Hello everyone, :wave:
I'm a long time reader who felt like jumping in and throwing out a 'what if' question. Knowing that Jack Albertson left us only a few years after Freddie do you think CATM could have survived if it was Jack who died first? Personally as much as I love Freddie I don't think that the show could have made it without their chemistry.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts

Hello there :wave:
Could the show have survived if 'The Man' had left first?
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Well, No, I think I would have to agree with you. The show was never the same without Freddie and it would have been just as awkward without Jack, if not more so. I also feel like Freddie wouldn't have wanted to continue the show had Jack passed away first. He probably would have went on to the next project.

I agree. I think the show wouldn't have been the same if Jack Albertson passed away before Freddie did. There chemistry was one of a kind. I believe Freddie would wanted to find a way to find the show respectfully in Jack's honor and go on to other projects

I would have to agree with Dani and Suz. I can't picture Freddie even wanting to go on alone. He would have been like Jack...who had to carry on completely heartbroken..but probably under contract. I have never watched the 4th season of CATM because without Freddie the show was never the same...but I have heard that the viewers could tell that Jack's heart just wasn't in it anymore. The chemistry was gone...and Jack had lost someone that was as close to him as a son...it had to be tough. So, I agree that as talented as Freddie was..he would have probably went on to make movies or pursue a singing career or something in the music field he loved so much and of course continued on with his stand up routine or a completely different show. BTW thanks for asking such a great question...welcome to the boards...we love hearing from new people...join us anytime.

Hello everyone, :wave:
I'm a long time reader who felt like jumping in and throwing out a 'what if' question. Knowing that Jack Albertson left us only a few years after Freddie do you think CATM could have survived if it was Jack who died first? Personally as much as I love Freddie I don't think that the show could have made it without their chemistry.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts
Not CHICO & THE MAN. But Freddie would have been perfect as the host of a
comedy-variety show, like Flip Wilson had just finished doing (1970-1974).

Yes I think he could have carried it without Jack because Jack's character was boring. He was the only CRANKY TV Character who wasn't funny

Welcome! This is a fun place to hang out & oogle over Freddie. I think he woyuld've bee devastate if Jack had passes & wouldn't not have wanted to carry on the show. He would've been great with his own sitcom however...

Yes I think he could have carried it without Jack because Jack's character was boring. He was the only CRANKY TV Character who wasn't funny

I think Freddie could not have carried the show without Jack Albertson. Their chemistry and timing together was great. Jack Albertson was underrated as an actor. He was a great actor and was quite good in the role of Ed Brown. The show was running out of steam fast before Freddie passed away. Jack was a good straight man for Freddie. Here is an example of a show that could not carry on without its star. Petticoat Junction after Bea Benaderet passed away. Edgar Buchanan could not carry the show without her because Kate Bradley was a good straight man to Uncle Joe's get rich schemes antic and his laziness. Edgar was a good comic actor but the character of Uncle Joe was a supporting player not a lead character.

I think Freddie had enough love and respect for Jack to tell the networks that they should not try to replace him.

I have always held the belief that Freddie would have shined in late night, if not taking Johnny's place on the Tonight Show (which Freddie's friend Jay got) then on his own show. I believe it would have been a combination of not only interviews, but some skit comedy, sorta what Johnny used to do more of when he was younger on the Tonight Show. The few times Freddie filled in for Johnny as guest host showed a lot of promise for Freddie in this arena.

Freddie also made no bones about wanting to do more movies.... he wasn't happy with the Million Dollar Rip off and knew he could find better scripts.... but I think the show might have been keeping that from happening fast enough for Freddie. We all know how hard it is for TV actors to break free of their roles on their shows. And if we all know one thing about Freddie, he sure wanted everything in his life fast! LOL I sometimes wonder if he wasn't more suited for this current generation in that regards than his own... :p

I thought of the question after watching season 3. It seems that Freddie scenes with Della weren't as much fun as his scenes with Jack. Nothing against Della but the best episodes were when it was just Jack, Freddie, and Scatman. I was too young to see him on late night but I could see him doing a successful morning show right now.

I think Freddie could not have carried the show without Jack Albertson. Their chemistry and timing together was great. Jack Albertson was underrated as an actor. He was a great actor and was quite good in the role of Ed Brown. The show was running out of steam fast before Freddie passed away. Jack was a good straight man for Freddie. Here is an example of a show that could not carry on without its star. Petticoat Junction after Bea Benaderet passed away. Edgar Buchanan could not carry the show without her because Kate Bradley was a good straight man to Uncle Joe's get rich schemes antic and his laziness. Edgar was a good comic actor but the character of Uncle Joe was a supporting player not a lead character.


ED was unlikable because most straight men are PLEASANT. If you are Grouchy you are supposed to be funny and Ed was not funny ike the Grouchy TV characters below

Archie Bunker
George Jefferson
Stanley Roper

ED was unlikable because most straight men are PLEASANT. If you are Grouchy you are supposed to be funny and Ed was not funny ike the Grouchy TV characters below

Archie Bunker
George Jefferson
Stanley Roper

I would have to agree with that statement.

I loved Jack Albertson and I thought he was very funny. And then pair him with Freddie Prinze...it's a win win all the way around.

i don't think it would have gone on if Jack had passed first because the two just worked so well together, and i really believe that they were more like a family they were so close