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CHiPs
Created by	Rick Rosner
Starring	Larry Wilcox (1977–1982) Erik Estrada Robert Pine Tom Reilly (1982–1983)
Composers	John Parker Mike Post (1.1, 1.5, 1.6) Pete Carpenter (with Post) Robert Drasnin JJ Johnson Nelson Riddle (1.16) Billy May Alan Silvestri George Romanis (2.2) Bruce Broughton (2.6) Luchi de Jesus (season 6)
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	6
No. of episodes	139 (and 1 TV Movie) (list of episodes)
Production
Running time	48 minutes per episode (excluding commercials)
Production companies	Rosner Television MGM Television
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	September 15, 1977 – July 17, 1983

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, plus one reunion TV movie from October 27, 1998.

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, and starred Erik Estrada as macho, rambunctious Officer Francis ("Frank") Llewellyn "Ponch" Poncherello and Larry Wilcox as his straitlaced 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.

A typical CHiPs episode

CHiPs episodes were usually a combination of light comedy and melodrama. 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.

Some of the more outlandish plots included Ponch and Bobby helping a girl who believed that she was being targeted by UFOs and them racing against time to defuse a battery about to explode on an intelligent experimental police robot.

CHP Officers never drew their guns in the series, although in Season 4's "Karate" episode, Officer Barry Baricza pulls it on a teenager after he is beaten with a cross bow and is almost ran over by their van. The scene concludes with Baricza not firing the gun but looking at it with regret. In the TV Movie however, guns were used more prominently, especially in one of the final scenes in which Jon and McFall are held hostage on a tour bus, the entire CHP are shown holding guns at the bus.

Production

According to a 1998 TV Guide 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!.

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.

Despite the Ford Motor Company's credit as a vehicle provider for nearly 4 of the series' 6 seasons, cars and trucks were supplied by several manufacturers; many of the police cars seen were Dodge models.

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 injuries 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 did not 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 the 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 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 Baricza drew his gun to stop Bonaduce.

NBC aired reruns of this series on its 1982 daytime schedule from April to September.

During the original run of the series, syndicated reruns 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.

Cast of characters

• Larry Wilcox as Officer Jonathan A. Baker (1977–1982) / 7-Mary-3
• Erik Estrada as Officer Francis (Frank) Llewelyn "Ponch" Poncherello / 7-Mary-4 (15-Mary-6 in the final season)
• Robert Pine as Sergeant Joseph (Joe) Getraer / S-4
• Lew Saunders as Officer Gene Fritz (1977–1979) / 5-David-5 (7-David in some episodes)
• Brodie Greer as Officer Barry "Bear" Baricza (1977–1982) / 7-Adam (7-David in one episode)
• Paul Linke as Officer Arthur (Artie) "Grossie" Grossman / 7-Mary-5
• Lou Wagner as Harlan Arliss, Automobile/Motorcycle Mechanic, CHP (1978–1983)
• Brianne Leary as Officer Sindy Cahill (1978–1979) / 7-Charles
• Randi Oakes as Officer Bonnie Clark (1979–1982) / 7-Charles
• Michael Dorn as Officer Jebediah Turner (1979–1982) / 7-David
• Tom Reilly as Officer Bobby "Hot Dog" Nelson (1982–1983) / 15-Mary-7
• Tina Gayle as Officer Kathy Linahan (1982–1983) / 7-Mary-10
• Bruce Penhall as Cadet/Officer Bruce Nelson (1982–1983) / 15-Mary-8
• Clarence Gilyard, Jr. as Officer Benjamin Webster (1982–1983)
• Caitlyn Jenner (credited as Bruce Jenner) as Officer Steve McLeish (1981–1982)

Cast changes

In the fifth season (1981–1982), Estrada went on strike over a dispute over syndication profits. As a result, he did not appear in seven episodes; for that period he was replaced by 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 toward Estrada that saw Wilcox not return for the sixth and final season. Wilcox was replaced by Tom Reilly (Officer Bobby Nelson).

Bruce Penhall, a native of Balboa Island, Newport Beach and a Motorcycle speedway rider who had won the 1981 and 1982 Speedway World Championships, was also introduced as cadet–probationary officer Bruce Nelson, Bobby's younger brother in 1982–83. The season 6 episode "Speedway Fever" (aired November 7, 1982) centered on Penhall's character Nelson winning the 1982 Speedway World Final at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with scenes filmed in the pits during the meeting. The episode also used television coverage of the final (with dubbed commentary). Penhall later admitted that having a bodyguard and having to have makeup done in the pits in full view of his competitors at the World Final only added to the pressure he was under both as a rider and a rookie actor and that it felt weird having to "buddy up to Ponch" in front of the other riders while the World Final was taking place. In order to become a full-time member of the CHiPs cast, Penhall had officially announced his retirement from speedway racing on the podium of the 1982 World Final.

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 remaining episodes.

Broadcast history

(all times Eastern/Pacific Time; subtract one hour for Central/Mountain Time)

• September, 1977 – March, 1978: NBC Thursday, 8-9PM
• April, 1978: NBC Saturday, 8-9PM
• May – August, 1978: NBC Thursday, 8-9PM
• September, 1978 – March, 1980: NBC Saturday, 8-9PM
• March, 1980 – March, 1983: NBC Sunday, 8-9PM
• April – May, 1983: NBC Sunday, 7-8PM
• May – July, 1983: NBC Sunday, 8-9PM

International

In the United Kingdom, the series was broadcast by ITV. The series started in early 1979 in most regions, and was originally screened in the Saturday tea-time slot around 17:35 but moved to the Sunday teatime slot in 1980. By 1981, as with many imported programmes of the era, the series was being broadcast at different times and days (always Saturday or Sunday) throughout the year by the different ITV regions, sharing its Saturday slot with other series such as The A-Team, Knight Rider, Magnum, P.I. and Whiz Kids.

By early 1985, the series was being broadcast during Saturday mornings by Anglia, Central, Grampian, Granada, STV and Tyne Tees; all completed the series by end of the 1985. HTV and Yorkshire completed the series by 1986, while LWT, TVS and TSW finally finished series six in 1987 after starting in 1985. A few companies repeated the series in 1987.

The entire series was shown in New Zealand on TVNZ in the 1980s.

Home media

Warner Home Video has released the first three seasons of CHiPs on DVD in Regions 1, 2 & 4. The third season DVD was released in Region 1 on March 3, 2015.

Seasons 1 and 2 are also available for purchase at the online iTunes Store.

Merchandise

A series of 33⁄4" action figures was released by Mego 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 die-cast 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 (Parker's theme replaced an unused composition by Mike Post and Pete Carpenter, who scored the pilot) and in-episode musical scores from many episodes of the second season, as composed and conducted by Alan Silvestri, the series' primary (and from seasons three to five sole) composer until the final season. Silvestri also arranged the theme as heard from season two onwards, and it is this version that is 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.

In popular culture

In the Galactica 1980 episode "The Super Scouts", a California Highway Patrol motor officer references CHiPs by lamenting to his partner, "How come this never happens to those two guys on TV?" when two Colonial warriors escape the CHP duo by using flying motorcycles.

Erik Estrada portrayed the character of Ponch on the first-season Family Guy episode, "I Never Met the Dead Man".

The alternative rock band Seven Mary Three gets its name from Jon's call sign.

The 2014 Disney film Planes: Fire & Rescue features a parody TV series titled CHoPs, with Estrada providing the voice of helicopter officer Nick "Loop'n" Lopez.

CHiPs '99

CHiPs '99
CHiPs '99 Movie Poster
Directed by	Jon Cassar
Written by	Rick Rosner Morgan Gendel
Produced by	Erik Estrada Chris Morgan Rick Rosner Larry Wilcox
Starring	Larry Wilcox Erik Estrada Robert Pine Paul Korver David Ramsey Brodie Greer Bruce Penhall Paul Linke
Cinematography	David Geddes
Edited by	Ron Spang
Music by	Stacy Widelitz
Distributed by	Turner Films, Inc.
Release date	October 27, 1998 (1998-10-27)
Running time	94 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

CHiPs '99 is a made-for-television sequel to the series. It was directed by Jon Cassar and shown on Turner Network Television in the USA on October 27, 1998. Several cast members from the original series make a return. Original cast with promotions were Jon Baker as a Captain and Joe Getraer as the CHP Commissioner. Other original cast members were Officer Frank Poncherello returning from a 15-year hiatus with the CHP and Officer Barry Baricza.

Revivals

In 2005, a theatrical release motion picture version of the show was announced, starring Wilmer Valderrama as Ponch, though as of 2013 this production was still "stalled". Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox were rumored to make cameo appearances. 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".

On September 2, 2014, Warner Bros. announced a film adaptation of the show, which Andrew Panay would be producing along with Dax Shepard. Shepard will also write, direct and star in the film as Officer Jon Baker; Michael Peña will play Frank “Ponch” Poncherello while Vincent D’Onofrio is in negotiations to play the bad guy.

Notes

1. Jenner changed her name due to gender transition in 2015.

References

1. "CHiPs-TV.com Episode Guide, Episode 120". Retrieved June 30, 2006.
2. "CHiPs-TV.com Episode Guide, Episode 416". Retrieved June 30, 2006.
3. "Journal of the Audio Engineering Society". Audio Engineering Society. March 1986: 190. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
4. Leibovitz, Annie (June 1, 2015). "Introducing Caitlyn Jenner". Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
5. McNeil, Alex. Total Television. 1980. New York: Penguin Books, 1991.
6. Rubin, Sylvia (October 27, 1998). "Estrada, Wilcox Cash In With New 'CHiPs '99' / Popular '70s show gets updated in TNT movie". The San Francisco Chronicle.
7. Bob Lardine. "Larry Wilcox Busses His New Bride, but 'CHiPs' Co-Star Erik Estrada Gets a Kiss-Off". People (magazine). Retrieved November 17, 2008. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
8. ''CHiPs'' season 1 at the iTunes Store. Phobos.apple.com (June 4, 2007). Retrieved on 2011-08-11.
9. ''CHiPs'' season 2 at the iTunes Store. Phobos.apple.com (July 7, 2008). Retrieved on 2011-08-11.
10. Liner notes, CHiPs: Season Two 1978-79, Film Score Monthly, FSM0910
11. "Seven Mary Three Biography". MusicianGuide.com. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
12. "Meet the Characters from Planes: Fire & Rescue". Disney Insider. March 10, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
13. "Valderrama saddles up for 'CHiPs' remake". Yahoo! Movies. December 8, 2005. Archived from the original on December 10, 2005. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
14. Elavsky, Cindy (October 6, 2013). "Celebrity Extra". King Features. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
15. Fleming Jr, Mike (September 2, 2014). "Dax Shepard Driving Warner Bros 'CHiPS' Film; Michael Pena To Play Ponch". deadline.com. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
16. Couch, Aaron (September 2, 2014). "Dax Shepard Making 'CHiPS' Movie for Warner Bros". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
17. Kit, Borys (May 26, 2015). "'CHiPs' Movie Casting Vincent D'Onofrio as Villain (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.

External links

• CHiPs at IMDb
• CHiPs '99 at IMDb
• CHiPs Online wiki

• 1998 films
• 1970s American television series
• 1977 American television series debuts
• 1980s American television series
• 1983 American television series endings
• American crime television series
• American drama television series
• California Highway Patrol
• English-language television programming
• Motorcycle TV shows
• NBC network shows
• Super Bowl lead-out programs
• Television series by Warner Bros. Television
• Television shows set in Los Angeles, California