Bringing back old memories

[trm37]

Although I was only 12 years old when Freddie Prinze died I still remember how upsetting it was.With TV Land running Chico and the Man I feel very sad about his death eventhough it was 24 years ago.I feel like it was yesterday.I hope the running of the show sparks memories in many people so Freddie Prinze will be rememberd well for years to come. Tim

I am becoming such a Chico fan. Does anyone
know how Freddie and Jack's relationship
was off the show? They seemed to have truly cared for one another. Love the relationship
and watching it grow with each new show.
Hope that TV Land will find out how much
everyone loves Freddie and will put the
show on during prime time. I think they
would be very surprised at the audience
response.

[Moon]

7am CST is a weird time frame as well as 11pm CST.

Speaking of memories, with tonight's episode with Shelley Winters as a guest star, when her character introduced herself as "Shirley Schrift" it made me remember something when the show first ran. When she said that, my family started laughing and since I was but 9 or 10 years old, I wondered what was so funny. My older sister explained that that was Shelley Winters' real name.

Yet more incoherence brought to you by the senseless one.

[trm37]

Hi Moon. It's nice to see that someone else is enjoying these reruns as much as I am.I was surprised to see how thin Shelly Winters was on last nights episode.She was much bigger on the Posiedon Adventure.I have read several of your posts and I think you are so funny. Keep posting! Tim

From what the E! special mentioned,Jack Albertson really did flow well with Prinze and after his death,Jack was never the same.He became rather grumpy on the set complaining about things all the time.He became rather hard to work with.It didnt seem to change Scatman's acting "enthusiasm" though....what a fireball that guy could be.A real legend.
On camera it looked as if Raul and Ed became as close as Ed and Chico,but it may have been just an "act".

[Moon]

If I remember right Jack was diagnosed with colon cancer in '78 but kept it quiet. I did notice he started looking weaker.

[Prince]

I can't imagine how Jack must have felt. If
you really observe him and Freddie on the
show you can see the love. They had this certain gentleness between them. I
think the show was a hit because their
feelings for each other were real not just
acting. Having a show where a very
young person has so much love for an older
person is a positive influence for anyone
who watches the show today. Respect
and love is what it's all about and
Freddie and Jack as well as Chico and Ed
had that. It is so refreshing to watch
something so positive and non violent for
a change. I need that after a hard day
at work.

[This message has been edited by Macca (edited 02-10-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Macca (edited 02-10-2001).]

The sad truth is,even though the show is non-violent (even though there are lots of references to death in it),Freddie Prinze himself became a very dangerous person off camera.Like Elvis he had to carry a gun all the time...thinking everyone was out to get him.Playing pranks like making believe to shoot himself or others.....thats not funny at all...its sad and sick.
Just goes to show how well people can hide a side of their lives to the general public...but behind closed doors......

[Prince]

I know Freddie ended his life in a very
violent way. That is sad, but it doesn't
change the fact that "the show" is non-violent and sends a very positive message. I
know it's hard to separate Freddie from Chico, but I think deep inside they were very
gentle souls. Freddie was just so troubled
as opposed to his character Chico who was
full of love despite his poor background. Chico thought the van where he lived was great, sometimes forgetting how much he DID NOT have. Chico found his riches in his
relationship with Ed. I like that.

[trm37]

I think Freddie must have been a very kind person, you can tell just by looking at his face-the expressions on it and his eyes had a kind look about them. He just had(as so many people do) a substance abuse problem which does not make someone a bad person.It saddens me to think what he must have felt like at the end.I wish he would have reached out more so someone could have helped him.I wish that I could have helped him but I was only 12 at the time and I didn't know him.I don't know why but I have been thinking a lot about him lately. I hope his soul is at peace.Tim

[Prince]

I agree with you Tim. You can see the
kindness in his face and eyes. He has been
in my thoughts also. He lives thru Chico
and we are now able to enjoy his talents
daily.

[wheeeone]

In response to your comments on the kindness you perceive in Freddie's eyes you are so correct.
I had the precious opportunity to interact with Freddie several times at the studio during 1975. He was ALWAYS kind to both my friend and I no matter how tired he was from taping. I will never forget the sweet Prinze or the precious memorable moments in his presence.
Everyone seems to forget that Freddie was very young and expected to acclamate to everything that came to him so fast without the benefit of any guidance. The 70's were not a time where people were "into" helping each other. There weren't "interventions" and so few people were "party free".
Despite his circumstances, I never witnessed Freddie being anything but kind and sweet to anyone who came up to him who wanted to interact with him(and not Chico).

[Freddie's Girl]

Wheeeone

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Could you pls share more about meeting Freddie Prinze?

[Pitooey]

Wheeeeone - I agree with you too. Although I never met him I was the same age as Freddie. On the show he looked so sweet and kind (like himself). He was "oh so funny" too. Later on I started to see the loss of weight etc. Those were some trying times back then. Fame came quickly for him. Too quickly.