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Welcome Back, Kotter: Season 04 (1978)

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The fourth and final season of Welcome Back Kotter opens as capricious remedial-class teacher Gabe Kotter (Gabriel Kaplan) is promoted to vice principal of Buchanan High School, replacing his long-time nemesis Mr. Woodman (John Sylvester White)--who in turn has moved up the food chain to full principal. Meanwhile, Kotter's students--aka the "sweathogs"--have all gotten off-campus jobs, following the example of self-appointed class leader Vinnie Barbarino (John Travolta), who has left school to work as a hospital orderly. This move was made primarily to accommodate the ever-increasing motion picture commitments of John Travolta, who makes only a handful of appearances this season. As a potential replacement for the swaggering Vinnie, Stephen Shortridge joins the cast as Southerner Beau De Labarre, a charming prankster with above-average intelligence who has landed in the remedial program because of his propensity for wreaking havoc--which he has done with considerable success in the seven previous schools from which he has been expelled. Another noteworthy cast addition is Irene Arranga, as lonely, insecure student Mary Johnson, who makes her first appearance in "Once Upon a Ledge" as a would-be suicide who is brought back to her sense by--of all people--Mr. Kotter's nerdiest student, Arnold Horshack (Ron Palillo). By series' end, Arnold and Mary will have become husband and wife, much to the amazement of Horshack's "cooler" classmates Epstein (Robert Hegyes) and Washington (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi