Scatman Crothers - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

05-08-2001, 10:44 PM

just finished reading his biography.
interesting take on freddie..
"Jimmy Komack told me that freddie had been talking about suicide for months. that thursday before his suicide freddie walks up to me puts his arm around me and whispers in
my ear, "scat, i think i will kill myself."
i said, "come on freddie don't talk that way.
you're 22 and you haven't begun to live."
He said, "i guess you're right." i said don't you talk to your wife? he said no i said listen forget your wife and think about yourself. because the bible says self preservation is the first law of nature.
he said "yeah". and that night he shot himself.

EdBrownJr · 05-08-2001, 10:46 PM

Such a sad story. Scatman was a good guy but i guess there was nothing he could do to help Freddie either.

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GET OUT OF MY GARAGE!!!

Cheryl Harrell · 05-09-2001, 03:29 AM

So sad. Evidently Scatman couldn't help him either & yet he wanted to...

EdBrownJr · 05-09-2001, 09:56 PM

You could see how hard it was for all people involved in this recent episode this morning to talk about Chico you could tell how emotional it was and it wasnt acting. Im convinced it was so emotional Jack Albertson couldnt even look into the camera. Man i never knew that this episode would be like that with his van there and stuff who wrote that it seemed too cruel.

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GET OUT OF MY GARAGE!!!

Peko · 05-10-2001, 09:47 AM

.

[This message has been edited by Peko (edited 07-20-2001).]

atlangel · 05-10-2001, 11:15 AM

Thank you Ed Brown Jr. and Peko for preparing us for these two episodes. I have them recorded (5 a.m.) and had the feeling that I had better wait until I have the time to sit down, and watch uninterrupted. I know that it will be difficult. I appreciate your views and feelings on this. During the original broadcast, I had quit watching because I did not agree with the show continuing without Our Prinze. Thus I have not seen these episodes. I do commend them for finally addressing the truth and giving Jack Albertson the opportunity to express his feelings. They were obviously close and had love for each other. I do not know how any of them carried on after this tragedy. Peko, you are absolutely correct in that you would have taken whatever measures were necessary to get this man the help that he was crying out for. He must have felt so helpless when no one stepped in. Regardless of what he may have thought he did not need. Love and genuine concern dictated that serious steps be taken to save his life!Perhaps they saw it but did not quite realize how desperate things were. Once again thanks to all of you for being there.

Pitooey · 05-10-2001, 01:31 PM

"Peko" - It makes me soooooo angry too. He was so crying out!

Tracy-Prinze · 05-10-2001, 02:12 PM

hello peko, I read your post on Mando. If you have "The Freddie Prinze Story" by Maria Pruetzel, read when Isaac Ruiz first met Freddie, if you don't I will be posting on that. Read my post "As told by his mother" UCLA Medical Center: Goodnight Sweet Prince, Rest in Peace (part 7 and part 8) You must read it very carefully, if not you will miss something.

I hope this answers your question on Isaac Ruiz (Mando)

Tracy-Prinze · 05-10-2001, 02:18 PM

I forgot Peko, if you have the book, read the part on freddie's death threats.

Peko · 05-10-2001, 03:12 PM

I know Isaac Ruiz was very fond of Freddie according to the book and he knew he had serious problems. I am only referring to how the script for the two part episode was written, not Isaac Ruiz personally. The lines for Mando could have had a little more compassion.

Tracy-Prinze · 05-10-2001, 03:25 PM

okay

Cheryl Harrell · 05-10-2001, 04:36 PM

From what little I've read about Isaac/Mando he seems to be a very nice person who loved Freddie. I think he'd be a fun person to meet! That's weird they'd have the character of Mando like that. I can't help but wonder whay they would write the character like that? Which epsiode are ya'll referring to? Is it the one where Raul runs away & Ed tells him Chico died?

I feel like more shoul'dve been done to help Freddie & the folks should've helped him. I don't blame Jack or Scatman or Isaac cuz I think they probably wanted to help & didn't know what to do. I like Jimmy Komack & feel maybe he didn't know how to handle it but feel he should tried to do something. Freddie was crying out for help & he needed it so he could be here with us today...

[This message has been edited by Cheryl Harrell (edited 05-10-2001).]

Peko · 05-10-2001, 04:50 PM

Hi Cheryl - Yes, that's the episode I was referring to, the first part. It was a surprise seeing the character in that way. I agree with you, though we cant' blame anybody around him really, except the doctors, it still bothers and puzzles a person as to why people didn't go a step further. I'm sure there are things we will never know. Yes, Jimmy Komack sounds like he did do an awful lot. He certainly had his hands full with everything.

EdBrownJr · 05-10-2001, 09:16 PM

Was the guy in Part 2 of Ed Says Goodbye the same guy who played "Juan Epstein" on Welcome Back Kotter?

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GET OUT OF MY GARAGE!!!

catcopy18 · 05-10-2001, 09:35 PM

I remember back in 1977 when Freddie shot himself it was announced that he had been playing "russian roulette" and had accidently shot himself. That was on TV, in the papers, radio, etc. and I think everyone believed that story for a while. I don't recall anyone talking about how "depressed and addicted to drugs" he was back then. Anyone else remember that? I never heard anything at all about qualudes and cocaine
until much later.

05-08-2001, 10:44 PM	#1
jules Guest Posts: n/a	Scatman Crothers just finished reading his biography. interesting take on freddie.. "Jimmy Komack told me that freddie had been talking about suicide for months. that thursday before his suicide freddie walks up to me puts his arm around me and whispers in my ear, "scat, i think i will kill myself." i said, "come on freddie don't talk that way. you're 22 and you haven't begun to live." He said, "i guess you're right." i said don't you talk to your wife? he said no i said listen forget your wife and think about yourself. because the bible says self preservation is the first law of nature. he said "yeah". and that night he shot himself.
jules Guest Posts: n/a

05-08-2001, 10:46 PM	#2
EdBrownJr Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 08, 2001 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 1,247	Such a sad story. Scatman was a good guy but i guess there was nothing he could do to help Freddie either. ------------------ GET OUT OF MY GARAGE!!!

05-09-2001, 03:29 AM	#3
Cheryl Harrell I Love You Mike 4-Ever Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Location: Pixley!!!! Actually VA--USA LOL! Posts: 6,192	So sad. Evidently Scatman couldn't help him either & yet he wanted to...

05-09-2001, 09:56 PM	#4
EdBrownJr Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 08, 2001 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 1,247	You could see how hard it was for all people involved in this recent episode this morning to talk about Chico you could tell how emotional it was and it wasnt acting. Im convinced it was so emotional Jack Albertson couldnt even look into the camera. Man i never knew that this episode would be like that with his van there and stuff who wrote that it seemed too cruel. ------------------ GET OUT OF MY GARAGE!!!

05-10-2001, 09:47 AM	#5
Peko Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 03, 2001 Posts: 181	. [This message has been edited by Peko (edited 07-20-2001).]

05-10-2001, 11:15 AM	#6
atlangel Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 02, 2001 Location: Lawrenceville, GA, USA Posts: 523	Thank you Ed Brown Jr. and Peko for preparing us for these two episodes. I have them recorded (5 a.m.) and had the feeling that I had better wait until I have the time to sit down, and watch uninterrupted. I know that it will be difficult. I appreciate your views and feelings on this. During the original broadcast, I had quit watching because I did not agree with the show continuing without Our Prinze. Thus I have not seen these episodes. I do commend them for finally addressing the truth and giving Jack Albertson the opportunity to express his feelings. They were obviously close and had love for each other. I do not know how any of them carried on after this tragedy. Peko, you are absolutely correct in that you would have taken whatever measures were necessary to get this man the help that he was crying out for. He must have felt so helpless when no one stepped in. Regardless of what he may have thought he did not need. Love and genuine concern dictated that serious steps be taken to save his life!Perhaps they saw it but did not quite realize how desperate things were. Once again thanks to all of you for being there.

05-10-2001, 01:31 PM	#7
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	"Peko" - It makes me soooooo angry too. He was so crying out!

05-10-2001, 02:12 PM	#8
Tracy-Prinze Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Location: california Posts: 725	hello peko, I read your post on Mando. If you have "The Freddie Prinze Story" by Maria Pruetzel, read when Isaac Ruiz first met Freddie, if you don't I will be posting on that. Read my post "As told by his mother" UCLA Medical Center: Goodnight Sweet Prince, Rest in Peace (part 7 and part 8) You must read it very carefully, if not you will miss something. I hope this answers your question on Isaac Ruiz (Mando)

05-10-2001, 02:18 PM	#9
Tracy-Prinze Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Location: california Posts: 725	I forgot Peko, if you have the book, read the part on freddie's death threats.

05-10-2001, 03:12 PM	#10
Peko Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 03, 2001 Posts: 181	I know Isaac Ruiz was very fond of Freddie according to the book and he knew he had serious problems. I am only referring to how the script for the two part episode was written, not Isaac Ruiz personally. The lines for Mando could have had a little more compassion.

05-10-2001, 03:25 PM	#11
Tracy-Prinze Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Location: california Posts: 725	okay

05-10-2001, 04:36 PM	#12
Cheryl Harrell I Love You Mike 4-Ever Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Location: Pixley!!!! Actually VA--USA LOL! Posts: 6,192	From what little I've read about Isaac/Mando he seems to be a very nice person who loved Freddie. I think he'd be a fun person to meet! That's weird they'd have the character of Mando like that. I can't help but wonder whay they would write the character like that? Which epsiode are ya'll referring to? Is it the one where Raul runs away & Ed tells him Chico died? I feel like more shoul'dve been done to help Freddie & the folks should've helped him. I don't blame Jack or Scatman or Isaac cuz I think they probably wanted to help & didn't know what to do. I like Jimmy Komack & feel maybe he didn't know how to handle it but feel he should tried to do something. Freddie was crying out for help & he needed it so he could be here with us today... [This message has been edited by Cheryl Harrell (edited 05-10-2001).]

05-10-2001, 04:50 PM	#13
Peko Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 03, 2001 Posts: 181	Hi Cheryl - Yes, that's the episode I was referring to, the first part. It was a surprise seeing the character in that way. I agree with you, though we cant' blame anybody around him really, except the doctors, it still bothers and puzzles a person as to why people didn't go a step further. I'm sure there are things we will never know. Yes, Jimmy Komack sounds like he did do an awful lot. He certainly had his hands full with everything.

05-10-2001, 09:16 PM	#14
EdBrownJr Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 08, 2001 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 1,247	Was the guy in Part 2 of Ed Says Goodbye the same guy who played "Juan Epstein" on Welcome Back Kotter? ------------------ GET OUT OF MY GARAGE!!!

05-10-2001, 09:35 PM	#15
catcopy18 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 08, 2001 Location: Indiana Posts: 413	I remember back in 1977 when Freddie shot himself it was announced that he had been playing "russian roulette" and had accidently shot himself. That was on TV, in the papers, radio, etc. and I think everyone believed that story for a while. I don't recall anyone talking about how "depressed and addicted to drugs" he was back then. Anyone else remember that? I never heard anything at all about qualudes and cocaine until much later.