A question about the guys on the show - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Meathead1971-1978 · 01-04-2002, 12:17 PM

something I couldn't figure out is why all the guys on this show where 25 and playing the part of High School students. I remember the producer talking about this on the E true Hollywood story. Saying they looked Ridiculous as years went by and he suggested that they move on to College but his idea was rejected. Why do you think that was?

Pitooey · 01-04-2002, 08:03 PM

Well for me personally I thought they were very believable at the time. Horshack, Barbarino, and the others looked young enough to convince me. Mr Kotter looked like a teacher at that time too. As for me I look young for my age, so when I graduated High School I still looked 14.

Tiger32 · 01-15-2002, 12:49 AM

Playing the part of someone younger has always been done in hollywood. Take the case of the Wizard of Oz, the role of Dorothy was supposed to be of a little girl of about 12 or 13, however Judy Garland was 17 when she played the role, they even had to tie down her breasts in order to make her look younger. That is why they call it acting, you must be able to play someone younger or older.

Urklelfan · 01-18-2002, 05:27 AM

Another good example is in the movie Tex. According to the IMDB Matt Dillon was 18 at the time, and the charachter Tex was 15 in the movie. Also his friend Johnny Collins (Emillio Estevez) was 20 at the time, also playing the part of a 15 year old. Tex's older brother Mason who was 18, was played by a 27 year old, and his best friend Lem (also 18) was 29 in real life. That's an 11 year difference.

luvinjuan1980 · 01-19-2002, 09:21 PM

I would've loved to seen the guys go onto college. I also thought they were believeable as High School students.

Tiger32 · 01-22-2002, 09:23 PM

Yes, it would have been nice to see those guys go on to college, however, let's face it, these gentlemen were definately not college material. Most of them were barely surviving high school by the skin of their teeth.

I grew up during the 70s and I can remember all of the hoop la over John Travolta and his movie "Saturday Night Fever", there was no way he was going to stick with this series, because his star was burning too bright. After Travolta left the series it began to die out, and a lot of the viewers began to lose interest. But during 1975 and 1976 it was one of the most talked about shows on the air, I can remember not wanting to miss any of the episodes. But in 1977 I like so many totally lost interest in the series, because it had lost the wit and charm that made it so popular, but most of all it lost one of it's lead characters, Vinny Barbarino.

luvinjuan1980 · 01-22-2002, 09:53 PM

I loved it right to the end, despite the addition of Beau.
and I still love it to this day.

Sean Snow · 01-22-2002, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by luvinjuan1980
I loved it right to the end, despite the addition of Beau.
and I still love it to this day.

I wasn't born back then LOL But I would've done the same! I love "Welcome Back, Kotter" no matter if it's Kotter or Kotterless, Barbarino or Beau.

W.J. Griffin · 12-23-2002, 02:31 AM

Doing a show about teenagers with adults in the roles is standard procedure in Hollywood, then and now...besides, having real minors on the show would've slowed production(they could only be on camera a few hours a day, the rest of the time they had to be tutored...and eventually would've aged right out of the series..."Saved By The Bell" immediately comes to mind...)

As for the Sweathogs going to college...that would've killed the whole premise of the show...(former Sweathog comes back to his old school to lead a new generation of Sweathogs to enlightenment)...as it was, the show may have just overstayed its welcome during its original run...just like other tv shows.

01-04-2002, 12:17 PM	#1
Meathead1971-1978 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 03, 2002 Location: New York Posts: 25	A question about the guys on the show something I couldn't figure out is why all the guys on this show where 25 and playing the part of High School students. I remember the producer talking about this on the E true Hollywood story. Saying they looked Ridiculous as years went by and he suggested that they move on to College but his idea was rejected. Why do you think that was?
	__________________ Andy

01-04-2002, 08:03 PM	#2
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	Well for me personally I thought they were very believable at the time. Horshack, Barbarino, and the others looked young enough to convince me. Mr Kotter looked like a teacher at that time too. As for me I look young for my age, so when I graduated High School I still looked 14.
	__________________ Pitooey... AKA JennyLee - I love the Monkees all over again! *SAY NO TO DRUGS* Jesus saves...

01-18-2002, 05:27 AM	#4
Urklelfan Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Jan 17, 2002 Location: New York Posts: 4	Another good example is in the movie Tex. According to the IMDB Matt Dillon was 18 at the time, and the charachter Tex was 15 in the movie. Also his friend Johnny Collins (Emillio Estevez) was 20 at the time, also playing the part of a 15 year old. Tex's older brother Mason who was 18, was played by a 27 year old, and his best friend Lem (also 18) was 29 in real life. That's an 11 year difference.
	__________________ Steve: Hi Carl! Carl: Don't you think you ought to start calling me, Mr. Winslow? Steve: Yeah, that's what my parents Herb and Diane tell me.

01-19-2002, 09:21 PM	#5
luvinjuan1980 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 08, 2001 Location: West Sand Lake, NY Posts: 568	I would've loved to seen the guys go onto college. I also thought they were believeable as High School students.
	__________________ "If you were the boy next door, I'd move." - Juan Epstein

01-22-2002, 09:23 PM	#6
Tiger32 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 14, 2002 Posts: 624	Yes, it would have been nice to see those guys go on to college, however, let's face it, these gentlemen were definately not college material. Most of them were barely surviving high school by the skin of their teeth. I grew up during the 70s and I can remember all of the hoop la over John Travolta and his movie "Saturday Night Fever", there was no way he was going to stick with this series, because his star was burning too bright. After Travolta left the series it began to die out, and a lot of the viewers began to lose interest. But during 1975 and 1976 it was one of the most talked about shows on the air, I can remember not wanting to miss any of the episodes. But in 1977 I like so many totally lost interest in the series, because it had lost the wit and charm that made it so popular, but most of all it lost one of it's lead characters, Vinny Barbarino.
	Last edited by Tiger32; 01-22-2002 at 10:48 PM.

01-15-2002, 12:49 AM	#3
Tiger32 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 14, 2002 Posts: 624	Playing the part of someone younger has always been done in hollywood. Take the case of the Wizard of Oz, the role of Dorothy was supposed to be of a little girl of about 12 or 13, however Judy Garland was 17 when she played the role, they even had to tie down her breasts in order to make her look younger. That is why they call it acting, you must be able to play someone younger or older.

01-22-2002, 09:53 PM	#7
luvinjuan1980 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 08, 2001 Location: West Sand Lake, NY Posts: 568	Never lost interest in the show I loved it right to the end, despite the addition of Beau. and I still love it to this day.

12-23-2002, 02:31 AM	#9
W.J. Griffin Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 29, 2002 Posts: 527	Doing a show about teenagers with adults in the roles is standard procedure in Hollywood, then and now...besides, having real minors on the show would've slowed production(they could only be on camera a few hours a day, the rest of the time they had to be tutored...and eventually would've aged right out of the series..."Saved By The Bell" immediately comes to mind...) As for the Sweathogs going to college...that would've killed the whole premise of the show...(former Sweathog comes back to his old school to lead a new generation of Sweathogs to enlightenment)...as it was, the show may have just overstayed its welcome during its original run...just like other tv shows.
	Last edited by W.J. Griffin; 12-23-2002 at 02:33 AM.