Was The Popularity Of The Vinnie Barbarino Character A Blessing Or A Curse?!? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 05-24-2011, 10:30 PM

In your own opinion, did the explosion of John Travoltamania help or eventually hurt 'Welcome Back Kotter?'

Pitooey · 05-24-2011, 10:36 PM

It helped....... Only because he was the break out star. All the girls were loving him back then in the 70's.

Marvo301 · 05-24-2011, 11:02 PM

It was both. Early on it was a blessing because it drew in a lot of viewers and helped the ratings. Later, when John left the show it became a curse because the show suddenly found itself without it's most popular character and no matter how they chose to deal with it the fans would be unhappy.

Brian Damage · 05-28-2011, 11:06 PM

Do you think the show should've ended once he decided to leave?

Mr. Television · 05-29-2011, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Do you think the show should've ended once he decided to leave?

I think the show might have survived but when Gabe Kaplan was reduced to making Cameos, the show was over.

Retro4Life · 05-29-2011, 12:44 PM

Looking back it was the right move for Travolta to leave the show, though it really did decimate the show. Had they provided a suitable replacement (which would have been very difficult) it might have survived, but as Sonny said, with the diminished role of Kaplan as well, the others really couldn't pick up the slack.

For Travolta, though, he might have left at just the right time. The movies were calling and if he'd begged off till the end of the show (which, let's face it, the show probably wouldn't have lasted much past five years or so anyway), his chance might have been gone and he WOULD have been typecast as "Vinnie". It's really a case of a show burning VERY hot for a very short period of time (3 years), then just fizzling out into virtually nothing.

05-24-2011, 10:30 PM	#1
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	Was The Popularity Of The Vinnie Barbarino Character A Blessing Or A Curse?!? In your own opinion, did the explosion of John Travoltamania help or eventually hurt 'Welcome Back Kotter?'
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

05-24-2011, 10:36 PM	#2
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	It helped....... Only because he was the break out star. All the girls were loving him back then in the 70's.
	__________________ Pitooey... AKA JennyLee - I love the Monkees all over again! *SAY NO TO DRUGS* Jesus saves...

05-24-2011, 11:02 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	It was both. Early on it was a blessing because it drew in a lot of viewers and helped the ratings. Later, when John left the show it became a curse because the show suddenly found itself without it's most popular character and no matter how they chose to deal with it the fans would be unhappy.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

05-29-2011, 12:44 PM	#6
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Looking back it was the right move for Travolta to leave the show, though it really did decimate the show. Had they provided a suitable replacement (which would have been very difficult) it might have survived, but as Sonny said, with the diminished role of Kaplan as well, the others really couldn't pick up the slack. For Travolta, though, he might have left at just the right time. The movies were calling and if he'd begged off till the end of the show (which, let's face it, the show probably wouldn't have lasted much past five years or so anyway), his chance might have been gone and he WOULD have been typecast as "Vinnie". It's really a case of a show burning VERY hot for a very short period of time (3 years), then just fizzling out into virtually nothing.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

05-28-2011, 11:06 PM	#4
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	Do you think the show should've ended once he decided to leave?