Welcome Back Kotter and Good Times, are they equally entertaining? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 06-28-2005, 11:13 AM

I think they are, both shows are entertaining and welcome back kotter would have a slight edge if the Vinny Barbarino character didn't leave the show in season 4.

James"Thunder"Early · 06-28-2005, 11:25 AM

Welcome Back Kotter is all right, but I like Good Times much better.

Brian Damage · 06-28-2005, 11:25 AM

I disagree. Welcome Back Kotter was entertaining, but not nearly as much as GT. IMO

JT · 06-28-2005, 12:36 PM

WBK is more entertaining, IMO. GT could get a little overdramatic sometimes, and even though Vinnie left in the last season, I'd still watch 1978-1979 WBK over any of GT.

dlemond · 06-28-2005, 12:41 PM

I find Welcome Back Kotter more entertaining.

I never got into Good Times.

TVFactFan · 06-28-2005, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I disagree. Welcome Back Kotter was entertaining, but not nearly as much as GT. IMO

Is WBK better than the Penny era of Good Times?

PrettyinPink55 · 06-28-2005, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I disagree. Welcome Back Kotter was entertaining, but not nearly as much as GT. IMO

I agree!

mstewart · 06-29-2005, 01:20 AM

Both shows were quite entertaining. I would not say equally because there were two different situations going on with both shows. The one thing that took the enjoyment from both shows were the backstage battles that was going on. With key cast members being written out of the show and unhappy cast members the shows were hard to watch. When John Amos was fired from GT the show was never the same and Esther Rolle's performances as Florida did not have the same drive. On Kotter the battle between Gabe Kaplan and Marcia Strassman filtered out on the screen. If you watch Marcia's performance as Julie Kotter she looked pissed off. Then in the final season when Kaplan was not on that put the nail on the coffin.

Penny Lane · 06-29-2005, 09:30 AM

Welcome Back Kotter is better. I never really liked Good Times.

TVFactFan · 06-29-2005, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penny Lane

Welcome Back Kotter is better. I never really liked Good Times.

Yeah Good Times was more of a dramedy. Not fun to watch sometimes

Michael72581 · 07-01-2005, 11:39 AM

"Welcome Back Kotter" was much better than "Good Times". Always plenty of laughs in every episode and a great cast making it very entertaining. Very watchable. "Good Times" was too dramatic and focused too much on too many serious topics instead of giving us laughs. The point is that it was not funny and very unwatchable.

Dr. Thong · 07-01-2005, 01:04 PM

Good Times to me wasn't a "sitcom." It was like M*A*S*H and All In The Family in that it combined comedy and drama. You have to look at it on a different level. It was entertaining in a different way from a standard sitcom.

Now, Welcome Back Kotter was pure sitcom. It was never supposed to be heavy-handed or have deep messages. In fact, when they tried to get "relevant" during season four (Horshack's alcoholism, Mary's suicide attempt), it backfired. The show lost two key cast members (Kaplan and Travolta) and changed hands creatively, which resulted in the show's cancellation.

Cast changes hurt GT as well. John Amos was a good actor who provided a strong presence as James Evans. Once he departed, the show unraveled, with Esther Rolle leaving and then coming back. Funnily enough, GT and Kotter were both cancelled during the 1978-1979 season. Not the best of times if you liked either or both of these shows.

barwars · 07-01-2005, 03:30 PM

I like Good Times, but Welcome Back Kotter is better.

vashti1999 · 07-01-2005, 03:47 PM

These are two of my top favorite shows ever, sitcom or otherwise.

I guess if you're taking the word "entertaining" literally, WBK was probably a more "entertaining" show than GT, but all the serious topics they touched on on Good Times is exactly the reason why I like it. Even as a little kid I appreciated that GT stood out from other shows with the drugs, child abuse, J.J. getting shot, etc. episodes. There was a realism there, and especially when you see those episodes for the first time as a young kid, those episodes stay in your memory. WBK wasn't a serious show, and I was fine with that too. I just get different kinds of entertainment from each show.

I'll say this: I can watch Good Times episodes without John Amos and Esther Rolle no problem. WBK episodes without Gabe Kaplan and John Travolta? No thanks.

TVFactFan · 07-01-2005, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vashti1999

These are two of my top favorite shows ever, sitcom or otherwise.

I guess if you're taking the word "entertaining" literally, WBK was probably a more "entertaining" show than GT, but all the serious topics they touched on on Good Times is exactly the reason why I like it. Even as a little kid I appreciated that GT stood out from other shows with the drugs, child abuse, J.J. getting shot, etc. episodes. There was a realism there, and especially when you see those episodes for the first time as a young kid, those episodes stay in your memory. WBK wasn't a serious show, and I was fine with that too. I just get different kinds of entertainment from each show.

I'll say this: I can watch Good Times episodes without John Amos and Esther Rolle no problem. WBK episodes without Gabe Kaplan and John Travolta? No thanks.

So you are telling me that you can watch the Penny Eps of Good Times but not the WBK eps with Freddie, Epstein, and Arnold????????????-LOL

06-28-2005, 11:13 AM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,135	Welcome Back Kotter and Good Times, are they equally entertaining? I think they are, both shows are entertaining and welcome back kotter would have a slight edge if the Vinny Barbarino character didn't leave the show in season 4.

06-28-2005, 11:25 AM	#2
James"Thunder"Early Whoever's In New England Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 23, 2004 Location: The Apollo Posts: 7,088	Welcome Back Kotter is all right, but I like Good Times much better.
	__________________ Esther Anderson: Get thee behind me, Satan, but I'm gon' get behind you, 'cause I'm gonna put my foot in your--- Peggy Mitchell: Get outta my pub! You better pray you get the last laugh, it's a kick in the teeth when you don't get it.

06-28-2005, 12:36 PM	#4
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,223	WBK is more entertaining, IMO. GT could get a little overdramatic sometimes, and even though Vinnie left in the last season, I'd still watch 1978-1979 WBK over any of GT.
	__________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrEbJBFWIPk

06-29-2005, 09:30 AM	#9
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,380	Welcome Back Kotter is better. I never really liked Good Times.
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

07-01-2005, 11:39 AM	#11
Michael72581 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 13, 2004 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 289	"Welcome Back Kotter" was much better than "Good Times". Always plenty of laughs in every episode and a great cast making it very entertaining. Very watchable. "Good Times" was too dramatic and focused too much on too many serious topics instead of giving us laughs. The point is that it was not funny and very unwatchable.
	__________________ Michael Tranzillo Alias Name: MichaelTheTVFan82

06-28-2005, 11:25 AM	#3
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I disagree. Welcome Back Kotter was entertaining, but not nearly as much as GT. IMO

06-28-2005, 12:41 PM	#5
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	I find Welcome Back Kotter more entertaining. I never got into Good Times.

06-29-2005, 01:20 AM	#8
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	Both shows were quite entertaining. I would not say equally because there were two different situations going on with both shows. The one thing that took the enjoyment from both shows were the backstage battles that was going on. With key cast members being written out of the show and unhappy cast members the shows were hard to watch. When John Amos was fired from GT the show was never the same and Esther Rolle's performances as Florida did not have the same drive. On Kotter the battle between Gabe Kaplan and Marcia Strassman filtered out on the screen. If you watch Marcia's performance as Julie Kotter she looked pissed off. Then in the final season when Kaplan was not on that put the nail on the coffin.

07-01-2005, 01:04 PM	#12
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Good Times to me wasn't a "sitcom." It was like MASH* and All In The Family in that it combined comedy and drama. You have to look at it on a different level. It was entertaining in a different way from a standard sitcom. Now, Welcome Back Kotter was pure sitcom. It was never supposed to be heavy-handed or have deep messages. In fact, when they tried to get "relevant" during season four (Horshack's alcoholism, Mary's suicide attempt), it backfired. The show lost two key cast members (Kaplan and Travolta) and changed hands creatively, which resulted in the show's cancellation. Cast changes hurt GT as well. John Amos was a good actor who provided a strong presence as James Evans. Once he departed, the show unraveled, with Esther Rolle leaving and then coming back. Funnily enough, GT and Kotter were both cancelled during the 1978-1979 season. Not the best of times if you liked either or both of these shows.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

07-01-2005, 03:30 PM	#13
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	I like Good Times, but Welcome Back Kotter is better.

07-01-2005, 03:47 PM	#14
vashti1999 NY METS - #1 Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 14, 2003 Location: The world's greatest city - New York City Posts: 11,404	These are two of my top favorite shows ever, sitcom or otherwise. I guess if you're taking the word "entertaining" literally, WBK was probably a more "entertaining" show than GT, but all the serious topics they touched on on Good Times is exactly the reason why I like it. Even as a little kid I appreciated that GT stood out from other shows with the drugs, child abuse, J.J. getting shot, etc. episodes. There was a realism there, and especially when you see those episodes for the first time as a young kid, those episodes stay in your memory. WBK wasn't a serious show, and I was fine with that too. I just get different kinds of entertainment from each show. I'll say this: I can watch Good Times episodes without John Amos and Esther Rolle no problem. WBK episodes without Gabe Kaplan and John Travolta? No thanks.
	__________________ .