My Take on Chico

I watched as much of the TV Land marathon of "Chico" as I could.I was in a trance literally.It was like a time machine.It was so eery.To know that most all the stars of that show are now dead.Scatman,Albertson,Prinze....its all so sad.First off,it became most apparent that Chico was merely a "rip off' of Sanford which came first.The grouchy Ed Brown was a white Fred G. Sanford,Chico was a wacky Lamont.Louie was a Bubba Bexley or Grady Wilson.The junkyard turned into a garage which was messy.The old 1951 F-1 pickup turned into the stationary Dodge panel truck.Even the same network (NBC).I realize it was the first show of its type,showing some "Mexican" heritage,but they were all Puerto Ricans on the show.They made a star of Freddie Prinze who misused and partied away his money,abused his body and got married in a flash mainly due to his fame (the way I see it).The marraige fell apart due to his drugs and drinking (I guess the wife found out what he really was all about).Then he took his life in an "accident" trying to freak out his manager by putting a gun to his head (remember John-Erik-Hexum did that??) and killing himself.I am sorry,he could have been much more...maybe a "living legend",but by all accounts his fame was waning anyway.Starting #3 and falling to mid 20s in 2 years? Chico and the Man was doomed anyway.When Sanford went away,Chico's tenure was limited.All the griping and namecalling on those shows would have gotten tired eventually.The addition of Gabriel Melgar was genious,but the show should have passed when "Chico" did.It had a cloud over it after that.Deserved or not...it was never the same.It basically became the Louie and the Man show...or the Della and the Man show (however you look at it).The innocence of the 1st show was lost.Its no wonder it was cancelled after the 77-78 season.Overall,a very sad time and sad show......it was very funny at times,but its so painful to view today.Chico ruined his own life,thats how it will always be.Like Elvis (also died in 77),rich people cannot always handle all the money and fame and are doomed from day one.I dont think anyone could have saved Freddie Prinze from himself.That is the saddest memory from Chico and the Man.
""Chico dont be discouraged.....things will be better for Chico and the Man"...sadly it never was.

FINALLY....Somebody who has it RIGHT! Everyone is carrying on like Freddie Prinze was a comedy legend who could have provided many more years of entertainment had he not died. The truth is, the guy was a flash in the pan, and his "Looking Good!" routine had really worn thin after a couple of years.

Jack Albertson was a true pro...He had been in show business for years, and knew just about every old vaudeville and burlesque routine ever written. He could have gone on for years if he hadn't gotten sick and died.

I know that these are harsh words, but I'm not trying to offend anyone. However, let's keep things in the proper perspective...

Freddie Prinze was NOT Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason or George Burns...He was a very funny comic, but one whose abilities and routines were very limited, and lacked staying power.

I think one of the real stars of Chico was Scatman Crothers.What energy he had...what a showman (even though I never really saw any of his "scat" work)...he outlived the 3 (Jack,Scatman,Freddie)...
What talent.Look at how he shined during those last season episodes (he became a co star really).Even when Chico was on the show,Louie stole the scenes he was in.Jack Albertson was a talented man,and I believe him and Scatman together were a great pair.Della Reese always gives her all as well....no wonder when she joined the show,the ratings leveled off (they were diving).
Its a shame she wound up witnessing Redd Foxx's death firsthand (the Royal Family),He was a great man as well.Truly one of the funniest men of the 70s.

[Freddie's Girl]

I couldn't disagree with all of you more. There is NO other comedian who's routines covered the ground that Freddie Prinze's did. How many Puerto Rican comedian/actors can you name?

It is true that Scatman Carrothers and Jack Albertson were both true vintage talents, but this does not take anything away from Freddie.

I realize this is all speculation, but if Freddie had lived, we probably wouldn't know who Antonio Banderas is and Paul Rodriguez would have stiff competition in the realm of Latino humor.

I am not a fan of Elvis nor ever have been, but to those of you who are...do you feel that because he spent money on drugs and had obvious mental problems means he was any less talented?

Sorry folks, Freddie Prinze definately had some mental problems that should have recieved attention---But he was still a GREAT TALENT.

It's interesting that you don't like Freddie Prinze, yet you are watching Chico and the Man and writing in this forum full of Freddie fans!
:-)

[Moon]

The opposite point of view makes for interesting discussion..and I think these folks said it in a mature manner, unlike a lot of boards where they'd say "Freddie sucks!!!" or worse.

I'm thinking maybe a James Dean factor is coming in? Jimmy died at age 24, a victim of his own self destruction (don't tell me driving like a maniac on the highway was not self destructive.."That guy sees us, he's gotta stop" kind of passing the buck on the car entering the intersection. Jimmy made three movies and a handful of TV shows. Most of them weren't all that great (even though I liked the chemistry with Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo). By dying young he remains forever young and there remains the "what if he lived?" thought. The fact that, even though he managed to pack a lot of living in 24 years, I think Jimmy had more to give the world than he did.

Same with Freddie. I personally like his standup comedy best (yay, Chicago!!!) but think he had his own spark, his own endearing quality and was expressive. In his death he remains forever young. Kind of like a bright star who came to earth, whose light touched many people in one way or another until the darkness one and his own light consumed him. Okay, so that's being poetic shmoetic but ja dig, right?

As for the rich always being doomed, it's not always true. I think in Freddie's case it was probably things going way back that made him not that great at coping. Not that I have any tolerance for self destruction myself.

Ah hey. Dunno if I got my point across. What I mean is yes, I was always a Freddie fan but he wasn't a deity. He was human and some human things he did annoyed me.

Actually, Sanford and Son was a lift from a British sitcom anyway...then again everything's derivative at some point?

Ah well. Glad to see the detractors posting. Constant Freddielove would make things a little sappy if you ask me. Heh, at least it's not like this Xena message board I am part of, where when I say that I can't stand Season 6 or find the "subtext" nothing to obsess about, I get lambasted.

Jack Albertson and Scatman Crothers ruled.

I sleepy. Goonite.

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It was late one night by the pale moonlight all the vegetables gave a spree.

I was only 4 years old when Freddie Prinze died. So, I really did not know much about Chico and the Man. I kind of remember watching the show and vividly remembering it. Now that I had the chance to watch the re-runs on TV Land, I can see what Chico was all about. He was a really nice guy from a tough neighborhood who just wanted a chance to make a better life for himself. I think the show was ahead of its time.
As for Freddie Prinze, there are many different opinions as to why he took his life...some good and bad. It could have been the drugs and the fame or the fact that he may have very well been very depressed, even before the fame and the TV show. People have different ways of handling things. So, we may never know the actual reason why he did it. Yes, many people were hurt by his death. But we can remember that he has left benind a legacy and that we all can be thanful for that.

The first episode of Chico had a few references to death,and Chico even played dead by lying still on the garage floor for Ed.Later episodes,near Freddie's death there were more references.Ed was always talking about drinking to die earlier and Chico saying he better stop drinking cause he will kill himself doing that.Very morbid stuff for a comedy show...maybe this show was "doomed" from the beginning? Some actors/movies/shows seem to have certain "bad luck" that follows them forever.Look at Rebel without a cause....all the actors are dead...most died weird deaths.James Dean,Sal Mineo...you name them... by the way...Jim Backus was in that movie and guest-starred on a Chico episode.

Episode 68 (the Raul era),Louie and Ed banter a bit about "Forest Lawn" cemetary.Thats strange as thats where Freddie Prize was buried.
Making fun of his death???
Albertson and Crothers should have refused to mention that place....if they wanted to respect Chico's death.

[Moon]

Originally posted by P:
...maybe this show was "doomed" from the beginning? Some actors/movies/shows seem to have certain "bad luck" that follows them forever.

Kind of like Family Affair? Sebastian Cabot died of natural causes but...Anissa Jones? Brian Keith?

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It was late one night by the pale moonlight all the vegetables gave a spree.

[Pitooey]

Okay so Sanford was first. So what! Freddie was a stand up comedian in New York City before he did any Chico & the man. He had a loyal following. He appeared on numerous talk shows. He was an extremely talented man. You may not feel this way but, I do. As for other comedians people have their favorites. One of mine was Freddie. When this series began it went to the forefront. People were tuning in. The show gave him more exposure. I enjoyed the comics back then Freddie, Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby, & a few others. I'm not saying Bob Hope wasn't good. We're here to talk about Freddie.

Originally posted by P:
Episode 68 (the Raul era),Louie and Ed banter a bit about "Forest Lawn" cemetary.Thats strange as thats where Freddie Prize was buried.
Making fun of his death???
Albertson and Crothers should have refused to mention that place....if they wanted to respect Chico's death.

I agree - it was in bad taste and should have been taken out of the script.

[Pitooey]

I never knew this. I agree with you. That was in bad taste. I've got to see that episode. That must've been one of the episodes I fell asleep on (During the Fandemonium).