, 2013 Posts: 466	I don’t think WBK could have had a long run I don’t think Welcome Back, Kotter could have had a long run. The primary reason is that the actors playing high-school students were obviously well into adulthood when they were cast. Can you really expect a sitcom set in a high school to be on the air for ten seasons and have actors well into their thirties playing students? https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.p.../DawsonCasting

07-27-2019, 09:30 PM	#2
DJM77 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,554	I read that Gabe Kaplan's idea for a 5th season was that Mr. Kotter would get a new job teaching college somewhere and that the sweathogs would end up being his students there. So there's that.
	__________________ Marge: There are only 49 stars on that flag. Abe: I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missouri!

07-30-2019, 04:51 PM	#8
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,883	Hmmmm Dunno. I liked it while the original cast was on.
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

07-28-2019, 08:47 AM	#4
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	I pegged the show as a likely candidate for a short run NOT because of anyone’s age but because of poor writing—the plots were often cliched and tired-and the characters felt more like charactures than real people. Happy Days flourished because of great acting and GOOD writing. On Happy Days the characters weren’t one dimensional.

07-28-2019, 10:10 AM	#5
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	WBK didn't have a long run mainly because Travolta left the series and Kaplan and Komack had a feud which resulted in an unwatchable 4th season. When I watch reruns I never watch the last season.

07-28-2019, 03:15 PM	#6
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,971	This show actually did better in the ratings than Bob Newhart it's first two seasons

10-07-2019, 09:02 PM	#11
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,971	the sweathoggs wasnt college material

11-05-2019, 04:59 PM	#12
hatwink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 19, 2004 Posts: 773	But they were JC material. And being in the real world a bit more might have sparked some genius buried somewhere.

02-14-2021, 04:52 PM	#13
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,877	It was excellent the first season. The second season was ok but the show jumped the shark once the twins were born. Gabe leaving was pathetic. Most scenes in the last season were not even in a classroom. I also think there are only so many scripts you can write about a classroom of kids. IMHO, this is also the reason Head of the Class was only good for about 2 seasons. Gosh it got so ridiculous at the end (both shows).

02-14-2021, 06:24 PM	#14
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,971	Julie was never needed along with the awful addition of Beau

02-21-2021, 11:01 PM	#15
DEH55 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 19, 2020 Posts: 319	Travolta leaving. Beau replacing him. Kotter there part time. The show is named after Kotter and he is not there. Lol Julie working at the school. Della Reese joining. Horshack falling in love and having a drinking problem. The last season was crap.