The Best Episodes of Welcome Back, Kotter

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
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   7.7/10(142 votes)

   #1 - Welcome Back (Pilot)

   S1:E39/9/1975

   A flashback recalls Gabe's first meeting with his class. The Sweathogs Out Debate A Superior Class.

   Director:James Komack

   Writer:Peter Meyerson

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   Director:James Komack

   Writer:Peter Meyerson
2. 

   7.7/10(93 votes)

   #2 - Mr. Kotter, Teacher

   S1:E911/4/1975

   Gabe's teaching theories in question, he is temporarily suspended. The Sweathogs, liable to lose their teacher, come to his defense.

   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown

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   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown
3. 

   7.7/10(93 votes)

   #3 - The Telethon

   S1:E202/12/1976

   Kotter and the ""Sweathogs"" raise a telethon to raise $700 for new supplies. If not the remiedial class will be cut.

   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Pat Proft

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   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Pat Proft
4. 

   7.6/10(76 votes)

   #4 - What Goes Up

   S3:E222/23/1978

   Freddie becomes addicted to drugs after taking prescribed pain killers. Despite the other Sweathogs' best efforts, the only thing that can bring Freddie around is Arnold's faith in him...and in his ""vitamin pills.""

   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown

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   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown
5. 

   7.5/10(165 votes)

   #5 - The Great Debate

   S1:E19/9/1975

   The sweathogs out debate a smarter debate class.

   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown

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   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown
6. 

   7.5/10(110 votes)

   #6 - Basket Case

   S1:E29/16/1975

   Gabe insists that basketball ace Washington pass his social-studies test.

   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Jerry Ross

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   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Jerry Ross
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7. 

   7.5/10(93 votes)

   #7 - Classroom Marriage

   S1:E710/21/1975

   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.

   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Myles Wilder

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   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Myles Wilder
8. 

   7.5/10(86 votes)

   #8 - One of Our Sweathogs Is Missing

   S1:E810/28/1975

   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.

   Director:Bob LaHendro

   Writer:Marilyn Suzanne Miller

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   Director:Bob LaHendro

   Writer:Marilyn Suzanne Miller
9. 

   7.5/10(90 votes)

   #9 - The Reunion

   S1:E1011/18/1975

   Gabe is less than thrilled when an old too-perfect classmate, and his too-perfect wife, decide to pay him a visit.

   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown

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   Director:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown
10. 

    7.5/10(85 votes)

    #10 - The Sit-In

    S1:E151/13/1976

    The Sweathogs, diverged from a food-fight, hold a sit-in to protest the school cafetieria's Wednesday liver.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
11. 

    7.5/10(124 votes)

    #11 - Sadie Hawkins Day

    S2:E811/18/1976

    A girl wants to ask Vinnie to the Sadie Hawkins Day dance, but his insensitivity leads her to ask Arnold in retaliation, leaving Vinnie with no date at all.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Eric Cohen

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Eric Cohen
12. 

    7.5/10(79 votes)

    #12 - Radio Free Freddie

    S2:E212/17/1977

    It seems that Freddie has a future in radio, but he may also risk losing his friends for fame.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Peter Meyerson

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Peter Meyerson
13. 

    7.3/10(98 votes)

    #13 - The Election

    S1:E510/7/1975

    Barbarino is running for Student Body President but his campain turns into disaster.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Eric Cohen

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Eric Cohen
14. 

    7.3/10(93 votes)

    #14 - No More Mister Nice Guy

    S1:E610/14/1975

    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.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
15. 

    7.3/10(91 votes)

    #15 - California Dreamin'

    S1:E1212/2/1975

    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.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Michael Weinberger

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Michael Weinberger
16. 

    7.3/10(85 votes)

    #16 - One Flu Over The Cuckoo's Nest

    S1:E192/5/1976

    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.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Eric Cohen

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Eric Cohen
17. 

    7.3/10(76 votes)

    #17 - Kotter Makes Good

    S1:E212/19/1976

    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.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
18. 

    7.3/10(66 votes)

    #18 - Kotter and Son

    S2:E161/20/1977

    Gabe's overly-critical father comes for a visit and, unconvinced that his son has chosen a worthwhile career, goes with Gabe to school in order to watch him in action with his Sweathogs.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Peter Meyerson

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Peter Meyerson
19. 

    7.3/10(68 votes)

    #19 - Chicken a la Kotter

    S2:E171/27/1977

    Gabe, in need of money for a root canal, takes a second job as a restaurant mascot.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Raymond Siller

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Raymond Siller
20. 

    7.3/10(70 votes)

    #20 - Has Anyone Seen Arnold? (1)

    S2:E182/3/1977

    For the school drama festival, Gabe is going to direct a scene from Cyrano de Bergerac. Arnold is set to play the lead, but recieves only heckling and ridicule from his fellow Sweathogs; and when Arnold turns up missing, Vinnie is forced to take his place on stage.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Peter Meyerson

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Peter Meyerson
21. 

    7.2/10(105 votes)

    #21 - Whodunit?

    S1:E49/30/1975

    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.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
22. 

    7.2/10(81 votes)

    #22 - Arrividerci, Arnold

    S1:E1312/16/1975

    Arnold is promoted to a regular class, but is less than happy about the forced transition.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
23. 

    7.2/10(76 votes)

    #23 - Follow The Leader (2)

    S1:E171/22/1976

    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.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
24. 

    7.2/10(80 votes)

    #24 - Father Vinnie

    S1:E222/26/1976

    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.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Eric Cohen

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Eric Cohen
25. 

    7.2/10(70 votes)

    #25 - Sweatside Story

    S2:E310/7/1976

    The Sweathogs form a gang, but won't let Arnold in until the night of their first rumble, and Arnold, against the idea of being killed, brings along Gabe and Mr. Woodman in order to prevent the fight.

    Director:Bill Persky

    Writer:Eric Cohen

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    Director:Bill Persky

    Writer:Eric Cohen