User reviews

Looking at these episodes some 30-plus years later, I'm amazed how silly most of this humor is - but yet, still funny and entertaining. Yeah, it's not exactly clever comedy but the crudeness of it, with a big layer of sweetness underneath the gruff exteriors of the kids, make it almost innocent in many ways. It's just an odd TV series, unlike any other sitcom. It was, an remains, unique.

In this first episode of the season (after the great pilot show which is listed third year on the IMDb listings), the jokes are dumb, the humor is mainly insulting stuff, the clothing outrageous, the characters all stereotyped big-time....yet it all works. From the Sweathogs to the nerdy debate team led by drama teacher "Alex Welles," you couldn't get worse stereotyping.

To my shock, the prissy drama teacher ("Alex") - complete with ascot - was none other than tough-guy James Woods, the famous movie star! I looked it up here and discovered this was his only appearance on this show. Although he did other things, I don't believe he really made it big until almost a decade later in "Once Upon A Time In America."

Anyway, if you want to see the silliest "debate contest" ever held at a high school, check out this "Welcome Back, Kotter" episode.

"The Great Debate" guest stars James Woods as drama coach Alex Welles, at this early stage of his career with movie and TV credits split at six apiece under his belt. A frustrated writer of two unproduced plays ('A Streetcar Named Shirley' and 'Fiddler on My Sister'), Alex delights in promoting his debate team, three of the school's brightest students, and is challenged by Kotter to go up against the suddenly artistic Sweathogs. Gabe comes up with the topic of resolve, how human beings are naturally aggressive, with his students dressing up in elaborate costumes designed to psych out the competition, the Sweathogs on the positive side, Alex's team for the negative. Helaine Lembeck, lookalike daughter of Harvey Lembeck, returns as Judy Borden, with Dennis Bowen debuting as fellow honor student Todd Ludlow (four further episodes). Barbarino's research name checks Jack the Ripper, and his own parents: "now you hit him Margie, my arm is tired!" Washington, having spoken in public only in church, stands at the podium and delivers a white hot sermon! The Sweathogs' tactics actually succeed in victory for their side, as Todd Ludlow cannot resist being aggressive in his responses. The losing coach has one thing to say to Kotter: "in your socks with a pound of lox!" This was the second appearance of pretty Debralee Scott as female Sweathog Hotsy Totsy, looking suitably hot in her cheerleader outfit.