Welcome Back, Kotter (TV Series) No More Mr. Nice Guy (1975) User Reviews

'Mr. Kotter' Needs An Exorcist!

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 3 March 2010]

"Mr. Woodburn" (John Sylvester White) gets his first feature spot in this initial season of "Welcome Back, Kotter."

White, who was in his mid-to-late '50s when he did this TV show, gained more fame with "Kotter" than the rest of his acting career combined, which really wasn't that long. His acting resume shows a huge gap from 1950-51 to 1970. He was in the early days of TV with the soap opera, "Search For Tomorrow" but then had a long battle against the bottle, overcoming the alcoholism and being a star on this popular TV program.

Anyway, "Mr. Woodburn" is not himself (which is fine with everyone else) but he's clearly down and misinterprets something Kotter says as an invitation to dinner. So, Gabe and Julie wind up entertaining the crabby old geezer. That leads to an invitation to Woodburn to teach history to the Sweathogs for a day in Kotter's class. The vice principal actually does a great job and wins the respect of the kids! Who would believe it? Unfortunately, it turns Kotter into the crabby Woodman, and now things are upside. "It's like 'The Exorcist,'" observes Barbarino (John Travolta).

How are things going to get back to normal? Tune in and find out. It's another funny show with a lot of good lines.

Role reversal

[kevinolzak · 5/10 · 25 June 2016]

"No More Mr. Nice Guy" finds Mr. Woodman more irritable than ever, with Gabe's suggestion of a night out with friends practically inviting himself to dinner with the Kotters (the first mention of tuna casserole). The vice principal admits that he's not well liked, and wants to get back to his first love, teaching military history for the first time in ten years: "there was always something about a good war that cheered me up!" While the Sweathogs initially scoff at Woodman teaching the class, he makes a strong impression with his numerous costume changes. Judy Borden (Helaine Lembeck) warns that the Sweathogs have locked Todd Ludlow in Epstein's gym locker with Juan's socks! Kotter is the one uncharacteristically getting tough with the pranks, with a suddenly lovable Woodman enjoying the moment. The role reversal ends after Woodman finds his stolen chalk in Kotter's desk, exactly where the Sweathogs hid it. Debralee Scott's Hotsy Totsy is present for a third straight episode, but would sadly disappear after the next.