Chico and the Man Seasons

[Adamantium]

List in order your favorite seasons and why. Mine are:

-Season 3 (1976-1977)
Although Chico was thinner and not the same as he was in the past, I tend to like this season the most. It had some great episodes, even one co-written by Freddie Prinze (Chico Packs His Bags). I liked that Ed and Chico were good friends by this point. I'm a peaceful person, and I enjoyed watching them get along.

-Season 2 (1975-1976)
The main reason I chose this season as my second favorite is because I loved Revered Bemis. He was so funny and should've been on the show more.

-Season 1 (1974-1975)
I liked this early season because it was a great season. However, I liked seasons 3 and 2 more. I thought the episode where Chico, Mando, Louie and Mabel throw Ed a "Memorial Service" in the garage was hilarious.

-Season 4 (1977-1978)
Even though it wasn't as good, I still like this season. Raul wasn't so bad, although Charo had a way of getting on my nerves, I still accepted her. I loved the episode where Raul gets a van and takes out Chico's old stuff from the closet. In the last six episodes Monica lived in the van. It made me think of Chico, how he would have loved having a girl live in the garage. Ed even had a line "Why do all these teenagers keep hanging around?" I also took that as referring to the late Chico.

Okay, so what are your choices and reasons?

[Danisel331]

Hi Adam!
I get to be first to respond here! I think you described the seasons in the right order. I totally agree with you on all your descriptions. I'm also glad you pointed out the co-writer credit there! I noticed that a long time ago and for that reason that show is extra special. Great job!

[Pitooey]

My favorite was episode 1. When Chico and Ed were 1st starting to get along. I loved seeing him look healthy.

[Luckymama58]

Good topic and good synopsis of the seasons. I will be the first to admit that I am a physical sort of person and I would have to go with the second season as my favorite, and the number one reason was that Freddie was at his physical and comedic best in this season. I would then list season one next and then season three. The only one of the season four that I have seen that I even remotely liked was the one they will be airing on TV land soon. I only wish Chico was there to add to the comedic flavor when Ed and Della were drunk. That would have been a hoot. I still think that it would have been neat to have seen Chico take Raul under his wing as well. I will admit I never watched the second half of season four and missed the two parter where Raul runs away. I think I would have put season three up there higher, maybe tied with season one if it weren't for the fact that I now have hindsight. Knowing what happens to Freddie makes it difficult for me to watch this season, especially toward the end, but there were some great story lines in season three, no question. One of my favorites from season three is when Chico and Louie try to take on the IRS for Ed behind his back. What a riot! LOL

[MariposaLKB]

I would have to agree that in terms of his appearance, Freddie's best season was number 2. But I do want to point out that in the last episode of that season (when Ed is considering having plastic surgery), it was already apparent that his looks--and to some extent his timing--were suffering for his bad habits.

I do find many story lines in the first and third seasons that showcased his undeniable beauty and vast talent very well. The entire first season was brilliant in establishing the characters and their "love-hate" relationship. In particular, I think it was an inspired move on the part of whoever decided it, to have Freddie shed his shirt in the pilot. He admittedly did not have the classic muscular build, but even so it was a good thing for the show's appeal to young female members of the audience LOL! A show about two mechanics could otherwise have been confined to a viewership of men only.

Ironically, the episode aired the night Freddie was dying--in which Chico wants to become a boxer--also had him shirtless, and by this time he had been working out and seemed to be a perfect physical specimen! The IRS episode was great, Lucky, and the treatment of race relations and feminism once Della came on the show was sensitive and funny at the same time. Not to mention that the show was not afraid to address issues of homosexuality (the episode with Margaret's dress being auctioned to a female impersonator) and the emotional and employment needs of older people (Ed's relationships with Shirley, Aunt Connie, Flora and Peggy, and the episode about hiring the elderly).

[Karen64]

My favorite season would be #2, followed by #1 and then #3. Season 4 is my least favorite; in fact, I didn't bother to record any of them when they were on. It just wasn't the same without Freddie!
Season 2 is when Freddie looked the best and was the funniest!
Season 1 had more bickering and name-calling between Ed and Chico and they were funny, too!
In season 3, you could see Freddies weight loss and his depression was apparent, but his acting was still good!

[Joy]

I like season 3 best because even though he was thinner he was stil muy bella!

season 2

season 4 until Raul

and season one I liked Freddie a little thinner and his hair longer