Episode 1
The Great Debate
30m
The sweathogs out debate a smarter debate class.
Episode credits
Guest stars James Woods, Debralee Scott
TV series
Welcome Back, Kotter
1975TV-144 seasons7.2 / 10
Up your nose with a rubber hose!
Welcome Back, Kotter is an American television sitcom starring Gabe Kaplan and featuring a young John Travolta. Videotaped in front of a live studio audience, it originally aired on the ABC network from September 9, 1975, to June 8, 1979.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Where to watch in United States
Checked Sep 5, 2026
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Synopsis
Welcome Back, Kotter is an American television sitcom starring Gabe Kaplan and featuring a young John Travolta. Videotaped in front of a live studio audience, it originally aired on the ABC network from September 9, 1975, to June 8, 1979.
Season 1 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Where to watch Welcome Back, Kotter
Episode 2
Basket Case
30m
Gabe insists that basketball ace Washington pass his social-studies test.
Episode credits
Written by Jerry Ross
Episode 3
Welcome Back (Pilot)
30m
A flashback recalls Gabe's first meeting with his class. The Sweathogs Out Debate A Superior Class.
Episode credits
Directed by James KomackWritten by Peter MeyersonGuest stars Leslie Ackerman
Episode 4
Whodunit?
30m
Tired of her reputation as easy, Rosalie Totsy tells the Sweathogs that she's pregnant -- and that one of them is the father -- in an effort to make the boys admit that the tales they tell about their ""fun dates"" with her aren't true.
Episode credits
Guest stars Debralee Scott
Episode 5
The Election
30m
Barbarino is running for Student Body President but his campain turns into disaster.
Episode credits
Written by Eric CohenGuest stars Jeff Martin
Episode 6
No More Mister Nice Guy
30m
After returning to his roots by taking over the Sweathogs' history class for a day, Mr. Woodman turns into a nice guy; and Kotter turns into the new Mr. Woodman.
Episode credits
Guest stars Debralee Scott
Episode 7
Classroom Marriage
30m
With Vernajean's family moving, she and Freddie decide that they must get married in order to stay together. Their classmates act out married life to discourage the young couple.
Episode credits
Written by Myles WilderGuest stars Vernee Watson, Debralee Scott
Episode 8
One of Our Sweathogs Is Missing
30m
After losing a fight with Todd Ludlow, Juan is made fun of by his fellow Sweathogs. His feelings and his pride hurt, he runs away -- to the Kotters' bathroom.
Episode credits
Directed by Bob LaHendroWritten by Marilyn Suzanne MillerGuest stars Vernee Watson
Episode 9
Mr. Kotter, Teacher
30m
Gabe's teaching theories in question, he is temporarily suspended. The Sweathogs, liable to lose their teacher, come to his defense.
Episode credits
Guest stars Hope Summers, Arnold Soboloff
Episode 10
The Reunion
30m
Gabe is less than thrilled when an old too-perfect classmate, and his too-perfect wife, decide to pay him a visit.
Episode credits
Guest stars Vernee Watson
Episode 11
Barbarino's Girl
30m
In order to bring up Vinnie's grades, Judy Borden, highly unpopular with the Sweathogs, is called in to tutor him. But when the two start liking one another, problems arise.
Episode credits
Written by Eric Cohen
Episode 12
California Dreamin'
30m
The sweathogs go bananas over Bambi, a pretty blonde girl from California. We get some very funny scenes of the guys in various costumes: Epstein as a guru, Freddy in a colorful shirt, Horshack as a movie producer, and Vinnie as a surfer. When Mr. Kotter gets fed-up with them disrupting the class, it's revealed that Bambi was just pretending to be from California in order to get attention.
Episode credits
Written by Michael WeinbergerGuest stars Vernee Watson, Susan Lanier
Episode 13
Arrividerci, Arnold
30m
Arnold is promoted to a regular class, but is less than happy about the forced transition.
Episode credits
Guest stars Vernee Watson
Episode 14
The Longest Weekend
30m
When Julie goes away on a ski trip with a friend, stories from the Sweathogs and Mr. Woodman lead Gabe to be worried about the possibility of Julie cheating on him while she is away.
Episode credits
Written by Carl KleinschmittGuest stars Vernee Watson
Episode 15
The Sit-In
30m
The Sweathogs, diverged from a food-fight, hold a sit-in to protest the school cafetieria's Wednesday liver.
Episode credits
Guest stars Vernee Watson
Episode 16
Follow The Leader (1)
30m
The class votes to make Freddie the new leader of the Sweathogs, taking Vinnie down a notch. Vinnie becomes so upset with the loss of his title that he quits school. When his parents become aware of this, they kick him out, and he ends up staying with the Kotters; much to the dismay of Julie, who is growing tired of the Sweathogs constantly occupying Gabe's attention and life, never leaving them any time alone together. Angry, she leaves to go to a hotel.
Where to watch Welcome Back, KotterEpisode 17
Follow The Leader (2)
30m
The sweathogs soon tire of Freddy as leader. Mr. Woodman even admits that he misses Barbarino. Julie and Vinnie turn up at the apartment, and Mr. Kotter has a heartfelt talk with them about the situation. Fortunately, all is forgiven, with Julie moving back home and Vinnie returning to class.
Where to watch Welcome Back, KotterEpisode 18
Dr. Epstein, I Presume
30m
Juan, because of his love for animals, decides that he would like to be a veterinarian. A guidance couselor quickly thwarts his dream, until he performs an emergency operation on his pet hamster.
Where to watch Welcome Back, KotterEpisode 19
One Flu Over The Cuckoo's Nest
30m
A flu epidemic hits Buchannan and everybody gets sick except for Kotter, Horshack and a few students in the other classes. In the end, the few healthy students team up with the remaining Sweathogs in the classroom.
Episode credits
Written by Eric Cohen
Episode 20
The Telethon
30m
Kotter and the ""Sweathogs"" raise a telethon to raise $700 for new supplies. If not the remiedial class will be cut.
Episode credits
Written by Pat ProftGuest stars Vernee Watson
Episode 21
Kotter Makes Good
30m
Gabe is forced to take final exams when it's revealed by Mr. Woodman that he wasn't really qualified to graduate when he did.
Where to watch Welcome Back, KotterEpisode 22
Father Vinnie
30mfinale
Vinnie's grandmother's dying wish is for him to become a priest, and he takes the request seriously, until the strain of being holy becomes too much for him.
Episode credits
Written by Eric Cohen
Episode information updated Sep 19, 2026
More about Welcome Back, Kotter
Cast
Gabe KaplanGabe Kotter
John TravoltaVinnie Barbarino
John Sylvester WhiteMichael Woodman
Ron PalilloArnold Horshack
Robert HegyesJuan Epstein
Lawrence Hilton-JacobsFreddie Washington
Marcia StrassmanJulie Kotter
Stephen ShortridgeBeau ShortridgeCredits
- Created by
- Alan Sacks, Gabe Kaplan
- Written by
- Eric Cohen, Peter Meyerson, Liz Sage, Bill Richmond, Gene Perret, Linda Morris, Vic Rauseo, Jim Mulholland, Rick Hawkins, Pat Proft, Garry Shandling, Myles Wilder, Jerry Ross, Michael Weinberger, Carl Kleinschmitt, Raymond Siller, Marilyn Suzanne Miller
Production details
- Status
- Ended
- Series type
- Scripted
- Episodes
- 95
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
ABCUnited States- Wolper Productions
Themes
sitcom
