Former Sweathog Kotter's Bobby Hegyes March 26, 2010

Up your nose with a garden hose!

The Raconteur Presents
Former Sweathog ROBERT HEGYES
Discussing Welcome Back Kotter & Screening THE VENICE WALK

8 PM, Fri. March 26

Since my very first associations with Metuchen I've heard marveled murmurs about three celebrities with erstwhile Metuchen addresses: John Ciardi, a poet/translator so popular he was on Johnny Carson twice; David Copperfield, a magician famous for epic stunts like disappearing the Statue of Liberty and levitating over the Grand Canyon; and Bobby Hegyes, best known for his portrayal of Juan Epstein in the 1970s television series Welcome Back, Kotter. Ciardi's long deceased. Copperfield lives on a secluded Musha Cay island. But Hegyes, after a thirty-five year absence, has come home.

Following his five year run on Kotter, Hegyes starred as series regular "Manny Esposito" in the Emmy Award-winning drama, Cagney & Lacey, and has since appeared in more than 30 television shows, including Saturday Night Live with Quentin Tarantino (who, on the set of Pulp Fiction, reportedly sat on the floor and played the Kotter board game with Travolta).

Hegyes' latest project, a television pilot titled The Venice Walk, follows the trials and tribulations of a retired NYPD cop named Paco (Hegyes) who becomes a juv prob officer on the left coast. It reunites Cagney & Lacey co-stars Hegyes and Kove (the surly sensei in Karate Kid) and Welcome Back, Kotter co-star Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (Freddie "Boom-Boom" Washington).

In addition to introducing/screening the pilot, Hegyes will talk about the Kotter years, his enduring friendship with John Travolta, and playing Red Rover with Bon Jovi (they're cousins). Plus, we'll exhibit assorted Kotter memorabilia, including a foot tall Epstein action figure and Hegyes' pride and joy, his Mad Magazine cover.

FREE.

The Raconteur
431 Main Street
Metuchen, NJ
www.raconteurbooks.com