What's Happening or Welcome Back Kotter and state why - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 11-01-2003, 12:15 PM

I prefer What's Happening because it focused more on the lives younger characters. On WBK, Mr. Kotter home life was not something i was interested in seeing.

Brian Damage · 11-01-2003, 12:30 PM

What's Happening...I just thought it was funnier.

Mr. Television · 11-01-2003, 12:30 PM

I liked both shows but I'll give the edge to Whats Happening because the last season of Welcome Back Kotter is unwatchable.

Pitooey · 11-01-2003, 04:54 PM

Although I like both shows I have to give it to What's Happening.... I enjoyed Raj and his
mother, sister and Rerun!

vashti1999 · 11-01-2003, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mr roper
I liked both shows but I'll give the edge to Whats Happening because the last season of Welcome Back Kotter is unwatchable.

I agree. You saw less of less of Mr Kotter and the guy they got to take Barbarino's place (Beau?) wasn't working for me. These two are two of my top ten favorites , but if I had to pick, it'd be What's Happening.

Tweety · 11-01-2003, 11:48 PM

Definitely What's Happening -

What's happening put some great characters together on that show...Dee and Rerun (I heard Fred Berry just passed away this last week) were funny, and Dwayne was funny too...Roger was excellent in his role as well. Their mother was a strong character (and as I recall, the father was seen in the show, although he did not live with his family). And Shirley was a riot too...

I never liked WB Kotter... the high school students looked like they were all at least 28 years old, kind of like "Grease" the movie...

At least Roger and Dwayne looked like they COULD have been in high school... Rerun didn't strike me as looking like a high school student, but of course, I'm sure he was left back more that a few times...

I guess fans of W B Kotter could argue that the sweathogs were left back a bunch of times too, which would explain why they're still in high school at the ripe old age of 35.

I guess what it comes down to, in my opinion, is that What's Happening had (to me) a lot of funny episodes, while W B Kotter did not. I never liked that show...

W.J. Griffin · 11-02-2003, 06:43 PM

You know, I loved both shows when they first premiered, but to choose one over the other...?

Well, when "Welcome Back, Kotter" first premiered in 1975, I was just entering the 9th grade, so I identified with the Sweathogs...while I wasn't in any remedial classes, Barbarino, Washington, Epstien and especially Horshack reminded me of some of my classmates, and the whole thing made the traumatic experience of high school a litle easier to deal with.

BUT...when "What's Happening" premiered in the summer of 1976, Raj, Dwayne, and Rerun, particularly in the first four or five episodes, really cracked me up. Plus the fact that the show was adapted from one of my all-time favorite movies of the period "Cooley High", I was in heaven.

But to choose one over the other...it's hard! Both programs left me with fond memories of that time in my life...

So, to answer your question...I LOVED THEM BOTH!

Does that make me crazy, or

?

vashti1999 · 11-03-2003, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by W.J. Griffin
Plus the fact that the show was adapted from one of my all-time favorite movies of the period "Cooley High", I was in heaven.

Cooley High

shel 7296 · 11-03-2003, 01:49 PM

I like welcome back kotter better than whats happening. I thought that welcome back kotter was funnier

Pitooey · 11-03-2003, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vashti1999
Cooley High

Another thumb up!

11-01-2003, 12:15 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,135	What's Happening or Welcome Back Kotter and state why I prefer What's Happening because it focused more on the lives younger characters. On WBK, Mr. Kotter home life was not something i was interested in seeing.

11-01-2003, 12:30 PM	#3
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I liked both shows but I'll give the edge to Whats Happening because the last season of Welcome Back Kotter is unwatchable.
	__________________ Sonny

11-01-2003, 04:54 PM	#4
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	Although I like both shows I have to give it to What's Happening.... I enjoyed Raj and his mother, sister and Rerun!
	__________________ Pitooey... AKA JennyLee - I love the Monkees all over again! *SAY NO TO DRUGS* Jesus saves...

11-01-2003, 12:30 PM	#2
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	What's Happening...I just thought it was funnier.

11-01-2003, 11:48 PM	#6
Tweety Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 18, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 6,804	Definitely What's Happening - What's happening put some great characters together on that show...Dee and Rerun (I heard Fred Berry just passed away this last week) were funny, and Dwayne was funny too...Roger was excellent in his role as well. Their mother was a strong character (and as I recall, the father was seen in the show, although he did not live with his family). And Shirley was a riot too... I never liked WB Kotter... the high school students looked like they were all at least 28 years old, kind of like "Grease" the movie... At least Roger and Dwayne looked like they COULD have been in high school... Rerun didn't strike me as looking like a high school student, but of course, I'm sure he was left back more that a few times... I guess fans of W B Kotter could argue that the sweathogs were left back a bunch of times too, which would explain why they're still in high school at the ripe old age of 35. I guess what it comes down to, in my opinion, is that What's Happening had (to me) a lot of funny episodes, while W B Kotter did not. I never liked that show...

11-02-2003, 06:43 PM	#7
W.J. Griffin Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 29, 2002 Posts: 527	You know, I loved both shows when they first premiered, but to choose one over the other...? Well, when "Welcome Back, Kotter" first premiered in 1975, I was just entering the 9th grade, so I identified with the Sweathogs...while I wasn't in any remedial classes, Barbarino, Washington, Epstien and especially Horshack reminded me of some of my classmates, and the whole thing made the traumatic experience of high school a litle easier to deal with. BUT...when "What's Happening" premiered in the summer of 1976, Raj, Dwayne, and Rerun, particularly in the first four or five episodes, really cracked me up. Plus the fact that the show was adapted from one of my all-time favorite movies of the period "Cooley High", I was in heaven. But to choose one over the other...it's hard! Both programs left me with fond memories of that time in my life... So, to answer your question...I LOVED THEM BOTH! Does that make me crazy, or ?

11-03-2003, 01:49 PM	#9
shel 7296 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 31, 2003 Location: ohio Posts: 105	I like welcome back kotter better than whats happening. I thought that welcome back kotter was funnier