WELCOME BACK, KOTTER: SWEATHOG CLINIC FOR THE CURE OF SMOKING (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."

Epstein is caught smoking in the bathroom by Gabe and Vice Principal Woodman. Woodman drags him to Principal Lazarus's office, but Epstein is let out only with a warning, as Principal Lazarus has a soft spot for him. Nevertheless, Gabe tries to convince Epstein to quit smoking. Epstein promises that he will, but soon enough he returns to smoking in the bathroom. Gabe discovers this, and Epstein says that although he's been smoking on and off for several years, he cannot seem to break the habit this time. Gabe relates a story from his youth about his addiction to potato knishes and other junk food.

He and the other sweathogs try to break Epstein of his habit using "aversion therapy," including a variety of sensory "treatments." However, after a week Epstein takes to smoking a pipe instead. He and the other sweathogs notice that Gabe is eating a potato knish, revealing that he did not overcome his own addiction. The two of them make a deal to forego each other's bad habits. The episode ends as Epstein and Gabe go around the classroom and reveal all their hidden stashes of cigarettes and knishes respectively, throwing them all away. Commercials deleted.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: December 16, 1976 8:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:25:09
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:48840
• GENRE: Comedy
• SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1975-1979
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• James Komack … Executive Producer
• George Yanok … Producer
• Eric Cohen … Producer, Writer, Based on characters conceived by
• Michael Manheim … Associate Producer
• Bob LaHendro … Director
• Peter Myerson … Developed by
• Gabriel Kaplan … Created by, Based on characters conceived by
• Alan Sacks … Created by, Based on characters conceived by
• Steve Hayden … 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