TV Land Awards Reunite “Cosby,” “Kotter”

Last night, the 2011 TV Land Awards brought back the classics.

Iconic sitcoms "Welcome Back, Kotter" and "The Cosby Show" were presented with honorary awards by the Viacom-owned network during its ninth annual awards show Sunday night, and the occasion led to some surprising reunions.

John Travolta joined "Kotter" cast mates Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington), Gabe Kaplan (Gabe Kotter), Robert Hegyes (Juan Epstein), and Marcia Strassman (Julie Kotter) onstage to accept the 35th Anniversary award for the show that never received any accolades during its run but did spawn a massive fan following and countless catchphrases.

"It just worked because everybody at every school -- not only in America and Canada, but all over the world -- there was a Horshack, and Epstein, a Washington, and a Barbarino," said Kaplan.

Travolta added: "After 35 years, I wondered what Barbarino would be doing, and he's standing here tonight very proud to be here." 

TV Land kept the nostalgia in high gear by reuniting the cast of "The Cosby Show" - introduced onstage by music legend Stevie Wonder - to accept the Impact Award.

Show creator Bill Cosby was joined onstage by TV wife Phylicia Rashad, and TV children Tempestt Bledsoe, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Keisha Knight Pulliam, Sabrina Le Beauf, and Raven Symone.

However, only Cosby spoke during the acceptance speech.

The comedian - who recently traded barbs with possible presidential candidate Donald Trump - joked about watching his "kids" at the event.

"I am very, very upset because I am the father of these children, and they were sittin’ at the table drinking. They had champagne, Steven. My children were drinking, Stevie. I saw the baby, Rudy, put the bottle up to her mouth."

When Wonder suggested Cosby just pretend not to see it happening, the quick witted Cosby shot back with "[That's] easy for you to say." 

The event also reunited the casts of "Family Ties" and "The Facts of Life" for special honors. 

Selected Reading: PopEater, TV Squad, Los Angeles Times

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