"Welcome Back, Kotter" (1975) TV series 1975-1979

Creators:

Gabe Kaplan
Alan Sacks
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

9 September 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A compassionate teacher returns to his inner city high school of his youth to teach a new generation of trouble making kids.

Plot Keywords:

School | High School | Teacher | Insult | Inner City

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Marcia Strassman	...	Julie Kotter (92 episodes, 1975-1979)
John Sylvester White	...	Mr. Michael Woodman (92 episodes, 1975-1979)
Robert Hegyes	...	Juan Epstein (92 episodes, 1975-1979)
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs	...	Freddie 'Boom Boom' Washington (92 episodes, 1975-1979)
Ron Palillo	...	Arnold Horshack (91 episodes, 1975-1979)
Gabe Kaplan	...	Gabe Kotter (79 episodes, 1975-1979)
John Travolta	...	Vinnie Barbarino (78 episodes, 1975-1979)

Series Directed by
Bob LaHendro		(38 episodes, 1975-1977)
Norman Abbott		(23 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bob Claver		(20 episodes, 1977-1978)
James Komack		(3 episodes, 1975-1977)
Bill Hobin		(2 episodes, 1976)

Series Writing credits
Peter Meyerson		(24 episodes, 1975-1978)
Eric Cohen		(16 episodes, 1975-1978)
Gabe Kaplan		(16 episodes, 1975-1978)
Alan Sacks		(12 episodes, 1975)
George Arthur Bloom		(12 episodes, 1977-1979)
Nick Arnold		(11 episodes, 1976-1978)
Jewel Jaffe		(8 episodes, 1975-1977)
Jerry Rannow		(8 episodes, 1975-1977)
George Yanok		(7 episodes, 1975-1977)
Earl Barret		(6 episodes, 1978-1979)
Rick Hawkins		(6 episodes, 1978-1979)
Liz Sage		(6 episodes, 1978-1979)
Beverly Bloomberg		(5 episodes, 1977-1978)
Gene Perret		(5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bill Richmond		(5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Linda Morris		(4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Vic Rauseo		(4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Neil Rosen		(3 episodes, 1976-1978)
George Tricker		(3 episodes, 1976-1978)
Steve Clements		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Joyce Gittlin		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Paul Mason		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)
Garry Ferrier		(2 episodes, 1978)
Aubrey Tadman		(2 episodes, 1978)
Ed Simmons		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
James Komack	....	executive producer (15 episodes, 1975-1979)
Alan Sacks	....	producer (12 episodes, 1975)
Thomas Hill	....	associate producer (11 episodes, 1975)
Michael Manheim	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1975-1977)
Claire Barrett Young	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Original Music by
John Sebastian		(1 episode, 1977)

Series Film Editing by
Terry M. Pickford		(23 episodes, 1976-1977)
Susan Jenkins		(8 episodes, 1975)
Les Shaw		(7 episodes, 1975)
Stephen McKeown		(5 episodes, 1975)
Manuel Martinez		(3 episodes, 1975)

Series Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster		(1 episode, 1975)

Series Art Direction by
Roy Christopher		(15 episodes, 1975-1979)
James Shanahan		(6 episodes, 1975)
Jim Shanahan		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Set Decoration by
Charles Kreiner		(1 episode, 1975)

Series Makeup Department
Harry Blake	....	makeup artist (11 episodes, 1975)

Series Production Management
Conrad Holzgang	....	production supervisor / executive in charge of production / ... (15 episodes, 1975-1979)
Gary Necessary	....	unit manager (10 episodes, 1975)
Paul Mason	....	production supervisor (2 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mary Hardwick	....	associate director (10 episodes, 1975)

Series Art Department
James Shanahan	....	assistant art director (6 episodes, 1975-1977)

Series Sound Department
Ron Estes	....	audio (9 episodes, 1975)
Bill Cole	....	audio (2 episodes, 1975)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Herb Margolis	....	lighting director (5 episodes, 1975)
Carl Pitsch	....	lighting director (3 episodes, 1975)
Les Shaw	....	video operator (3 episodes, 1975)
Lon Stucky	....	lighting director (3 episodes, 1975)

Series Casting Department
Jorge Luis Rodriguez	....	casting (11 episodes, 1975-1977)
Lynn Stalmaster	....	original casting (11 episodes, 1975)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Toni Vitale	....	costume supervisor / costumes / ... (12 episodes, 1975-1979)

Series Music Department
John Sebastian	....	composer: theme song / composer: theme music (14 episodes, 1975-1979)

Series Other crew
Earl Barret	....	executive story consultant / executive script consultant (23 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bill Daly	....	production clerk (23 episodes, 1978-1979)
Eric Cohen	....	script supervisor / creative consultant / ... (13 episodes, 1975-1978)
Jewel Jaffe	....	story editor / executive script consultant (12 episodes, 1975-1977)
Diane Katz	....	assistant to producer (12 episodes, 1975-1977)
Jerry Rannow	....	story editor / executive script consultant (12 episodes, 1975-1977)
Mei Ling Moore	....	production assistant (12 episodes, 1975)
Sandy Carrillo	....	administrative assistant (11 episodes, 1975)
Jim Cox	....	stage manager (11 episodes, 1975)
Moki de Marco	....	production assistant (11 episodes, 1975)
Linda Robertson	....	production assistant (11 episodes, 1975)
Maxine Surks	....	production assistant (11 episodes, 1975)
Christopher Cookson	....	engineering supervisor (10 episodes, 1975-1976)
Karl Messerschmidt	....	technical director (9 episodes, 1975)
Paul Miller	....	stage manager (9 episodes, 1975)
George Yanok	....	script consultant (7 episodes, 1975)
Sandy Dvore	....	komack logo (5 episodes, 1975)
Peter Meyerson	....	executive script consultant (4 episodes, 1975)
Susan Jenkins	....	video tape editor (3 episodes, 1975)
Stephen McKeown	....	video tape editor (3 episodes, 1975)
Giovanna Nigro	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1975)
James Woodworth	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• The Komack Company Inc.
• Wolper Productions

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1975-1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD) (compilation)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD) (season 1)
• Warner Bros. Television

Also Known As:

Kotter (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min (95 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

ABC Television Center - 4151 Prospect Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

The Komack Company Inc.

Trivia:

This sitcom was not aired in Italy until John Travolta's big smash on the silver screen as Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever (1977), whose title was literally translated as "La febbre del sabato sera". This is why Italian adaptors decided to rename this sitcom "I ragazzi del sabato sera", i.e. "Saturday Night Guys".

Quotes:

Mr. Michael Woodman: Kotter, these kids couldn't pass a blood test without cheating.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: Selma's Choice (#4.13)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Welcome Back

Hilarious TV-Series as recommended by an enthusiastic fan

Although not watching this TV-series for the past twenty years I'm still able to remember details as names, sceneries and the soundtrack. The characters are well-pictured and witty, the dialogues are pointed. I wished I had had a teacher like Kotter myself.