Why did James Komack Change The Focus in Year Four...?

[Dr. Thong]

I've never really understood why James Komack wanted to shift some of the focus on to serious teenage issues like suicide, alcoholism, etc., in the fourth season.

I know that Gabe Kaplan wanted to change the locale to a community college where he and the Sweathogs would continue together, and that's why he disagreed with Komack, hence his departure from many of the season's episodes.

Anyone here know why Komack wanted to make that change...?

[opus]

Komack also did Chico and the Man. Maybe Freddy Prinze’s death at 22 made him introspective.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by opus

Komack also did Chico and the Man. Maybe Freddy Prinze’s death at 22 made him introspective.

You know, I thought that was a possibility.

But we'll never really know, I guess.

[EccentricGenius]

Originally Posted by opus

Komack also did Chico and the Man. Maybe Freddy Prinze’s death at 22 made him introspective.

That's a very intriguing theory, opus. Welcome Back, Kotter's executive producer, James Komack, was devastated when Freddie Prinze shot himself in January of '77 at the age of 22 midway through Chico And The Man's third season. As we all know, Komack decided to salvage Chico at the beginning of its fourth--and final--season by introducing a new character named Raul Garcia (Gabriel Melgar). Sadly, viewers were uninterested in Freddie's preteen replacement, and NBC canceled Chico the following summer.

[EccentricGenius]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

I've never really understood why James Komack wanted to shift some of the focus on to serious teenage issues like suicide, alcoholism, etc., in the fourth season.

I know that Gabe Kaplan wanted to change the locale to a community college where he and the Sweathogs would continue together, and that's why he disagreed with Komack, hence his departure from many of the season's episodes.

Anyone here know why Komack wanted to make that change...?

It's a low down dirty crying shame that the Sweathogs never received their diplomas at the end of season four.

And as for the aforementioned fourth season, there's absolutely nothing to write home about, with the possible exception of Horshack's wedding.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by EccentricGenius

It's a low down dirty crying shame that the Sweathogs never received their diplomas at the end of season four.

And as for the aforementioned fourth season, there's absolutely nothing to write home about, with the possible exception of Horshack's wedding.

Not even the episode where Horshack becomes an instant alcoholic after taking one drink?

[EccentricGenius]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Not even the episode where Horshack becomes an instant alcoholic after taking one drink?

I always thought the episode with Horshack (entitled "Come Back, Little Arnold") becoming addicted to booze was ridiculous...the only saving grace of that lackluster episode was a special guest appearance by Della Reese.

Horshack's decent into alcoholism would've had a larger impact had he started sipping alcohol at the beginning of the fourth season as a minor subplot, thus allowing executive producer James Komack to gradually expand the subplot as the season progressed.

Thanks for commenting, Dr. Thong. Enjoy the remainder of your day.

[Alan Brady's Hair]

Regardless of where it ended up, getting three years of shows from an 8-minute nightclub bit was quite an accomplishment.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Regardless of where it ended up, getting three years of shows from an 8-minute nightclub bit was quite an accomplishment.

Yep. It's too bad that Komack and Kaplan's egos clashed; that, and with Travolta's part-time status, didn't help the show. Also, the fact that Komack hired an entirely new writing staff (who didn't get the characters) as well as Kaplan's own part-time status also contributed to the show's demise.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by EccentricGenius

I always thought the episode with Horshack (entitled "Come Back, Little Arnold") becoming addicted to booze was ridiculous...the only saving grace of that lackluster episode was a special guest appearance by Della Reese.

Horshack's decent into alcoholism would've had a larger impact had he started sipping alcohol at the beginning of the fourth season as a minor subplot, thus allowing executive producer James Komack to gradually expand the subplot as the season progressed.

Thanks for commenting, Dr. Thong. Enjoy the remainder of your day.

Yes, it would have made more sense had it been built up over time; if this were being done on today's serialized sitcoms, it would have been done that way, no doubt.