just finished reading his biography.
interesting take on freddie..
"Jimmy Komack told me that freddie had been talking about suicide for months. that thursday before his suicide freddie walks up to me puts his arm around me and whispers in
my ear, "scat, i think i will kill myself."
i said, "come on freddie don't talk that way.
you're 22 and you haven't begun to live."
He said, "i guess you're right." i said don't you talk to your wife? he said no i said listen forget your wife and think about yourself. because the bible says self preservation is the first law of nature.
he said "yeah". and that night he shot himself.

Such a sad story. Scatman was a good guy but i guess there was nothing he could do to help Freddie either.

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So sad. Evidently Scatman couldn't help him either & yet he wanted to... http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/frown.gif

You could see how hard it was for all people involved in this recent episode this morning to talk about Chico you could tell how emotional it was and it wasnt acting. Im convinced it was so emotional Jack Albertson couldnt even look into the camera. Man i never knew that this episode would be like that with his van there and stuff who wrote that it seemed too cruel.

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.

[This message has been edited by Peko (edited 07-20-2001).]

Thank you Ed Brown Jr. and Peko for preparing us for these two episodes. I have them recorded (5 a.m.) and had the feeling that I had better wait until I have the time to sit down, and watch uninterrupted. I know that it will be difficult. I appreciate your views and feelings on this. During the original broadcast, I had quit watching because I did not agree with the show continuing without Our Prinze. Thus I have not seen these episodes. I do commend them for finally addressing the truth and giving Jack Albertson the opportunity to express his feelings. They were obviously close and had love for each other. I do not know how any of them carried on after this tragedy. Peko, you are absolutely correct in that you would have taken whatever measures were necessary to get this man the help that he was crying out for. He must have felt so helpless when no one stepped in. Regardless of what he may have thought he did not need. Love and genuine concern dictated that serious steps be taken to save his life!Perhaps they saw it but did not quite realize how desperate things were. Once again thanks to all of you for being there.

"Peko" - It makes me soooooo angry too. He was so crying out! http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/mad.gif

hello peko, I read your post on Mando. If you have "The Freddie Prinze Story" by Maria Pruetzel, read when Isaac Ruiz first met Freddie, if you don't I will be posting on that. Read my post "As told by his mother" UCLA Medical Center: Goodnight Sweet Prince, Rest in Peace (part 7 and part 8) You must read it very carefully, if not you will miss something.

I hope this answers your question on Isaac Ruiz (Mando)

I forgot Peko, if you have the book, read the part on freddie's death threats.

I know Isaac Ruiz was very fond of Freddie according to the book and he knew he had serious problems. I am only referring to how the script for the two part episode was written, not Isaac Ruiz personally. The lines for Mando could have had a little more compassion.

okay

From what little I've read about Isaac/Mando he seems to be a very nice person who loved Freddie. I think he'd be a fun person to meet! That's weird they'd have the character of Mando like that. I can't help but wonder whay they would write the character like that? Which epsiode are ya'll referring to? Is it the one where Raul runs away & Ed tells him Chico died?

I feel like more shoul'dve been done to help Freddie & the folks should've helped him. I don't blame Jack or Scatman or Isaac cuz I think they probably wanted to help & didn't know what to do. I like Jimmy Komack & feel maybe he didn't know how to handle it but feel he should tried to do something. Freddie was crying out for help & he needed it so he could be here with us today... http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/frown.gif

[This message has been edited by Cheryl Harrell (edited 05-10-2001).]

Hi Cheryl - Yes, that's the episode I was referring to, the first part. It was a surprise seeing the character in that way. I agree with you, though we cant' blame anybody around him really, except the doctors, it still bothers and puzzles a person as to why people didn't go a step further. I'm sure there are things we will never know. Yes, Jimmy Komack sounds like he did do an awful lot. He certainly had his hands full with everything.

Was the guy in Part 2 of Ed Says Goodbye the same guy who played "Juan Epstein" on Welcome Back Kotter?

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I remember back in 1977 when Freddie shot himself it was announced that he had been playing "russian roulette" and had accidently shot himself. That was on TV, in the papers, radio, etc. and I think everyone believed that story for a while. I don't recall anyone talking about how "depressed and addicted to drugs" he was back then. Anyone else remember that? I never heard anything at all about qualudes and cocaine
until much later.

I missed the first part of the two-parter...what did Mando do that offended you guys??? Fill me in,please!

And yes, Robert Heyges was the same guy who played Juan Epstein. Incidentally, Freddie Prinze had called John Travolta and asked him to come over a couple of nights before he shot himself.

Originally posted by catcopy18:
I remember back in 1977 when Freddie shot himself it was announced that he had been playing "russian roulette" and had accidently shot himself. That was on TV, in the papers, radio, etc. and I think everyone believed that story for a while. I don't recall anyone talking about how "depressed and addicted to drugs" he was back then. Anyone else remember that? I never heard anything at all about qualudes and cocaine
until much later.

I remember the day he shot himself. http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/frown.gif When I reveived the phone call I was working in Wall Street at the time. They didn't say anything about russian roulette. They just said that he shot himself & at that same moment my friend said that he tried to commit suicide. I remember back then hearing rumors that Freddie had lost alot of weight. My sister and I even started to look at him on T.V. to see if the rumors were true. I never heard about cocaine or drugs. I just remember that Freddie and Tony Orlando were best buddies. Plus Freddie was friends with David Brenner.

Well it was the way he was acting when in the show. First he gives Raul a van just like Chicos as a birthday gift and then when Louie sees it and confronts Mando about the van Louie is almost in tears but Mando keeps making jokes and Louie leaves shaking his head and giving him some look.

I think it was worst when Louie says to Mando "Ed is gonna hit the roof when he sees this van" Mando replies he maybe he wont come down. Then Mando also says its been a year now time for Ed to start facing the truth or something like that.

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Oh my! I just finished watching the two part episode where Ed told Raul about Chico.
I cried like a baby!!!! You could see the extreme hurt in Ed while he was explaining that Chico wouldn't be back because he died.
His chin and lip was shaking and he almost broke down himself. The flash-backs of Chico
made it even sadder!!!!!!
Yes, it did seem insensitive how Mando reacted to the van. I can't understand what
the writers expected to accomplish when they
put that in there. I'm sure Mando did not feel so unemotional about that scene.
No matter how you look at it, it was a very
sad episode!!!!!!! Such a shame!!!!!!!!!!
Such a waste of a talented actor and a very
funny show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh no doubt im sure Mando aka Issac Ruiz didnt feel that way at all. I dont think it was his fault just the writers or whoever i thought it was a bad choice for a scene. That must have been really hard for him to act like that being we all know how close he was to Freddie.

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Wow, I forgot Epstien was in that episode. From what I read Mando/Issac really loved Freddie, they just wrote Mandos charater like that. Why I don't know.I thought Mando the character loved Chico. What were the writers thinking????

If you want a good cry view the E- Hollywood Special. I got my tapes of that & CATM today & made hubby watch that & the first CATM with me. We both had a good laugh over the first CATM. Classic tv at it best! http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/smile.gif

The E-Special was goood. Some omissions they made was they referred to Kathy as his widow when in fact she was his ex-wife, they never mentioned the fact that when she left him she wouldn't let him see the baby any more & took the baby to her mothers & that broke his heart her divorcing him & not letting him see the baby & they never mentioned her shady past. & they never mentioned that he left his old manager for the new one & the old manger sued him... It was done tasteful tho.

The hardest part to watch is the funeral as it's a real tearjerker. When they showed his funeral it really got to me big time. I just about fell apart it upset me so bad. I had to stop the tape & ask my hubby to get me a hanky. It got mucked up so quick I had to stop the tape again & ask him for another one. He got me several saying he didn't want to have to get up anymore. I went thru 4 hankys. It was sooo sad. I was crying to my hubby why did he do it why & leave people behind that cared about him? I then realized I was getting pretty upset over someone I never even knew & I'm going like I never even knew him & yet I am soo upset & feel like I did know him & how come I'm like this. I think my hubby was a little concerned about me cuz I don't normally get so upset watching something on tv cuz he askledme if I was okay. Anyway that part of the E- Special is sooo sad...

(Edited for spelling errors Yikes!)

[This message has been edited by Cheryl Harrell (edited 05-11-2001).]

What kind of flashbacks on CHico did they have on there? I've seent he episode before but missed it recently due to the satellite dish goofing up on me. http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/frown.gif

Just looked up on the walk of fame site & Jack & Scatman both have stars ont he walk of fame. So freddie HAS TO JOIN THEM! 5 yr wait my foot! it's jsut an excuse to not induct whoever needs inducting as soon as they should. http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/frown.gif You're their in our hearts already Freddie!

Last night,I just watched the two episodes where Raul runs away. I, too, was crying and very upset. Louie was obviously very upset, sensitive and caring over this incident and how all of this would effect Ed. He was tearful and expressed indignation at what Mando had done. Mando's reaction was totally out of character, cold-blooded and callous. I know it was another mistake of the writers though. Not Issac Ruiz who was a close friend of Freddie's. I suspect it was torture for him to portray his character in this way. The flashback scenes tore me up! Jack Albertson was phenomenal and genuine through his pain. One could feel his sense of loss and see his broken heart. How any of them carried on under this circumstance is amazing to me. Yes, it is long overdue that Freddie have his place with his friends Jack Albertson and Scatman Crothers and among the others on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is most deserving and worthy of this and any other honors.
FREDDIE FOREVER!

I quit watching the episodes after Raul was on there but after reading all the meeages about the 2 part one with the memories of Chico I wish I would have. On the tv land schedules they tell you witch show is Freddie's last,had they mentioned about the rememberences I would have made a point to watch at least that much.
Did they show the rememberance episodes during the fandamonium weekend in January?
I sure would love to see another 48hor marathon soon. Has anyone heard if they will have another one?
I read an excerpt from "I'll be right back"
The bio of Mike Douglas, and there was a little about Freddie in there the chapter on co-hosts,they also had quite a bit about Tony
O.Including how he said that Freddie died in his arms. (anyone who has read the Freddie Prinze story knows that that's not true-at least Maria sure did'nt make it sound that way.

How bout when Louie says to Mando...You were his best friend....that was chilling I also don't like the way they made him act...bad writing and very inappropriate.

Why did the writers write it like that knowing how close both Mando & Isaac were to Chico & Freddie? I'll never figure that out! http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/frown.gif

Put this in the wrong topic by mistake so it comes over here (copied):

Can somebody give me more info on what happened in the flashback scenes. I wasn't able to get CATM on the satellite dish still & it's been awhile since I've seen the RAUL runs away episodes & don't recall them flashbacking on Freddie. Thanks! http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/smile.gif

cheryl, I don't know if you read it somewhere already but the 1st episode had Ed sleeping and having a dream or flashback of when freddie first came into the garage on his bike. I think it must have been the pilot. It was very sad. Then it showed other scenes from that. Hope this helps!

I've seen the Raul episodes a few times since they've been on TVLAND & when they were origionally on & didn't remember seeing that. My memory must be going LOL! THanks for the info! http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/smile.gif