The show stars comedian Gabe Kaplan as the title character Gabe Kotter, a wise-cracking teacher who returns to his high school alma mater—the fictional James Buchanan High in Brooklyn, New York—to teach an often unruly group of remedial wiseguys known as the "Sweathogs" (the nickname reflecting the fact that the remedial classes were held on the very top floor of the high school).
The show centers around comedian Gabe Kaplan, who portrays Gabe Kotter, a witty teacher returning to his old high school in Brooklyn, New York. He teaches a group of unruly students known as the "Sweathogs" in remedial classes held on the top floor of the school.