WELCOME BACK, KOTTER: A LOVE STORY (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."
Epstein's younger sister Carmen is enrolled in Gabe's class, and both Vinnie and Horshack find themselves instantly attracted to her. Epstein is concerned about his sister and tries to ward off the other sweathogs, but Carmen proves to be just as violent and ill-tempered as he is. Horshack becomes worried that Vinnie will snatch up Carmen like so many other girls, but Gabe tries to inspire confidence in him. While Epstein is in the principal's office, Horshack tries to endear himself to Carmen. However, Vinnie arrives just as he tries to ask her out, and she becomes entranced by him, departing with him. This shatters Horshack's meager self-confidence and enrages Epstein, whom Gabe must physically restrain to prevent him from harming Vinnie.
Horshack resigns himself to being unable to attain Carmen's affections, but Freddie suggests that Horshack and Epstein work together to disentangle Carmen from Vinnie so that she can go out with Horshack. In class, Gabe devotes a lesson plan to romantic love, and Vinnie reveals his rather shallow beliefs about the subject. Horshack finally stands up to Vinnie, claiming that he doesn't really know what love is. Carmen is attracted to Horshack's newfound confidence and decides to go out with him instead of Vinnie. She also tries to convince Epstein that she can take care of herself, although Epstein says that he's protective of her because he loves her. Despite his promise, he becomes similarly enraged when he sees Horshack taking Carmen away. Soon thereafter, Carmen is reassigned to her old class. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: October 14, 1976 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:25:10
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:48832
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; High school teachers
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1975-1979
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- James Komack … Executive Producer, Director
- Eric Cohen … Producer, Based on characters conceived by
- George Yanok … Producer
- Michael Manheim … Associate Producer
- Gary Shimokawa … Director
- Peter Meyerson … Developed by
- Gabriel Kaplan … Created by, Based on characters conceived by
- Alan Sacks … Created by, Based on characters conceived by
- Jerry Rannow … Writer
- Jewel Jaffe Rannow … Writer
- John B. Sebastian … Music by
- Gabriel Kaplan … Cast, Gabe Kotter
- Marcia Strassman … Cast, Julie Kotter
- John Sylvester White … Cast, Vice Principal 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
- Lisa Mordente … Cast, Carmen Epstein
- Helaine Lembeck … Cast, Judy Borden