Jimmie Walker on Freddie Prinze - TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 03-29-2022, 04:22 AM

Some cliff notes:

Jimmie believes that had David Brenner been on the West Coast, Freddie wouldn't have killed himself.
Freddie not only had a massive ego, he was a gigantic a**hole. But to Jimmie, he was none the less, his "kind of a**hole" in that he still loved the guy.
Freddie was in particular, very paranoid about his success. He really wanted people to love him at all times.
When a depressed Freddie would do a lot of drugs, Quaaludes, and drink a lot, he would call you at 3 o'clock in the morning and demand that you come over to his place. Freddie according to Jimmie would always do stunts like that.

Jimmie also relays this following story about John Travolta:

king of comedy · 03-29-2022, 11:33 AM

Wow! This makes you have second thoughts about Freddie Prinz. Now I will never buy Chico and the Man.

EccentricGenius · 03-29-2022, 02:42 PM

I had actually mentioned Jimmie and Freddie's friendship on the "Good Times" thread a few years ago...I discussed how troubled--and emotionally damaged--Freddie really was off-camera.

I explained in the "Good Times" thread that the season four episode "A Friend In Need" (original airdate: February 2, 1977) was a possible metaphor for Freddie's battles with depression as well as his subsequent death. I noted the parallels between Freddie's inner demons (as well as his substance abuse, particularly with Quaaludes and cocaine) and the anxiety issues of the main character in "A Friend In Need," J.J.'s down-on-his-luck pal, former college basketball phenom Robert "Superstar" Simpson (played by Ralph Wilcox). Coincidentally, "A Friend In Need" aired only four days after Freddie's death (he died on January 29th); for many years, I've always thought that the episode was in some ways a tribute to Freddie, as well as a cautionary tale.

Feel free to check out my post in the "Good Times" thread sometime...I'd love for all of you to offer your two cents on the topic, as well as your opinions and overall verdict.

Enjoy your day, boys and girls!

TMC · 05-14-2022, 02:42 AM

Here's what Jimmie wrote about Freddie in his memoir.

03-29-2022, 04:22 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,380	Jimmie Walker on Freddie Prinze - TelevisionAcademy.com/Interviews Some cliff notes: Jimmie believes that had David Brenner been on the West Coast, Freddie wouldn't have killed himself. Freddie not only had a massive ego, he was a gigantic ahole. But to Jimmie, he was none the less, his "kind of ahole" in that he still loved the guy. Freddie was in particular, very paranoid about his success. He really wanted people to love him at all times. When a depressed Freddie would do a lot of drugs, Quaaludes, and drink a lot, he would call you at 3 o'clock in the morning and demand that you come over to his place. Freddie according to Jimmie would always do stunts like that. Jimmie also relays this following story about John Travolta:

03-29-2022, 11:33 AM	#2
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	Wow! This makes you have second thoughts about Freddie Prinz. Now I will never buy Chico and the Man.

03-29-2022, 02:42 PM	#3
EccentricGenius Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 30, 2015 Posts: 766	I had actually mentioned Jimmie and Freddie's friendship on the "Good Times" thread a few years ago...I discussed how troubled--and emotionally damaged--Freddie really was off-camera. I explained in the "Good Times" thread that the season four episode "A Friend In Need" (original airdate: February 2, 1977) was a possible metaphor for Freddie's battles with depression as well as his subsequent death. I noted the parallels between Freddie's inner demons (as well as his substance abuse, particularly with Quaaludes and cocaine) and the anxiety issues of the main character in "A Friend In Need," J.J.'s down-on-his-luck pal, former college basketball phenom Robert "Superstar" Simpson (played by Ralph Wilcox). Coincidentally, "A Friend In Need" aired only four days after Freddie's death (he died on January 29th); for many years, I've always thought that the episode was in some ways a tribute to Freddie, as well as a cautionary tale. Feel free to check out my post in the "Good Times" thread sometime...I'd love for all of you to offer your two cents on the topic, as well as your opinions and overall verdict. Enjoy your day, boys and girls!

05-14-2022, 02:42 AM	#4
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,380	Here's what Jimmie wrote about Freddie in his memoir.