NBC was tacky in the 70's - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

sntomas · 08-11-2002, 04:07 PM

A lot of young people don't know that after Freddie Prinze (supposedly) commited suicide, the network continued filming the show for another 4-6 episodes to close out the season. Then they returned the show the following season with a replacement, a little boy. That was the tackiest thing I've ever seen in my life. They only cared about MONEY, and not about the tragic death of this obviously talented comedian.

MariposaLKB · 08-11-2002, 04:48 PM

Thanx mucho, Tom, for joining us and pointing out a truth to anyone who happens to pass through here who isn't familiar with Freddie. Most of us who spend any great deal of time here would agree with you that it was a supremely tacky thing for NBC to do, and that it was related more to money than the feelings of his many loyal fans.

I notice you say that Freddie "supposedly" committed suicide. Welcome to the club in that respect as well! Many of us also hold that view (see the thread called "Movie"--particularly my post about one young man, our dear friend the actor Laz, who was born after Freddie's death but GETS IT!).

sntomas · 08-11-2002, 04:58 PM

Hey - thanks for the reply...and I am SO glad that I am not the only one who has felt that continuing "Chico & The Man" after Freddie's death was in very poor taste. His death was very tragic...and very suspicious. Whether it was a cause of the medication he was taking or not...we'll never know the full truth. But the decision of NBC to keep the series going was for money only. I remember how disgusted I was reading about this in 1977 in TV Guide...even at the age of 15 I knew this was not right. But maybe there is karma after all....the network suffered a great deal in the next 3-5 years...it became the 3rd, lowest ranked network for a long time after that!!!

Prince · 08-12-2002, 12:07 AM

Thank you, thank you, thank you for coming onto this board and pointing that out. Like Mariposa said.. we have all felt the same way about how they continued the show when it should have went off the air after Freddie's death. I'm sure Jack would not have cared one way or the other. He was probably under contract and had to continue on whether he wanted to or not.

Also thank you for the comment on his death. I do not believe he meant to end his life in such a way. It was an accident as was proven by his family lafterwards.

Welcome to the boards...hope you visit here often and enjoy the Prinze Magic with the rest of us.

sntomas · 08-12-2002, 12:15 AM

Wow, I'm so glad to find out that other people out there found that in very poor taste, to continue "Chico & The Man" when Freddie was gone. I remember how shocked I was at the time, then to add insult to injury, they just replaced him with a little boy the next season. As I recall, few people watched it after that...but I see it did run until 1978.

This show was titled CHICO & the Man...Freddie playing Chico, 50% star of the show...therefore, when he was gone...out of respect and just GOOD TASTE the show should have ended. I'm sure that Jack and the others could have been given another lucrative television project if they really needed/wanted it.

Finally after all these years I feel vindicated that there are others out there that feel the same!! And remember no matter how he died, it does not change who he was a person. From everything I read about him he was a very cool person.......

TOM
Los Angeles, CA

Anna · 08-12-2002, 02:02 AM

Ditto on the last few posts,I whole heartedly agree with you guys.

Cheryl Harrell · 08-13-2002, 03:08 AM

The last reply I wrote on the Uncle Sonny episode thread applies to this thread here. So use that as my reply here...

tylersmistress2002 · 08-13-2002, 04:12 PM

My sentiments exactly! It was an awful thing to do. It must have been terribly hard for Jack too. It was painfully obvious that his heart was not in it. The twinkle in his eyes was gone. Try tho he did, the painfully obvious vacancy within the show ultimately caused its demise. AND..... they even had to mention that Chico had died. THAT REALLY upset me. It was like capitalizing on a tragedy. Talk about tacky!

I am glad to know there are people out there who see this site and realize what we all truly feel about that situation.

sntomas · 08-13-2002, 09:01 PM

Hey---the last reply mentioned something that I did not know -- that they actually MENTIONED Chico dieing in the show. I did not see that. It's so obvious those people weren't using their brains to do all of that tasteless garbage like that. I wonder how any of the actors felt about it. It's too bad Jack Albertson is gone, I'd like to know his opinion now.

TOM

Cheryl Harrell · 08-14-2002, 04:27 AM

I didn't mind them mentioning his deather, I just minded how they didn't mention it but instead had him leaving to go with his dad in Mexico & not mentioning the truth about his death untill way later. We deserved to know...

Also I hated how the only episode with Mando in it after Freddie died was the Raul runs away episode & they wrote him as not really caring Chico had died like he had gotten over it too soon. I bet that really upset Isaac...

tylersmistress2002 · 08-14-2002, 08:24 AM

Yes, one episode Raul runs away and Ed finds him in a church hiding. Raul is afraid that Chico will come back and Ed wont want him there anymore and Ed says he's not coming back. When Raul says how do you know, Ed replies bacause he died..... and they leave it at that. Strange, I have not seen that episode since it first aired and yet I remember it........painfully vividly.

sntomas · 08-14-2002, 06:17 PM

Thank you guys for supporing this and informing me. You told me something I didn't see...the episode where they mentioned his death. And that you can still remember that is not surprising, who would ever forget something like that? I hope Freddie is up there reading all of these supportive messages!!

Tom

Cheryl Harrell · 08-15-2002, 02:25 AM

I saw that episode origionally but didn't recall seeing the flashbacks on Freddie in it. After becoming a Freddie fan due to the CATM re-runs, I saw it again & when they said Chico had died & showed the flashbacks on him. I cried my eyes out & had the hankies going. Believe me this is a very sad episode & you'll need plenty of hankies viewing it. It's so sad...

hue_mee · 08-15-2002, 05:43 PM

Yes that was a sad episode. I can imagine how painful it was for Jack in his character as Ed just having to tell Raul that Chico had died and reliving the actual knowledge of Freddies passing such a short time ago.

Joy · 08-15-2002, 06:59 PM

I hope this is not morbid of me but I did watch the Raul runs away episodes just so i could say i had seen it and i wanted to see how they handled it but i wish Raul would have let Ed tell him how he died i would have liked to hear the story they would have used like was he in an aauto accident or what

Also I always thought that performers had some say in what they would or wouldn't say in a story and if that is the case I really wish Issac would have said I will not play this uncaring attitude he was my amigo

08-11-2002, 04:07 PM	#1
sntomas Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 11, 2002 Location: Van Nuys, CA Posts: 5	NBC was tacky in the 70's A lot of young people don't know that after Freddie Prinze (supposedly) commited suicide, the network continued filming the show for another 4-6 episodes to close out the season. Then they returned the show the following season with a replacement, a little boy. That was the tackiest thing I've ever seen in my life. They only cared about MONEY, and not about the tragic death of this obviously talented comedian.
	__________________ Tom

08-11-2002, 04:48 PM	#2
MariposaLKB She flies alone Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 06, 2001 Location: The great unknown Posts: 3,436	Truth! Thanx mucho, Tom, for joining us and pointing out a truth to anyone who happens to pass through here who isn't familiar with Freddie. Most of us who spend any great deal of time here would agree with you that it was a supremely tacky thing for NBC to do, and that it was related more to money than the feelings of his many loyal fans. I notice you say that Freddie "supposedly" committed suicide. Welcome to the club in that respect as well! Many of us also hold that view (see the thread called "Movie"--particularly my post about one young man, our dear friend the actor Laz, who was born after Freddie's death but GETS IT!).
	__________________ Within a cage Try to escape Her silent rage But no one ever listens... -Butterfly (Mariposa) Last edited by MariposaLKB; 08-11-2002 at 04:50 PM.

08-12-2002, 12:07 AM	#4
Prince Prince of Peace Senior Member Join Date: Jan 26, 2001 Posts: 1,137	Thank you, thank you, thank you for coming onto this board and pointing that out. Like Mariposa said.. we have all felt the same way about how they continued the show when it should have went off the air after Freddie's death. I'm sure Jack would not have cared one way or the other. He was probably under contract and had to continue on whether he wanted to or not. Also thank you for the comment on his death. I do not believe he meant to end his life in such a way. It was an accident as was proven by his family lafterwards. Welcome to the boards...hope you visit here often and enjoy the Prinze Magic with the rest of us.
	__________________ A friend is faithful, trusting and helpful…someone that realizes your imperfections and stands by you--Freddie Prinze "Come here to me" --- Freddie Prinze "Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful...Beautiful Boy" When I watched Freddie Prinze perform...his future was so bright that it burned my eyes. Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly and Leave the rest to God. "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

08-13-2002, 03:08 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	The last reply I wrote on the Uncle Sonny episode thread applies to this thread here. So use that as my reply here...
	Last edited by Cheryl Harrell; 08-13-2002 at 03:10 AM.

08-13-2002, 04:12 PM	#8
tylersmistress2002 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 21, 2001 Location: Providence, RI USA Posts: 493	My sentiments exactly! It was an awful thing to do. It must have been terribly hard for Jack too. It was painfully obvious that his heart was not in it. The twinkle in his eyes was gone. Try tho he did, the painfully obvious vacancy within the show ultimately caused its demise. AND..... they even had to mention that Chico had died. THAT REALLY upset me. It was like capitalizing on a tragedy. Talk about tacky! I am glad to know there are people out there who see this site and realize what we all truly feel about that situation.
	__________________ so....what are you trying to say?

08-11-2002, 04:58 PM	#3
sntomas Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 11, 2002 Location: Van Nuys, CA Posts: 5	Hey - thanks for the reply...and I am SO glad that I am not the only one who has felt that continuing "Chico & The Man" after Freddie's death was in very poor taste. His death was very tragic...and very suspicious. Whether it was a cause of the medication he was taking or not...we'll never know the full truth. But the decision of NBC to keep the series going was for money only. I remember how disgusted I was reading about this in 1977 in TV Guide...even at the age of 15 I knew this was not right. But maybe there is karma after all....the network suffered a great deal in the next 3-5 years...it became the 3rd, lowest ranked network for a long time after that!!!

08-12-2002, 12:15 AM	#5
sntomas Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 11, 2002 Location: Van Nuys, CA Posts: 5	Wow, I'm so glad to find out that other people out there found that in very poor taste, to continue "Chico & The Man" when Freddie was gone. I remember how shocked I was at the time, then to add insult to injury, they just replaced him with a little boy the next season. As I recall, few people watched it after that...but I see it did run until 1978. This show was titled CHICO & the Man...Freddie playing Chico, 50% star of the show...therefore, when he was gone...out of respect and just GOOD TASTE the show should have ended. I'm sure that Jack and the others could have been given another lucrative television project if they really needed/wanted it. Finally after all these years I feel vindicated that there are others out there that feel the same!! And remember no matter how he died, it does not change who he was a person. From everything I read about him he was a very cool person....... TOM Los Angeles, CA

08-12-2002, 02:02 AM	#6
Anna Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 23, 2001 Location: Indpls,Ind. U.S.A. Posts: 442	Ditto on the last few posts,I whole heartedly agree with you guys.

08-13-2002, 09:01 PM	#9
sntomas Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 11, 2002 Location: Van Nuys, CA Posts: 5	Hey---the last reply mentioned something that I did not know -- that they actually MENTIONED Chico dieing in the show. I did not see that. It's so obvious those people weren't using their brains to do all of that tasteless garbage like that. I wonder how any of the actors felt about it. It's too bad Jack Albertson is gone, I'd like to know his opinion now. TOM

08-14-2002, 04:27 AM	#10
Cheryl Harrell I Love You Mike 4-Ever Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Location: Pixley!!!! Actually VA--USA LOL! Posts: 6,192	I didn't mind them mentioning his deather, I just minded how they didn't mention it but instead had him leaving to go with his dad in Mexico & not mentioning the truth about his death untill way later. We deserved to know... Also I hated how the only episode with Mando in it after Freddie died was the Raul runs away episode & they wrote him as not really caring Chico had died like he had gotten over it too soon. I bet that really upset Isaac...

08-14-2002, 08:24 AM	#11
tylersmistress2002 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 21, 2001 Location: Providence, RI USA Posts: 493	Yes, one episode Raul runs away and Ed finds him in a church hiding. Raul is afraid that Chico will come back and Ed wont want him there anymore and Ed says he's not coming back. When Raul says how do you know, Ed replies bacause he died..... and they leave it at that. Strange, I have not seen that episode since it first aired and yet I remember it........painfully vividly.

08-14-2002, 06:17 PM	#12
sntomas Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 11, 2002 Location: Van Nuys, CA Posts: 5	Thank you guys for supporing this and informing me. You told me something I didn't see...the episode where they mentioned his death. And that you can still remember that is not surprising, who would ever forget something like that? I hope Freddie is up there reading all of these supportive messages!! Tom

08-15-2002, 02:25 AM	#13
Cheryl Harrell I Love You Mike 4-Ever Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Location: Pixley!!!! Actually VA--USA LOL! Posts: 6,192	I saw that episode origionally but didn't recall seeing the flashbacks on Freddie in it. After becoming a Freddie fan due to the CATM re-runs, I saw it again & when they said Chico had died & showed the flashbacks on him. I cried my eyes out & had the hankies going. Believe me this is a very sad episode & you'll need plenty of hankies viewing it. It's so sad...

08-15-2002, 05:43 PM	#14
hue_mee Remembering Freddie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 28, 2001 Location: Grateful for a voice from our angel's friend Posts: 2,266	Yes that was a sad episode. I can imagine how painful it was for Jack in his character as Ed just having to tell Raul that Chico had died and reliving the actual knowledge of Freddies passing such a short time ago.
	__________________ Freddie Prinze Sr Thank you David Brenner! "...and when he shall die, take him and cut him into little stars, and he shall make the face of heaven so fine that all the earth will be in love with night..."

08-15-2002, 06:59 PM	#15
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	I hope this is not morbid of me but I did watch the Raul runs away episodes just so i could say i had seen it and i wanted to see how they handled it but i wish Raul would have let Ed tell him how he died i would have liked to hear the story they would have used like was he in an aauto accident or what Also I always thought that performers had some say in what they would or wouldn't say in a story and if that is the case I really wish Issac would have said I will not play this uncaring attitude he was my amigo Attached Images