MovieChat Forums > Welcome Back, Kotter (1975) Discussion > They were really just playing the Marx B...

They were really just playing the Marx Brothers


Kotter = Groucho
Epstein = Chico
Horschack = Harpo

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LOL, never thought of that. Not too far off.

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Kotter was always an obvious Groucho, I think he even does the cigar thing.

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Yes, it's why I hated the show. Not because I dislike the Marx Brothers (love them, in fact). It's because of how obvious the show was being about it. It's so cringe-inducing to me for that every reason. It felt like Gabe Kaplan was so desperate to imitate the Marx Brothers that he made Welcome Back Kotter into a tribute show without caring that he was blowing its entire premise. And he did it with such a level of self-congratulation, too, like he was so proud of himself for doing something so clever. But no, Gabe, we got it the first time.

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It was NO secret that Kaplan was a devotee of the Marx Brothers, especially Groucho. That is why he produced and starred in a critically acclaimed two man stage play about Groucho's life. The only other actor in the play was the actor (whose name escapes me at the moment) who played Chico. I saw the play on television, and Kaplan nailed Groucho in mannerisms if not exactly in speech.

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