Since producers did not know, at least not for certain, that the show would be cancelled after the 1978-79 season, Kotter had no official finale, no long-awaited graduation for the Sweathogs. Instead, the last original episode dealt with a feud that ensues when Washington gets an after-school job Epstein felt was rightly his.
For almost the entire run, each episode began and ended with Mr. Kotter sharing an often corny joke about one of his relatives.
# |
Episode Title |
Director |
Writer(s) |
Overview |
Original airdate |
1 |
The Great Debate |
Bob LaHendro |
Rick Mittleman |
The Sweathogs debate Mr. Wells' class after continual putdowns. |
September 9, 1975 |
2 |
Basket Case |
Bob LaHendro |
Jerry Ross |
Freddy is certain he's a basketball star in the making, so he thinks he doesn't have to pass his classes. |
September 16, 1975 |
3 |
Welcome Back (pilot) |
James Komack |
Peter Meyerson |
Gabe is introduced to the Sweathogs on his first day as a teacher. In frustration, he quits, but the Sweathogs visit him at home and convince him to return. |
September 23, 1975 |
4 |
Whodunit? |
Bob LaHendro |
Jewel Jaffe, Jerry Rannow |
Rosalie Totzie claims one of the Sweathogs got her pregnant as an effort to change her reputation. |
September 30, 1975 |
5 |
The Election |
Bob LaHendro |
Eric Cohen, Tiffany York |
Vinnie runs for student body president, but his campaign is a disaster despite Gabe's efforts. |
October 7, 1975 |
6 |
No More Mr. Nice Guy |
Bob LaHendro |
George Yanok |
Gabe convinces Mr. Woodman to teach war history for a day after being accused of stealing his favorite yellow chalk. |
October 14, 1975 |
7 |
Classroom Marriage |
Bob LaHendro |
William Raynor, Myles Wilder |
Vernajean and Freddy decide to get married so they can stay together, but the Sweathogs convince them otherwise. |
October 21, 1975 |
8 |
One of Our Sweathogs Is Missing |
Bob LaHendro |
Marilyn Miller |
Epstein gets in a fight with Todd after insulting his date; Epstein loses and runs away for a couple of days. |
October 28, 1975 |
9 |
Mr. Kotter, Teacher |
Bob LaHendro |
Jewel Jaffe, Jerry Rannow |
Mr. Woodman accuses Gabe of not following standard teaching procedures because he isn't teaching from the standard textbook. The Sweathogs come to his defense in front of the school board. |
November 4, 1975 |
10 |
The Reunion |
Bob LaHendro |
George Yanok |
Gabe isn't happy about an old "perfect" schoolmate and his "perfect" wife visiting him. |
November 18, 1975 |
11 |
Barbarino's Girl |
Bob LaHendro |
Eric Cohen |
Judy tutors Vinnie, and they start liking each other. The Sweathogs start cracking jokes, but Vinnie stands up for her. |
November 25, 1975 |
12 |
California Dreamin' |
Bob LaHendro |
Michael Weinberger |
A new student (Bambi) pretends to be a surfer girl and distracts all the Sweathogs. |
December 2, 1975 |
13 |
Arrividerci, Arnold |
Bob LaHendro |
Jewel Jaffe, Jerry Rannow |
Woodman promotes Horshack out of the Sweathogs, but gets let back in after Gabe the class convince him otherwise. |
December 16, 1975 |
14 |
The Longest Weekend |
Bob LaHendro |
Carl Kleinschmitt |
Julie goes away on a ski trip to Vermont with a recently divorced friend. Gabe is lonely and prepares to visit her, but is interrupted when she comes home early. |
January 6, 1976 |
15 |
The Sit-In |
Bob LaHendro |
William Bickley, Michael Warren |
The Sweathogs are distracted from a food fight, but protest the cafeteria's liver. |
January 13, 1976 |
16 |
Follow The Leader (Part 1) |
Bob LaHendro |
Jewel Jaffe, Jerry Rannow |
The class votes to make Freddy the new Sweathog leader, which causes Vinnie to quit school. Julie is jealous of Gabe's attention to the Sweathogs, and goes to stay at a hotel. |
January 20, 1976 |
17 |
Follow The Leader (Part 2) |
Bob LaHendro |
Jewel Jaffe, Jerry Ranow |
The Sweathogs tired of Freddy as their leader, and Gabe convinces Vinnie to return to school. Julie forgives Gabe and moves back home. |
January 22, 1976 |
18 |
Dr. Epstein, I Presume |
Bob LaHendro |
George Yanok |
Epstein wants to become a veterinarian, but is discouraged by his guidance counselor. |
January 29, 1976 |
19 |
One Flu Over The Cuckoo's Nest |
Bob LaHendro |
Eric Cohen |
After a flu epidemic hits, Gabe combines the few remaining healthy students into one class. |
February 5, 1976 |
20 |
The Telethon |
Bob LaHendro |
Pat Proft, Bo Kaprall |
The Sweathogs put on a telethon to raise $700 for new supplies so they can continue to have a class. |
February 12, 1976 |
21 |
Kotter Makes Good |
Bob LaHendro |
George Yanok |
Gabe volunteers to take tests with the Sweathogs after Mr. Woodman can't find his senior exams. The records were found, but Gabe took the tests anyway. |
February 19, 1976 |
22 |
Father Vinnie |
Bob LaHendro |
Eric Cohen |
Vinnie's dying grandmother wants him to become a priest. Vinnie tries, but gives it up when he has to stop dating. |
February 26, 1976 |
# |
Episode Title |
Director |
Writer(s) |
Overview |
Original airdate |
1 |
Career Day |
Bill Hobin |
Eric Cohen |
Gabe is offered a job by a wealthy Oriental, but decides teaching is more important than lots of money. |
September 23, 1976 |
2 |
Inherit The Halibut |
Bill Hobin |
Neil Rosen, George Tricker |
The Sweathogs accuse Freddy (the class treasurer) of stealing some money, and put him on trial. |
September 30, 1976 |
3 |
Sweatside Story |
Bill Persky |
Eric Cohen |
The Sweathogs try to form their own gang in response to a scare from another gang. Gabe acts tough enough to scare both gangs out of any violent activity. |
October 7, 1976 |
4 |
The Fight |
Bob LaHendro |
Jewel Jaffe, Jerry Rannow |
Vinnie forgets to do Freddy's "show and tell" homework as promised, causing the Sweathogs to have a fight. |
October 21, 1976 |
5 |
The Museum |
Bill Davis |
Bob Shayne |
The Sweathogs go on a field trip to a museum and meet its mysterious curator. |
October 28, 1976 |
6 |
Gabe Under Pressure |
Jay Sandrich |
George Yanok |
Gabe has a stomach pain, but is afraid to get a physical at the free clinic. |
November 4, 1976 |
7 |
Sweathog, Nebraska Style |
Bob LaHendro |
George Yanok |
Julie's sister from Nebraska makes a surprise visit. Much to Julie's dismay, Jenny goes out with Epstein, but dumps him after getting a call from her ex-boyfriend. |
November 11, 1976 |
8 |
Sadie Hawkins Day |
Bob LaHendro |
Steven Clements, Joyce Gittlin |
All of the Sweathogs have dates for the Sadie Hawkins dance except Vinnie, due to his insensitivity, so he attends alone. |
November 18, 1976 |
9 |
Hello, Ms. Chips |
Bob LaHendro |
Royce D. Applegate, Ira Miller |
A new student teacher (Ms. Wright) tries to teach the Sweathogs, with some difficulty. |
December 2, 1976 |
10 |
Horshack vs. Carvelli |
Bob LaHendro |
Garry Shandling |
Horshack wants to fight Carvelli in the upcoming boxing match. |
December 9, 1976 |
11 |
Sweathog Clinic for the Cure of Smoking |
Bob LaHendro |
Eric Cohen, Steve Hayden |
Gabe and Mr. Woodman catch Epstein smoking; Gabe and the Sweathogs help him to quit. |
December 16, 1976 |
12 |
Hark, the Sweatkings |
Bob LaHendro |
Nick Arnold, Peter Meyerson |
The Sweathogs want to help a homeless man after hearing his life story. |
December 23, 1976 |
13 |
A Love Story |
James Komack, Gary Shimokawa |
Jewel Jaffe, Jerry Rannow |
Epstein's sister Carmen joins the Sweathogs, but he threatens to kill anyone who lays a hand on her. |
December 30, 1976 |
14 |
Caruso's Way |
Bob LaHendro |
Jim Parker |
Mr. Caruso slaps Vinnie during gym class, and is late for his next class. Caruso refuses to apologize, despite Vinnie's apology, and challenges him to an arm-wrestling match. |
January 6, 1977 |
15 |
Sweatgate Scandal |
Bob LaHendro |
Eric Cohen |
After a break-in at Principal Lazarus' office, the Sweathogs decide to investigate while working on the school newspaper. |
January 13, 1977 |
16 |
Kotter and Son |
Bob LaHendro |
Nick Arnold, Peter Meyerson |
Gabe's father, convinced that Gabe is in the wrong career, comes for a visit and observes him with the Sweathogs. |
January 20, 1977 |
17 |
Chicken a la Kotter |
Bob LaHendro |
Raymond Siller |
Gabe cannot afford a root canal, so he works a night job as Captain Chicken to pay for it; Julie thinks he's having an affair. |
January 27, 1977 |
18 |
Has Anyone Seen Arnold? (Part 1) |
Bob LaHendro |
Nick Arnold, Peter Meyerson |
Horshack goes missing, and Vinnie takes his place as the lead in the school play 'Cyrano de Bergerac'. |
February 3, 1977 |
19 |
There Goes Number 5 (Part 2) |
James Komack, Bob LaHendro |
Jewel Jaffe, Jerry Rannow |
The reason for Horshack's absence turns out to be the death of his fifth father. Horshack takes on the responsibility of providing for his mother and siblings, and gets a part-time job with his uncle. |
February 3, 1977 |
20 |
The Littlest Sweathog |
Bob LaHendro |
Eric Cohen |
Gabe and Julie find out that she's pregnant. |
February 10, 1977 |
21 |
Radio Free Freddie |
Bob LaHendro |
Peter Meyerson, Neil Rosen, George Yanok |
The Sweathogs are invited to go on the air at a local radio station. Freddy goes on after the other three decline, and becomes an instant success, but risks losing his friends. |
February 17, 1977 |
22 |
I'm Having Their Baby |
Bob LaHendro |
Neil Rosen, George Tricker |
While Gabe is away at a teacher's convention, the Sweathogs try to help Julie, but make her even more uncomfortable in the process. |
February 24, 1977 |
23 |
I Wonder Who's Kissing Gabe Now |
Bob LaHendro |
Nick Arnold, Peter Meyerson |
The art teacher tells Gabe she is in love with him and kisses him despite his resistance. Gabe tells Julie but forgets to mention the kiss. Epstein backs up Gabe's story. |
March 3, 1977 |
# |
Episode Title |
Director |
Writer(s) |
Overview |
Original airdate |
1 |
Sweathog Back to School Special |
Bob Claver |
Nick Arnold, Peter Meyerson |
The Sweathogs reminisce about the last two years as they start a new semester. |
September 10, 1977 |
2 |
And Baby Makes Four (Part 1) |
Bob Claver |
Eric Cohen |
The Sweathogs return to school as 11th graders, except for Vinnie. Julie goes into labor, and Woodman has to announce it over the school loudspeakers after Gabe threw him out of his classroom. |
September 15, 1977 |
3 |
And Baby Makes Four (Part 2) |
Bob Claver |
Eric Cohen |
While Julie is giving birth to twins, Vinnie tries to get Gabe to talk to Woodman about letting him back into the 11th grade. |
September 15, 1977 |
4 |
The Visit (Part 3) |
Bob Claver |
Gabriel Kaplan |
Julie's parents come for an unexpected visit to see the twins, and Gabe has to sleep on the fire escape. The Sweathogs help Gabe get up the courage to ask them to leave. |
September 22, 1977 |
5 |
Buddy, Can You Spare a Million? |
Bob Claver |
Nick Arnold, Peter Meyerson |
Gabe and Vinnie fight over prize money from a lottery ticket. |
September 29, 1977 |
6 |
Just Testing |
Bob Claver |
Mike Barrie, Jim Mulholland |
Gabe refuses to help Vinnie cram for the 12th grade entrance test, so he gets help from the Sweathogs. |
October 6, 1977 |
7 |
The Deprogramming of Arnold Horshack |
Bob Claver |
Mike Barrie, Jim Mulholland |
Horshack drops out of school to join a religious cult, and the others try to get him out of it. |
October 13, 1977 |
8 |
What a Move |
Nick Havinga |
George Bloom, Beverly Bloomberg |
Epstein finds a new apartment for the Kotters, but their stay is short-lived. |
October 20, 1977 |
9 |
A Novel Idea |
Bob Claver |
Nick Arnold, Peter Meyerson |
The characters in Mr. Woodman's new novel seem to be very similar to the Sweathogs. |
October 27, 1977 |
10 |
Barbarino in Love (Part 1) |
Bob Claver |
Nick Arnold, Peter Meyerson |
Vinnie is supposed to be rehearsing for a talent show with the Sweathogs, but instead spends time with a girl who they are competing against. |
November 3, 1977 |
11 |
Barbarino in Love (Part 2) |
Bob Claver |
Steve Clements, Joyce Gittlin |
Vinnie isn't sure if he wants to try to win the talent competition, or whether he should let his new girlfriend win. |
November 10, 1977 |
12 |
Kotter for Vice-Principal |
Bob Claver |
Steven Clements, Joyce Gittlin |
The Sweathogs try to get Gabe to become vice-principal. Gabe tells Woodman that he isn't interested, and later has a dream set in the year 2050. |
November 17, 1977 |
13 |
Swine and Punishment |
Bob Claver |
Eric Cohen |
Mr. Woodman suspects Freddy of cheating on a test. |
November 24, 1977 |
14 |
Epstein's Madonna |
Bob Claver |
George Bloom, Beverly Bloomberg |
Epstein creates a nude painting on the school wall... of Mrs. Kotter! |
December 8, 1977 |
15 |
A Sweathog Christmas Special |
Mel Stuart |
Eric Cohen, Mel Stuart |
The Sweathogs share Christmas memories as they help the Kotters trim their tree. |
December 15, 1977 |
16 |
Sweatwork* |
Bob Claver |
Eric Cohen |
Horshack pushes for change to the school radio station, and gets some support along the way. |
December 22, 1977 |
17 |
Meet Your New Teacher |
Bob Claver |
Garry Ferrier, Aubrey Tadman |
The Sweathogs' grades rise when they getting tutored by a computer, but Gabe is afraid it will replace him. |
January 5, 1978 |
18 |
Angie |
Alan Myerson |
Eric Cohen |
A new girl (Angie Glabagoski) wants to join the Sweathogs. |
January 12, 1978 |
19 |
Epstein's Term Paper |
Bob Claver |
Eric Cohen |
Epstein bought four term papers from Carvelli and the sweathogs turned them in as their own, only to discover that Gabe had written one of them 11 years earlier. |
January 19, 1978 |
20 |
There's No Business (Part 1) |
Bob Claver |
Gabriel Kaplan |
The Sweathogs convince Gabe to pursue his dream as a stand-up comic. His imitations of them are a success, and he gives up teaching for a job at a nightclub. |
January 26, 1978 |
21 |
There's No Business (Part 2) |
Bob Claver |
George Bloom, Beverly Bloomberg |
The Sweathogs and Mr. Woodman want Gabe to come back to teaching. |
February 2, 1978 |
22 |
What Goes Up |
Jeff Beckner |
Nick Arnold |
Freddy becomes hooked on prescription painkillers, but the only thing that saves him is Epstein's "vitamin pills." |
February 9, 1978 |
23 |
Goodbye, Mr. Kripps |
Bob Claver |
Garry Ferrier, Aubrey Tadman |
Vinnie blames himself for his shop teacher's fatal heart attack, which came on while Mr. Kripps was yelling at him. |
February 16, 1978 |
24 |
Horshack and Madame X |
Al Schwartz |
Peter Meyerson |
Horshack keeps getting rejected by girls, and falls in love with Julie after she gave him comfort and advice. |
February 23, 1978 |
25 |
The Kiss |
Bob Claver |
Max Wynne Goldenson, Peter Meyerson |
Gabe's job is at risk after he is accused of kissing a girl who fainted, though he actually performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. |
March 9, 1978 |
26 |
The Return of Hotsy Totsy |
Bob Claver |
Gabriel Kaplan |
The Sweathogs find former classmate Hotsy working at a strip club, and try to help her finish high school and get a better job. |
May 11, 1978 |
27 |
Class Encounters of the Carvelli Kind |
Robert Hegyes |
George Bloom, Beverly Bloomberg |
Carvelli and Murray are exchange students; Carvelli tells stories about aliens. |
May 18, 1978 |
# |
Episode Title |
Director |
Writer(s) |
Overview |
Original airdate |
1 |
The Drop-Ins (Part 1) |
Norman Abbott |
George Bloom |
The Sweathogs are upset when Gabe becomes vice-principal, and decide to drop out. |
September 11, 1978 |
2 |
The Drop-Ins (Part 2)* |
Norman Abbott |
George Bloom |
The Sweathogs decide to come back to school, after trying to get jobs at a hospital. |
September 11, 1978 |
3 |
Beau's Jest |
Norman Abbott |
Earl Barret, Richard Hawkins, Liz Sage |
A new student, Beau De Labarre, is trying to take attention away from the Sweathogs. |
September 18, 1978 |
4 |
Don't Come Up and See Me Sometime* |
Norman Abbott |
Gene Perret, Bill Richmond |
Vinnie throws the Sweathogs out of his new apartment in order to get some privacy. |
September 25, 1978 |
5 |
Once Upon a Ledge |
Norman Abbott |
Richard Hawkins, Liz Sage |
Horshack is able to stop a student from committing suicide. |
October 2, 1978 |
6 |
The Sweatmobile* |
Norman Abbott |
Gene Perret, Bill Richmond |
The Sweathogs' new car was wrecked during delivery. |
October 9, 1978 |
7 |
Barbarino's Boo-Boo* |
Norman Abbott |
Linda Morris, Vic Rauseo |
Mr. Woodman went to the hospital for surgery, and Vinnie has misplaced him. |
October 21, 1978 |
8 |
X-Rated Education |
Norman Abbott |
Bill Greer, Kathy Greer |
The Sweathogs try to watch an X-rated film after it is accidentally switched with a sex education film. |
October 28, 1978 |
9 |
The Barbarino Blues* |
Norman Abbott |
Linda Morris, Vic Rauseo |
Vinnie is depressed when the girl he wanted to break up with dumped him first. |
November 4, 1978 |
10 |
Washington's Clone* |
Norman Abbott |
Dinah Kirgo, Julie Kirgo |
A younger student tries to impress the Sweathogs by imitating Freddy. |
November 11, 1978 |
11 |
Frog Day Afternoon |
Norman Abbott |
Earl Barret, Richard Hawkins, Liz Sage |
Horshack refuses to dissect a frog in biology class, which jeopardizes his grade. |
November 25, 1978 |
12 |
A Little Fright Music |
Norman Abbott |
Earl Barret, George Bloom |
The Sweathogs try to change Mr. Woodman's school song to a disco version. |
December 2, 1978 |
13 |
A Winter's Coat Tale* |
Norman Abbott |
Earl Barret, George Bloom |
Vinnie's new coat is stolen by muggers. |
December 16, 1978 |
14 |
Bride and Gloom* |
Norman Abbott |
Earl Barret, George Bloom |
Epstein asks Vinnie to marry his immigrant cousin so she can get citizenship. |
January 13, 1979 |
15 |
Barbarino's Baby* |
Norman Abbott |
Linda Morris, Vic Rauseo |
Barbarino delivers a baby in an elevator. |
February 3, 1979 |
16 |
The Goodbye Guy |
Norman Abbott |
Suzanne Gayle Harris, Rick Hawkins, Liz Sage |
Epstein almost moves in with Mr. Woodman's niece after falling in love with her, but the relationship falls apart. |
February 10, 1979 |
17 |
Come Back, Little Arnold |
Norman Abbott |
Richard Hawkins, Liz Sage |
Horshack develops a drinking problem, after drinking liquor to get up his nerve with Mary. However, his altered personality only drives her away. |
February 24, 1979 |
18 |
The Sweat Smell of Success |
Norman Abbott |
Earl Barret, George Bloom |
Epstein turns the school newspaper into a tabloid, and endagers his friendships in the process. |
March 3, 1979 |
19 |
The Gang Show |
Norman Abbott |
Gene Perret, Bill Richmond |
Epstein and Freddy enter a talent show. Carvelli had bribed some judges, but Horshack and Beau took over. |
March 17, 1979 |
20 |
Oo-Oo, I Do: Part 1 |
Norman Abbott |
Gene Perret, Bill Richmond |
Horshack proposes marriage to Mary after learning he has to move. |
May 25, 1979 |
21 |
Oo-Oo, I Do: Part 2 |
Norman Abbott |
Gene Perret, Bill Richmond |
Horshack and Mary get married, despite the Sweathogs' teasing. |
May 25, 1979 |
22 |
I'm Okay, But You're Not |
Norman Abbott |
Richard Hawkins, Liz Sage |
Beau plays pranks on Mr. Woodman in order to redeem himself to the Sweathogs. |
June 1, 1979 |
23 |
The Breadwinners |
Norman Abbott |
Linda Morris, Vic Rauseo |
While Horshack adjusts to married life, Freddy gets the job that Epstein was going to interview for, resulting in a fight. |
June 8, 1979 |