Honestly, How Would 'Welcome Back Kotter' Function After 4 Seasons?

[Brian Damage]

I mean, there was an obvious shelf life with this sitcom. After 4 years in high school, the sweathogs would eventually graduate. How in the world could it have continued? Would new sweathogs be introduced? What in the world could they have done?

[Marvo301]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I mean, there was an obvious shelf life with this sitcom. After 4 years in high school, the sweathogs would eventually graduate. How in the world could it have continued? Would new sweathogs be introduced? What in the world could they have done?

You have to remember that the sweathogs were remedial students so it may have taken them an extra year or two to get through high school. What really shortened the life of this series was the back stage politics and the infighting between Gabe Kaplan and James Komack.

[Mr. Television]

I think Gabe wanted to advance the series I think I read somewhere that he wanted Kotter to get a job teaching at a community college where the sweathogs would be enrolled. Komack wanted to keep them in HS...you know don't rock the boat. That was one of their many fights. Komack won and the fans lost.

[Marvo301]

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

I think Gabe wanted to advance the series I think I read somewhere that he wanted Kotter to get a job teaching at a community college where the sweathogs would be enrolled. Komack wanted to keep them in HS...you know don't rock the boat. That was one of their many fights. Komack won and the fans lost.

Ironically that same concept was used in the 90's on the series "Boy Meets World". When the main characters graduated high school their teacher, Mr. Feeny, got a job teaching at the college where the main characters enrolled. I think the same thing could have worked on "Kotter".

[MickeyMac]

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

I think Gabe wanted to advance the series I think I read somewhere that he wanted Kotter to get a job teaching at a community college where the sweathogs would be enrolled. Komack wanted to keep them in HS...you know don't rock the boat. That was one of their many fights. Komack won and the fans lost.

Yeah that is true.


It may not have been a bad idea to do that in the last season, considering the actors were already in their mid 20's and looked it.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

I mean, there was an obvious shelf life with this sitcom. After 4 years in high school, the sweathogs would eventually graduate. How in the world could it have continued? Would new sweathogs be introduced? What in the world could they have done?

Probably the NEW SWEATHOGS like the New Class for Saved by the Bell

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Marvo301

What really shortened the life of this series was the back stage politics and the infighting between Gabe Kaplan and James Komack.

Not to mention the fact that John Travolta had basically left the series (except for the occasional guest appearance) because of his then-skyrocketing movie career, and also that the Kotters (Mr. Kaplan and Marcia Strassman) didn't get along off-screen, though I believe they have since resolved their differences. It's a shame, though, because WBK had a nice little run going there for awhile.