It was one of the hit shows of the 70s and launched the career of John Travolta. I was recently given season 1 of the series and as I started to watch it again for the first time in 30 years, I kept thinking this is so stupid but I just couldn't stop laughing. Every one of the main characters had their own catch phrase and they were all funny. Here's some trivia and fun facts about the show.
MR KOTTER
(played by Gabe Kaplan)
A facetious but well-meaning teacher who returns to Buchanan High, his alma mater, to teach a group of remedial students known as the Sweathogs. Being a founding member of the original Sweathogs, Kotter has a special affinity for the potential of these supposedly "unteachable" students.
Kotter's catchphrase(s):
"Did I ever tell you about... (Varying relatives, usually an uncle)?"
Kaplan was a stand up comic and continued to do shows after WBK finished. He continuoly argued with the show's producers as they tried to mellow the characters and even refused to appear in some episodes.
These days, he largely makes his living as a professional poker player.
A facetious but well-meaning teacher who returns to Buchanan High, his alma mater, to teach a group of remedial students known as the Sweathogs. Being a founding member of the original Sweathogs, Kotter has a special affinity for the potential of these supposedly "unteachable" students.
Kotter's catchphrase(s):
"Did I ever tell you about... (Varying relatives, usually an uncle)?"
Kaplan was a stand up comic and continued to do shows after WBK finished. He continuoly argued with the show's producers as they tried to mellow the characters and even refused to appear in some episodes.
These days, he largely makes his living as a professional poker player.
Julie Kotter (Marcia Strassman) 1948 - 2014
Gabe's wife and best friend. Though she has a sense of humor, she often wishes Gabe would take matters more seriously. She is occasionally upset with the amount of time her husband spends with his students, and she is troubled that he allows them to regularly visit their apartment;
Catchphrase:
Julie (to Gabe): You-u...love my tuna casserole.
Gabe: No! You love your tuna casserole! Nobody puts prunes in a tuna casserole!
Strassman's time on the show was frustrated by constant rumours that the producers wanted her gone and that she wasn't getting enough to do.
Catchphrase:
Julie (to Gabe): You-u...love my tuna casserole.
Gabe: No! You love your tuna casserole! Nobody puts prunes in a tuna casserole!
Strassman's time on the show was frustrated by constant rumours that the producers wanted her gone and that she wasn't getting enough to do.
Vincent "Vinnie" Barbarino (John Travolta
A cocky but slow witted Italian-American, "unofficial official" leader and resident heartthrob of the Sweathogs. Barbarino's prowess with women was a source of envy (and more often amusement) among his classmates. On occasion he would break out in song of his last name to the tune of The Beach Boys's classic, "Barbara Ann."
Vinnie's catchphrases:
"Up your nose with a rubber hose!"
"Wah-ha-ha-ha-howwww..." (Whenever he becomes love-stricken)
"What?" "Where?" "Why?" (Usually to feign ignorance)
"I'm so con-fused!" (Usually over-dramatized)
"I'm Vinnie Barbarino!" (Also over-dramatized, usually when a girl snubs or spurns him)
The show launched Travolta's career, and he made Saturday Night Fever while still shooting WBK. In later seasons his appearances became less frequent due to his movie career and he eventually left the show.
Vinnie's catchphrases:
"Up your nose with a rubber hose!"
"Wah-ha-ha-ha-howwww..." (Whenever he becomes love-stricken)
"What?" "Where?" "Why?" (Usually to feign ignorance)
"I'm so con-fused!" (Usually over-dramatized)
"I'm Vinnie Barbarino!" (Also over-dramatized, usually when a girl snubs or spurns him)
The show launched Travolta's career, and he made Saturday Night Fever while still shooting WBK. In later seasons his appearances became less frequent due to his movie career and he eventually left the show.
Arnold Horshack (Ron Palillo) 1949 - 2012
The class clown of the Sweathogs, completely comfortable with his oddball, if innocent personality. Horshack was known for his unique observations and his wheezing laugh, similar to that of a hyena.
Arnold's catchphrases:
· "Ooh-ooh-ooooh!" (Used with raised hand when Arnold gets excited about an answer.
· "Hello. How are ya? I'm Arnold Horsha-a-ck" (How Arnold introduces himself)
· "That was ver-ry impressive, Mister Kotter-r-r!" (How Arnold praises Mr. Kotter's teaching
· "G'head, G'head! (Go ahead, go ahead)"
Palilio's career never took off after the show and he was pretty much typecast as Horshack. He teaches acting and does the occasional low budget tv show these days. He was involved in a reality show controversy recently when after a celebrity boxing match another failed star beat him up badly.
Freddie "Boom Boom" Percy Washington (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs)
The hip African-American known as the athletic Sweathog for his skills on the basketball court, Washington claimed his nickname came from his habit of "pretending to playthe bass" and singing "Boom-boom-boom-boom!". Though often the voice of reason among his classmates, Washington nonetheless was a willing participant in the Sweathogs' various antics and pranks.
Washington's catchphrases:
· "Hi there." (His normal greeting, usually in a basso profondo voice)
· "Hey, Mister Kah-tare!" (How he addresses Mr. Kotter)
· "My assignment? Yes, Mr. Kotter. I have my assignment. Unfortunately, I don't have it here...han-n-dy-y..." (Whenever he forgot his homework or failed to accomplish any given task)
LHJ has had a reasonable career since the days of WBK, appearing in many tv shows in guest roles.
Juan Luis Pedro Philippo DeHuevos Epstein (Robert Hegyes) 1951 - 2012
A fiercely proud Puerto Rican Jew, and one of the toughest students at Buchanan High, despite his short stature. He normally walked with a tough-man strut, wore a red handkerchief hanging out of his right back pocket, and was voted "Most Likely To Take A Life" by his peers. On a few occasions, when Kotter would do his Groucho Marx impersonation, Epstein would jump in and impersonate Marx's Brother Chico Marx or Harpo Marx. Epstein's diminutive height and large hair are common jokes associated with him.
Epstein's catchphrase:
· "Hey, Mr. Kotter, I got a note!" (The phony notes, excusing Epstein from classes and other sundry functions, were always written by Epstein himself, though he claimed they were signed by, as written, "Epstein's Mother." Epstein would mime the wording of the note while Kotter would read it aloud, usually proving the note was written by Epstein himself.)
Hegyes runs an acting school in New York and works heavily in theatre.