Ep 5. The Election

Welcome Back, Kotter is a classic American sitcom that aired for four seasons from 1975 to 1979. The show follows the exploits of high school teacher Gabe Kotter, played by Gabe Kaplan, as he tries to connect with a group of unruly students known as the Sweathogs. The show is known for its humorous take on teenage antics and its iconic theme song, "Welcome Back, Kotter."

Season 1 Episode 5, titled "The Election," is an episode that focuses on the school's upcoming student council election. The Sweathogs decide to enter one of their own, the lovable goofball Arnold Horshack, played by Ron Palillo, as a candidate, but they soon discover that running for office isn't as easy as they thought.

The episode starts with Gabe Kotter walking into his classroom to find his students discussing the upcoming student council election. Arnold Horshack is excited about the election and tells Mr. Kotter that he plans to run for office. The other students scoff at the idea but Kotter tells them that anyone can run for student council.

Horshack begins campaigning and surprises everyone with his enthusiasm and his ability to connect with his fellow students. However, things take a turn for the worse when the school's resident tough guy, Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington, played by Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, tells Horshack that he has to drop out of the race.

As it turns out, Freddie is running for student council too and he doesn't want any competition. Horshack is devastated and the Sweathogs decide to come up with a plan to help him win the election.

The plan involves enlisting the help of the school's nerdy debate club and staging a debate between Horshack and Freddie. The debate is hilarious, with Horshack making nonsensical statements and Freddie resorting to physical violence. In the end, the debate ends in a tie and the students are left to decide who they want to vote for.

The episode ends with the students casting their votes and the tension in the air is palpable. In the end, our beloved Arnold Horshack wins the election, much to everyone's surprise and delight.

Overall, Season 1 Episode 5 of Welcome Back, Kotter is a classic example of the show's brand of humor. It features a lighthearted take on teenage politics and the antics of a group of misfits who always manage to come out on top. The episode is a standout in the series and is sure to delight fans of classic sitcoms.