"Sweatside Story," the title a reflection of "West Side Story," marked the episode where Charles Fleischer debuted as New Utrecht gang leader Carvelli. It's the day when Mr. Woodman does locker inspection, uncovering Horshack's 'antique banana,' Epstein's endless supply of notes, and Barbarino's Sweathogs gang jacket. When Washington shows up after an encounter with a rival gang from New Utrecht Kotter realizes how serious the situation can get. Horshack drops by the Kotter apartment with suitably greased hair, and listens to Gabe's apt description of a rumble: "picture a game of hockey, big guys with no teeth, big sticks, and you're the puck!" Epstein has a note for gang leader Barbarino: "dear punk, please excuse Juan from his gang initiation because of an inner ear problem, he hates to hear himself scream! Signed, Epstein's mother." Arnold shows up for the rumble with a couple of recruits, all in leather jackets, Kotter and even Woodman! Enter Carvelli and his quartet, ready to go toe to toe if Vinnie can stop shaking his head in dizzying fashion (Carvelli: "you got a disease?"). Kotter puts up a good front, but it's Woodman who gets Carvelli's attention: "that's the oldest punk I ever saw, you a senior?" When he learns that he's dealing with the vice principal, Carvelli has second thoughts about a rumble: "this is a tough school!" Charles Fleischer, best known for providing the voice of Roger Rabbit in the 1988 feature "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," would return in "Horshack vs. Carvelli."
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