TVSquad

Some say the most important job in the world is that of a teacher. And, really, we've all been placed under the tutelage of someone who was literally paid to provide education. But yet, so often, kids find themselves inspired by - and often in worship of - these individuals, young and old alike, who can play an integral role in shaping one's childhood and, some might argue, the rest of their lives.

Of course, that isn't always the case. Teachers can also be awful monsters whom we never forget for their ability to patronize, degrade, or humiliate us, often leaving one wondering if the man or woman in question took the job merely to torture students. This, naturally, can lead a kid to fantasize about how cool it would be to fall under the instruction of one of the following actors who, despite likely not possessing any type of teaching certification in real life, would probably be a blast to spend 40-or-so minutes on a daily basis.

While channel-surfing on my little office TV last week around 1 a.m., looking for something to keep me company, I stumbled across an episode of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (star Richard Basehart, pictured), followed by Combat!.

"What is this channel that plays all these old shows I remember as a kid?" I asked the TV Gods.

"It's AmericanLife," they replied. "They feature classic family shows aimed at Baby Boomers -- shows like Remington Steele, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Lost in Space, and Welcome Back, Kotter."

Ok, the TV Gods didn't really say that. I looked it up on the AmericanLife Web site, not to be confused with Showtime's This American Life, the fab documentary series hosted by Ira Glass.

People who say "hey, whatever happened to Gabe Kaplan?" obviously don't watch poker on television. He's been a player and commentator on the tour for quite some time now. He doesn't act, but he is getting back into stand-up comedy.

He's also a writer. He has a new book out, Kotter's Back: E-mails From A Faded Celebrity To A Bewildered World. It's a series of humorous e-mails to various people about supposedly great ideas that Kaplan has to get back into the public eye. Stuff like writing a memoir about his sex life or starting a gambling camp for kids.

Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.

• Deadwood - Season 3
• Diagnosis Murder - Season 2
• Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries - Season 2
• Jesse Stone: Night Passage and Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise
• Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List - Season 1
• Masters of Horror - The Screwfly Solution
• The Office - Season 1 and Season 2 set
• The Practice - Vol. 1
• The Rat Patrol - Season 2
• Red Shoe Diaries - Season 1 Limited Edition
• Walker, Texas Ranger - Season 3
• Welcome Back, Kotter - Season 1
• What's Happening Now - Season 1

Snicker if you will at the prospect of a South Central version of Welcome Back, Kotter with Ice Cube in the lead. But one very important person endorses the idea: none other than the original Kotter himself, Gabe Kaplan.

In an interview with Access Hollywood, Kaplan said that Cube is a great choice for the role. "He has shown what kind of crossover appeal he has," he told the program.

Of course, Kaplan probably couldn't care less about a Kotter remake, since he's been busy playing professional poker for the last couple of decades. But he could not have said a word, or even refused to talk about it. So Cube and company should be happy with Kaplan's endorsement.

Although, to be honest, I don't even think Ice Cube will ever have a better 'fro than Gabe did. Gabe wins the hair war, hands down.

Yesterday, Keith McDuffee made a great post about his preview of AOL's new online television goldmine, In2TV. The site has gone live to the public today, with plenty of your old favorites ready for streaming. It's completely free (ad-supported) and these shows aren't going to watch themselves, so what are you waiting for? Now, if you will excuse me, I need to start my Freakazoid marathon.

Welcome Back, Kotter on the big screen? Why? It makes me wonder whether they'll move to the 80s soon with a movie version of Punky Brewster and Mr. Belvedere one of these days. Or Growing Pains, Family Ties, and Hill Street Blues.

Anyway. Ice Cube has signed on to play the lead role in the movie, as well as produce it. He'll be the teacher who returns to his old, inner-city school to help rough kids get an education. I wonder if John Travolta will do a cameo?