The Best Episodes of Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   7.5/10(165 votes)

   #1 - 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
2. 

   7.5/10(110 votes)

   #2 - 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
3. 

   7.7/10(142 votes)

   #3 - 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
4. 

   7.2/10(105 votes)

   #4 - 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
5. 

   7.3/10(98 votes)

   #5 - 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
6. 

   7.3/10(93 votes)

   #6 - 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
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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. 

   7.7/10(93 votes)

   #9 - 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
10. 

    7.5/10(90 votes)

    #10 - 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
11. 

    7.1/10(93 votes)

    #11 - Barbarino's Girl

    S1:E1111/25/1975

    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.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Eric Cohen

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Eric Cohen
12. 

    7.3/10(91 votes)

    #12 - 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
13. 

    7.2/10(81 votes)

    #13 - 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
14. 

    7.1/10(79 votes)

    #14 - The Longest Weekend

    S1:E141/6/1976

    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.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Carl Kleinschmitt

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Carl Kleinschmitt
15. 

    7.5/10(85 votes)

    #15 - 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
16. 

    7.0/10(79 votes)

    #16 - Follow The Leader (1)

    S1:E161/20/1976

    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.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
17. 

    7.2/10(76 votes)

    #17 - 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
18. 

    6.9/10(79 votes)

    #18 - Dr. Epstein, I Presume

    S1:E181/29/1976

    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.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown
19. 

    7.3/10(85 votes)

    #19 - 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
20. 

    7.7/10(93 votes)

    #20 - 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
21. 

    7.3/10(76 votes)

    #21 - 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
22. 

    7.2/10(80 votes)

    #22 - 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