CHiPs
Encyclopedia
CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM
Studios (now owned by Turner Entertainment
) that originally aired on NBC
from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol
. The series ran for 139 episodes over six seasons.
The show was created by Rick Rosner
, and starred Erik Estrada
as macho, rambunctious Officer Francis ("Frank") "Ponch" Poncherello and Larry Wilcox
as his straight-laced partner, Officer Jonathan "Jon" Baker. With Ponch the more trouble-prone of the pair, and Jon generally the more level-headed one trying to keep him out of trouble with the duo's gruff yet fatherly commanding officer Sergeant Joseph Getraer (Robert Pine
), the two were Highway Patrolmen of the Central Los Angeles office of the California Highway Patrol
(CHP, hence the name CHiPs).
As real-life CHP motor officers rarely ride in pairs, in early episodes this was explained away by placing the trouble-prone Ponch on probationary status, with Jon assigned as his field training officer. Eventually, by the end of the first season, this subplot faded away (Ponch completed his probation) as audiences were used to seeing the two working as a team.
over a dispute over syndication profits. As a result he did not appear in seven episodes; for that period he was replaced by Bruce Jenner
(Officer Steve McLeish). Despite their successful pairing on-screen, Wilcox and Estrada did not always get along behind the camera. However, it was Wilcox's falling-out with the producers over what he saw as continual favoritism towards Estrada that saw Wilcox not return for the sixth and final season. Wilcox was replaced by Tom Reilly (Officer Bobby Nelson). 1981
and 1982 Speedway World Champion
and Los Angeles
native Bruce Penhall
was also introduced as cadet–probationary officer Bruce Nelson, Bobby's younger brother in 1982–83.
Estrada apparently did not approve of Reilly's work ethic and was very displeased with Reilly's real life arrest by the LAPD
for possession of controlled substances during a traffic stop. As a result, Bobby was featured much less prominently in later episodes of the season, with Bruce taking his place for most of the remainder episodes.
article, show creator Rick Rosner was a reserve deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
. During a coffee break on an evening patrol shift in the mid-1970s he saw two young CHP officers on motorcycles which gave him the idea for this series. He later created 240-Robert
, which seemed like a hybrid of "CHiPs" and Emergency!
.
The character of Ponch was originally conceived to be Italian ("Poncherini"), but when Erik Estrada won the part, the character was changed to Hispanic American.
Episodes occasionally reference Jon Baker's service in Vietnam
. This makes his character one of the earliest regular (and one of the more positive) portrayals of a Vietnam Veteran
on television. Larry Wilcox served 13 months in Vietnam as a Marine
artilleryman.
Though public perception links the later P-Series Kawasaki Police Special
with the series, in fact they rode the C-Series Kawasaki, which had an oval windshield rather than the later model's fiberglass fairing.
Filming locations were generally in the San Fernando Valley
of California. Freeway crashes were performed on recently constructed highways that were not yet open to the public. For the first season, the Glendale Freeway (Highway 2) in Montrose, California was used. After the first season, the intersection of the Foothill Freeway (Interstate 210
) and the Simi Valley Freeway (Highway 118
) in Sylmar, California were used. For the racing scenes in the episode "Drive, Lady, Drive" they used the Riverside International Raceway
in Riverside, California
.
Although doubles were used for far-off shots and various stunt or action sequences, Wilcox and Estrada did a great deal of their own motorcycle riding, and performed many smaller stunts themselves. Although Wilcox emerged relatively injury-free, Estrada suffered various injures several times throughout the run of the series. In several early first season episodes, a huge bruise or scar can be seen on his arm after he was flung from one of the motorcycles and skidded along the ground.
But his worst accident came when he was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident while filming a season three episode in August 1979, fracturing several ribs and breaking both wrists. The accident and Estrada's subsequent hospitalization was incorporated into the series' storyline.
Prior to being cast in CHiPs Estrada had no experience with motorcycles, so he underwent an intensive eight-week course, learning how to ride. In 2007 it was revealed that he didn't hold a motorcycle license at the time CHiPs was in production, and only qualified for a license after three attempts, while preparing for an appearance on a reality television show, Back To The Grind.
Estrada and Wilcox never drew their firearms over the course of the series. (This did occur in the made-for-TV reunion movie CHiPs '99
.) The only character on the series depicted as drawing his firearm was Baricza (Brodie Greer), and he did so three times. The first was his radio car's Ithaca 37
shotgun in Season 1's episode "Rainy Day", where the CHiPs conduct a felony traffic stop of a motorhome-based casino. The second was in Season 2's premiere, Peaks and Valleys", against two hillbillies armed with a Tommy-gun and a double-barrel shotgun who had ambushed his unattended patrol car for fun. Here the action was only implied, with his hand/wrist motion just below camera range. The last was in Season 4's "Karate", in which a karate-trained car burglar (Danny Bonaduce
) attacked him with a Bō
, but wisely retreated to a getaway van when Baricza drew his gun.
NBC
aired reruns of this series on its daytime schedule from April–September 1982.
During the original run of the series, syndicated rerun
s of older episodes were retitled CHiPs Patrol to avoid confusion. Later syndicated reruns after the show went out of production reverted to the original title.
Initially, before John Parker did his now iconic theme music, award winning television composer Mike Post—who scored a few episodes in the first season, did a theme which was not used. To this day it has not been heard. Some of television's most famous themes ever were composed by Post, including: "Quantum Leap", "The Rockford Files", "Hill Street Blues", and "Magnum, P.I." (among dozens of others)
. A typical episode would start with Ponch and Jon on routine patrol or being assigned to an interesting beat, such as Malibu or the Sunset Strip
. In roll call briefing, Sgt. Getraer would alert his officers to be on the lookout for a particular criminal operation, such as people staging accidents as part of an insurance scam or punks breaking into cars. A few interesting, unrelated vignettes
often transpired during the course of "routine" traffic enforcement. A light-hearted subplot would also be included, such as Harlan trying to hide a stray dog from Getraer at the office. A more serious theme, such as Ponch trying to keep a kid from his old neighborhood out of a potential life of crime, might also be included. After a few failed attempts to apprehend the gang that had been menacing L.A.'s freeways, the episode would invariably culminate in Ponch and Jon leading a chase of the suspects (often assisted by other members of their division), climaxing with a spectacular series of stunt vehicle crashes. The show then typically featured a dénouement of Ponch and Jon participating in a new activity (such as jet skiing
or skydiving), designed to showcase the pair's glamorous Southern California
lifestyle. Often, Ponch would attempt to impress a woman he had met during the episode with his athletic prowess or disco dancing, only to fail and provide Jon, Getraer, and others with many laughs. As the preliminary end credits would start, the image would freeze multiple times, showing various characters laughing or otherwise enjoying the social scene.
in the late 1970s. Due to the materials used to construct the figures, many of them have discolored (typically turning green) or started to decompose over the years, making good conditioned examples quite hard to find on the collectors market. There was also a series of six diecast model vehicles produced by Imperial Toys.
In the UK, as was common with many popular US series of the era, a series of tie-in annuals
were produced by World International Publishing Ltd, containing stories, photos, puzzles and features on the stars. There are four annuals in total, one each for 1980–83.
In 2006, a limited edition soundtrack
was released on CD by Turner Classic Movies' music division via Film Score Monthly
, featuring the original recordings of the main theme by John Parker and in-episode musical scores from many episodes of the second season, as composed and conducted by Alan Silvestri
(Silvestri also arranged the theme as heard from season two onwards, and it's this version that's heard here – the soundtrack album also includes the "Trick or Treat" score composed and conducted by Bruce Broughton
, his only work for the series). In 2008, music from the third season was released; an album of music from the fourth season followed in 2010.
sequel entitled CHiPs '99
was created by TNT
, as the network's parent company owns the rights to the show.
In 2003, a new series of CHiPs was to be made in San Francisco with a new cast. Martin Kunert
and Eric Manes
wrote the pilot script for Doug Liman
to direct. However, the network that ordered the remake, NBC, decided not to pursue the new series.
In 2005, a theatrical release motion picture version of the show was announced, starring Wilmer Valderrama
as Ponch. The movie is tentatively set to be released in 2011. Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox are rumored to make cameo appearances. The choice of Valderrama as Ponch will not be the first time that the actor has played the character of Ponch. In a 2002 episode of MADtv
, Valderrama and fellow That '70s Show
cast member Danny Masterson
were featured in two parodies of CHiPs, which featured the two actors as Ponch and Baker respectively. Mila Kunis
also appeared in the second sketch. In a 2002 episode of That '70s Show, Valderrama's character, Fez, was seen in the "most likely" section of the yearbook as "most likely to appear as Ponch in a musical version of CHiPs".
In the United Kingdom, it was broadcast by ITV
. As with many imported programmes of the era, despite being very popular, the show was not networked for most of its run, with each region instead showing the series in their own selected timeslot, and episodes were quite often shown out of sequence from their original US order. Many regions showed much of the series in a Saturday tea-time slot around 17:35, although later this went on to cause a scheduling clash for fans of such US imports, as it clashed with BBC Ones run of The Dukes of Hazzard
(in the days before video recorders
were commonplace).
For the last couple of seasons, most regions ran the series in a Saturday lunch-time 13:20 slot, interspread with runs of Airwolf
(which began production the year after CHiPs finished, but many regions still had many CHiPs episodes yet to show). Although the show finished production in 1983, many regions did not complete their runs of the series until the later 1980s, in some cases almost ten years after the show had first appeared.
has released the first two seasons of "CHiPs" on DVD in Regions 1, 2 & 4. Seasons 1 and 2 are also available for purchase at the online iTunes Store
.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
Studios (now owned by Turner Entertainment
Turner Entertainment
Turner Entertainment Company, Inc. is an American media company founded by Ted Turner. Now owned by Time Warner, the company is largely responsible for overseeing its library for worldwide distribution Turner Entertainment Company, Inc. (commonly known as Turner Entertainment Co.) is an American...
) that originally aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol
California Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol is a law enforcement agency of the U.S. state of California. The CHP has patrol jurisdiction over all California highways and also acts as the state police....
. The series ran for 139 episodes over six seasons.
Synopsis
CHiPs was a lightweight action crime drama, which included elements of comedy in every episode (several of the first season episodes play as out-and-out comedies). Over-the-top freeway pileups, which occurred in almost every episode, were a signature of the show. There was little if any actual violence on CHiPs, and the show can be classified as a dramedy. The episodes filled a standard hour-long time slot, which at the time required 48 minutes of actual programming.The show was created by Rick Rosner
Rick Rosner
Richard G. "Rick" Rosner is an American television writer and media figure known for his high intelligence test scores and his unusual career. He is reported to have achieved some of the highest scores ever recorded on IQ tests designed to measure exceptional intelligence. He has become known for...
, and starred Erik Estrada
Erik Estrada
Henry Enrique "Erik" Estrada is an American police officer and actor, known for his co-starring lead role in the 1977–1983 United States police television series CHiPs...
as macho, rambunctious Officer Francis ("Frank") "Ponch" Poncherello and Larry Wilcox
Larry Wilcox
Larry Wilcox is an American actor, best known for his role as Officer Jonathan "Jon" Baker in CHiPs, an American television series.-Military service:...
as his straight-laced partner, Officer Jonathan "Jon" Baker. With Ponch the more trouble-prone of the pair, and Jon generally the more level-headed one trying to keep him out of trouble with the duo's gruff yet fatherly commanding officer Sergeant Joseph Getraer (Robert Pine
Robert Pine
Robert Pine is an American actor who has starred on television and in film. He is probably best known for his role as Sgt. Joseph Getraer on the hit NBC television series CHiPs from 1977 to 1983.-Personal life:...
), the two were Highway Patrolmen of the Central Los Angeles office of the California Highway Patrol
California Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol is a law enforcement agency of the U.S. state of California. The CHP has patrol jurisdiction over all California highways and also acts as the state police....
(CHP, hence the name CHiPs).
As real-life CHP motor officers rarely ride in pairs, in early episodes this was explained away by placing the trouble-prone Ponch on probationary status, with Jon assigned as his field training officer. Eventually, by the end of the first season, this subplot faded away (Ponch completed his probation) as audiences were used to seeing the two working as a team.
Cast changes
In the fifth season (1981–1982) Estrada went on strikeStrike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
over a dispute over syndication profits. As a result he did not appear in seven episodes; for that period he was replaced by Bruce Jenner
Bruce Jenner
William Bruce Jenner is a former U.S. track and field athlete, motivational speaker, socialite and television personality. He won the gold medal for decathlon in the Montreal 1976 Summer Olympics....
(Officer Steve McLeish). Despite their successful pairing on-screen, Wilcox and Estrada did not always get along behind the camera. However, it was Wilcox's falling-out with the producers over what he saw as continual favoritism towards Estrada that saw Wilcox not return for the sixth and final season. Wilcox was replaced by Tom Reilly (Officer Bobby Nelson). 1981
1981 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1981 Individual Speedway World Championship.1981 was the last of a record 26 times that London's famous Wembley Stadium hosted the World Final.-World final:*September 5, 1981 London, Wembley Stadium*Referee: Sam Bass-Heat Results:...
and 1982 Speedway World Champion
1982 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1982 Individual Speedway World Championship.1982 was the only time the Individual World Final was held outside of the United Kingdom or Europe before the advent of the Speedway Grand Prix series in 1995.-World final:...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
native Bruce Penhall
Bruce Penhall
Bruce Lee Penhall is a retired American motorcycle speedway racer who also starred in television and in film. He was the World Speedway Champion in 1981 and 1982 and rode for the successful Cradley Heath Heathens speedway team in the United Kingdom...
was also introduced as cadet–probationary officer Bruce Nelson, Bobby's younger brother in 1982–83.
Estrada apparently did not approve of Reilly's work ethic and was very displeased with Reilly's real life arrest by the LAPD
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
for possession of controlled substances during a traffic stop. As a result, Bobby was featured much less prominently in later episodes of the season, with Bruce taking his place for most of the remainder episodes.
Cast of characters
- Larry WilcoxLarry WilcoxLarry Wilcox is an American actor, best known for his role as Officer Jonathan "Jon" Baker in CHiPs, an American television series.-Military service:...
as Officer Jonathan A. Baker (1977–1982) / 7-Mary-3 - Erik EstradaErik EstradaHenry Enrique "Erik" Estrada is an American police officer and actor, known for his co-starring lead role in the 1977–1983 United States police television series CHiPs...
as Officer Francis (Frank) Llewelyn "Ponch" Poncherello / 7-Mary-4 (15-Mary-6 in the final season) - Robert PineRobert PineRobert Pine is an American actor who has starred on television and in film. He is probably best known for his role as Sgt. Joseph Getraer on the hit NBC television series CHiPs from 1977 to 1983.-Personal life:...
as Sergeant Joseph (Joe) Getraer / S-4 - Lew Saunders as Officer Gene Fritz (1977–1979) / 5-David-5
- Brodie GreerBrodie GreerBrodie Greer is an American actor, best known for his role as Officer Barry "Bear" Baricza on CHiPs. Greer appeared in 53 episodes between 1977 and 1982...
as Officer Barry Baricza (1977–1982) / 7-Adam - Paul LinkePaul LinkePaul Linke is an American actor, known for his role as Officer Artie Grossman in CHiPs, a television series about the motorcycle officers of the California Highway Patrol. Linke has worked in film and extensively in television, mostly portraying mild-mannered everyman roles.Linke was born in New...
as Officer Arthur (Artie) "Grossie" Grossman / 7-Mary-5 - Lou WagnerLou Wagner- Filmography :* Raising Hope ** episode Blue Dots ... as lawyer* Artificially Speaking ... as Dr. Lionel Bainbridge* My Name Is Earl** episode Stole P's HD Cart ... as Mr. Covington* Yes, Dear...
as Harlan Arliss, Automobile/Motorcycle Mechanic, CHP (1978–1983) - Brianne LearyBrianne LearyBrianne Banigan Leary is an American actress and inventor. She was the host of The Disney Channel's Walt Disney World Inside Out and Animal Planet's Petsburgh USA....
as Officer Sindy Cahill (1978–1979) / 7-Charles - Randi OakesRandi OakesRandi Oakes is an American actress and fashion model. Active in the 1970s and early 1980s, she is probably best known for her role as Officer Bonnie Clark on the television series CHiPs, a role she played from 1979 to 1982...
as Officer Bonnie Clark (1979–1982) / 7-Charles - Michael DornMichael DornMichael Dorn is an American actor, and voice artist who is best known for his role as the Klingon Worf from the Star Trek franchise.-Early life and career:...
as Officer Jebediah Turner (1979–1982) / 7-David - Tom ReillyThomas Michael Reilly IIITom Reilly is an American actor, known for his role as Officer Bobby "Hot Dog" Nelson in CHiPs, a television series about the motorcycle officers of the California Highway Patrol....
as Officer Bobby "Hot Dog" Nelson (1982–1983) / 15-Mary-7 - Tina Gayle as Officer Kathy Linahan (1982–1983) / 7-Mary-10
- Bruce PenhallBruce PenhallBruce Lee Penhall is a retired American motorcycle speedway racer who also starred in television and in film. He was the World Speedway Champion in 1981 and 1982 and rode for the successful Cradley Heath Heathens speedway team in the United Kingdom...
as Cadet/Officer Bruce Nelson (1982–1983) / 15-Mary-8 - Clarence Gilyard, Jr.Clarence GilyardClarence Darnell Gilyard, Jr. is a former American actor and a current college professor who has been featured in movies and television since 1980. He is sometimes credited as Clarence A...
as Officer Benjamin Webster (1982–1983)
Production
According to a 1998 TV GuideTV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
article, show creator Rick Rosner was a reserve deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is a local county law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. It is the fourth largest local policing agency in the United States, with the New York City Police Department being the first. The second largest is the Chicago Police...
. During a coffee break on an evening patrol shift in the mid-1970s he saw two young CHP officers on motorcycles which gave him the idea for this series. He later created 240-Robert
240-Robert
240-Robert is an American drama series that ran on ABC from 1979 to 1981. The series title is a reference to the call-sign designation for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department's search and rescue/paramedic teams.-Synopsis:...
, which seemed like a hybrid of "CHiPs" and Emergency!
Emergency!
Emergency! is an American television series that combines the medical drama and action-adventure genres. It was produced by Mark VII Limited and distributed by Universal Studios...
.
The character of Ponch was originally conceived to be Italian ("Poncherini"), but when Erik Estrada won the part, the character was changed to Hispanic American.
Episodes occasionally reference Jon Baker's service in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. This makes his character one of the earliest regular (and one of the more positive) portrayals of a Vietnam Veteran
Vietnam veteran
Vietnam veteran is a phrase used to describe someone who served in the armed forces of participating countries during the Vietnam War.The term has been used to describe veterans who were in the armed forces of South Vietnam, the United States armed forces, and countries allied to them, whether or...
on television. Larry Wilcox served 13 months in Vietnam as a Marine
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
artilleryman.
Though public perception links the later P-Series Kawasaki Police Special
Kawasaki Police Motorcycles
The Kawasaki police motorcycles have been produced in four series:* Z1-P - A 1975 Kawasaki Z1 900 cc motorcycle, modified through the addition of a shop-installed kit, then in 1976 available factory-built as a police motorcycle...
with the series, in fact they rode the C-Series Kawasaki, which had an oval windshield rather than the later model's fiberglass fairing.
Filming locations were generally in the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
of California. Freeway crashes were performed on recently constructed highways that were not yet open to the public. For the first season, the Glendale Freeway (Highway 2) in Montrose, California was used. After the first season, the intersection of the Foothill Freeway (Interstate 210
Interstate 210 (California)
Interstate 210 and State Route 210 together form a contiguous highway, called the Foothill Freeway, in the Greater Los Angeles area of the U.S. state of California. The western portion of the route is an auxiliary Interstate Highway, while the eastern portion is a state highway...
) and the Simi Valley Freeway (Highway 118
California State Route 118
State Route 118 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that begins running west to east through Ventura and Los Angeles counties in southern California. It travels from Saticoy in Ventura County east to Lake View Terrace in Los Angeles...
) in Sylmar, California were used. For the racing scenes in the episode "Drive, Lady, Drive" they used the Riverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway was a race track or road course in Riverside, California. The track was in operation from September 22, 1957, to July 2, 1989...
in Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
.
Although doubles were used for far-off shots and various stunt or action sequences, Wilcox and Estrada did a great deal of their own motorcycle riding, and performed many smaller stunts themselves. Although Wilcox emerged relatively injury-free, Estrada suffered various injures several times throughout the run of the series. In several early first season episodes, a huge bruise or scar can be seen on his arm after he was flung from one of the motorcycles and skidded along the ground.
But his worst accident came when he was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident while filming a season three episode in August 1979, fracturing several ribs and breaking both wrists. The accident and Estrada's subsequent hospitalization was incorporated into the series' storyline.
Prior to being cast in CHiPs Estrada had no experience with motorcycles, so he underwent an intensive eight-week course, learning how to ride. In 2007 it was revealed that he didn't hold a motorcycle license at the time CHiPs was in production, and only qualified for a license after three attempts, while preparing for an appearance on a reality television show, Back To The Grind.
Estrada and Wilcox never drew their firearms over the course of the series. (This did occur in the made-for-TV reunion movie CHiPs '99
CHiPs '99
CHiPs '99 is a film reunion of the 1977-1983 American television series, CHiPs. It was directed by Jon Cassar and shown on Turner Network Television in the USA on October 27, 1998.-Cast:*Larry Wilcox as Capt...
.) The only character on the series depicted as drawing his firearm was Baricza (Brodie Greer), and he did so three times. The first was his radio car's Ithaca 37
Ithaca 37
The Ithaca 37 is a pump-action shotgun made in large numbers for the civilian, military, and police markets. It utilizes a novel combination ejection/loading port on the bottom of the gun which leaves the sides closed to the elements. In addition, the outline of the gun is clean...
shotgun in Season 1's episode "Rainy Day", where the CHiPs conduct a felony traffic stop of a motorhome-based casino. The second was in Season 2's premiere, Peaks and Valleys", against two hillbillies armed with a Tommy-gun and a double-barrel shotgun who had ambushed his unattended patrol car for fun. Here the action was only implied, with his hand/wrist motion just below camera range. The last was in Season 4's "Karate", in which a karate-trained car burglar (Danny Bonaduce
Danny Bonaduce
Dante Daniel "Danny" Bonaduce is an American radio/television personality, comedian, professional wrestler, and former child actor...
) attacked him with a Bō
Bo
-People:*Bo , name origin, plus people with the name*Bo , name origin, plus people with the surname**Bo , Chinese family names*Bo people , extinct minority population in Southern China famous for hanging coffins...
, but wisely retreated to a getaway van when Baricza drew his gun.
NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
aired reruns of this series on its daytime schedule from April–September 1982.
During the original run of the series, syndicated rerun
Rerun
A rerun or repeat is a re-airing of an episode of a radio or television broadcast. The invention of the rerun is generally credited to Desi Arnaz. There are two types of reruns—those that occur during a hiatus, and those that occur when a program is syndicated. Reruns can also be, as the...
s of older episodes were retitled CHiPs Patrol to avoid confusion. Later syndicated reruns after the show went out of production reverted to the original title.
Initially, before John Parker did his now iconic theme music, award winning television composer Mike Post—who scored a few episodes in the first season, did a theme which was not used. To this day it has not been heard. Some of television's most famous themes ever were composed by Post, including: "Quantum Leap", "The Rockford Files", "Hill Street Blues", and "Magnum, P.I." (among dozens of others)
A typical CHiPs episode
CHiPs episodes were usually a combination of light comedy and melodramaMelodrama
The term melodrama refers to a dramatic work that exaggerates plot and characters in order to appeal to the emotions. It may also refer to the genre which includes such works, or to language, behavior, or events which resemble them...
. A typical episode would start with Ponch and Jon on routine patrol or being assigned to an interesting beat, such as Malibu or the Sunset Strip
Sunset Strip
The Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with Hollywood at Harper Avenue, to its western border with Beverly Hills at Sierra Drive...
. In roll call briefing, Sgt. Getraer would alert his officers to be on the lookout for a particular criminal operation, such as people staging accidents as part of an insurance scam or punks breaking into cars. A few interesting, unrelated vignettes
Vignette (literature)
In theatrical script writing, sketch stories, and poetry, a vignette is a short impressionistic scene that focuses on one moment or gives a trenchant impression about a character, an idea, or a setting and sometimes an object...
often transpired during the course of "routine" traffic enforcement. A light-hearted subplot would also be included, such as Harlan trying to hide a stray dog from Getraer at the office. A more serious theme, such as Ponch trying to keep a kid from his old neighborhood out of a potential life of crime, might also be included. After a few failed attempts to apprehend the gang that had been menacing L.A.'s freeways, the episode would invariably culminate in Ponch and Jon leading a chase of the suspects (often assisted by other members of their division), climaxing with a spectacular series of stunt vehicle crashes. The show then typically featured a dénouement of Ponch and Jon participating in a new activity (such as jet skiing
Jet ski
Jet Ski is the brand name of a personal watercraft manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The name is sometimes mistakenly used by those unfamiliar with the personal watercraft industry to refer to any type of personal watercraft; however, the name is a valid trademark registered with the...
or skydiving), designed to showcase the pair's glamorous Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
lifestyle. Often, Ponch would attempt to impress a woman he had met during the episode with his athletic prowess or disco dancing, only to fail and provide Jon, Getraer, and others with many laughs. As the preliminary end credits would start, the image would freeze multiple times, showing various characters laughing or otherwise enjoying the social scene.
Merchandise
A series of 3 3/4" action figures was released by MegoMego Corporation
The Mego Corporation was a toy company that dominated the action figure toy market during most of the 1970s. The Mego Corporation was founded in the early 1950s by David Abrams and was mostly known prior to 1971 as a producer of dime store toys.-Golden age:...
in the late 1970s. Due to the materials used to construct the figures, many of them have discolored (typically turning green) or started to decompose over the years, making good conditioned examples quite hard to find on the collectors market. There was also a series of six diecast model vehicles produced by Imperial Toys.
In the UK, as was common with many popular US series of the era, a series of tie-in annuals
Annual publication
An annual publication, more often called simply an annual, is a book or a magazine, comic book or comic strip published yearly. For example, a weekly or monthly publication may produce an Annual featuring similar materials to the regular publication....
were produced by World International Publishing Ltd, containing stories, photos, puzzles and features on the stars. There are four annuals in total, one each for 1980–83.
In 2006, a limited edition soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
was released on CD by Turner Classic Movies' music division via Film Score Monthly
Film Score Monthly
Film Score Monthly is an online magazine founded by editor-in-chief and executive producer Lukas Kendall in June 1990 as The Soundtrack Correspondence List...
, featuring the original recordings of the main theme by John Parker and in-episode musical scores from many episodes of the second season, as composed and conducted by Alan Silvestri
Alan Silvestri
Alan Anthony Silvestri is an American film composer and conductor.-Career:Silvestri is best known for his collaborations with director Robert Zemeckis, having scored Romancing the Stone , the Back to the Future trilogy , Who Framed Roger Rabbit , Death Becomes Her , Forrest Gump , Contact ,...
(Silvestri also arranged the theme as heard from season two onwards, and it's this version that's heard here – the soundtrack album also includes the "Trick or Treat" score composed and conducted by Bruce Broughton
Bruce Broughton
Bruce Broughton is a film, video game, and television soundtrack composer who has composed several highly acclaimed soundtracks over his extensive career, including American music classics such as "Homeward Bound," "Silverado", "Tombstone," and wonderfully lyric music for "Miracle on 34th...
, his only work for the series). In 2008, music from the third season was released; an album of music from the fourth season followed in 2010.
Revivals
In 1998, a made for television movieTelevision movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
sequel entitled CHiPs '99
CHiPs '99
CHiPs '99 is a film reunion of the 1977-1983 American television series, CHiPs. It was directed by Jon Cassar and shown on Turner Network Television in the USA on October 27, 1998.-Cast:*Larry Wilcox as Capt...
was created by TNT
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
, as the network's parent company owns the rights to the show.
In 2003, a new series of CHiPs was to be made in San Francisco with a new cast. Martin Kunert
Martin Kunert
Martin Kunert is a founding partner of Booya Studios and a feature film and television writer, director and producer. In 2004, Kunert conceived and directed the critically acclaimed documentary Voices of Iraq, made by sending 150 DV cameras to Iraqis to film their own lives...
and Eric Manes
Eric Manes
Eric Manes is a writer and producer in the film and television industry. As a producer, Manes made the groundbreaking documentary Voices of Iraq.-Biography:...
wrote the pilot script for Doug Liman
Doug Liman
Douglas Eric "Doug" Liman is an American film director and producer best known for Swingers , The Bourne Identity , Mr. & Mrs. Smith , Jumper , and Fair Game .-Early life:...
to direct. However, the network that ordered the remake, NBC, decided not to pursue the new series.
In 2005, a theatrical release motion picture version of the show was announced, starring Wilmer Valderrama
Wilmer Valderrama
Wilmer Eduardo Valderrama is an American actor and television personality, known for the role of Fez in the sitcom That '70s Show, hosting the MTV series Yo Momma, and voicing the character of Manny in the children's show Handy Manny.-Early life:Valderrama was born in Miami, Florida the son of...
as Ponch. The movie is tentatively set to be released in 2011. Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox are rumored to make cameo appearances. The choice of Valderrama as Ponch will not be the first time that the actor has played the character of Ponch. In a 2002 episode of MADtv
MADtv
MADtv is an American sketch comedy television series. It licensed the name and logo of Mad, but otherwise had no connection with the humor magazine outside the animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin cartoon shorts and images of Alfred E. Neuman that the show featured during the late 1990s. Its first...
, Valderrama and fellow That '70s Show
That '70s Show
That '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that centers on the lives of a group of teenage friends living in the fictional suburban town of Point Place, Wisconsin, from May 17, 1976, to December 31, 1979...
cast member Danny Masterson
Danny Masterson
Daniel Peter "Danny" Masterson is an American actor and DJ best known for his role as Steven Hyde in That '70s Show.-Early life:...
were featured in two parodies of CHiPs, which featured the two actors as Ponch and Baker respectively. Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis
Milena "Mila" Kunis is an American actress. Her work includes the role of Jackie Burkhart on the TV series That '70s Show and the voice of Meg Griffin on the animated series Family Guy...
also appeared in the second sketch. In a 2002 episode of That '70s Show, Valderrama's character, Fez, was seen in the "most likely" section of the yearbook as "most likely to appear as Ponch in a musical version of CHiPs".
Broadcast history
(all times ET / PT)- September 1977 – March 1978, NBC Thursday 8PM-9PM
- April 1978, NBC Saturday 8PM-9PM
- May 1978 – August 1978, NBC Thursday 8PM-9PM
- September 1978 – March 1980, NBC Saturday 8PM-9PM
- March 1980 – March 1983, NBC Sunday 8PM-9PM
- April 1983 – May 1983, NBC Sunday 7PM-8PM
- May 1983 – July 1983, NBC Sunday 8PM-9PM
In the United Kingdom, it was broadcast by ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. As with many imported programmes of the era, despite being very popular, the show was not networked for most of its run, with each region instead showing the series in their own selected timeslot, and episodes were quite often shown out of sequence from their original US order. Many regions showed much of the series in a Saturday tea-time slot around 17:35, although later this went on to cause a scheduling clash for fans of such US imports, as it clashed with BBC Ones run of The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985.The series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was also created by Gy Waldron and had many identical or similar character names and concepts.- Overview :The Dukes of Hazzard...
(in the days before video recorders
Videocassette recorder
The videocassette recorder , is a type of electro-mechanical device that uses removable videocassettes that contain magnetic tape for recording analog audio and analog video from broadcast television so that the images and sound can be played back at a more convenient time...
were commonplace).
For the last couple of seasons, most regions ran the series in a Saturday lunch-time 13:20 slot, interspread with runs of Airwolf
Airwolf
Airwolf is an American television series that ran from 1984 until 1987. The program centers on a high-tech military helicopter, code named Airwolf, and its crew as they undertake various missions, many involving espionage, with a Cold War theme....
(which began production the year after CHiPs finished, but many regions still had many CHiPs episodes yet to show). Although the show finished production in 1983, many regions did not complete their runs of the series until the later 1980s, in some cases almost ten years after the show had first appeared.
DVD releases
Warner Home VideoWarner Home Video
Warner Home Video is the home video unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., itself part of Time Warner. It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video . The company launched in the United States with twenty films on VHS and Betamax videocassettes in late 1979...
has released the first two seasons of "CHiPs" on DVD in Regions 1, 2 & 4. Seasons 1 and 2 are also available for purchase at the online iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
.
| DVD Name | |Release dates | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | Region 2* | Region 4 | ||
| The Complete First Season | 22 | June 5, 2007 | August 20, 2007 | September 6, 2007 |
| The Complete Second Season | 23 | June 3, 2008 | September 22, 2008 | September 3, 2008 |
- Region 2 release dates relate to the United Kingdom market.