How Long Do You Think 'Welcome Back Kotter' Could've Lasted If Travolta & Kaplan..... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-03-2011, 05:13 PM

....had stayed the entire run of the show? Could or would it have lasted longer or was it a show destined to fizzle out after only a few seasons anyway?

Marvo301 · 09-03-2011, 05:31 PM

The premise of the show limited it's length since kids are only in high school for so long. Plus the actors playing students on this show were already in their 20's when the series started and would have soon been too old to keep playing the characters much longer. So I don't think the show would have lasted much longer if Travolta and Kaplan had hung around. The last couple of seasons would have been better though!

TVFactFan · 09-03-2011, 06:30 PM

it wouldn't have been no college years like saved by the bell so I think the same, 4 years-LOL

Brian Damage · 09-03-2011, 08:17 PM

I happen to agree with the both of you.

howilu · 09-06-2011, 11:58 AM

I think it would have ended its run after four years since the actors who played The Sweathogs were getting a little old to portray high school students. There should have been a graduation episode to close out the show's run instead of letting the show go quietly into the sunset.

Dr. Thong · 01-22-2012, 03:12 PM

Well, Gabe Kaplan did propose a contingency plan for what would have taken place after season four -- Kotter would have taken a job at a local community college and The Sweathogs would have followed him there. Executive Producer James Komack shot that proposal down because he had Kaplan were involved in a power struggle.

I'm sure, in the tradition of sitcoms, Mr. Woodman would somehow end up there as well.

Yes, I know, any of The Sweathogs going to college is a bit of a stretch -- but this show wasn't exactly reality-based and I think the Sweathogs colliding with college professors and other students could have provided some good laughs.

GSU2004 · 10-18-2012, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Well, Gabe Kaplan did propose a contingency plan for what would have taken place after season four -- Kotter would have taken a job at a local community college and The Sweathogs would have followed him there. Executive Producer James Komack shot that proposal down because he had Kaplan were involved in a power struggle.

I'm sure, in the tradition of sitcoms, Mr. Woodman would somehow end up there as well.

Yes, I know, any of The Sweathogs going to college is a bit of a stretch -- but this show wasn't exactly reality-based and I think the Sweathogs colliding with college professors and other students could have provided some good laughs.

I remember hearing about that plan as well. Kaplan also wanted to see progression and development in the characters. I would also like to see them bring in younger students if they wanted to keep the high school them. It was already breaking the teacher mode when the Sweathogs would show up at Kotter's home unannounced, lol. I never visited my teachers at their home. Most hated to see us in the mall or at the grocery store, lol.

TVFactFan · 10-18-2012, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSU2004

I remember hearing about that plan as well. Kaplan also wanted to see progression and development in the characters. I would also like to see them bring in younger students if they wanted to keep the high school them. It was already breaking the teacher mode when the Sweathogs would show up at Kotter's home unannounced, lol. I never visited my teachers at their home. Most hated to see us in the mall or at the grocery store, lol.

When you do run into them in public seems like it's always arkward

Retro4Life · 10-18-2012, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

When you do run into them in public seems like it's always arkward

Agree with that. Your relationship has changed, i.e. you are no longer "the student", but in fact, a full grown adult who is on equal footing with the "teacher". I shocked a lot of people by calling my principal by his first name after I graduated.

09-03-2011, 05:13 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	How Long Do You Think 'Welcome Back Kotter' Could've Lasted If Travolta & Kaplan..... ....had stayed the entire run of the show? Could or would it have lasted longer or was it a show destined to fizzle out after only a few seasons anyway?
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09-03-2011, 05:31 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,453	The premise of the show limited it's length since kids are only in high school for so long. Plus the actors playing students on this show were already in their 20's when the series started and would have soon been too old to keep playing the characters much longer. So I don't think the show would have lasted much longer if Travolta and Kaplan had hung around. The last couple of seasons would have been better though!
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01-22-2012, 03:12 PM	#6
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Well, Gabe Kaplan did propose a contingency plan for what would have taken place after season four -- Kotter would have taken a job at a local community college and The Sweathogs would have followed him there. Executive Producer James Komack shot that proposal down because he had Kaplan were involved in a power struggle. I'm sure, in the tradition of sitcoms, Mr. Woodman would somehow end up there as well. Yes, I know, any of The Sweathogs going to college is a bit of a stretch -- but this show wasn't exactly reality-based and I think the Sweathogs colliding with college professors and other students could have provided some good laughs.
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09-03-2011, 06:30 PM	#3
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,062	it wouldn't have been no college years like saved by the bell so I think the same, 4 years-LOL

09-03-2011, 08:17 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	I happen to agree with the both of you.

09-06-2011, 11:58 AM	#5
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,961	I think it would have ended its run after four years since the actors who played The Sweathogs were getting a little old to portray high school students. There should have been a graduation episode to close out the show's run instead of letting the show go quietly into the sunset.