"Classroom Marriage" marked the debut of new female Sweathog Vernee Watson, playing Washington's girlfriend Vernajean Williams, while also proving a sad departure for Debralee Scott as Hotsy Totsy (returning for a one time only third season episode, "The Return of Hotsy Totsy"). Freddie and Vernajean are determined to get married, with the other Sweathogs torn between stopping it and allowing it to go on. With her family moving to Staten Island, Washington decided to pop the question despite her father's disapproving attitude. Kotter decides to have the pair act out being married in the classroom, where Vernajean learns the real reason why Freddie asked her to marry him. Vernee Watson would be a mainstay the rest of the season, but would disappear soon after the start of the second. We see Epstein reference Harpo Marx for the first time, Gabe answering as Groucho again.