Just talking about the 1974-75 and 1975-76 Seasons, why do you think this show could - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 04-22-2007, 08:23 PM

not hold as many VIEWERS as Sanford and Son in it's first two seasons on Friday Night? The Decline in Viewers during 8:30pm was what made NBC move the show to Wednesday Nights which was even more of a disaster. So what do you think could have made the show a little better?

Danisel331 · 04-23-2007, 03:54 AM

Well, I guess I'll be the first to answer you Tv Reseacher.
I wasn't around back then, but of course I've seen the shows. The main thing that I've heard about is that Freddie himself wanted better scripts. The show, to me, was hilarious, but some of the plots were a bit far fetched and Chico depended a bit more on slapstick comedy rather than the political comedy of the day. Now, Freddie's last season was coming a bit more to the political comedy and we saw a bit more of Chico's life before he came to Ed Brown's garage. We also had the prejudiced nurse and the son of the lady that Ed was dating and let's not forget The Barrio Better Business Bureau. I think it had to do with being different from the other shows in their approach, as to why viewers were not keeping the channel.

TVFactFan · 04-23-2007, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danisel331

Well, I guess I'll be the first to answer you Tv Reseacher.
I wasn't around back then, but of course I've seen the shows. The main thing that I've heard about is that Freddie himself wanted better scripts. The show, to me, was hilarious, but some of the plots were a bit far fetched and Chico depended a bit more on slapstick comedy rather than the political comedy of the day. Now, Freddie's last season was coming a bit more to the political comedy and we saw a bit more of Chico's life before he came to Ed Brown's garage. We also had the prejudiced nurse and the son of the lady that Ed was dating and let's not forget The Barrio Better Business Bureau. I think it had to do with being different from the other shows in their approach, as to why viewers were not keeping the channel.

So you would say BETTER episode Topics would have made it better?

Danisel331 · 04-24-2007, 04:58 AM

Maybe a bit more believable would be a better way to put it.

TVFactFan · 04-24-2007, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danisel331

Maybe a bit more believable would be a better way to put it.

What was it that you felt wasn't BELIEVABLE about CATM?

Pitooey · 04-24-2007, 10:33 PM

The 1st thing that was not believable was Chico sleeping in the van. Kind of making it his home. He should've had a room.

Ireneparalegal · 04-24-2007, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitooey

The 1st thing that was not believable was Chico sleeping in the van. Kind of making it his home. He should've had a room.

Also, we were made to believe that Freddie was chicano. He wasn't. He was puerto rican. Although, there was no other hispanic figure that was on television in a sitcom that the hispanic could relate to, we (the hispanic community) took it for what it was worth.

I would have also liked to see Freddie OUTSIDE of the garage.

TVFactFan · 04-24-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Also, we were made to believe that Freddie was chicano. He wasn't. He was puerto rican. Although, there was no other hispanic figure that was on television in a sitcom that the hispanic could relate to, we (the hispanic community) took it for what it was worth.

I would have also liked to see Freddie OUTSIDE of the garage.

So 90% of the eps that featured Freedie had the Chico character inside the Garage?

Ireneparalegal · 04-24-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

So 90% of the eps that featured Freedie had the Chico character inside the Garage?

Hell, it seemed like 99 percent is more like it.

It was more of a comedy, like Sanford and Son. Not a show with a purpose like Good Times, All in the Family, etc.

TVFactFan · 04-24-2007, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Hell, it seemed like 99 percent is more like it.

It was more of a comedy, like Sanford and Son. Not a show with a purpose like Good Times, All in the Family, etc.

Well that means that season 4 must really be hard to watch-lol Plus Ed, was IRRITABLEand BORING. Bad combo. Usually Irritable characters are funny like James Evans, and Archie Bunker

Ireneparalegal · 04-24-2007, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

Well that means that season 4 must really be hard to watch-lol Plus Ed, was IRRITABLEand BORING. Bad combo. Usually Irritable characters are funny like James Evans, and Archie Bunker

Ed was rarely happy and jolly. That is annoying. At least James had great happy moments along with that mad, irritable attitude.

TVFactFan · 04-24-2007, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Ed was rarely happy and jolly. That is annoying. At least James had great happy moments along with that mad, irritable attitude.

But when James and Archie was irritable they made you laugh, Ed was just a COFFEE TABLE with a attitude-LOL

Ireneparalegal · 04-24-2007, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

But when James and Archie was irritable they made you laugh, Ed was just a COFFEE TABLE with a attitude-LOL

Ed was friggin' sarcastic and he took that sarcasm too far. Rather than it being funny, it was just boring.

Karen64 · 04-26-2007, 09:26 AM

I think Ed was often hilarious when he would put Chico down; calling him thinks like an "enchillada yo-yo". And Chico gave it right back to him!
What I find far-fetched is why someone so intelligent and full of dreams for the future as Chico, would stay for so long with an alcoholic sour-puss with a floundering business, and live in a van, no less!
But I realize that's the premise of the show, and without it, you wouldn't have had that great comedy duo!

Heidelberg · 04-26-2007, 09:57 PM

One thing I noticed was that the first and second season showed the growth and friendship between Chico and Ed. It was very believable how gradually their relationship grew and Ed was more forgivable in his gruffness. But it seems that in the third season they regressed and Ed became more irritable and he and Chico's friendship seemed less believable. I even noticed it between Ed and Louie. The writers seemed more concerned with stirring up old drama and not keeping up with the growth of the characters.

It's the same thing that happened on Welcome Back Kotter. Gabe Kaplan wanted the sweathogs to go to junior college as the actors were getting too old to play highschool students. But the writers wanted to stay on the same formula. They lost viewers torward the end as well.

04-22-2007, 08:23 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,130	Just talking about the 1974-75 and 1975-76 Seasons, why do you think this show could not hold as many VIEWERS as Sanford and Son in it's first two seasons on Friday Night? The Decline in Viewers during 8:30pm was what made NBC move the show to Wednesday Nights which was even more of a disaster. So what do you think could have made the show a little better?

04-23-2007, 03:54 AM	#2
Danisel331 Kisses for my fans! Senior Member Join Date: Jan 11, 2002 Posts: 1,475	Well, I guess I'll be the first to answer you Tv Reseacher. I wasn't around back then, but of course I've seen the shows. The main thing that I've heard about is that Freddie himself wanted better scripts. The show, to me, was hilarious, but some of the plots were a bit far fetched and Chico depended a bit more on slapstick comedy rather than the political comedy of the day. Now, Freddie's last season was coming a bit more to the political comedy and we saw a bit more of Chico's life before he came to Ed Brown's garage. We also had the prejudiced nurse and the son of the lady that Ed was dating and let's not forget The Barrio Better Business Bureau. I think it had to do with being different from the other shows in their approach, as to why viewers were not keeping the channel.
	__________________ Please Drop by! Wallpapers By Dani RIP Kelsi Ilyssa You gave us Heaven on Earth for a week

04-24-2007, 10:33 PM	#6
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	The 1st thing that was not believable was Chico sleeping in the van. Kind of making it his home. He should've had a room.
	__________________ Pitooey... AKA JennyLee - I love the Monkees all over again! *SAY NO TO DRUGS* Jesus saves...

04-26-2007, 09:26 AM	#14
Karen64 Comedy Fan Senior Member Join Date: Mar 24, 2001 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,412	I think Ed was often hilarious when he would put Chico down; calling him thinks like an "enchillada yo-yo". And Chico gave it right back to him! What I find far-fetched is why someone so intelligent and full of dreams for the future as Chico, would stay for so long with an alcoholic sour-puss with a floundering business, and live in a van, no less! But I realize that's the premise of the show, and without it, you wouldn't have had that great comedy duo!
	__________________ Freddie, there will never be another you....

04-24-2007, 04:58 AM	#4
Danisel331 Kisses for my fans! Senior Member Join Date: Jan 11, 2002 Posts: 1,475	Maybe a bit more believable would be a better way to put it.

04-26-2007, 09:57 PM	#15
Heidelberg Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 01, 2006 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 39	One thing I noticed was that the first and second season showed the growth and friendship between Chico and Ed. It was very believable how gradually their relationship grew and Ed was more forgivable in his gruffness. But it seems that in the third season they regressed and Ed became more irritable and he and Chico's friendship seemed less believable. I even noticed it between Ed and Louie. The writers seemed more concerned with stirring up old drama and not keeping up with the growth of the characters. It's the same thing that happened on Welcome Back Kotter. Gabe Kaplan wanted the sweathogs to go to junior college as the actors were getting too old to play highschool students. But the writers wanted to stay on the same formula. They lost viewers torward the end as well.