I'm very new to the series because I never saw it when it originally aired and never watched it in syndication. I recently purchased it online and have fallen in love with the series. Ed and Chico were a great team until his unfortunate passing during the 3rd season. I liked Louie and Della but the heart of the series was the relationship between Ed and Chico.

I like the addition of Raul but I feel like they tried too hard to make him like the original Chico. He was essentially the same person but a lot younger in my opinion. The producers clearly struggled with the absence of Freddie Prinze because they tried to make up for it by giving Louie top billing, adding Charo to the cast and a bunch of other things to make up for the absence of Freddie Prinze. Overall the last season was good but I'm glad they ended it after season 4.

My question is about the Raul Runs Away episode. I know it originally aired in an hourlong block but was it two episodes back to back or did the episode run as an hour.

The only reason I ask it because the tone of both parts is very different. The first part was clearly filmed in front of a studio audience and the second part looked like it was filmed on location.

The first part ends with "Next time on Chico and the Man" and the second part begins with "Last time on Chico in the Man". Were those added in for syndication or was that how the episodes aired originally?

I'm glad the episode gave closure to the fate of Chico in the series but I feel like it should have been addressed earlier on. It actually served its purpose though because we found out that Ed was still grieving the loss of Chico when the van made an unexpected appearence in his garage.

I saw it first run, and I want to say it was an hour-long “very special episode,” but every source I’ve seen suggests that it was originally a two-parter.

I'm very new to the series because I never saw it when it originally aired and never watched it in syndication. I recently purchased it online and have fallen in love with the series. Ed and Chico were a great team until his unfortunate passing during the 3rd season. I liked Louie and Della but the heart of the series was the relationship between Ed and Chico.

I like the addition of Raul but I feel like they tried too hard to make him like the original Chico. He was essentially the same person but a lot younger in my opinion. The producers clearly struggled with the absence of Freddie Prinze because they tried to make up for it by giving Louie top billing, adding Charo to the cast and a bunch of other things to make up for the absence of Freddie Prinze. Overall the last season was good but I'm glad they ended it after season 4.

My question is about the Raul Runs Away episode. I know it originally aired in an hourlong block but was it two episodes back to back or did the episode run as an hour.

The only reason I ask it because the tone of both parts is very different. The first part was clearly filmed in front of a studio audience and the second part looked like it was filmed on location.

The first part ends with "Next time on Chico and the Man" and the second part begins with "Last time on Chico in the Man". Were those added in for syndication or was that how the episodes aired originally?

I'm glad the episode gave closure to the fate of Chico in the series but I feel like it should have been addressed earlier on. It actually served its purpose though because we found out that Ed was still grieving the loss of Chico when the van made an unexpected appearence in his garage.


where did you purchase it online?

I know this isn’t the topic of the thread, but since we’re talking about the Raul season, I figured I’d say this. First of all, I, too, recently purchased the series on DVD but it’s a bootleg which was recorded off of TV. So not the best quality. I still want an official release but I was tired of not having this show in my life.

Anyways, the way I picture it is that the first episode without Chico, when he’s mentioned at being in Mexico, I just assumed he went there either on a trip to see his dad, or he got a job there. I’m leaning more towards the former. Therefore, the first few episodes sans-Chico, he was alive and well in Mexico. However, tragedy struck, and he died. How, I don’t know, and thanks to Raul, I’ll never know! I imagine when Ed and Louie return from the fishing trip that ended up bringing Raul to the garage, they had actually gone to Mexico for Chico’s funeral. And while they were there, decided to go fishing, maybe to ease the pain some or something. So, months later, when Mando gives Raul the van and Louie sees it, right away you can see how heartbroken he is and also scared for how Ed will react. Because they had all decided not to mention Chico to Ed, knowing it’s a sore subject with him and would upset him. And indeed it did.

Ed should have talked to Chico like he did Margaret. “Well Margaret, Chico, what do you think?”

where did you purchase it online?

I ordered my set from a site called Rewatch Classic TV.

https://www.rewatchclassictv.com/collections/tv-series/products/chico-and-the-man-the-complete-series

I know this isn’t the topic of the thread, but since we’re talking about the Raul season, I figured I’d say this. First of all, I, too, recently purchased the series on DVD but it’s a bootleg which was recorded off of TV. So not the best quality. I still want an official release but I was tired of not having this show in my life.

Anyways, the way I picture it is that the first episode without Chico, when he’s mentioned at being in Mexico, I just assumed he went there either on a trip to see his dad, or he got a job there. I’m leaning more towards the former. Therefore, the first few episodes sans-Chico, he was alive and well in Mexico. However, tragedy struck, and he died. How, I don’t know, and thanks to Raul, I’ll never know! I imagine when Ed and Louie return from the fishing trip that ended up bringing Raul to the garage, they had actually gone to Mexico for Chico’s funeral. And while they were there, decided to go fishing, maybe to ease the pain some or something. So, months later, when Mando gives Raul the van and Louie sees it, right away you can see how heartbroken he is and also scared for how Ed will react. Because they had all decided not to mention Chico to Ed, knowing it’s a sore subject with him and would upset him. And indeed it did.

Ed should have talked to Chico like he did Margaret. “Well Margaret, Chico, what do you think?”

If you don't mind saying, what's the name of the website where you purchased it from?

If you don't mind saying, what's the name of the website where you purchased it from?

We made our posts at the same time. I gave the name "Rewatch Classic TV" at the same time you asked for it, lol.

We made our posts at the same time. I gave the name "Rewatch Classic TV" at the same time you asked for it, lol.

Thanks! I may have to look into it one of these days. At $25 it's a very reasonable price.

Thanks! I may have to look into it one of these days. At $25 it's a very reasonable price.

I had gotten to the point where I was tired of not having this show in my life. It was a favorite of mine when TV Land aired it back in 2001. If you look at earlier posts in this board, you'll see I was quite active around 2001 to maybe '03. I also did the same for My Three Sons. The set of that show includes recordings from TV Land, KONG TV, and Odyssey. I still want official versions of both shows but at least it's a way to watch these episodes that I haven't seen in many years.

I had gotten to the point where I was tired of not having this show in my life. It was a favorite of mine when TV Land aired it back in 2001. If you look at earlier posts in this board, you'll see I was quite active around 2001 to maybe '03. I also did the same for My Three Sons. The set of that show includes recordings from TV Land, KONG TV, and Odyssey. I still want official versions of both shows but at least it's a way to watch these episodes that I haven't seen in many years.

I've never seen an episode of Chico and the Man but have wanted to since I've heard about it. I'm thinking about getting the 6-episode sampler disc and making my decision from there. As for My Three Sons, I'm lucky that I both have MeTV and the capability to record My Three Sons--all seasons, even in edited form. Do you know whether your bootleg set for My Three Sons is edited or unedited?

I've never seen an episode of Chico and the Man but have wanted to since I've heard about it. I'm thinking about getting the 6-episode sampler disc and making my decision from there. As for My Three Sons, I'm lucky that I both have MeTV and the capability to record My Three Sons--all seasons, even in edited form. Do you know whether your bootleg set for My Three Sons is edited or unedited?

Yes, the 6-episode sampler is good. It's got both Freddie Prinze's first episode (Pilot) and his last (Ed Talks to God), as well as a few classics in between.

As for My Three Sons, I'm assuming it's all edited, seeing as it's from TV recordings. However, for the episode Evening with a Star, which the official DVD release has removed the scene of Bub singing "Carolina in the Morning," my bootleg has it. It's from a TV Land airing.

I ask it because the tone of both parts is very different. The first part was clearly filmed in front of a studio audience and the second part looked like it was filmed on location.

The second part was definitely filmed on location; at the end, the announcer said “While in Mexico, the cast and crew of ‘Chico And The Man’ flew on Aeromexico, the airline of Mexico.”