Welcome Back Kotter or Head of the Class

[horsemen4ever]

Like comparing the Bob Newhart show to Newhart, it is the battle of the decades, 70's vs 80's, Welcome Kotter or Head of the Class which is better?

Of course you want to compare what each show gave us in pop culture post shows, well one gave us John Travolta, the other gave us the guy that ruinded Nickelodeon.

Anyway Head of the Class was about a whole class and had female reprensentation. Welcome Back Kotter it was a class of 4 guys that talked and everyone else rarely talked.

Well Welcome Back Kotter at least made sense of why the principal or vice preincipal was an antagonist, why was the principal in Head of the Class an antagonist to the top honor class, that made no sense.

It depends on taste and style, WBK was more free with improve and going with the flow, HOTC was more tightly scripted.

Interesting to here your takes, they both had great memorable theme songs.

For me this is much harder to decide than Bob Newhart show vs Newhart. Bob Newhart Show is easily better or at least my preference. This one they all have their pros and cons. Neither are the greatest sitcoms ever.

[horsemen4ever]

Thanks for voting guys, but I would like comments as well. I probably go with Welcome Back Kotter, it is whole cast is very good at their job.

[BorneAgain]

WBK wins by sheer theme song alone.

[Milkman Norm]

I mean theme song alone give Welcome Back Kotter the edge.

[burdette25159]

WBK never did what HOTC did: go to da Soviet Union and also HOTC had a couple of things that Kotterdont: the little glasses wearing girl (I wish somebody made a match on WWE 2K18 between Janice Lazarotto and Marcie from Peanuts) in the class and Howard "Dr. Johnny Fever" Hessman

[horsemen4ever]

WBK gets a slide edge, it was close. I think the cast is better from top to bottom. Though I too would rather become a cannaball than see Ron Paillo in Ace Ventura: The Musical. I wonder how many of you get that reference?

[Allie Kitsune]

Drexell's Class.

[Gremlin]

/raises hand

Ooh! Ooh!

[bibboid]

Dear Mr Kotter,

Epstein cannot watch Head of the Class because it makes him sick.

Sincerely,

Epstein’s mother’s doctor

[willywonka666]

Man-Welcome Back, Kotter was a huge part of my childhood-It was one of the first shows I ever watched as a kid and I still love it as it holds up for me. Head of the Class was also fantastic and I love Howard Hesseman. I do like that he was trying to get the kids to experience more than just doing well in school-they had that part locked up, socially-not so much, so we got to see some of that wild free side of Hesseman.


This is really hard-if Howard Hesseman hadn't been cast, I'd give this to Kotter easier.

Both shows suffered after the third season or so.

If I have to choose, I'll go with Kotter, but it's so close-great topic!

[horsemen4ever]

Dec 26, 2017 21:41:03 GMT -5 burdette25159 said:

WBK never did what HOTC did: go to da Soviet Union and also HOTC had a couple of things that Kotterdont: the little glasses wearing girl (I wish somebody made a match on WWE 2K18 between Janice Lazarotto and Marcie from Peanuts) in the class and Howard "Dr. Johnny Fever" Hessman

Well some of the girls from Head of the Classes including that girl you referring to were in an episode of the late 90's / early 2000's VH1 show the List, google "VH1 The List Head of the Class" maybe you will find something. But I her looking amazing, she has grown up.

[horsemen4ever]

Dec 27, 2017 10:48:38 GMT -5 willywonka666 said:

Man-Welcome Back, Kotter was a huge part of my childhood-It was one of the first shows I ever watched as a kid and I still love it as it holds up for me. Head of the Class was also fantastic and I love Howard Hesseman. I do like that he was trying to get the kids to experience more than just doing well in school-they had that part locked up, socially-not so much, so we got to see some of that wild free side of Hesseman.


This is really hard-if Howard Hesseman hadn't been cast, I'd give this to Kotter easier.

Both shows suffered after the third season or so.

If I have to choose, I'll go with Kotter, but it's so close-great topic!

I am in the same boat as you, though mainly because they both had weak points especially the last season, the teacher was off the show in the last seasons that is hugh problem, and casting changes espically Beau who I swear he looks like Ted McGinley. I know it is not Ted McGinley, it seems like a character Ted McGinley would play, so the McGinley curse excist even if he is not involved.

[willywonka666]

Dec 27, 2017 11:53:44 GMT -5 horsemen4ever said:

Dec 27, 2017 10:48:38 GMT -5 willywonka666 said:

Man-Welcome Back, Kotter was a huge part of my childhood-It was one of the first shows I ever watched as a kid and I still love it as it holds up for me. Head of the Class was also fantastic and I love Howard Hesseman. I do like that he was trying to get the kids to experience more than just doing well in school-they had that part locked up, socially-not so much, so we got to see some of that wild free side of Hesseman.


This is really hard-if Howard Hesseman hadn't been cast, I'd give this to Kotter easier.

Both shows suffered after the third season or so.

If I have to choose, I'll go with Kotter, but it's so close-great topic!

I am in the same boat as you, though mainly because they both had weak points especially the last season, the teacher was off the show in the last seasons that is hugh problem, and casting changes espically Beau who I swear he looks like Ted McGinley. I know it is like Ted McGinley, it seems like a character Ted McGinley would play, so the McGinley curse excist even if he is not involved.

i thought the exact same thing!

[unc40]

I voted for HOTC not because I loved the show but I just didn't get the humor of WBK. I did like Mr. Woodman.