The ‘Sweathogs’ of Brooklyn to be Honored at Taping on Sunday, April 10

Show to Air on Sunday, April 17 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

NEW YORK, March 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — TV Land announced today two-time Academy Award® nominee and Golden Globe winner John Travolta will reunite with the cast of “Welcome Back, Kotter” at the “TV Land Awards 2011.”  The network will salute the beloved sitcom – set in Brooklyn, NY – with the 35th Anniversary Award at this year’s show taping in New York City at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on Sunday, April 10 and airing on TV Land on Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Travolta will reunite with co-stars Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Ron Palillo, Ellen Travolta Bannon, Marcia Strassman, Robert Hegyes and Gabe Kaplan to accept the 35th Anniversary Award for the popular edgy sitcom which ran from 1975-1979.

“Welcome Back, Kotter” ran for five seasons and revolved around an inner-city high school teacher, Mr. Kotter (Gabe Kaplan) who returns to his alma mater to teach a new generation of under-achieving misfits nicknamed the “Sweathogs.”  As a former “Sweathog” himself, Kotter uses his own life experiences to try and get through to this misunderstood group led by wisecracking Vinnie Barbarino (Travolta). The talented cast is rounded out by Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as Freddie “Boom Boom” Washington, Ron Palillo as Arnold Horshack, Robert Hegyes as Juan Epstein and Marcia Strassman as Mr. Kotter’s wife, Julie.

Now in its ninth year, the “TV Land Awards 2011” pays tribute to classic and contemporary luminaries of television, music and movies.  The ninety-minute telecast will feature exhilarating musical performances and will reunite some of the most iconic celebrity TV casts. Previously announced honorees include Regis Philbin (Legend Award), “Family Ties” (Fan Favorite Award) and “The Cosby Show” (Impact Award).