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The Best Episodes of Welcome Back, Kotter

Every episode of Welcome Back, Kotter ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Welcome Back, Kotter!

Best episode
S1E3 Welcome Back (Pilot)
7.7156 votes
Worst episode
S4E6 The Sweatmobile
5.669 votes
Top season
Season 1
7.3avg
Binge time
1d 23h
95 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons4

All1234

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 3 - Welcome Back (Pilot)
    7.7/10(156 votes)

    S1:E3

    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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  2. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 9 - Mr. Kotter, Teacher
    7.7/10(96 votes)

    S1:E9

    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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  3. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 20 - The Telethon
    7.7/10(96 votes)

    S1:E20

    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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  4. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 3 Episode 22 - What Goes Up
    7.7/10(77 votes)

    S3:E22

    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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  5. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 8 - One of Our Sweathogs Is Missing
    7.6/10(91 votes)

    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.

    Director:Bob LaHendro
    Writer:Marilyn Suzanne Miller

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  6. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 2 Episode 21 - Radio Free Freddie
    7.6/10(82 votes)

    S2:E21

    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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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Welcome Back, Kotter

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  7. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 1 - The Great Debate
    7.5/10(177 votes)

    S1:E1

    The sweathogs out debate a smarter debate class.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 2 - Basket Case
    7.5/10(118 votes)

    S1:E2

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Jerry Ross

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  9. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 7 - Classroom Marriage
    7.5/10(98 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Myles Wilder

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  10. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 10 - The Reunion
    7.5/10(93 votes)

    S1:E10

    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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  11. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 15 - The Sit-In
    7.5/10(88 votes)

    S1:E15

    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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  12. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 2 Episode 8 - Sadie Hawkins Day
    7.5/10(85 votes)

    S2:E8

    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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  13. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 5 - The Election
    7.4/10(103 votes)

    S1:E5

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Eric Cohen

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  14. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 2 Episode 18 - Has Anyone Seen Arnold? (1)
    7.4/10(73 votes)

    S2:E18

    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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  15. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 2 Episode 17 - Chicken a la Kotter
    7.4/10(71 votes)

    S2:E17

    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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  16. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 4 - Whodunit?
    7.3/10(114 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 6 - No More Mister Nice Guy
    7.3/10(99 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 12 - California Dreamin'
    7.3/10(96 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Michael Weinberger

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  19. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 19 - One Flu Over The Cuckoo's Nest
    7.3/10(87 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Eric Cohen

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  20. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 21 - Kotter Makes Good
    7.3/10(79 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 2 Episode 12 - Hark, the Sweatkings
    7.3/10(78 votes)

    S2:E12

    At Christmas time, the Sweathogs are all too eager to tease resident bum Angie. But after Angie tells his life story to the class, they have a change of heart, and decide to help him get back up on his feet.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Peter Meyerson

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  22. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 2 Episode 14 - Caruso's Way
    7.3/10(68 votes)

    S2:E14

    Vinnie's goofing off in gym gets him in trouble with the teacher, Mr. Caruso, who's reprimending after class gets out of hand when he hits Vinnie in front of the girls' locker room.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 2 Episode 16 - Kotter and Son
    7.3/10(68 votes)

    S2:E16

    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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  24. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 2 Episode 20 - The Littlest Sweathog
    7.3/10(65 votes)

    S2:E20

    Gabe and Julie find out that they are going to have a baby.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Eric Cohen

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  25. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 13 - Arrividerci, Arnold
    7.2/10(84 votes)

    S1:E13

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Welcome Back (Pilot)" is the best rated episode of Welcome Back, Kotter. It scored 7.7/10 from 156 votes. Directed by James Komack and written by Peter Meyerson, it aired on September 9, 1975.

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