Chico and the Man is the first situation comedy (Sitcom) that premiered in 1974 to co-star a Chicano as a main character. This sitcom tackled the never ending racial divide between race and culture through laughter that Los Angeles was going though at that time.
This first episode is centered around two unlikely characters Ed Brown (Frank Albertson) a white Anglo Saxon and a young Chicano named Chico Rodriguez (Freddie Prinze). Ed Brown is a bigoted, cranky, and aging widowed owner of a rundown Auto shop. He has been witnessing his neighborhood’s racial changes which he’s having hard time accepting. Chico is a former Vietnam veteran who is looking to have his piece of the American dream in partnering with Ed to revive his failing garage.
How this show reinforces stereotypes is best illustrated by an example of this series’ episode. This contains many insulting stereotypes for example: In the beginning of this episode when Ed meets Chico for the first time, Chico tells Ed he’s looking for a job and points out that his shop looks like a basurero, Ed replies, “what’s that supposed to mean?” Chico replies, “it means junkyard.” Ed tells him to leave, “…take your flies with you. Chico replies, “Your flies!? Ed remarks, “You people got flies all around here, and while you’re standing here, your flies are getting together with my flies and making more fly…now leave.” Chico replies, “This is my neighborhood too.”
Another is when Chico tells Ed he’s not looking for a job; he wants to be a team. Ed responds, “Everybody knows your people are lazy. Even if I did give you a job; you wouldn’t show up; you’d be too busy taking a siesta.” He also tells Chico not to think; he lacks the equipment.
Near the end of the episode, two officers stop by Ed’s shop and encounter Chico. They question him asking if he’s seeing anyone matching a description of the perpetrator: “over 6 feet tall, about 185 pounds, Hispanic decent, dark brown eyes, long black hair, wears a thin mustache…” describing someone that looks exactly like him. At that point, Chico puts his hands up, turns around, places his hands on the of the hood of the car, and assumes the position for a pat-down. I’m reminded by what Fregoso states, “…in dominant practices of representation, the differential relation between Rudy and the retired couple…Rudy signifies a “sleazy”, “greasy”, dark-skinned, Medellin-cartel drug runner, whereas the elderly couple is a signifier of “innocent” American tourists.” (p. 59)
All throughout this episode, Ed constantly insults Chico with racial stereotypical ethnic slurs but it’s at those times when Chico tries to see the good in everyone and takes every opportunity to correct Ed with humor with acute comebacks about his great culture and pointing out they are very similar in many ways then they are different.
Reference
Fregoso, R. L. (1993). The bronze screen: Chicana and Chicano film culture. Retrieved from http://ebookcentral.proquest.com Created from csudh on 2019-10-27 14:04:20.
Hi Cindy Lou,
Although I have not seen this show it is fascinating to see how sitcoms used to be. Not that they are much better now but I feel that I have not yet seen any quite like those in the 60’s and 70’s. Television was just becoming main stream in the 70’s and I can only imagine that Hollywood believed that this kind of racial profiling would go over better with the masses if it was used through comedic relief. I always wonder if shows like his or like Speedy Gonzalez would go over as well in today’s social climate and with today’s social awareness?
Hi Cindy Lou,
I have never seen Chico and the Man but I cannot imagine sitting through an episode without getting outraged. I find it hard to believe that the type of racial comments in this show was considered funny less than 50 years ago! It makes me feel that perhaps there is still a lot of work to do in the portrayal of Chicanos/Latinos in media because it was not that long ago and the same sentiments might still exist in society. I am hopeful that the future looks better.
I’ve always found the stereotype of “the lazy Mexican” to be an interesting one. The description of the scene where Chico says he wants to be partners with Ed and Ed responding that “his people are always taking a siesta” is a perfect example of how this stereotype is juxtapositional. Chico is explicitly saying that he wants to work and thinks a partnership would be mutually beneficial for both parties. He is directly stating that he wants to be productive and earn a living wage and is far from lazy. In this review it is mentioned that Chico has fought for the U.S. in his time in the service and that in itself shows he is willing to do the hard work but he is facing discrimination because of his ethnic background.
Today, some of the lowest paid workers in California are recent Mexican immigrants/migrants yet the stereotype still lives on that the Mexicans who are here are lazy and looking for a free ride but that is simply not the case. It is demonstrated by the type of work that is available and being done by this same group of people.
I read that this comedy show was the first Chicano main character comedy in 1974. That means before 1974, there were no Chicano main characters. As an analysis, it talked about the race and culture through laughter. I was wondering if the issues between the “Chico and the Man” and “Born in the East LA” were similar or different. I definitely would like to watch this film.