WELCOME BACK, KOTTER: THE GREAT DEBATE {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of programs about high school teacher Gabe Kotter, who returns to his alma mater, James Buchanan High in Brooklyn, to teach a group of incorrigible students known as "sweathogs."
The sweathogs paint a mural over one of the classroom walls, annoying Mr. Kotter. Later, Mr. Kotter has an encounter with Alex Welles, a drama teacher and organizer of the school's debate team. They make fun of each other before arranging a formal debate between Mr. Welles's debate team and the sweathogs. Mr. Kotter returns to class as the sweathogs finish cleaning up all the paint. He tries to organize the sweathogs into a debate team, but they are not enthused with the idea. However, Mr. Kotter manages to change their minds when they learn that he intends to have them debate Mr. Welles's debate team, known amongst them as the "turkeys." Mr. Kotter sets about teaching the basics of debate format to the sweathogs.
The day of the debate arrives and Mr. Kotter is displeased when the sweathogs enter wearing various costumes; he had instructed them to dress in a "dignified" manner. Washington claims the costumes are part of their plan to "psyche out the opposition." Mr. Welles and the debate team arrive and the debate begins. The topic up for debate is "humans are naturally aggressive." The "turkeys" are representing the negative argument, whereas the sweathogs represent the affirmative. The debate team makes a note of their extensive research on the topic, whereas the sweathogs prepared none and must improvise.
Washington is up first for constructive arguments, but is nervous about speaking in public. To alleviate his nervousness, he offers an impassioned, if somewhat nonsensical, testimony as if he were in church. The "turkeys" attempt to offer a rebuttal, but the sweathogs manage to infuriate their speaker so much that he nearly assaults them. Mr. Kotter points out that this has proven the sweathogs' argument: that aggression is present even in the finest students. Mr. Welles and the debate team leave. Mr. Kotter remarks that while the sweathogs' plan was "terrible," he appreciates that they were using their minds. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: September 9, 1975 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:25:14
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:48830
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1975-1979
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- James Komack … Executive Producer
- Alan Sacks … Producer, Created by
- Thomas Hill … Associate Producer
- Bob LaHendro … Director
- Peter Meyerson … Developed by
- Gabriel Kaplan … Created by
- Rick Mittleman … Writer
- John B. Sebastian … Music by
- Gabriel Kaplan … Cast, Gabe Kotter
- Marcia Strassman … Cast, Julie Kotter
- John Sylvester White … Cast, Vice Principal Michael Woodman
- Robert Hegyes … Cast, Juan Luis Pedro Felipo de Huevos Epstein
- Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs … Cast, Freddie "Boom Boom" Percy Washington
- Ron Palillo … Cast, Arnold Horshack
- John Travolta … Cast, Vinnie Barbarino
- Debralee Scott … Cast, Rosalie "Hotsy" Totsy
- James Woods … Cast, Alex Welles
- Dennis Bowen … Cast, Todd Ludlow
- Helaine Lembeck … Cast, Judy Borden
- Eric Suter … Cast, Debate Team Member