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The Best Episodes of Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1

Every episode of Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1!

The Best Episodes of Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1

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,...

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  1. 7.6/10(134 votes)

    #1 - Welcome Back (Pilot)

    S1:E3

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

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  2. 7.6/10(89 votes)

    #2 - The Telethon

    S1:E20

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

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:Pat Proft
  3. 7.4/10(157 votes)

    #3 - The Great Debate

    S1:E1

    The sweathogs out debate a smarter debate class.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  4. 7.4/10(82 votes)

    #4 - One of Our Sweathogs Is Missing

    S1:E8

    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.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  5. 7.4/10(87 votes)

    #5 - Mr. Kotter, Teacher

    S1:E9

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

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  6. 7.4/10(86 votes)

    #6 - The Reunion

    S1:E10

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

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
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  8. 7.4/10(80 votes)

    #7 - The Sit-In

    S1:E15

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

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  9. 7.3/10(105 votes)

    #8 - Basket Case

    S1:E2

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

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:Jerry Ross
  10. 7.3/10(89 votes)

    #9 - Classroom Marriage

    S1:E7

    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.

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    Director:N/A
  11. 7.2/10(94 votes)

    #10 - The Election

    S1:E5

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

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:Eric Cohen
  12. 7.2/10(72 votes)

    #11 - Kotter Makes Good

    S1:E21

    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.

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    Director:N/A
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  13. 7.1/10(100 votes)

    #12 - Whodunit?

    S1:E4

    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.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  14. 7.1/10(89 votes)

    #13 - No More Mister Nice Guy

    S1:E6

    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.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  15. 7.1/10(86 votes)

    #14 - California Dreamin'

    S1:E12

    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.

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    Director:N/A
  16. 7.1/10(81 votes)

    #15 - One Flu Over The Cuckoo's Nest

    S1:E19

    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.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:Eric Cohen
  17. 7.0/10(87 votes)

    #16 - Barbarino's Girl

    S1:E11

    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.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:Eric Cohen
  18. 7.0/10(77 votes)

    #17 - Arrividerci, Arnold

    S1:E13

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

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  19. 7.0/10(74 votes)

    #18 - The Longest Weekend

    S1:E14

    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.

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    Director:N/A
  20. 7.0/10(72 votes)

    #19 - Follow The Leader (2)

    S1:E17

    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.

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    Director:N/A
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  21. 7.0/10(76 votes)

    #20 - Father Vinnie

    S1:E22

    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.

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    Director:N/A
    Writer:Eric Cohen
  22. 6.8/10(75 votes)

    #21 - Follow The Leader (1)

    S1:E16

    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.

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    Director:N/A
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  23. 6.8/10(76 votes)

    #22 - Dr. Epstein, I Presume

    S1:E18

    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.

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    Director:N/A
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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Welcome Back (Pilot)" is the best rated episode of "Welcome Back, Kotter" season 1. It scored 7.6/10 based on 134 votes. Directed by James Komack and written by Peter Meyerson, it aired on 9/9/1975. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "The Telethon".