Editing Chico and the Man (section)

==Conception==
The series was created by [[James Komack]] who produced other successful TV shows such as ''[[The Courtship of Eddie's Father (TV series)|The Courtship of Eddie's Father]]'' and ''[[Welcome Back, Kotter]]''. Comedians [[Cheech Marin]] and [[Tommy Chong]] (better known as the comedic duo [[Cheech & Chong]]) have stated that Komack followed the comedians on tour for three months;<ref name=NPR>{{Cite episode | title =Cheech And Chong Reunite, At Long Last | url =https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123074365 | access-date =2012-07-11 | series = Talk of the Nation | series-link =Talk of the Nation | credits =Presenter: [[Neal Conan]] | network =National Public Radio | date =2010-01-28}}</ref><ref name=CHONG>{{cite book |title=Cheech & Chong: The Unauthorized Autobiography |last=Chong |first=Tommy |author-link=Tommy Chong |year=2009 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1439153529 |page=159 }}</ref> Chong wrote in his 2009 book ''Cheech & Chong: The Unauthorized Autobiography'' that Komack based the show on Cheech and Chong skits titled "The Old Man in the Park" and "Pedro and Man" and had acknowledged that fact to Chong after the television series' release.<ref name=CHONG/> Cheech and Chong have both stated that Komack had originally approached them to star in the show, but they turned down the offer, preferring to stick to films.<ref name=NPR/><ref name=CHONG/>

Komack told the [[Associated Press]] that he first tried working with Cheech and Chong on a show about a [[Chicano]] and a [[Nisei]].<ref name=LAKELAND>{{cite news |title='Chico' Had Rocky Beginning |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KFtNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C_sDAAAAIBAJ&dq=chico%20and%20the%20man%20cheech%20and%20chong&pg=6939%2C6835844 |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=Lakeland Ledger |date=1975-04-28 |access-date=2012-07-11}}</ref> Komack said he decided to make the show about a young Chicano and a "seventh-generation [[White Anglo-Saxon Protestant|WASP]]" after he and the comedy team "couldn't get it together".<ref name=LAKELAND/>

NBC suggested someone like Jack Albertson as Ed/"The Man", and Komack approached him. Though not impressed with the pilot script, Albertson agreed on the trust of Komack's reputation. Freddie Prinze was discovered by Komack who received a recommendation from a friend who saw Prinze's appearance on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]'' in December 1973. Komack thought he would be perfect for the role of Chico Rodriguez. Though initially rejected by NBC executives, he stood out against two other finalists in testing.<ref name=LAKELAND/>