Welcome Back, Kotter
You get 6 A+ episodes from this beloved series. 1) One Flu Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, 2) Father Vinnie, 3) Sweatside Story, 4) I’m Having Their Baby, 5) The Deprogramming Of Arnold Horshack, and 6) Goodbye, Mr. Krippsd.Welcome to DVD, Mr. Kotter. Born o
List Price: $ 9.95
Price: $ 9.95
Keep Smiling With TV Theme Songs
You may have forgotten how to solve an algebraic equation you had in high school, but heaven knows you remember the beginning words to the theme song of the classical television show Gilligan’s Island. (“Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale…”) TV theme songs are some of the most beloved tunes in American culture and stick in our minds long after the shows they introduce have gone off the air. TV Theme downloads, from “Mr Ed” to “Mary Tyler More to “Cheers” conjure up memories of warm, snugly nights, childhood delight and a universal nostalgia for bygone days. We’ll always have a full compliment of classic TV Theme songs to sing along to when we watch the TV Land or Nickelodeon television networks, or when we’re just kicking back with friends.
These days the TV theme song is in decline because television executives worry about going over budget on their programming “It’s a rarity today,” says television historian Tim Brooks of the catchy, tuneful openings. “It’s kind of like the Broadway musical producing hit songs—it just doesn’t do that anymore.” Back in the good old days, even as late as the 90s, shows usually had what was called a “Main Title”—a 40 to 60 second opening montage that introduced the characters and set the situation up. Written by a composer, these songs summed up what the program was about whether it revolved around a group of wacky castaways (Gilligan’s Island) or a young career girl showing the world that she could make it after all (The Mary Tyler More Show). Even then, though, budgets were tight. For instance, Norman Lear, the creator of “All in the Family” had Carol O’Connor and Jean Stapleton sing the theme song to his show because he did not want to pay singers to perform it.
Today, the prevailing view is that the television audience itself no longer has the patience to listen to a theme song with an opening montage. “I think one of the things that has squeezed themes out is this relentless kind of move toward tightening everything, making it go right from joke to joke, from action to action, from shootout to shootout so that you won’t press the dreaded remote,” says Brooks. The attentive probably have noticed that there aren’t even commercials in between shows anymore for fear that the viewer will click to another station—TV theme songs are just a luxury programmers don’t have anymore.
It’s hard to believe that doing away with TV theme songs is what the viewing public really wants. Good theme songs like “Movin’ On Up” from the Jeffersons or “Welcome Back” from Welcome Back Kotter bring us endless joy and laughter. They fill us with fond memories from special times in our lives and are great to sing along to when friends gather together. Perhaps we should start a letter writing campaign to TV executives demanding that theme songs come back, but first get free TV Theme songs now!
Listen to free TV theme songs MP3′s at EZ-tracks.com
Where does your favorite top TV theme songs rank? Visit EZ-tracks to check out top country music charts.
Want a TV show ringtone for you cell phone? Download TV Ringtones for your mobile now.
Article from articlesbase.com
gabe kotter becomes a teacher at his old high school,buchanan high,and is assigned to the sweathog class, where he once belonged, himself.
Video Rating: 0 / 5
“What? Where? When?”,
This was one of my favorite TV shows as a kid. Gabe Kaplan played Mr. Kotter, a teacher in Brooklyn, NY (Buchanan High, I believe, was the name). He was funny, clever with a good bit of wisdom in his teaching style and cared a lot about his students (aka the Sweathogs). He’d often start and end the show with a corny joke about one of his uncles (“Did I ever tell you about my Uncle So-and-So?”). Marcia Stassman played his long suffering wife, Julie (Gabe Kotter loved his wife, but not her tuna casseroles!). John Sylvester White played Mr. Woodman, consumate curmudgeon who had little tolerance for the Sweathogs. John Travolta (Saturday Night Fever and Ladder 49) played Vinnie Barbarino, the class stud. He was the most popular with the ladies. He could be difficult when Mr. Kotter asked him questions in class (“What? Where? When?”). Sometimes when frustrated, he’d shout “I’m so confuuuuused!” When annoyed, he’d tell one of his fellow Sweathogs “Up your nose with a rubber hose!” His theme song was “Ba-ba-ba-ba-Barbarino” (to the tune of “Barbara Ann.” Ron Pallillo played Arnold Horshack (pronounced by little Arnold as “Hawwwwshaaaack!”), the lovable class dork (“Hallo! Howrya? Very impressive, Mista Kotta!”). To get Mr. Kotter’s attention, he’d often shout “Oh-oh-oh-oh!” He also had the best laugh in the class (he’d grunt “heh-heh-heh-heh!” like a seal). Lawrence Hilton Jacobs (Cooley High and The Jackson Story) played Freddie “Boom Boom” Washington, lovably hip African American. He was the only Sweathog with a steady girlfriend (Verna Jean) and played on Buchanon’s basketball team. He’d address Mr. Kotter “Yo, Mr. Kottair!” and when addressed in class, he’d smile and say (in a deep voice) “Hi there!” or “Unfortunately, I don’t have my homework haaandy!” Finally, Robert Hedges played Juan Julio de Huevos Epstein, who was part Puerto Rican, part Jewish. He was often late for class (I’ve got a note, Mr. Kotter!”). His late note was often signed by Epstein’s mother (I wonder how many kids in school tried that?)! When annoyed (often by Barbarino), he’d say “Vinniiiiie! You gonna diiiiiiiiiie!” The theme song was written, sung and performed by John B. Sebastian (formerly of the Lovin’ Spoonful).
Unfortunately, this is not the Complete 1st Season (which is why I had to dock this one star). The pilot episode introduced the class as unresponsive and difficult. The Deprogramming of Arnold Horshack shows Arnold being moved to a different class after he’s excelled in Mr. Kotter’s class (the trouble is, he doesn’t really fit in with the “smarter” kids). In Father Vinnie, Vinnie Barbarino almost drops out of school to become a priest, just to please his family’s wishes.
Hopefully, Warner Bros. will release the entire seasons of this show. It may not be politically correct by today’s standards, but it was funny, clever and often taught a good lesson.
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|Very Cool,
Very Cool show.
This Welcome Back Kotter DVD has six 30 minute episodes on it. No extras, but i’m not complaining for the price. I just hope this DVD is a sign that Welcome Back Kotter will be released as full seasons in the SHORT future.
No complaints.
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|Good Choice of Episodes,
I would love to see this whole series on DVD, but was happy to get just this small amount on one DVD. I watched some Welcome Back Kotter episodes as a kid and even now, as an adult, I think they are just hysterical. Great fun for a small amount of money!
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|They don’t make em like this anymore
love Vinny
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs and John Travolta were so hot
Wow, i grew up watching this show. Julie was pretty hot!
aaawwwwwwwwwwwww isnt that a cute floweer?. <3 hes best aay.
Off my case…..Toilet face….LOL…Love this show.
dayum….Kotter’s wife is bangin’…
I thought Kotter’s wife was fine when I first watched the show (as a mere lad) and I still think she looks damn good.
Lol!
4 people prefer Charles in Charge
I love the way Epstein calls him Kotter
@hivelocity100
i thought bailey was hotter than jennifer on WKRP.
@kavalere – That’s very sexy, actually. Major turn on. Have you seen a 30 year old woman with large breasts? Major turn off, man. Sagging to her waist is not cool. But a woman with flat breasts will be hot when she’s 50. True it. Now, if you were planning a getting a brand new woman every single year, then yeah, go for the big tits. But if you’re thinking long term, go with small. Besides, they’re more insecure and treat you better that way.
@Gbert1972
hahah I see it!
julie is flat
Is that a scar on Epstein’s brow?
Wow Gabe is a bad actor lol
Is it just me or did Gabe have a faint resemblance to Gino Vannelli?…lol
@ronaldvanbell LOL… Sweathog was a unique slang word they made up for this TV show. In the 60′s and 70′s, ghetto kids were not respected and were usually called “hoods” or “hoodlums.” But this show wanted the general public to empathize with them, not look down on them, so they used a new terminology, which became a term of endearment. We all learned to appreciate and understand these kids because of this show. (I was a 1969 high school graduate.)
bell bottoms? had em!
no bra
“off my case, toilet face!” LMAO i still use that sometimes!! haha
GOD I grew up on these episodes…
anyone knows what sweat hog? i thought it to be a very ugly chick
@hivelocity100 Yeah Marcia Strassman is still hot she was in a couple movies that I own on like Another Stakeout and And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird….I also catched her in that short lived series “Tremors” based on the movies about 7 years ago.