Imagine if Freddie Prinze, Sr. hadn't died and "CATM" continued past S4

[James28]

If Freddie Prinze, Sr., hadn't committed suicide midway through its third season, would Chico an the Man have continued past Season 4, or would it still have been cancelled after Season 4 due to declining ratings?

Then, I would have imagined one thing happening: During season 4, would Chico and the Man have gotten the Fridays at 8 PM timeslot instead of C.P.O. Sharkey, after the failure of The Sanford Arms, the follow-up to CatM's lead-in Sanford and Son?

(Another "what-if" scenario.)

[Bonniegirl]

OMG!! Freddie would be almost 62 years old now had he not passed away. He would be a very handsome older Latino man with a full head of thick grey or salt and pepper hair , I can just picture him!

[howilu]

I think Chico and the man would have had a longer run if Freddie Prinze Sr.. was still alive. It might have lasted about three our four more years because of the decline of its lead in Sanford and Son but if NBC moved the show to another night and a different time slot, ratings would probably be higher and the show would have more than 100 episodes to rerun in syndication.

[James28]

If I had my own answer to the Chico and the Man continuation question, I think Chico and the Man would have lasted until 1980, or maybe 1981. Especially considering that NBC was in last place starting in the 1975-76 midseason (during CatM 2nd season), and NBC essentially had no top sitcom (or any good comedies overall) between the end of Sanford and Son in 1977 and the premieres of Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life in late 1978 and 1979.

Also, can anyone imagine where Freddie Prinze, Sr.'s career would have gone if he hadn't committed suicide?

[caladon]

I imagine that if the series had continued to be a hit, it would've ended in 1981 following the passing of Jack Albertson. So, in all likelihood, it's possible that the series would've dealt with the passing of Ed Brown and him no doubt leaving the garage to Chico. The final episode just might have ended in a similar way that the show had started. Chico opening the garage one day and a young ambitious kids rides his bicycle into the shop and ends up being hired by Chico the way Ed hired him; and if it continued it might then be called Chico And The Kid or Chico Is The Man. Just speculation.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by caladon

I imagine that if the series had continued to be a hit, it would've ended in 1981 following the passing of Jack Albertson. So, in all likelihood, it's possible that the series would've dealt with the passing of Ed Brown and him no doubt leaving the garage to Chico. The final episode just might have ended in a similar way that the show had started. Chico opening the garage one day and a young ambitious kids rides his bicycle into the shop and ends up being hired by Chico the way Ed hired him; and if it continued it might then be called Chico And The Kid or Chico Is The Man. Just speculation.

Maybe even still went on? Like a spin off , called Chico's place or something! And focused on him ,maybe he would meet a nice lady ,settle down ,marry And that would be how it would end a couple years later!

[James28]

IMO, I think the suicide of Fredde Prinze, Sr. hurt the NBC comedy division as a whole. Chico and the Man, because of declining ratings afterwards, was actually pulled from the NBC schedule midway through its fourth season, and the remaining 8 episodes (most of which featured the "Monica" character) were burned off during the summer of 1978. CatM's lead-in, Sanford and Son, was in its sixth and final season at the time of Prinze's suicide, and at the end of the season, Redd Foxx left S&S to do a variety show at ABC. S&S was replaced by The Sanford Arms in the fall of 1977. Both Sanford Arms and Foxx's variety series were gone by midseason due to low ratings. Also, most of NBC's other sitcoms at the time couldn't make it past a single season, and NBC had a sitcom canceled before its premiere in the fall of 1976 (Snip).

[SitcomsAreTheWay]

This is an interesting topic because I always wonder how Freddie's character would've evolved, and how long the show would've lasted had he lived longer. Considering the fact that he played a key role in the show having garnered the ratings and attention it did, I could image it having prospered another 5 years. He had great on-screen chemistry with Jack Albertson, but after Albertson's death he either would've continued to carry the show on his own, or would've found an actor or actress to provide that same comic relief to combine well with his own. But then there was his conflict with James Komack. I think if they would've settled their differences Freddie eventually would've been granted creative control. I also see his career having flourished, and maybe even a collaboration between himself and Freddie Jr. in the later years. Basically in the form of a father and son duo.

Also, I wonder how he'd look in his 60s. I have no doubt that he'd still look as gorgeous as he did back then but simply an older version. He'd be up there with Robert Redford. And I've noticed that Freddie Jr.'s hair is gradually greying; it makes me realize just how much time has passed.

[hatwink]

Amazing that both Gabe Kaplan and Freddie Prinze had issues with James Komack.

[Babalu]

Originally Posted by hatwink

Amazing that both Gabe Kaplan and Freddie Prinze had issues with James Komack.

From what I've heard, a lot of people had issues with Komack. But Komack didn't make Freddie kill himself.

[TVFactFan]

I dont think it would have lasted until the 80's. The show was already falling in the ratings in season 3 while chico was still there

[TMC]

Originally Posted by SitcomsAreTheWay

This is an interesting topic because I always wonder how Freddie's character would've evolved, and how long the show would've lasted had he lived longer. Considering the fact that he played a key role in the show having garnered the ratings and attention it did, I could image it having prospered another 5 years. He had great on-screen chemistry with Jack Albertson, but after Albertson's death he either would've continued to carry the show on his own, or would've found an actor or actress to provide that same comic relief to combine well with his own. But then there was his conflict with James Komack. I think if they would've settled their differences Freddie eventually would've been granted creative control. I also see his career having flourished, and maybe even a collaboration between himself and Freddie Jr. in the later years. Basically in the form of a father and son duo.

Also, I wonder how he'd look in his 60s. I have no doubt that he'd still look as gorgeous as he did back then but simply an older version. He'd be up there with Robert Redford. And I've noticed that Freddie Jr.'s hair is gradually greying; it makes me realize just how much time has passed.

Freddie Jr. was about his dad's age when he died when he did I Know What You Did Last Summer and She's All That.