Forever Sweathogs: ‘The Welcome Back, Kotter’ Reunion
Class is back in session as the cast of ‘Welcome Back, Kotter’ comes together for the TV Land Awards
Welcome back, "Welcome Back."
Remember the Sweathogs? The graffiti covered subway and the John Sebastian theme song from the opening? Return with us now to the Brooklyn of the '70s, the world of 'Welcome Back, Kotter' (footage from the 1975 pilot episode, below. Check out the denim bellbottoms).
After three decades, the cast of the sitcom got together last night for the TV Land Awards (which airs on the channel April 17). Bonus: Can you identify the bearded man in the picture? Answer below.
Notable at this reunion were the actors who were there (John Travolta) and the ones who weren't (Ron Palillo). In an interview that aired on 'Good Morning America' today, Travolta described the show as 'timeless'.
The ABC sitcom launched him as the academically challenged high school Romeo, Vinnie Barbarino. (A variant on this Brooklyn character, Tony Manero, would make Travolta a film star in 'Saturday Night Fever').
But how do you have a reunion without Horshack (Palillo), the class clown? At least the Kotters, Gabe Kaplan and Marcia Strassman, made it.
Oh yeah, the guy with the beard? That's Sweathog Juan Epstein (Robert Hegyes).
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