fall of 1977 after the Tragic loss of Freddie Prinze. I just don;t see how someone who came along during that time could look forward to a new season after the 76-77 season.


What was the last episode Chico appeared in?

I thinik one of the last ones was CHICO's PADRE where his father came back.

Found this on the episode guide on this site:

58. Chico's Padre (02/04/77)

Chico's long-lost rich father, Gilberto, returns to give him a better life.

Guest star: Cesar Romero as Gilberto Rodriguez

D: Jack Donohue



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59. Ready When You Are, CB (12/24/76)

Ed spends New Year's Eve on the CB with a CBer named Kissy Face.



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60. Black Tie Blues (02/25/77)

Ed, Chico and Louie all find ways out of taking Della to a formal dance.

Guest star: Rosey Grier as Himself, Eddie Quillan as hobo

W: John Fenton Murray
D: Jack Donohue



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61. Matchmaker, Matchmaker (02/18/77)

When Ed finds out that his meeting with his new girlfriend was set up by Della, he breaks off the relationship.

Guest stars: Jeff Donnell as Peggy Randall, Gary Dontzig as Lawrence Randall

W: Si Rose
D: Jack Donohue



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62. Ed Talks to God (03/04/77)

Chico tries to change Ed's mind about not attending his own birthday party by having Ed's old friend impersonate God.

Guest star: Edward Andrews as Blinky Foster

W: Michael Morris
D: Jack Donohue Note: Freddie Prinze's last episode.


http://www.sitcomsonline.com/chicoandthemanepisodeguide.html

I have to agree with you there TVShow Analyzer , the last few shows that finished out the season were hard enough because everywhere you looked, something reminded you of Chico/Freddie. Then the last season, they took his apartment out, but you still almost expected to see him come bouncing through the garage like he always had. I really felt bad for Jack Albertson and crew. It must have been so hard for them to even back on set much less continue on the show without Freddie.

Originally posted by Danisel331
I have to agree with you there TVShow Analyzer , the last few shows that finished out the season were hard enough because everywhere you looked, something reminded you of Chico/Freddie. Then the last season, they took his apartment out, but you still almost expected to see him come bouncing through the garage like he always had. I really felt bad for Jack Albertson and crew. It must have been so hard for them to even back on set much less continue on the show without Freddie.


I just don't see how people could have watched the remaining 3-4 eps of the 3rd season during that time.

Well ... speaking from personal experience, it was hard as hell. An episode called "Champs, Not Chumps" appeared on Friday, January 28, the night Freddie was in the hospital dying; I remember thinking that I had taken him for granted, that I'd never truly realized how much he meant to me. And "Chico's Padre" appeared a week later, when Freddie was gone ... in that episode, he showed true dramatic talent, flashes of what brilliance might have been if he'd only lived.

I honestly don't remember watching the other remaining episodes back then; maybe I couldn't bring myself to watch.

One word I can use to describe the whole experience: heartbreak.

Originally posted by victorianscribe
Well ... speaking from personal experience, it was hard as hell. An episode called "Champs, Not Chumps" appeared on Friday, January 28, the night Freddie was in the hospital dying; I remember thinking that I had taken him for granted, that I'd never truly realized how much he meant to me. And "Chico's Padre" appeared a week later, when Freddie was gone ... in that episode, he showed true dramatic talent, flashes of what brilliance might have been if he'd only lived.

I honestly don't remember watching the other remaining episodes back then; maybe I couldn't bring myself to watch.

One word I can use to describe the whole experience: heartbreak.



Were you expecting the show to return in the fall of 1977 after season 3 ended?

I honestly didn't care if it returned in the Fall of 1977. I didn't think it would return; I was surprised that they showed the remainder of Freddie's episodes. And thought bringing the show back after Freddie's death was absolutely wrong; it was unbearable for me to watch everyone prancing around that garage set without Freddie/Chico there.

The only episode from that season that I remember watching, and I think it was in early 1978, was the two-parter where Freddie/Chico's death was finally addressed -- I can't even recall the name of the episode. I couldn't get through the whole thing, because I thought it was so unbearably sad, and you know what? I tried watching it on tape a few months ago, and I still couldn't get through it.

Everyone else on that show was incredibly talented, but for me (and for lots of others, I imagine) the appeal of "Chico" was Freddie Prinze. He couldn't be replaced. Twenty-seven years after his loss, no one else quite like him has ever come along.

The last episode I saw was Chico's Padre. I was so hurt when he was gone that I couldn't watch the show after that episode.

I was so enamored with Freddie that I didn't see him deteriorating in the end. The gossip magazines at the time spoke about it though.

I think it was a tribute to him that the show aired the episodes he had filmed before his death. I do think they (the producers) could have handled the show better after that. If they were committed to continuing the show, and maybe they had contractual and financial obligations to do so, they could have transitioned it better. Other sitcoms have lost major stars and have survived because the producers knew how to pay tribute to the fallen star without ignoring the fact of their tragedy all together. Unfortunately, I think that is what happened in Freddie's case. Maybe it was because of how he died, but I still think they could have found a better way then the one they did. The two parter in season 4 that tried to explain Chico's death was just too little too late IMHO. I didn't watch much of seasons three or four because I was in college without a TV at the time, but when I did see them in re runs later... it was too painful to watch the ones after Freddie..... I didn't see too many of them. A few of them, like the one where Ed and Della got drunk at a Thanksgiving party at the garage, were really good shows, and if the producers had given more thought on how to make the show workable without Freddie, it might have worked. Except for the occasional gem, the last season was pretty much a dud.


** BTW *** sorry have been kinda scarce. School has started and I have been pretty busy lately. I miss you guys!

I still cry..... There has never been and never will be another "Freddie Prinze".

The fact that Jack could actually perform is a true testament to his dedication to his art....and the fact that I am sure he felt that Freddie would have wanted him to do so...or he would not have done it.

I thought bringing in Raul and calling him CHICO was very tasteless, but thats just IMHO....

I remember watching the episode where Jack is telling Raul in the church after finding him there because he ran away that CHICO is not coming back because he died. I cant even type this w/o crying. THe pain in Jacks face was SO real....you knew that was no act. I'd NEVER watch that episode again ......ever.


YES... I WAS surprised they brought the show back.

I was too and i didn't like the way they handled it, if they had shown the respect and written a decent storyline like the producres and writers did for John ritter on 8 simple rules the show may have. i stress MAY have faired better giving Rual a better chance to show his talent.
and i agree with the tastelessness of calling the kid chico...i have to admit i am surprised that Jack didn't at least insist that that be changed. does anyone have any comment about that?

That show everyone is referring to was called Raul Runs Away. It was one of the hardest shows to watched and I admit I cried through it the first time I watched it. Scatman and Jack both looked like they were not acting when they were talking about "Chico". :( Of course, the reminders of him and then Ed's dream....it was a lot for a person to take in at one time.

Personally, I thought that maybe by having Raul somehow related to Chico or something would have been a better way to bring him into the show. It would have also helped if Freddie's death could have been addressed at the opening of the season instead of the middle of it. The whole incident really wasn't handled very well, I think, for the simple fact, no one was able to grieve Freddie's death on the show. One of the things that really helped 8 simple rules was they went through the motions of losing John Ritter, they gave the audience a chance to grieve right alongside the characters of the show. Chico was never given that chance.:(

Originally posted by Danisel331
That show everyone is referring to was called Raul Runs Away. It was one of the hardest shows to watched and I admit I cried through it the first time I watched it. Scatman and Jack both looked like they were not acting when they were talking about "Chico". :( Of course, the reminders of him and then Ed's dream....it was a lot for a person to take in at one time.

Personally, I thought that maybe by having Raul somehow related to Chico or something would have been a better way to bring him into the show. It would have also helped if Freddie's death could have been addressed at the opening of the season instead of the middle of it. The whole incident really wasn't handled very well, I think, for the simple fact, no one was able to grieve Freddie's death on the show. One of the things that really helped 8 simple rules was they went through the motions of losing John Ritter, they gave the audience a chance to grieve right alongside the characters of the show. Chico was never given that chance.:(



I agree. It would have made sense to air the Two Part Raul Runs Away episode at the beginning of season 4.