I understand why Chico and the Man is no longer in syndication because i saw a episode of Chico and the Man on TV Land last weekend and it was HORRIBLE. THat show really was allowed to be aired? the show debuted in 1974 and i was born in 1975, so if there is anybody who was an adult while chico and the man was on the air, feel free to tell me why if i'm wrong.

Yes, that particular episode WAS horrible! Pretty much the entire last season (from which that show was taken) was, because it was taped after the death of one of the stars, Freddie Prinze. His talent and the chemistry between him and Jack Albertson were the driving forces behind "Chico and the Man", and the decision to continue the series after his tragic and untimely death was most likely a purely financial one by the producers. If you ever get a chance to see any episodes in which Freddie was present, you would see what I mean. The entire series should not be judged on any episode from the time after Freddie died.

I agree that the show went down hill after Freddies death. To keep on airing the show after Freddies death was outragous! Even though Jack Albertson played a major role on the series. The show wasn't the same without the chemistry of Freddie and Jack together.

Originally posted by hue_mee
I agree that the show went down hill after Freddies death. To keep on airing the show after Freddies death was outragous! Even though Jack Albertson played a major role on the series. The show wasn't the same without the chemistry of Freddie and Jack together.

I think some day i will need to see some shows with freddie prinze rather than without freddie. Maybe then i will feel differently

Please don't base you opinion on just that one episode Solomon.
Like the other gals said, the chemestry between Freddie Prinze and Jack Albertson was the thing that made that show so special. Without Freddie Prinze, there was something definitely lacking. I was almost embarrassed to watch that episode last week because it was nothing like the previous shows. I hope someday you will be able to see what a wonderful program Chico and the Man was before Freddie's untimely death. He was truly an unforgetable comedian/actor. Della Reese and Scatman Crothers were also great actors but they couldn't bring the show up to the same standards as it was when Freddie Prinze was on it.

Originally posted by catcopy18
Please don't base you opinion on just that one episode Solomon.
Like the other gals said, the chemestry between Freddie Prinze and Jack Albertson was the thing that made that show so special. Without Freddie Prinze, there was something definitely lacking. I was almost embarrassed to watch that episode last week because it was nothing like the previous shows. I hope someday you will be able to see what a wonderful program Chico and the Man was before Freddie's untimely death. He was truly an unforgetable comedian/actor. Della Reese and Scatman Crothers were also great actors but they couldn't bring the show up to the same standards as it was when Freddie Prinze was on it.

Yes you are right-i can based the whole show on that one episode so i guess i will have to on the look out for freddie prinze episodes when Chico and the Man is aired again.

CATM was still a good show after Freddie died but it wasn't the same & not as good as when he was alive. Trust me, you will like the Freddie episodes better & love those episodes of the show. Hope TVLAND will show them again...

After Freddie passed,the show lost its joy and happiness. I never saw a show go flat like CATM did after Freddie died.:(

Originally posted by Anna
After Freddie passed,the show lost its joy and happiness. I never saw a show go flat like CATM did after Freddie died.:(

I think i have to see some episodes of CATH when freddie is there. But in all my 27 years, there has never been a showing of CATM reruns.-I also wondered why. If there was-then i could compare CATM during the Freddie era and Post Freddie

Solomon,
I don't know if you're interested or not but there are 12 with Freddie episodes of CATm available on ebay right now for 5.00.
if you go to ebay and type in chico and the man you will find it.
Just in casde you are interested because trust me, after you see the Freddie episodes you will be a regular on this board

I agree that alot of the episodes after Freddie died were really bad.. and I think it's because the other actors and even the writers and other crew felt a tremendous void and sadness without Freddie, and it carried over to the show.

The show may have gone on, but nobody's heart was really in it anymore!

There is a universe of difference in the Freddie episodes and the shows without Freddie, in my opinion! Especially the first 2 seasons!

Originally posted by Karen64
I agree that alot of the episodes after Freddie died were really bad.. and I think it's because the other actors and even the writers and other crew felt a tremendous void and sadness without Freddie, and it carried over to the show.

The show may have gone on, but nobody's heart was really in it anymore!

There is a universe of difference in the Freddie episodes and the shows without Freddie, in my opinion! Especially the first 2 seasons!

I will have see CATM with Freddie if TV LAND decides to show it-but no station here in philly never showed reruns of the show that'swhyi just found out about CATM until the year 2000

I couldn't agree with all of you more. It was the chemisty and love between Jack and Freddie Prinze that made the show so special. You could see it everytime they put thier arms around each other or Jack patted Freddie on the top of the head. The jokes between them were incredibly funny. Freddie had an
undeniable charm that just stole your heart immediately. Even though he was only in his early twenties, he had the talent and professionalism of someone twice his age.

Sorry you missed out on such a wonderful show such as CATM.
But that was what it was "CHICO" and the man....not RAUL and the man....get it!!! Too bad the producers didn't!!

Originally posted by Macca
I couldn't agree with all of you more. It was the chemisty and love between Jack and Freddie Prinze that made the show so special. You could see it everytime they put thier arms around each other or Jack patted Freddie on the top of the head. The jokes between them were incredibly funny. Freddie had an
undeniable charm that just stole your heart immediately. Even though he was only in his early twenties, he had the talent and professionalism of someone twice his age.

Sorry you missed out on such a wonderful show such as CATM.
But that was what it was "CHICO" and the man....not RAUL and the man....get it!!! Too bad the producers didn't!!

Do you know how the show was created? where did the idea of CATM come from?

I agree Freddie & Jack had a great chermistry between them both. Without Freddie the show was a cute precocious Chicano boy & an grouchy old man. They tried but it wasn't the same...

Solomon...
I have been away from the forum for some time but I felt compelled to reply to your post. The show was a much different show when Freddie was on it. It had the spark and humor then...and like everyone else has said...it lost that with the passing of Freddie.
The show was created by James Komack...who also created shows like The Courtship Of Eddie's Father and Welcome Back Kotter. He wanted the show to reflect the life of living in the Los Angeles Barrio. There were a lot of politics behind the scenes that none of us saw until later...and Freddie had problems that ran deeper than any of us could imagine...but when he was on that set with Jack Albertson the show took off and had wings. Please...please if you can grab hold of an early episode..do so. You will see a different side of the show...the side that we hold dear.

I feel they shouldn't have replaced Freddie. Gabriel Melgar (Sp?) did the best job he could in filling in for Freddie, but in my opinion they should've let the show go off the air instead of doing a Freddie-less season. Season one with Freddie was #3 in the ratings; the last Freddieless season was #91.

Freddie made the show! :D

Imagine "Mork and Mindy" with Robin Williams suddenly gone,
or "All in the Family" with no Archie Bunker...

Bravo Karen very true!

Originally posted by Joy
Bravo Karen very true!

The show still has never been shown in syndication and i'm still wondering why? If it was good with freddie, how come TBS, Nickoloden, or TVLAND does not want to show CATM?

Evidently they don't want to show what the people are begging for, It's so sad... :(

Originally posted by Cheryl Harrell
Evidently they don't want to show what the people are begging for, It's so sad... :(

Well to me it sounds like it's not worth showing, and until a cable station shows CATM I will always feel that the show wasn't funny

I remember seeing CATM on channel 10 a Chicago based station in the later 80's because I always hurried home to see it.
Solomn have ypu gotten to see the show with Freddie in it yet?

Solomon
I don't understand why you would go to the trouble of posting here about the show if you've never seen it with Freddie on it. Makes no sense to me but I guess to each his own. You really have nothing to base your opinion on sinse you aren't seeing the show at it's best. I suggest you ask one of these nice ladies to make you a tape with a few of the original episodes on it then make your judgement. Until then....you can't really tell what a book is about if you only read the last few pages.

[QUOTE].chicosladyfair Solomon
I don't understand why you would go to the trouble of posting here about the show if you've never seen it with Freddie on it. Makes no sense to me but I guess to each his own. You really have nothing to base your opinion on sinse you aren't seeing the show at it's best. I suggest you ask one of these nice ladies to make you a tape with a few of the original episodes on it then make your judgement. Until then....you can't really tell what a book is about if you only read the last few pages.

I have to agree with Chicosladyfair. I was the same way with other popular shows on TV . Having no interest at all of M.A.S.H till I started watching a few of the episodes now I'm hooked. You should see abut some CATM tapes I'm sure your interest will change dramatically.

Originally posted by Joy
I remember seeing CATM on channel 10 a Chicago based station in the later 80's because I always hurried home to see it.
Solomn have ypu gotten to see the show with Freddie in it yet?

CATM has never been shown in syndication here in philadelphia that's why i never knew about the show until 1999.

Trust me, if you would watch some CATM episodes with Freddie in them, you would LOVE them. He & Jack & Scatman & Mando & the others all had a special chemistry together. Esp. Freddie & Jack! :)

Give it a try & you will see we are right. :) The 60's STAR TREK when it first came on tv I thought it was boring & liked LOST IN SPACE better. After it went off tv & re-runs came on, I liked it better & eventually wound up liking it. So give it another chance. :)

I had no idea re-runs came on Chicago. From what I understand only a few channels showed re-runs in the 80's of it. It was basically lost & unshown in most of the country for yrs... :(

I could NOT agree with you more friends..... the show WITHOUT freddie was just NOT GOOD. And altho I hate to admit it....the last few with freddie lacked something too....... his spark just wasnt there. He still brought a smile to my face but I missed the twinkle in his eyes.... and I am sure others did too.

Solomon...to REALLY appreciate the show, you would have to view a showing from one of the first seasons.....THATS when it was funniest. Jack and Freddie had a great chemistry. They played fabulously off one another. And after Freddie died, the twinkle in Jacks eyes was forever lost as well.

Most all of us here believe it was in poor taste to continue the show but contractual obligations and lord knows what else must have made it necessary. Anyone who watched the show prior to Freddie dieing knew right away that it would not last. As professional as Jack was......the sadness in his heart could be seen in his eyes. It wasnt CHICO and the Man anymore.... It was The man and some kid. and it just didnt cut it.

Yes you have to see the episodes of the first season! The are great! All of the Freddie episodes are great but the first season were out of this world!

Solomon............. Think about it...

They wouldn't give him a show if he wasn't GOOD!!!

He was a gifted comedian as well.... I agree with the others here. If you haven't seen episodes with Freddie then you shouldn't judge.

Originally posted by JennyLee22
Solomon............. Think about it...

They wouldn't give him a show if he wasn't GOOD!!!

He was a gifted comedian as well.... I agree with the others here. If you haven't seen episodes with Freddie then you shouldn't judge.

I really can't judge but no cable station has showed CATM-Why do you think that is?

I am not sure on this, but i read somewhere that in an effort to protect her son's name from merchandising off his death Maria went the legal route to prevent him from being exploited(i cannot remember the correct terminology used)perhaps that has something to do with it.

Originally posted by Joy
I am not sure on this, but i read somewhere that in an effort to protect her son's name from merchandising off his death Maria went the legal route to prevent him from being exploited(i cannot remember the correct terminology used)perhaps that has something to do with it.

Well it looks like if i ever want to see CATM with Freddie i have to purchase it

As I said ebay has them from time to time very resonably priced I sure you will be glad you did and I for one would love to hear your comments after you see a Freddie episode.

Originally posted by Joy
As I said ebay has them from time to time very resonably priced I sure you will be glad you did and I for one would love to hear your comments after you see a Freddie episode.

Yes i did registered on ebay but i have to found to how to purchase. I got stuck at the bidding part. So once i find out that's probably when I will purchase CATM

Solomon - Have you ever heard his CD? It's a HOOT!

It used to be shown on a cable channel TVLAND & it is a great show! Trust me once you see a Freddie episode you will love it!!!! :)

Originally posted by JennyLee22
Solomon - Have you ever heard his CD? It's a HOOT!

No-don't think I heard that CD

Originally posted by Cheryl Harrell
It used to be shown on a cable channel TVLAND & it is a great show! Trust me once you see a Freddie episode you will love it!!!! :)

Was this show similiar to Sanford and Son?

In my opinon Chico and the man was a gazillion times better than Sanford and son

Sorry I didn't properly answer your question.
Really the only similarieties to SAS were the Father and son business partner relationship. Although Chico and Ed were not really Father and son like Fred and Lamont they had a close relationship that seemed like Father and son and evidence of that can be seen in the episode Chico's Padre.

Originally posted by Joy
In my opinon Chico and the man was a gazillion times better than Sanford and son

I was asking was the show simiiar far as how it was set-up-father and son working in a garage. Was it sort of like sanford and son-Not better-just similar-i don't want you to compare te shows to see which is better-just to see is it the same type of show

The show involded Ed the garage owner who wasn't thrilled with Latinos. Yet after Chico arrived at the garage and convincced Ed with his wit and charm that he was a good mechanic . Ed let him work with him as well stay in Ed's old crate ( van).
Throught out the first show and the rest of the series. Ed began to show compassion over Chico as if he was his own son.