I also remember this TV show but not in a good way of entertainment. It was much like MASH, particularly where the students are complete brainless goof-offs and the teacher wasn't a good good role-model for being a bit carefree. His comedic jokes near the end of every episode wasn't funny at all, even though he always had a supportive female nearby to laugh. I think it was to save Gabe, the embarrassment, from laughing at his own poorly contrived jokes. Just like MASH anyone can easily play as a goof-off or an easy going loose person, without a script or well developed character. Basically this show was a total waste of material and time it was created. Makes me think it was a bunch of things slapped together and thrown out there for viewers to see. Gabe seem like one of those stage jestor along with his dancing clowns that makes a person finally want to toss tomatoes at them and say, with expectation for something more "Bring on the babes!" The show literally makes you yawn a lot. I didn't like nor appreciated actor John Travolta for a long time because of it. The title words of 'Welcome Back Kotter' is just another that boasts itself as being great or something big, when it falls terrible short of such.