Welcome Back Kotter Series Review - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

comedyfreak · 05-30-2006, 07:35 AM

I'm finished watching the entire series except for the last few shows of the 4th season. I got ripped off and didn't get disc 3 season 4.

Season 1- The best new original series, very funny and fresh.
Season 2- Really good, the cast hit their stride and peaked with this season.
Season 3- Fair, although it did have some stand out episodes. Imo, during the second half of this season, the show started to slow down it wasn't as funny. Gabe missed an episode or two, or was only featured at the beginning or end of the episode. Vinnie missed two episodes, and we see the addition of a new Sweathog Angie. She didn't seem to fit in too well and didn't last. This episode would've worked better with Verna Jean or Rosalie Totsie wanting to become a Sweathog instead. Angie wasn't funny, she was eye candy.

Season 4- The whole premise of the show disappeared. A southern Sweathog did not help matters, Beau was tolerable at best. The show wasn't funny without all the main characters together, it didn't work with just part of the cast the show needed both Kotter and the Sweathogs. This season doomed the show to cancellation. Too bad Travolta and Kaplan both felt they were too big to continue the show. And What's up with Horshack getting married? We also seen less and less or no signs of Judy and Todd anymore. Kaplan's career bombed after the show, anyone remember his stinker called Fast Break? Travolta didn't fair much better after Saturday Night Fever and Grease. They should have called it quits after the 3rd season imo.

TVFactFan · 05-31-2006, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

I'm finished watching the entire series except for the last few shows of the 4th season. I got ripped off and didn't get disc 3 season 4.

Season 1- The best new original series, very funny and fresh.
Season 2- Really good, the cast hit their stride and peaked with this season.
Season 3- Fair, although it did have some stand out episodes. Imo, during the second half of this season, the show started to slow down it wasn't as funny. Gabe missed an episode or two, or was only featured at the beginning or end of the episode. Vinnie missed two episodes, and we see the addition of a new Sweathog Angie. She didn't seem to fit in too well and didn't last. This episode would've worked better with Verna Jean or Rosalie Totsie wanting to become a Sweathog instead. Angie wasn't funny, she was eye candy.

Season 4- The whole premise of the show disappeared. A southern Sweathog did not help matters, Beau was tolerable at best. The show wasn't funny without all the main characters together, it didn't work with just part of the cast the show needed both Kotter and the Sweathogs. This season doomed the show to cancellation. Too bad Travolta and Kaplan both felt they were too big to continue the show. And What's up with Horshack getting married? We also seen less and less or no signs of Judy and Todd anymore. Kaplan's career bombed after the show, anyone remember his stinker called Fast Break? Travolta didn't fair much better after Saturday Night Fever and Grease. They should have called it quits after the 3rd season imo.

Did you like Judy Border?

comedyfreak · 06-01-2006, 02:58 AM

I loved Judy, her and Todd were great. I admit I liked her high pitched nasal voice, LOL.

comedyfreak · 06-07-2006, 09:42 AM

My favorite Judy episode is the great debate episode.

Lee G · 07-17-2006, 04:36 PM

As the series progressed, there was apparently plenty of chaos happening on the Welcome Back, Kotter set. John Travolta quickly becoming a mega-star which caused jealousy/problems on the set. Gabe Kaplan and Marcia Strassman disliked each other, and after a point did not want to work together anymore. It got to the point when the only time you saw them together was during those joke telling sequences. Eventually, Travolta left the series, Kaplan's appearances became less frequent and Strassman's character became more involved with the show. With all the problems, it was amazing they were able to hold it together for that 4th and final season. Welcome Back, Kotter was great for it's first couple seasons. Then all the turmoil started taking over, the show went into a tailspin and crash landed with a thud.

catlover79 · 11-20-2007, 07:03 PM

Thanks for the feedback!

05-30-2006, 07:35 AM	#1
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	Welcome Back Kotter Series Review I'm finished watching the entire series except for the last few shows of the 4th season. I got ripped off and didn't get disc 3 season 4. Season 1- The best new original series, very funny and fresh. Season 2- Really good, the cast hit their stride and peaked with this season. Season 3- Fair, although it did have some stand out episodes. Imo, during the second half of this season, the show started to slow down it wasn't as funny. Gabe missed an episode or two, or was only featured at the beginning or end of the episode. Vinnie missed two episodes, and we see the addition of a new Sweathog Angie. She didn't seem to fit in too well and didn't last. This episode would've worked better with Verna Jean or Rosalie Totsie wanting to become a Sweathog instead. Angie wasn't funny, she was eye candy. Season 4- The whole premise of the show disappeared. A southern Sweathog did not help matters, Beau was tolerable at best. The show wasn't funny without all the main characters together, it didn't work with just part of the cast the show needed both Kotter and the Sweathogs. This season doomed the show to cancellation. Too bad Travolta and Kaplan both felt they were too big to continue the show. And What's up with Horshack getting married? We also seen less and less or no signs of Judy and Todd anymore. Kaplan's career bombed after the show, anyone remember his stinker called Fast Break? Travolta didn't fair much better after Saturday Night Fever and Grease. They should have called it quits after the 3rd season imo.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

11-20-2007, 07:03 PM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Thanks for the feedback!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

06-01-2006, 02:58 AM	#3
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	I loved Judy, her and Todd were great. I admit I liked her high pitched nasal voice, LOL.

06-07-2006, 09:42 AM	#4
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	My favorite Judy episode is the great debate episode.

07-17-2006, 04:36 PM	#5
Lee G Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 24, 2004 Posts: 850	As the series progressed, there was apparently plenty of chaos happening on the Welcome Back, Kotter set. John Travolta quickly becoming a mega-star which caused jealousy/problems on the set. Gabe Kaplan and Marcia Strassman disliked each other, and after a point did not want to work together anymore. It got to the point when the only time you saw them together was during those joke telling sequences. Eventually, Travolta left the series, Kaplan's appearances became less frequent and Strassman's character became more involved with the show. With all the problems, it was amazing they were able to hold it together for that 4th and final season. Welcome Back, Kotter was great for it's first couple seasons. Then all the turmoil started taking over, the show went into a tailspin and crash landed with a thud.