# Mrs. Kotter or Bailey? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 21, 2003, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239 "2003-03-21T23:54:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/21 "2003-03-24T00:34:35Z")
While I find Bailey slightly cuter, the idea of stealing Mr. Kotter’s wife from him adds a level of appeal. It’s a dead heat in my mind. (Yes, I understand that the above post shows me objectifying fictional characters as if they were so much chattel. No doubt I’ll come back as a Playboy bunny in my next life.) And to throw a wrench into the works, Barbara Feldon in her Agent 99 days would have blown these two out of the water. [sub]…waits for the thread to be moved to Great Debates…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![dr\_hermes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dfb087/32.png) [@dr\_hermes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dr_hermes)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/22 "2003-03-24T05:14:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Boyo Jim \* > \*\*[Some particularly nice Jan Smithers pics here.](http://www.hissandpop.com/celebrities/s/jansmithers/) \*\* ``` Thank you, my friend, for posting that. Check out picture 8, Jan as a teenager with bangs. It made my heart twinge. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/23 "2003-03-24T14:09:22Z")
Anybody know who played the woman who was Peewee Herman’s nanny in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (the scene where Peewee shows up at Eddy’s office, ends up getting pushed down the stairs)? Sure looked like Jan Smithers to me, but she’s not listed in IMDB. Then again, Kathleen Turner got last billing as the voice of Jessica Rabbit… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/24 "2003-03-24T14:41:00Z")
Mrs. Kotter was sexier, but I like the “cuteness” of Bailey. ---
**Author:** ![dr\_hermes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dfb087/32.png) [@dr\_hermes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dr_hermes)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/25 "2003-03-24T14:52:51Z")
And of course, Bailey was on one of the most enjoyable half hour comedy shows ever on TV (`As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!`), while to watch Mrs. Kotter, you would have to endure the very negative, braindead and sleazy Sweathogs of WELCOME BACK, KOTTER. ``` So you have two gems in different settings. Much like Bailey`s turtlenecks. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/26 "2003-03-24T14:53:58Z")
Despite increasing the quality of the competition by replacing Loni Anderson (gag) with Marcia Straussman (hmmm…), Jan Smithers is still the winner. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/27 "2003-03-24T17:16:43Z")
Bailey * * * Fagjunk Theology: Not just for sodomite propagandists anymore. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/28 "2003-03-24T20:11:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lawoot \* > \*\*When will you people learn? > > Bailey > > Bailey > > **Bailey** > > **Bailey!** > > **Bailey!** > > **Bailey!** > > **BAILEY!** \*\* Ah. Gotcha. Point taken. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/29 "2003-03-24T21:29:52Z")
I always thought these two were very simular. I mean you could have one and pretend she was the other couldn’t you? ---
**Author:** ![roadrunner70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@roadrunner70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roadrunner70)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/30 "2003-03-24T21:32:54Z")
Hands down, Bailey. Face down, it really doesn’t matter, does it? ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/31 "2003-03-24T23:24:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zebra \* > \*\*I always thought these two were very simular. I mean you could have one and pretend she was the other couldn’t you? \*\* Well, that was kinda the point made in the O.P., right? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/32 "2003-03-25T00:51:54Z")
One word: Threesome! ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/33 "2003-03-25T01:10:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dr hermes \* > \*\*`As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.’ \*\* My most memorable line was spoken by Johnny when, after the transmitter blew up, he said, “I’ll play Barry Manilow! I’ll play the Carpenters! Just don’t let the phone cops get me!” But, anyway…_Bailey!_ ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/34 "2003-03-25T02:09:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dr. Rieux \* > \*\*One word: > Threesome! \*\* Two Words: _Lesbian_ Threesome. Jan Smithers, Marcia Strassman and [Karen Allen (Warning: Cheesy Midi Alert).](http://www.acmewebpages.com/karen_a/ka_pmenu.html). ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/35 "2003-03-25T02:21:04Z")
Listen, I’m as in favor of lesbian threesomes as the next guy, especially watching them. 😃 But it seems so limiting! Surely, if I’m going to fantasize, it’s SO much more satisfying to imagine they’re bi, and insert ME into the scene. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/36 "2003-03-25T02:27:50Z")
[hijack]Speaking of Karen Allen, am I the only one whose favorite shot of her in _Raiders_ is the one where she’s standing on deck in that dress and it’s obvious she’s not wearing any panties?[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/37 "2003-03-29T03:14:56Z")
For you Marcia Strassman fans, As of today, she’s back on series TV, one of the residents of Perfection, Nevada in _Tremors: the Series_. The Sci-fi Channel. ---
**Author:** ![shep\_proudfoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@shep\_proudfoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shep_proudfoot)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/38 "2003-03-29T07:08:56Z")
How about the Oriental Bailey, Linda Park (Hoshi) on Enterprise? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239/39 "2003-03-29T14:31:21Z")
Mrs. Kotter is still pretty good, check her out on the _Tremors_ series on SciFi. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-kotter-or-bailey/163239.md?page=1)