Did any CATM fan know that the Producer James Komack was actually considering giving - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 03-28-2005, 08:16 PM

a spinoff series to Scatman Crothers????? Read in a 1976 TV Guide that he was thinking of starting a Louie-the-Garbage-Man Spinoff. I see this idea never took off. Anyone think it would have worked?

Pitooey · 03-28-2005, 10:02 PM

I think it would've worked. Scatman was such a gifted man.

I never knew that James K. was going to give him a spin-off. How sad it never came to be.

Luckymama58 · 03-29-2005, 09:16 PM

I had read that in the 76 TV guide too. He was such a talent, that would have been a cool show.

EdBrownJr · 04-01-2005, 02:41 PM

i didnt know that....but i always wondered if something like that would of took off......i thought he was funny as hell and it would of worked......

Luckymama58 · 04-01-2005, 10:58 PM

Hey, Ed Brown Jr. How have you been. I have been wondering about you. Glad to see your back!

hue_mee · 04-02-2005, 12:04 AM

Yes please forgive me for being off topic, Welcome back Ed Brown Jr!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luckymama58

Hey, Ed Brown Jr. How have you been. I have been wondering about you. Glad to see your back!

Cheryl Harrell · 04-02-2005, 03:19 AM

Chico needs you back to tell him to get outta my garage lol...

Mr. Television · 04-02-2005, 03:41 AM

I think a spin-off with Scatman would have worked. That guy was so funny.

sfditusa · 05-03-2005, 08:55 AM

I wonder if it would have worked. Since he was so integral to the CATM show, it almost would have no chance to work since the absense of Freddie would have been large, even if it was a spin off. IMHO

sfd

TVFactFan · 05-03-2005, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfditusa

I wonder if it would have worked. Since he was so integral to the CATM show, it almost would have no chance to work since the absense of Freddie would have been large, even if it was a spin off. IMHO

sfd

Honestly I don't even know why Komack gave a spinoff for Louie any thought because at the time, CATM was struggling in the ratings-lol A spinoff usually comes from a HIT SHOW not a show sagging in the ratings. CATM only good season in the ratings was the first season.

Joy · 05-04-2005, 10:25 AM

IMHO the show was top notch until they tried to replace Freddie, it may have been easier to accept had they dealt with what happened on the show like they did when John Ritter passed away on 8 simple rules.

sfditusa · 05-04-2005, 12:19 PM

What did they do on the 8 Simple Rules show once John Ritter passed away. I have never watched that show.

I purchased the catm show, a few years ago, where the little boy who replaced Freddie ran away just so I could see how they handled Freddie's dissappearance from the show ( was that the first catm show with the little chico?). It helped me to see Jack Albertson cry when he was talking to the little chico about Freddie. I cried right along with him. It gave me some closure in a sense. You're right Joy that definitely was a mistake on Komack's part to not somehow acknowledge Freddie's passing.

sfd

Joy · 05-04-2005, 12:54 PM

On 8 simple rules they said that he had a heart attack at the grocery store and had a funeral and shared the tv families grieving process, it was very tastefully done. loved it and i still watch the show...James Garner as the grandfather was a nice addition

Danisel331 · 05-04-2005, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfditusa

What did they do on the 8 Simple Rules show once John Ritter passed away. I have never watched that show.

I purchased the catm show, a few years ago, where the little boy who replaced Freddie ran away just so I could see how they handled Freddie's dissappearance from the show ( was that the first catm show with the little chico?). It helped me to see Jack Albertson cry when he was talking to the little chico about Freddie. I cried right along with him. It gave me some closure in a sense. You're right Joy that definitely was a mistake on Komack's part to not somehow acknowledge Freddie's passing.

sfd

No this show wasn't the first acknowledgement of Freddie's departure but it was the first time they actually said he passed away. Since all of that happened while the show was technically still recording, they had two shows left in the season when he died. The first show back they had Ed, Della and Louie all get presents they said Chico sent to them from Mexico. They said that he had gone down there to be with his father.....which didn't make sense really because he refused to go with his father when he met him a few shows earlier. Then they finished that season and started the next season with Ed and Louie going on a fishing trip to Mexico. The show opens with their return to the garage and it's then that the find Raul in the trunk of their car. Since he was an orphan (Ed had to find out after trying to find his parents) and really had no place to go, Ed adopts him, but he cannot bring himself to call him Raul so he always calls him Chico. He tells Raul that "to me, you're all Chico". Raul doesn't question him anymore until the show where he runs away. Now after Raul had been with Ed for a little while, Charo enters the picture as an aunt that Raul didn't know he had. That's why she comes around every so often to check on him and why she was in the show where he runs away. Supposedly though, she was a Spanish entertainer who was originally from Spain which why was Raul had never heard of her, he was raised in a small village in Mexico.
Anyway, I always thought the show could have handled Freddie's death better. Regardless of circumstances, it was a tragedy that such a young talent was gone and here was the show that helped make him famous really not having much regard for his memory. They didn't let the audience grieve him and they really made it hard for them the way they did the show Raul Runs Away. It must have really hurt Scatman Crothers and Jack Albertson because you could tell that they were really upset in the parts they played there. Just broke my heart to see them so upset.

sfditusa · 05-04-2005, 09:27 PM

Ok, thanks Dani. You really have the episodes down.

I still haven't even watched all of the CATM episodes I have. I'm still having a hard time with that. I am not sure why. I enjoy when I watch them, yet there is always a bit of sadness too when I watch.

The first time I saw him on video after all these years I just cried with happiness. I missed him so much, and seeing him again made me so happy. Yet, that little bit of me missing him still is somehow inhibiting me from watching all of them.

The way the producers dealt with Freddie's passing is how our society dealt with someone dying by a self-inflicted wound. As if not discussing or acknowledging it makes it all go away.

I am glad our society has learned to deal more effectively with depression and mental illness in general. It is so common place and a lot of the shame associated with depression, anxiety and mental illness issues have dissipated.

Thanks again Dani!

sfd

03-28-2005, 08:16 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,113	Did any CATM fan know that the Producer James Komack was actually considering giving a spinoff series to Scatman Crothers????? Read in a 1976 TV Guide that he was thinking of starting a Louie-the-Garbage-Man Spinoff. I see this idea never took off. Anyone think it would have worked?

03-28-2005, 10:02 PM	#2
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	I think it would've worked. Scatman was such a gifted man. I never knew that James K. was going to give him a spin-off. How sad it never came to be.
	__________________ Pitooey... AKA JennyLee - I love the Monkees all over again! *SAY NO TO DRUGS* Jesus saves...

03-29-2005, 09:16 PM	#3
Luckymama58 Math Geeks Unite! Senior Member Join Date: Mar 18, 2001 Location: In my rock and roll fantasy Posts: 2,553	I had read that in the 76 TV guide too. He was such a talent, that would have been a cool show.
	__________________ We All Use Math Every Day! Everything is Numb3rs! Capt. Jack: Drink up, me hardies, Yo Ho! I reject your reality and substitute my own!-Adam Savage, Mythbuster A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds... With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. -Ralph Waldo Emerson RIP Freddie Prinze 1954-1977 You have your star now.

04-01-2005, 10:58 PM	#5
Luckymama58 Math Geeks Unite! Senior Member Join Date: Mar 18, 2001 Location: In my rock and roll fantasy Posts: 2,553	Off topic... but Hey, Ed Brown Jr. How have you been. I have been wondering about you. Glad to see your back!

04-02-2005, 03:19 AM	#7
Cheryl Harrell I Love You Mike 4-Ever Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Location: Pixley!!!! Actually VA--USA LOL! Posts: 6,192	Chico needs you back to tell him to get outta my garage lol...
	__________________ RIP darling Mike. I love you forever... You are with Freddie Prinze & Jesus now. 1951-2009 "Make it your way, who can beat the Lord, the Son of God. Dear Lord, help me be strong where I am weak, if it be your will"-- The Late Freddie Prinze Sr

04-01-2005, 02:41 PM	#4
EdBrownJr Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 08, 2001 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 1,247	i didnt know that....but i always wondered if something like that would of took off......i thought he was funny as hell and it would of worked......

04-02-2005, 03:41 AM	#8
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I think a spin-off with Scatman would have worked. That guy was so funny.
	__________________ Sonny

05-03-2005, 08:55 AM	#9
sfditusa Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 01, 2002 Posts: 168	I wonder if it would have worked. Since he was so integral to the CATM show, it almost would have no chance to work since the absense of Freddie would have been large, even if it was a spin off. IMHO sfd
	__________________ Looooooooooking Gooooooood! :-)

05-04-2005, 10:25 AM	#11
Joy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2001 Location: In Mn lovin my DVD and the Prinze of comedy!!! Posts: 3,247	IMHO the show was top notch until they tried to replace Freddie, it may have been easier to accept had they dealt with what happened on the show like they did when John Ritter passed away on 8 simple rules.
	__________________ <img src="http://www.quia.com/files/quia/users/crimscience/Avatars/angiesigbar.jpg">

05-04-2005, 12:19 PM	#12
sfditusa Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 01, 2002 Posts: 168	What did they do on the 8 Simple Rules show once John Ritter passed away. I have never watched that show. I purchased the catm show, a few years ago, where the little boy who replaced Freddie ran away just so I could see how they handled Freddie's dissappearance from the show ( was that the first catm show with the little chico?). It helped me to see Jack Albertson cry when he was talking to the little chico about Freddie. I cried right along with him. It gave me some closure in a sense. You're right Joy that definitely was a mistake on Komack's part to not somehow acknowledge Freddie's passing. sfd

05-04-2005, 12:54 PM	#13
Joy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2001 Location: In Mn lovin my DVD and the Prinze of comedy!!! Posts: 3,247	On 8 simple rules they said that he had a heart attack at the grocery store and had a funeral and shared the tv families grieving process, it was very tastefully done. loved it and i still watch the show...James Garner as the grandfather was a nice addition

05-04-2005, 09:27 PM	#15
sfditusa Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 01, 2002 Posts: 168	Ok, thanks Dani. You really have the episodes down. I still haven't even watched all of the CATM episodes I have. I'm still having a hard time with that. I am not sure why. I enjoy when I watch them, yet there is always a bit of sadness too when I watch. The first time I saw him on video after all these years I just cried with happiness. I missed him so much, and seeing him again made me so happy. Yet, that little bit of me missing him still is somehow inhibiting me from watching all of them. The way the producers dealt with Freddie's passing is how our society dealt with someone dying by a self-inflicted wound. As if not discussing or acknowledging it makes it all go away. I am glad our society has learned to deal more effectively with depression and mental illness in general. It is so common place and a lot of the shame associated with depression, anxiety and mental illness issues have dissipated. Thanks again Dani! sfd