Welcome Back, Kotter: California Dreamin'

Welcome Back, Kotter: California Dreamin'
ABC
December 2, 1975
Sitcom
DVD
B

Susan Lanier makes her first of two appearances as Bambi Forrester (yes, a pun).  Apparently this was a big enough splash that it got her the role of the first Chrissy Snow on Three's Company, but more about that later.  What's more notable looking back is that if there's any moment when you can pinpoint Travolta becoming a teen idol, it's here, during his "Barbarino" version of "Barbara Ann."

The California stereotypes were, I recall, widespread in the mid-'70s, although being in the more inland, deserty portion of the state I at age seven never ran into anyone remotely resembling them.  The student crush on "Gabesy" may look more dated in that it simply wouldn't have been handled this way from I'd say the '90s onward.  You definitely wouldn't have got Gabe joking to Julie about running off with Bambi.  Note that for a guy who almost got married not long ago, Freddie isn't exactly faithful to Vernajean.  (He was taking the other black female Sweathog on a date in the previous episode.)  This episode is an early writing credit for Mike Weinberger, who'd go on to write for Three's Company and Who's the Boss? among other shows I watched.