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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!

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 3 - Welcome Back (Pilot)
    7.7/10(157 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(97 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 1 Episode 8 - One of Our Sweathogs Is Missing
    7.6/10(92 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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  5. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 1 - The Great Debate
    7.5/10(178 votes)

    S1:E1

    The sweathogs out debate a smarter debate class.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 2 - Basket Case
    7.5/10(119 votes)

    S1:E2

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Jerry Ross

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  7. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 7 - Classroom Marriage
    7.5/10(100 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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  8. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 10 - The Reunion
    7.5/10(95 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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  9. 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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  10. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 5 - The Election
    7.4/10(104 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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  11. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 4 - Whodunit?
    7.3/10(115 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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  12. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 6 - No More Mister Nice Guy
    7.3/10(100 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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  13. 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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  14. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 19 - One Flu Over The Cuckoo's Nest
    7.3/10(88 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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  15. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 21 - Kotter Makes Good
    7.3/10(80 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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  16. 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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  17. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 17 - Follow The Leader (2)
    7.2/10(80 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 22 - Father Vinnie
    7.2/10(85 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Eric Cohen

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  19. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 11 - Barbarino's Girl
    7.1/10(98 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Eric Cohen

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  20. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 14 - The Longest Weekend
    7.1/10(83 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Carl Kleinschmitt

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  21. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 16 - Follow The Leader (1)
    7.0/10(82 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Welcome Back, Kotter Season 1 Episode 18 - Dr. Epstein, I Presume
    6.9/10(82 votes)

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Welcome Back (Pilot)" is the best rated episode of Welcome Back, Kotter season 1. It scored 7.7/10 from 157 votes. Directed by James Komack and written by Peter Meyerson, it aired on September 9, 1975.