Welcome Back, Kotter - The Complete Series DVD Review

[TJ]

The Sweathogs have returned (and finished!) on DVD with Shout! Factory's release of Welcome Back, Kotter - The Complete Series. The 16 disc release brings all 95 episodes to DVD, with over 2/3 of them arriving on DVD for the very first time. For those unfamiliar with the series, it starred Gabe Kaplan as Gabe Kotter, the remedial social studies teacher at James Buchanan High School. It followed the comedic antics of Mr. Kotter and his students, Arnold Horshack (Ron Palillo), Freddie Boom-Boom Washington (Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs), Juan Epstein (Robert Hegyes), and of course, Vinnie Barbarino (John Travolta). Rounding out the cast were Marcia Strassman as Julie Kotter and John Sylvester White as the principal, Mr. Woodman.

The series was first released in 2006 with a "best of" release that didn't satisfy fans, and that was followed up in 2007 with a release of the first season, which did satisfy fans a bit until it became clear that further seasons weren't planned... until 2014, when all of them have finally arrived on DVD.

Read our review by skees53 here:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/welcome...dvdreview.html

Please post any questions or comments about this set.

[TVFactFan]

2 episodes look to be edited which is not bad out of 95 episodes

[Dr. Thong]

I think some commentaries would have been great, but at least finally the series is available now. Definitely getting this one soon!

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

I think some commentaries would have been great, but at least finally the series is available now. Definitely getting this one soon!

Although it would be nice, a series that has been incomplete on DVD for so many years doesn't even need any bonus features LOL


The complete series on DVD is the BONUS. Anything else would be a ADDED BONUS

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Although it would be nice, a series that has been incomplete on DVD for so many years doesn't even need any bonus features LOL


The complete series on DVD is the BONUS. Anything else would be a ADDED BONUS

The complete series on DVD is cool. Bonus features...would make it even cooler.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

The complete series on DVD is cool. Bonus features...would make it even cooler.

Maybe include a small info guide about the show with ratings for all seasons and tv review articles about the show at the time it aired


That would be a nice bonus

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Maybe include a small info guide about the show with ratings for all seasons and tv review articles about the show at the time it aired


That would be a nice bonus

That would be cool. But I would also like season-specific documentaries, some commentaries (cast, writers, etc) and maybe some original ABC commercials.

But at least we finally have the whole series on DVD, so I guess that will have to do.

[Retro4Life]

It's interesting that this is one of the very few sitcoms of the 60's, 70's, or 80's that I can think of that never had any type of reunion show, whatsoever. Kind of a pity, too.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

It's interesting that this is one of the very few sitcoms of the 60's, 70's, or 80's that I can think of that never had any type of reunion show, whatsoever. Kind of a pity, too.

And now it's too late.

I mean, they could get the surviving cast members to talk about the show with clips and remembrances from writers, producers, etc, but we'll never get to see Welcome Back Kotter: Welcome To Adulthood as an ABC movie of the week.

And yes, I know ABC doesn't do those anymore, but...