The TRUTH About "Chico and the Man" and Gabriel Melgar
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- Опубликовано: 27 сен 2024
- Here's an update on Gabriel Melgar, the young actor who was cast as Raul on the classic TV sitcom, "Chico and the Man" after the death of Freddie Prinze.
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This video is not intended for children under the age of 14. Quite frankly, kids...I'm just some random old dude talking about nostalgic TV and movie stuff from a really long time ago and I highly doubt that it is going to interest you.
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Thank you all. I will be 60 years old this year. And slowly healing from the exploitation. But i am proud to say that i was a soldier in the army and served my country well. I am now a disabled veteran. And having served saved my life. Thank you all for your kind words. I send you all my kindest regards.
Thanks for the update, Gabe. You are truly appreciated...and thank you for your service.
Just keep in mind that this was how the old folk handled stuff. Hide stuff in the closet, sweep it under the rug & let sleeping dogs lie.
However, I Absolutely loved you in Chico and the Man. You were a brilliant child star whom I'd totally forgotten about until I was watching Chico & the man & saw you on season 4. I looked for more shows you were in but it was very limited. I wish you'd pushed forward because you'd have no doubt risen to the top. Best wishes to you in whatever you do 🙂
@@64ster Thanks for your service.
Thanks Dave, and Thanks Gabriel. I very much enjoyed your performance as Raul, sorry to hear it caused so much pain. Praying you are well and have much happiness in your life now.
Aww that was heartbreaking to see the ending with the interview to hear the hope and excitement of a young man. Thank God he’s doing well now.
To Gabriel - I wasn't much younger than you at the time. After the episode where Ed found Raul in Mexico (after he'd run away) I had hopes that the show would continue on. Even then I wondered how Ed would deal with a kid as opposed to a more worldly adult like Chico. I identified with your character because of the van scene -- where Raul gets dumped on by everyone because he innocently made himself comfortable inside of Chico's van. Things like that happened to me quite frequently, believe it or not. Hearing that you were given hell after the show ended was a bummer.
Wish Mr. Melgar all the best.
Very good update, Dave. Thanks.
Many thanks
I have been watching Chico and the Man on a streaming service. One of my favorites growing up. The show was not the same without Freddie Prinze. I didn't watch the 4th season because of that, but maybe i will go back an watch it.
Thanks for sharing!
The episodes after Freddie are actually pretty good also.
@@robertshawiv1513 I am going to watch them starting tonight.
It never made sense that they didn't change the name. That's like calling Mork and Mindy, Mork and Mindy without Mork or Mindy.
@@kendallrivers1119 “Chico” in Spanish means a small, boy or child, so there was no need in changing the title. It was a reference, not an actual name.
I had the biggest crush on Gabriel, I always liked him and was only 7. How many great t.v show have been ruined by people who have no idea how to WRITE or PRODUCE? Answer- ALOT! For adding Gabriel to the show being I was only 7 years old watching another kid on t.v was fun for myself. Now watching reruns, I can only write HE WAS PERFECT for the part, shame on those old adults that allow the abuse to happen to him, in his own right, he was a very talented young man. Will you try and get an interview with him? Thanks for this update.
Gabriel come on to Dave show and meet with some wonderful people. This is a great community that will gladly welcome you with open arms and no hate. Please consider that.
Thanks for clearing that up. I had no idea Gabe went through all of that. The ignorance of people can be mind boggling sometimes. I’m glad he’s doing okay and was able to move on. I liked him as Chico. He did a good job. I also loved Freddie Prince. Depression is a horrible disease. I am sorry he didn’t get the help he needed.
Life can be so hard for child stars. I'm glad he's having a good life. Can you imagine getting all that hate mail?
Love your channel and nice to see Gabriel is doing fine. Im still sad about Freddie's passing. I never understood it as a kid and sadly now I understood it too much.
Freddie Prinze was friends with singer Tony Orlando who took Freddie's death badly and was in a downwards spiral. So much so he and the Dawn singers Telma Hopkins and Joyce Wilson. Tony did get off drugs, cleaned himself up and recently retired from performing. His last show featured his two fellow singers Telma and Joyce. This would be a great subject Dave on Tony who at 80 years old still produces and has a music show on WABC77 in New York
I think the story of what happened to Chico should’ve been the season opener or the previous season’s closer. You summed it up, Dave, by calling the 2 episodes as they came out “too little, much too late.”
Freddie prinze rest in peace 💙🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 6:44
I’m currently on the last season of Chico And the Man and have been wondering whatever happened to this great actor. Thank you. 👍🏻
Happy to help!
Gabriel could have carried the show going forward. It was basically an executive decision by the studio to cancel the show. Thanks for a great documentary on Gabriel!
You're most welcome. 🙂
Gabriel thanks for your efforts. I’ll always remember your scene with Mr. Albertson as a young kid watching discussing Mr. Prince character death. It left an impression with this viewer. Sorry about your circumstances afterwards to entertain people like me. Like Dave said I hope you and your family have happiness.Us 58 year olds have to stick together. Peace Sir👍🏼
I love it when actors get to see these wonderful tributes. Being respected and appreciated really matters. You know. I think they did a good job of the way they handled the narrative of the death. The problem is that a real person died. Had he just left the show the stoicism would have worked, leading to the reveal of the death. Since Freddie Prinze was actually dead and the audience knew it, there wasn’t a reveal. What should have happened was that the last episode of the third season they get the call he died. Fourth season you see him going through the stages of grief dealing with the death. Little Raul could be the catalyst that would help bring him out of his funk.
Thanks for sharing!
I only saw bits and pieces of this show, as one of the older people in my family tuned into NBC early to catch the latest episode of of Sanford and Son.
Gabe Melgar wasn't a bad fit to replace Freddie Prinze but at any rate, this was the beginning of the end for Chico and the Man.
It sure was. 😢
I loved Chico and the Man as a kid and was devastated when Freddie Prinze passed away. As a child it just made no sense. I loved Jack Albertson from Willie Wonka. I'm so sad to hear that Gabriel Melgar received so much abuse and hate at any age let alone a time when he was a young impressionable child. I loved your kind words, Dave 😊
Thanks for sharing!
@jdsundstrom thank you for the story 🙏
Poor guy and this was pre-internet. I remember when Freddie Prinze passed away but I was pretty young.
I think he was the first coherent celebrity death I ever witnessed at the time to my memory.
People need to remember that when they dislike a show or a character, don’t take it out on the actor…especially young newcomers. In the end, no one really needs to be hostile, it’s just a show.
While criticism for the producers of the show is warranted, it was inexcusable for any “fan” to hate on 12 year old Gabe. Did they actually think he made the decision to keep the show going? Did they think he had any say in the scripts? Those Gabe haters were not only cruel, but totally stupid. Glad that Gabe has made a fine life for himself.
Totally agree.
Wow… so wonderful to hear about Gabriel Melgar, and what happened to him on “Chico and the Man” I truly wish Gabriel all the best!
Dave, you are such a great guy…. Love your channel!👏
Thank you for the kind words.
When I saw jose feliciano last October he opened the show with the Chico and the man theme song.
So cool!
He was one of my favorites back then and still is. He and Stevie Wonder may have contributed to my becoming a specialist teacher for visually impaired children.
I’m gonna be seeing Charo in a few weeks was on the last season of Chico and the man playing that little boys aunt from Mexico
That whole situation was tragic and sad 😔 I thought it was terrible they didn't address that Chico had died right away.
And then they needed a scapegoat, so they used a child. You HAVE to LOVE Hollywood. Not at all.
Gabe, you were a bright 🌞 ✨️ light on that show at such a bad time. None of it was your fault. I'm glad you made it out the other side. And you're doing well now. 🙏
Gabriel's situation reminds me of the kid who played Seven in that one season of Married with Children. Yes, their characters hurt the shows severely and it never should've happened but people attacking both young actors is out of line. It's not their fault it was the producers that made the bad decisions. They were just kids taking acting roles. I'm glad Gabriel turned out well,though.
Wow. Glad Gabe is well. It wasn’t your fault Gabe!! Live strong.
The show should have been canceled. Period. This kid isn't at fault at all. How could they have gone on without Freddie Prinze? Absurd.
I did not watch Chico and the Man but I did enjoy seeing Gabriel on the episode of Love Boat that he appeared on. 👍
This show never did much for me, but I always liked the introduction and theme song.
Crazy the show didn't acknowledge Freddie's death on the show. He was one of the main characters. Selfish to add a young man & he take all criticism vs the producers.
Well said!
Didn’t really watch that show back then. I’m sorry that being in the show after Freddie caused him so much grief because of the bad decisions of others. Hopefully he’s doing ok.
Thanks for sharing Dave this piece of information and news always love learning buddy great video
Glad you enjoyed it, Cade!
Sure did Dave always enjoy buddy
Awesome job Dave
Thanks Tracy. I sure do appreciate your support. 🙂
great
I don't know if there was precedence for continuing a show after a main player committed suicide. If they addressed the characters death in the first few episodes of the last season maybe people would have just gotten too depressed watching what was supposed to be a light hearted show.
The show really never should have continued.
You could do a show on James Komack. He also did _Welcome Back, Kotter_. I really enjoyed him on _Courtship of Eddie's Father_.
Back then execs were more disrespectful to their stars. Case in point Alias Smith and Jones
Great video!
Thanks Steve!
Dave, not related to this video parts of the US had an earthquake of 4.8 magnitude. Did you feel it where you are? It only lasted a couple seconds!🤔🙆🌎🕵
Didn't feel it out here in Utah. We actually had a couple of big ones a few years ago. Definitely scary to feel the whole house shake!
Hello Dave
Hello 🙂
What 4th season episodes of chico and the man does gabriel melgar's character raul garcia run away to mexico?
Episodes 13 and 14
How come?
❤❤
👍👍👍📺🎥
'tearing me apart' is a james dean quote. rebel without a cause
Kid had one of the toughest jobs imaginable. Coming in after Freddie Prinze, ugh. Impossible. I think most agree the show should have ended when Prinze died, there was no one who could equal Freddie, let along a poor kid with no real experience. I'm glad he's doing well now, though. Nice video Dave!
📼Freddie Prinze had a son Freddie Prinze Jr. who is married to Sarah Michelle Gellar and have two children.🙋📺♥🙏
Freddie Prinze Jr. starred in the first two live action Scooby Doo movies as well.
@@jdsundstrom Yes and don't forget Sarah Michelle Gellar was also in both live action Scooby Doo! Movies with Freddy Prinze Jr. Not to mention they were also both in "I Know What You Did Last Summer." 🐕🦺🔎🌂🎥
Sarah was also Buffy, The Vampire Slayer.
I originally, I started watching because of Albertson (mostly from happy memories of Willy Wonka) I was a big fan of the show, and devastated by Freddie's death. No, Gabriel was not to blame. As I recall, he was giving it his all. The writing was awkward as you say as they didn't address a lot with regard to Freddie. I don't doubt it was rough on Gabriel and very sorry to hear how he was treated.
Gabriel felt the sting of "social media" long before the technology even existed. Thanks for all your support, Sean.
Freddie Prince was the first experience I had with death. I knew old people died, but I didn't know that someone so popular and so young could just disappear. Even today, it's still hard to watch the DVDs. He was the coolest guy I had ever seen. I'm so glad his son has built a great family.
I wish Gabe all the best... He had an impossible job, but he did it...
Thanks for sharing, Michael!
As a kid, I watched "Chico And The Man" every Friday night. I remember Freddie's death being all over the news. It was a shock...No one expected it since he was a rising star. It's too bad that Mr. Melgar went through all of the drama that he experienced as a young kid. He did a great job considering he had big shoes to fill. Hope he's living well today. Great video.
That kid was about the same age as me, and I thought he was so cute! I was too young to understand the impact of Freddie Prince's suicide, but I remember my Grandmother and Mother were so sad about what happened to that show. I thought the new Chico was a little cutie to me as an 11-year-old girl. Gabriel, if you look at this, I loved you on that show and other shows I saw you in during the 1970s. Thank you for sharing your talent with us, then, and I truly hope you have had a happy life after everything settled down. You were a memorable part of my childhood. Bless you.
Thanks for sharing, Debbie D. I truly appreciate your support!
@@jdsundstrom well it's like what happens to a lot of child stars it's been going on since the 50s
This is a heart tugger!
Thats so much pressure to put on such a little guy!!
I pray he is happy & content now!!!
Thank you, Dave!
👍👍
Way too much pressure...and, for some reason, he shouldered much of the blame when the show was canceled.
Gabe was such a cute kid. I think I remember him on Chico. Sad he received backlash. The show should have been cancelled but money rules in Hollywood. Glad that Gabe has a rewarding career. Thanks Dave. 🌞
Im 63 and loved the show Thankyou Dave for sharing this and more power to you Gabriel for you are a beautiful person who should never have been exposed to that situation. as a child The adults in charge failed in their duty of care to ensure your wellbeing But they couldn't see past the dollar.
Thank you for talking about Gabriel Dave. It’s nice to hear how someone is doing after being part of a show many decades ago and there hasn’t been a whole lot talked about them, such as the case with Gabriel. Keep up the great work Dave and take care!
You're most welcome, Cade. And, thank you for your comments.
That was an impossible situation to put a little kid into. I'm glad to hear Mr. Melgar is doing ok. It's awful to hear that he received so much hate for a situation and decisions that weren't his doing. The idea of pairing Jack Albertson with a little kid for a "found family" kind of TV show could have worked...if it didn't have the sad history of Freddie Prinze hanging over it. Similar shows became popular a few years later, like "Punky Brewster" and "Webster". But trying to re-tool "Chico and the Man" without Chico...well, we see what happened. I don't think addressing Chico's/Freddie's absence earlier in the revised show would have helped...it was just too sad for a sitcom kind of format, unless you had extraordinarily talented writers. Not every writer is Norman Lear.
Aww poor Gabriel was like “Cousin Oliver” and Ted McKinley both hired on shows that already “jumped the shark”. Some shows just don’t know when to quit. Chico and the Man was due to unforeseen circumstances but they could have handled it much better and given both actors more respect.
Totally agree, RP!
That is sad, I am glad he found a rewarding career. I recall my elders did not like the show very much after Freddie died. I was 8 when he passed, and recall like it was yesterday wen my granny told us she heard about his death on the radio. What a shock!
Ted did well on "Married with Children", was on longer than "Steve". So don't assume all he did was 'ruin shows'.
I remember the tragic circumstances around Chico and the Man. We still gathered around the TV to watch it. Back then, very few shows were brave enough to tackle tough subjects. I'm glad Gabriel is doing well!
Thanks for sharing your memories, Nicki!
I just finished watching the whole season of chico and the man on tubi
One semi regular on the show was Charo in the last season. That is the major thing I’m gonna be talking to her about when I see her at Chiller at the end of this month.
Thanks for always keeping it positive, Dave. So many channels are nothing but clickbait trash and misinformation. You do awesome research and it's obvious you put work into your channel. It's nice to have a channel I can go to for some wholesome entertainment. You're a good-spirited person! Have a great day!
Thank you so much for your kind words.
Yes, Dave is very respectful and doesn't "snark" like too many about the 70's and 80's.
Thanks for satisfying my curiosity on what actually happened on the 4th season I i appreciate that i never blamed gabriel Melgar, sometimes the big wigs at the studios , make the wrong decisions and it effects a lot of people. Albert
I didn't get to see much of this show in the 1970's,but i can only imagine what this show meant to certain communities. 👍
Absolutely!
I blame Charo !!! 😂
Me too!
Thank you for sharing this video. I came here as a result of a search for Mr. Melgar. I was a year younger than Freddie Prinze and enjoyed his work since I first saw him on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. I had just started college and would watch the show with friends and siblings. I graduated early, so I was in the second semester of my first year of teaching art. When Freddie died, the kids and I were sad, and that was all they talked about that day. For the shows last season, I had heard of Mr. Melgar and saw pictures of him, but I was taking grad classes at night and didn't get to watch TV. Recently, I was excited to discover the show on Tubi, and I've been watching episodes, so I've been able to see what I missed -- Mr. Melgar's part in the show as Raul Garcia. He was so cute! I am sorry to discover how the transition was done and the toll it took on a child actor who was not at fault for the actions of adults. I'm also glad to have my questions answered and to know that Gabriel Melgar is doing well.
Thanks for sharing, Kathy!
@@jdsundstrom you're welcome.
Am 62 yrs old....was a teenager during the years the show aired .. Remember the young man and episode of James Komam(Executive Producer) way of explaining Freddy Prince departure of said show ...But Didn't Tony Orlando (playing Chico's cousin) continued show for if am correct at least 2 sessions....But clean for over 25: years from " Heroin". Did I emagined Tony Orlando during one of many really bad "kicking cold turkey"….sign Clean but confused..✌️
Tony made one appearance on the show during season two.
Orlando played a look-alike who had dated a girl that Chico liked. She does not date Chico in the episode because he reminds her of him. She claimed to hate Orlnado's character because of his cheating ways. Jose Feliciano played Chico's cousin, a famous musician, in a different episode.
Great 😊
i remember that change in cast. of course, that means i watched the show (mom had it on). lol
Dave, perhaps u might do a Top Ten list of 'when a cast (from a series died) member was changed/or just removed from a tv series.
eg: Dallas had a death. the Walton's. // just a thought. //have a good weekend