CHICO AND THE MAN: MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about a cantankerous garage owner and his wisecracking Chicano assistant. In this episode, Della sweeps out Ed's office and he complains that his bathtub is backed up, causing the two to argue, as usual. Chico observes that Ed needs "a good woman," though his previous attempts to find Ed a mate through a dating service have failed. Just then, however, Della receives a phone call from a widowed friend of hers, Peggy, and she and Chico plot for Peggy to come in search of an expert mechanic's advice. Chico presents Ed with a new sweater just as Peggy arrives, saying that she needs Ed's "fabulous" help in inspecting her new car, and though he is unfriendly at first, he soon warms to her and the two flirt and head out on a test drive. Later, Chico tells Louie that Ed and Peggy have spent three evenings in a row together, and Ed happily prepares to take her to see a string quartet. However, Louie spills the beans about the set-up, and Ed is annoyed at Chico and Della's deception. Peggy swears that she was unaware of their meddling, but she is offended at Ed's attitude and leaves.
Chico asks Ed about his late wife, Margaret, and in describing their first meeting, Ed belatedly realizes that encounter too was a setup. He reconsiders his position just as Peggy returns to the garage, and the two apologize and make up. They continue their courtship, and Chico and Louie marvel at the possibility that the two may soon marry. Matters are complicated, however, when Peggy's snooty, bigoted son Lawrence arrives, outraged by his mother's relationship and believing that Ed is only interested in her money. An argument breaks out and Lawrence demands that Peggy choose between Ed and himself, and though she appears to leave with her son, she returns quickly and declares that she wants to be with Ed. They decide to put off marriage for the time being, but head off to Palm Springs together, and when Ed returns, he is in unusually good spirits, apparently not having minded the bad weather during their vacation. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: February 18, 1977 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:30:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:48022
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1974-1978
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- James Komack … Executive Producer, Created by
- Hal Kanter … Supervising Producer
- Michael Morris … Producer
- Thomas Hill … Associate Producer
- Jack Donahue … Director
- Si Rose … Writer
- Janna Merlyn Feliciano … Music by
- José Feliciano … Music by
- Jack Albertson … Cast, Ed Brown
- Freddie Prinze … Cast, Chico Rodriguez
- Della Reese … Cast, Della
- Scatman Crothers … Cast, Louie
- Jeff Donnell … Cast, Peggy
- Gary Dontzig … Cast, Lawrence