WELCOME BACK, KOTTER: NO MORE MR. NICE GUY (TV)
Summary
One in this series of programs about high school teacher Gabe Kotter, who returns to his alma mater, James Buchanan High in Brooklyn, to teach a group of incorrigible students known as "sweathogs."
Mr. Woodman accuses Epstein of stealing his favorite chalk, and he is beside himself with anger. Gabe advises him to relax and calm himself, but Mr. Woodman strongarms him into inviting him over for dinner that night. He arrives and immediately makes things awkward for Gabe and Julie. He remarks that his very rarely spends time with the faculty outside of work, and continues to make uncomfortable small talk with Gabe and Julie. He admits that he behaved improperly earlier that day and realizes that he is not well-liked among the student body, in contrast to Gabe and his affinity with his students. Gabe advises him to “stop and smell the roses” in order to improve his disposition, telling him to get back to his teaching roots, particularly his skill at teaching military history.
At Gabe’s suggestion, Mr. Woodman comes in to teach the sweathogs the following day. He is uncomfortable about this, but starts teaching his lesson about the Revolutionary War. He becomes rather enthusiastic, even employing props and costumes to aid in his descriptions. The lesson goes over exceedingly well with the sweathogs, who compliment Mr. Woodman on his skill, much to his delight. The next day Mr. Woodman seems much more cheerful, and thanks Gabe for his advice. Gabe stops Epstein and Vinnie in the hallway, catching them after they disconnected the school’s bell. Gabe chides them but Mr. Woodman rushes to their defense, believing them to be innocent. Gabe discovers Mr. Woodman’s missing chalk in his desk drawer and gets the sweathogs to admit that they were responsible for stealing it. The sweathogs point out that Gabe has been more cross with them as of late, believing that he is jealous that they now prefer Mr. Woodman to him. Gabe sits the whole class down, including Mr. Woodman, and yells at them for their “disrespect” towards him. He points out to Mr. Woodman that they have essentially switched roles and personalities, and gets Mr. Woodman to revert to his old ways by showing him the stolen chalk, sending him into a rage against the sweathogs. He admits that he missed being himself. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: October 14, 1975 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:25:11
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:48831
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1975-1979
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- James Komack … Executive Producer
- Alan Sacks … Producer, Created by
- Thomas Hill … Associate Producer
- Bob LaHendro … Director
- Peter Meyerson … Developed by
- Gabriel Kaplan … Created by
- George Yanok … Writer
- John B. Sebastian … Music by
- Gabriel Kaplan … Cast, Gabe Kotter
- Marcia Strassman … Cast, Julie Kotter
- John Sylvester White … Cast, Vice Prinicpal Michael Woodman
- Robert Hegyes … Cast, Juan Luis Pedro Felipo de Huevos Epstein
- Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs … Cast, Freddie "Boom Boom" Percy Washington
- Ron Palillo … Cast, Arnold Horshack
- John Travolta … Cast, Vinnie Barbarino
- Debralee Scott … Cast, Rosalie "Hotsie" Totsie
- Helaine Lembeck … Cast, Judy Borden