MovieChat Forums > Chico and the Man (1974) Discussion > Thank heavens this show wasn't produced ...

Thank heavens this show wasn't produced in the 80s

posted 17 years ago by denny_crane
16 replies | jump to latest

If this show had been produced a decade later, they would have handled the death of Freddie Prinze much differently. Can't you just imagine it? If the show were being filmed during the Nancy Reagan, "Just Say NO!" era, instead of writing out Chico's character, they would have filmed a big, preachy, one-hour funeral episode for Chico to "teach" kids about the dangers of drugs.

At the end of the episode, Jack Albertson, Scatman Crothers, and Della Reese would have stepped out of character.

Albertson: Good evening. As many of you know, we, the cast and crew of Chico and Man, recently lost our friend, Freddie Prinze.

Crothers: At this terrible time, we ask you to join us in offering our condolences to Freddie's family... to his wife, Kathy, his baby son, Freddie Jr., and to his parents, Karl and Maria.

Reese: What makes this moment especially sad for us is knowing that the death of our friend, Freddie, could have been prevented.

Albertson: That's right. You see, Freddie had a serious problem. That problem was drugs.

Crothers: Like so many others, Freddie used drugs, not realizing how dangerous they could be.

Reese: Drugs have destroyed so many lives, and now we have lost our close friend. A young man who had everything to live for is gone.

Crothers: Parents... talk to your kids about the dangers of drugs. Tell them to "Just say NO!"

Albertson: If you have a problem with drugs, get help. Talk to a doctor, a family member, or someone else you trust. Or call the national substance abuse hotline at 1-800-NO-DRUGS. Don't let what happened to Freddie happen to you. *voice breaking with emotion* We love you, Freddie, and we miss you.

*cheesy studio applause*

*fade to a montage of clips of Chico in slow motion set to sappy music, ending with a still photo of a smiling Freddie Prinze with the caption "Goodbye Chico! Freddie Prinze 1954-1977"*

It would have been AWFUL!

[–] strikematch 17 years ago

So true. I can just visualize it.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] denny_crane 17 years ago

"I don't see anything wrong with a tribute after the show."

I never said all tributes were bad. Tasteful tributes to deceased people are okay, just not those 80s style, cheesy tributes. Those slow-motion, set-to-music montages they used to do were ridiculous. And sitcoms are definitely not the right medium to preach about "the dangers of drugs" (or about most social issues, for that matter). It's just embarrassing to everyone involved.

"Perhaps you need to experience something like it to better understand it."

Experience something like what?

[–] strikematch 17 years ago

What denny__crane said.

[–] trollomatic 8 years ago

>>>And sitcoms are definitely not the right medium to preach about "the dangers of drugs" (or about most social issues, for that matter). It's just embarrassing to everyone involved.

agreed. However, those were the 1970's sitcoms that did that, not the 1980's.

"All in the Family"

"The Jeffersons"

"Good Times"

"What's Happening"

"Sanford & Son"

M*A*S*H

Mork & Mindy

etcetera.

[–] gerard-21 17 years ago

Are you on drugs, Denny? Your thought process certainly is a sypmtom of it.

[–] denny_crane 16 years ago

"Are you on drugs, Denny? Your thought process certainly is a sypmtom of it."

That's a rather scurrilous accusation. No, for the record, I do not take drugs.

[–] romprime2000 16 years ago

You tell em denny i dont take drugs to. what happen to dear freddie was so sad. i use to watch him on tv. on chico and the man. he reminds me of my dad. who to has passed away for ten years now. its been 30 years since freddie died. and to this day he still has many fans. i being one of them. we love and miss you freddie sr.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] w22nuschler 16 years ago

You liberals never change. Your hatred for conservatives and good people like the Reagan's make me sick. It's like it's your religion to hate.

[–] denny_crane 16 years ago

"You liberals never change. Your hatred for conservatives and good people like the Reagan's make me sick. It's like it's your religion to hate."

Are you sure you're on the right thread? We're talking about Chico and the Man, not American politics. I'm not even American and I started the thread, so I'm not sure where you're getting the "liberal" label or suggesting I hate anybody, whatever their political persuasion. I don't. I happen to think the whole "Just say no" thing was childish and silly. I'm sure a lot of so-called conservatives would agree with me. Where precisely in my post did I use the words "I hate Reagan"? Because I don't see it there.

The world isn't divided among "Republicans" and "Democrats", particularly not for those of us who don't even live in the U.S., so let's not try to put labels where they don't belong. Grow up.

[–] MaGuFu_Day 15 years ago

Tasteful tributes to deceased people are okay, just not those 80s style, cheesy tributes. Those slow-motion, set-to-music montages they used to do were ridiculous. And sitcoms are definitely not the right medium to preach about "the dangers of drugs" (or about most social issues, for that matter).

Yeah I think they did that with Belushi. I know SCTV did a tribute to their Second City brother. Don't know if they did that "dangers of drugs" speech cause it was taken off the DVD.

Thats why Nancy Reagan did that ish cause people in the 70's was wildin'-out then. I wish I was alive then just to experience the sex(60's to).

R.I.P. F.P.S. 100%

IMDB's most overlooked poster,giving you true posts since 2001J-Dilla 4-Eva

[–] trollomatic 12 years ago

<<<If this show had been produced a decade later, they would have handled the death of Freddie Prinze much differently. Can't you just imagine it? If the show were being filmed during the Nancy Reagan, "Just Say NO!" era, instead of writing out Chico's character, they would have filmed a big, preachy, one-hour funeral episode for Chico to "teach" kids about the dangers of drugs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ih4tBBiPTc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JtGRftla-0

]

[–] Balberith 10 years ago

Well I think drugs can be and are dangerous as was proven with Freddie Prinze, and also John Belushi, Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, Brian Jones, Keith Moon, Amy Winehouse, and so many others.

"A real man would rather bow down to a strong woman than dominate a weak one"

[–] coreycitn63 9 years ago

Freddie Prinze died from a self inflicted gunshot wound.

[–] mactach 8 years ago

SHUT UP DENNY.