Starting with the 1st episode

[Pitooey]

Starting with the first episode there were already refererences to death and dying. It gave me the creeps.

[Pitooey]

Ed told Chico to "Drop dead" and Chico threw himself on the floor and pretended he died.

[Tracy-Prinze]

The writers did too much on death on this show, you are right. It is as if they based the whole show on death.

[atlangel]

I don't understand it! Watching all of this now, is heartbreaking.

[EdBrownJr]

Yeah i picked up on that line too.

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GET OUT OF MY GARAGE!!!

[Anna]

I agree jenny to many death referances in catm. Not just the first show but all the way through.

[Rosalyz]

To all the Chico and the man yahoo members: The pilot episode pictures are there, hope you enjoy. I know as you do that there's a lot of weird sutff on that episode like you say, but lets enjoy the talent of those two persons and all the good smiles they always take from us. Take care mucho, Rose

[Cheryl Harrell]

Yep, the death references are there & it's weird. I wonder what it meant & what it was about? Just curious.

Another curious thing I noticed. They had Chico cry in a few episodes. I read in his moms book that Freddie cried easily so I wondered if they had him cry in the episodes cuz Freddie cried easily & they knew he would be able to do it easily on the show.

Some of the episodes he cries in:

Ed thinks he's losing his touch as a mechanic. He tells Chico the story he thinks Chico would tell him to inspire him. Chico gets all touched & cries.

Chico, Ed & Louie have to go downtown to talk to the folks from the City to keep the City from tearing down the garage. Ed tells a sad sob story to try to get them to save the garage. Both Chico & Louie start to cry as Ed is telling his sob story.

Padre Episode: Chico cries when he hugs his father goodbye. After his father leaves & he's looking at the pciture of his mom & Ed tells him he'll grow up to be like his dad, he's in tears there too.

Lisa Episode: When Lisa come to the garage cuz she's upset cuz her patient Mr. Cobbler died. Before she starts to tell Chico Mr. Cobbler died, Chico looks like he's about to cry.

Chico Almost Goes Into Business With His Cousin: When he hugs Mando goodbye, he looks like he's about to cry.

Episode Where Ed's Friend (Played by Jim Backus) Cheats on His Wife:

Chico is telling Ed that since his cheating friends wife is interested in him that he needs to break it off with her. Chico starts imitating how Ed would break it off with her & how she would cry when Ed breaks it off with her& she'd need a hankerchief & Ed would give her one. Chico starts crying & needs a hankerchief & he pokes Ed in the stomach & says he needs a hankerchief (It's hilarious how he pokes Ed in the stomach) & Ed reaches in his pocket & gives his to Chico. & Chico takes Ed's hankerchief & wipes his eyes with it etc & later hands it back to Ed & tells Ed you shouldn't give your hankerchief to a married woman etc...

I noticed that when Ed gives Chico his hankerchief, it looked like it had dirty spots on it (unless maybe it was some sort of weird print on it) My hubby noticed that too in that episode too. Eww, I wouldn't want to use someone elses dirty hanky LOL! Now if it's dirty & it's mine, it's okay cuz it has my germs & sniffles on it & not someone elses LOL!

Anyway, I noticed that about the crying & wondered if that was another weird theme similar to the death references...

That would be cool if someone could analize the episodes & tell us what it meant, the death references, crying & so forth...

It's interesting what you notice about a show yrs after it's orgionally been on tv that you missed the first time...

Hopefully someone will know & can tell us all on here as I am all ears...




[This message has been edited by Cheryl Harrell (edited 05-24-2001).]

[Cheryl Harrell]

Just remembered. There is another episode where Chico cries. It's the one where he's dating that Marilyn girl & he proposes to her & she turns him down. (She had to be sick to do that! LOL!) When she breaks up with him he looks like he's about to cry. Later Ed & Louie come in & think Chico is with a girl cuz of the loud singing & what sounds like laughter. But it's not it's Chico crying & Mando playing the guitar & singing to cover it up & make it seem like Chico's with a girl instead. When Chico comes out of the van with Mando, he starts crying over the break up with Marilyn & then later says he's over her now...



[This message has been edited by Cheryl Harrell (edited 05-25-2001).]

[atlangel]

Cheryl, I appreciate your perception and outlining these episodes. I had noticed this as well and it always touched me to see him with tears in his eyes. I think first, the key to it can be found in his Mom's book, in that he has always been extrememly sensitive. I think it is admirable that he was so in touch with his feelings and did not have a problem expressing how he felt. It makes him even more endearing. I wish other men could receive the message, that there is nothing macho about pretending to be a rough, tough, robot devoid of emotions or feelings. It takes a real man to admit when he is hurt, sad, etc. Secondly, I feel that he was a wonderful actor. When the role called for it, he was able to cry and express the emotion the character was feeling. In his dramatic role in "Million-Dollar Rip-Off" there is a scene where this is evident. As always, "Our Prinze" delivers.
FREDDIE FOREVER!

[Cheryl Harrell]

I agree with ya. I think it's sweet how he shows his emotions & cries when he feels like it. It's nice to see a guy with feelings like that. It makes me sad to see him cry tho. Yeah, I read in his moms book where he cried easy. I think that's sweet...

I'd love to know more about the crying scene in the MILLION DOLLAR RIPPOFF & love to know more about it in general. I'd love to see that one!

[Cheryl Harrell]

Another episode where Chico cries is the one where everyone thinks Ed had died cuz his obituary is in the newpaper but it's another Ed Brown that has died. At the end Chico asks Ed to eulogize him & tell him what he'd say at his service if he were to die. When Ed does the eulogy, Chico cries. That is weird that being in there considering what happened to Freddie...

I just figured out that's 8 episodes he's cried in...

[This message has been edited by Cheryl Harrell (edited 05-27-2001).]

[Cheryl Harrell]

Watching some CATM episodes tonite with my hubby I found another episode where Chico cries. It's the Bathtub episode where he wants to put in a bathrub for himself in the garage & the inspector won't let him live in hte van cuz it's against a city ordinance.

After the inspector guy leaves Chico is sitting on the stairs & he looks so sad like he's about to cry. Poor thing is in tears. Makes me want to put my arm around him & comfort him. He starts talking to Ed about how he's gonna be homeless again & he sounds so sad & down. When Louie walks into the garage, Chico gets up to talk to him. As he's walking towards Louie, Chico is wiping tears from his eyes with his fingers. Bless his heart!

So that's 9 episodes he's cried in that I know of. If I come across anymore I'll let you know...

[atlangel]

Cheryl, I was astounded when you mentioned the episode of CATM where the newspaper reports that another Ed Brown had passed on. The scene where Chico asks Ed to eulogize him is chilling! It is meant to be touching and humorous, but considering what happened, I am floored by it all. I have watched this one repeatedly and it really gets to me. Remember when Chico says to Ed, "What if I were to go?" And he looks up toward the heavens. Ed replies, "Stop it. You're too young to talk like that." How right Ed was. Then when Ed finishes with "Good Night, Sweet Prince (Prinze)!!!! I can't get over the terrible irony of this and so many other episodes with these death references.

[Cheryl Harrell]

That was chilling & nobody knew then what would happen to him. I can't figure out why Ed says "Goodnite Sweet Prinze" to Chico. It was the character of Chico he was talking to & not Freddie. Very strange...