Chico and the Man Boned the Fish When... - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 12-11-2015, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by um

I think Chico And The Man was a horrible show.
Freddie Prinze became famous primarily for the same reason why Jennifer Lopez became fmous, TV executives and those kinds of people knew that there was a consensus of Hispanics who were hungry for Hispanic "representation" in TV shows just like movie and music executives knew that Jennifer Lopez would appeal to Hispankcs and the fact that real talent isn't there just doesn't matter.

Prinze's death was tragic, but the fact is that Chico And The Man was trying to be another version of All In The Family with Jack Albertskn as a cranky racist old man who is forced to deal with people he has prejudices against. After the Archie Bunker character became popular there were attempts to make other jokey controversial sitcoms.

I thought it was trying to be another sanford and son

king of comedy · 12-11-2015, 11:20 PM

I can't stomach it now and wished I never saw it.

TMC · 08-07-2017, 05:09 AM

http://screenrant.com/tv-shows-flopped-big-stars-left/

Quote:

15. CHICO AND THE MAN

It may have only aired for four seasons, but the NBC sitcom Chico and the Man was one of the earliest examples of a multicultural program bridging gaps between Americans of different backgrounds. It was far from without problems, but the show was popular due to Freddie Prinze’s portrayal of Chico Rodriguez. Prinze, who had Puerto Rican and Hungarian heritage, was a charismatic and funny actor as well as the father of modern actor Freddie Prinze, Jr.

Sadly, Prinze was also deeply depressed and struggled with addiction problems throughout his life. He shot and killed himself after filming an episode of the show at age 22. While writers attempted to continue the show without him, it flopped miserably when they replaced his character with a tween boy whom the Man (Jack Albertson) refers to as “Chico,” saying that “You’re all Chicos to me.” It was one of the show’s lowest blows.

Even after trying to insert some drama, a pretty actress, and other gimmicks, ratings dropped too low for the show to continue.

Dr. Thong · 08-07-2017, 05:20 PM

What they could have done (and probably done) was change the name of the show to Ed's Garage or something else and not tried to fill in the void created by Freddie Prinze's death with another hispanic actor.

But I think his departure would have hurt the show in any event.

Moon · 09-28-2017, 10:24 PM

I think they should've finished the show off after Freddie killed himself...

um · 09-29-2017, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moon

I think they should've finished the show off after Freddie killed himself...

I retrospect, it is curious why they didn't.
Then again a smidgen of the new episodes without Freddie Prinze were OK in my opinion, corny as they were. The entire show had always abused the privilege of being corny as well as plain ol' bad TV

DJM77 · 09-29-2017, 08:30 AM

Maybe they decided to continue producing the show after Freddie's death because they thought that if the show went another season then it could go into syndication?

Retro4Life · 09-29-2017, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by um

I think Chico And The Man was a horrible show.
Freddie Prinze became famous primarily for the same reason why Jennifer Lopez became fmous, TV executives and those kinds of people knew that there was a consensus of Hispanics who were hungry for Hispanic "representation" in TV shows just like movie and music executives knew that Jennifer Lopez would appeal to Hispankcs and the fact that real talent isn't there just doesn't matter.

Prinze's death was tragic, but the fact is that Chico And The Man was trying to be another version of All In The Family with Jack Albertskn as a cranky racist old man who is forced to deal with people he has prejudices against. After the Archie Bunker character became popular there were attempts to make other jokey controversial sitcoms.

You're entitled to your opinion.

Personally, I think "horrible" is a completely unfair assessment. Was it a classic comedy? No. Did it make me laugh on occasion? Sure. Were the characters charming, and better than the material? Yeah.

As far as "trying to make another version of Archie Bunker" that may be true, but you could pretty much say the same thing about "The Jeffersons" and it was a fairly well regarded (and very successful) comedy. That doesn't end the argument.

Had Prinze lived (and stayed with the show), I'd say it would have gone at least five years.

um · 09-29-2017, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM77

Maybe they decided to continue producing the show after Freddie's death because they thought that if the show went another season then it could go into syndication?

I have never completely understood what "syndication" meant. I can get that it means a TV show goes into re-runs; and at least back when I watched TV a lot (the 1960s and 1970s) it seemed to mean that, mainly, the TV show will be shown on certain "non -Network channels" such as Channel 11, Channel 9 and Channel 5. At least those were the non-Network channels I knew in NYC back in the 1960s and 1970s. Of course sometimes the re-runs would be shown on Network stations at certain time slots as "fill" material that just takes up time until some other TV show comes on.

But it seems that Syndication means more than a TV show strictly being shown only in re-runs.
Do I have it wrong? Can anyone specify what syndication means?

MIKEPR · 03-16-2020, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

http://screenrant.com/tv-shows-flopped-big-stars-left/

What's wrong with 4 seasons?

TVFactFan · 03-16-2020, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIKEPR

What's wrong with 4 seasons?

Most successful shows have 6 at the minimum

DEH55 · 12-29-2020, 11:59 PM

I saw it in reruns about 10 years ago. To be honest I didn't find it funny. I understand why Freddie was popular. He had lots of charisma. But the Mexican jokes and schtick have not aged well. I guess its a different time. I remember seeing Freddie's last episodes and you can tell he is messed up. He had lost weight and looked like a zombie. It's too bad. If they released it today on dvd who would the audience be for it and would it even sell anything?

TVFactFan · 12-30-2020, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEH55

I saw it in reruns about 10 years ago. To be honest I didn't find it funny. I understand why Freddie was popular. He had lots of charisma. But the Mexican jokes and schtick have not aged well. I guess its a different time. I remember seeing Freddie's last episodes and you can tell he is messed up. He had lost weight and looked like a zombie. It's too bad. If they released it today on dvd who would the audience be for it and would it even sell anything?

The show never had a chance to gain a new fan base since it was never really on cable or syndication period. So the DVD probably wouldnt sell

DJM77 · 12-31-2020, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

The show never had a chance to gain a new fan base since it was never really on cable or syndication period. So the DVD probably wouldnt sell

I first saw Chico And The Man when TV Land aired it many years ago. I have the "Television Favorites" DVD. I'd definitely buy a complete series set. I don't know that many other people would.

DEH55 · 12-31-2020, 01:11 PM

At least with a show like Welcome Back Kotter you have a great way to promote it and sell it. You have John Travolta. Everyone knows John Travolta. All different age groups. From Kotter, Grease through Pulp Fiction etc. A wide audience. There are a ton of people who have no idea who Freddie is. They know his son a lot more than him. lol

How well did Kotter do on DVD?

View Poll Results: Boned When...
Death: Freddie Prinze - Looking Bad!	21	91.30%
Day 1	1	4.35%
Never Boned	1	4.35%
Voters: 23. You may not vote on this poll

08-07-2017, 05:20 PM	#19
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,545	What they could have done (and probably done) was change the name of the show to Ed's Garage or something else and not tried to fill in the void created by Freddie Prinze's death with another hispanic actor. But I think his departure would have hurt the show in any event.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

09-29-2017, 08:30 AM	#22
DJM77 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,552	Maybe they decided to continue producing the show after Freddie's death because they thought that if the show went another season then it could go into syndication?
	__________________ Marge: There are only 49 stars on that flag. Abe: I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missouri!

12-11-2015, 11:20 PM	#17
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	I can't stomach it now and wished I never saw it.

09-28-2017, 10:24 PM	#20
Moon Hubba Hubba clubbie Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 21, 2001 Location: In your eyeball Posts: 76	I think they should've finished the show off after Freddie killed himself...

12-29-2020, 11:59 PM	#27
DEH55 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 19, 2020 Posts: 319	I saw it in reruns about 10 years ago. To be honest I didn't find it funny. I understand why Freddie was popular. He had lots of charisma. But the Mexican jokes and schtick have not aged well. I guess its a different time. I remember seeing Freddie's last episodes and you can tell he is messed up. He had lost weight and looked like a zombie. It's too bad. If they released it today on dvd who would the audience be for it and would it even sell anything?

12-31-2020, 01:11 PM	#30
DEH55 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 19, 2020 Posts: 319	At least with a show like Welcome Back Kotter you have a great way to promote it and sell it. You have John Travolta. Everyone knows John Travolta. All different age groups. From Kotter, Grease through Pulp Fiction etc. A wide audience. There are a ton of people who have no idea who Freddie is. They know his son a lot more than him. lol How well did Kotter do on DVD?