Welcome Back, Kotter Gets A Complete Boxset In August

Disc Announcements, News

Welcome Back, Kotter focused on Gabe Kaplan returning to teach at the Brooklyn High School he once attended. The series was an immediate hit thanks to the Sweathogs in 1975? John Travolta a high became an overnight superstar as the hunky, goofball student. The first season was released on DVD in 2007, but then nothing for years. Thanks once again to Shout! Factory, all four seasons will be included in Welcome Back, Kotter: The Complete Series. The DVD boxset is scheduled for release on August 26. Although if you order it directly from Shout! Factory’s website, they’ll ship it a few weeks earlier. Unfortunately the bonus features don’t include all 9 episodes of the spin-off Mr. T and Tina starring Pat Morita. Here’s the press release from Shout! Factory:

WelcomeBackKotter_Complete

Return to the 1970s and relive one of the most popular comedies in television history with Welcome Back, Kotter: The Complete Series on DVD. On August 26th, 2014, Shout! Factory will release the classic 1970s sitcom, available for the first time as a complete series on DVD. Nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards, the 16-disc Welcome Back, Kotter: The Complete Series box set contains all 95 episodes from the series, as well as bonus features including original screen tests and the featurette “Only a Few Degrees from a Sweathog.”

Fans who pre-order their copy from ShoutFactory.com will not only have their copies shipped to them one month before release date, but will receive free shipping as well.

Wisecracking teacher Gabe Kotter (Gabe Kaplan) is in for the challenge of his career when he accepts a job at his alma mater, teaching an unruly band of misfits called the Sweathogs. His students – including class clown Arnold Horshack (Ron Palillo), hip athlete Freddie “Boom Boom” Washington (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs), tough guy Juan Epstein (Robert Hegyes), and the cocky and “so confused” Vinnie Barbarino (John Travolta in the role that made him a star) – are a proven nightmare for instructors. The Sweathogs think they’ve got Kotter’s number, until they discover that in his younger days, their new teacher was a founding member of their crew!

Featuring the hilarious talents of comedian Gabe Kaplan, John Travolta, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Robert Hegyes, Ron Palillo and Marcia Strassman, Welcome Back, Kotter also features a superb lineup of guest stars, including George Carlin, James Woods, Pat Morita, Scott Brady, Richard Moll, Della Reese and Dinah Madoff. Packed with laughs and heart, Welcome Back, Kotter: The Complete Series will have you rolling with laughter – and maybe even a little nostalgia!

Bonus Features:
•”Only a Few Degrees from a Sweathog” Featurette
•Actors’ Original Screen Tests

Joe Corey is the writer and director of "Danger! Health Films" currently streaming on Night Flight and Amazon Prime. He's the author of "The Seven Secrets of Great Walmart People Greeters." This is the last how to get a job book you'll ever need. He was Associate Producer of the documentary "Moving Midway." He's worked as local crew on several reality shows including Candid Camera, American's Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ESPN's Gaters. He's been featured on The Today Show and CBS's 48 Hours. Dom DeLuise once said, "Joe, you look like an axe murderer." He was in charge of research and programming at the Moving Image Archive.