Welcome Back, Kotter: The Drop-Ins, Part 1ABC
September 11, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
C+
"...And Special Guest Star John Travolta" is one of the signs we are in a new season. There are other changes, from Woodman replacing the retiring Principal Lazarus and Kotter getting the Vice Principal's job, to Julie's decidedly un-hippie new look. Vinnie shows up almost literally at the last minute, claiming he's quit school and has a wonderful job in the hospital. Oh, and Carvelli and Murray have transferred to Buchanan. And someone at ABC got a new toy that summer, producing some visual effects in the opening credits and the scene transitions. None of this in itself means shark-bait, but it doesn't bode too well either.
Note that WBK was moved from its Thursday slot to Mondays at 8 p.m., opposite among other things WKRP and Little House on the Prairie. I think I did disloyally watch the opposition sometimes, although I mostly hung in with what till this point had been my favorite TV show. Of course, Mork & Mindy showing up Thursdays on ABC would soon change that opinion.
This is the first of five episodes Bill Richmond and Gene Perret co-wrote. Norman Abbott, who directed the "locket" episode of The Brady Bunch, would direct all of this last season for WBK.
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