CHiPs was a US television series through MGM Studios running on NBC from September 15, 1977 to July 17, 1983. A light-weight crime drama created by Rick Rosner, it starred Erik Estrada (Officer Francis Llewellyn "Ponch" Poncherello) and Larry Wilcox (Officer Jon Baker) as Highway Patrolmen of the Central Los Angeles office of the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

The program ran for 139 episodes over six seasons. In season 5, Estrada was occasionally replaced by Bruce Jenner (Officer Steve McLeish) due to a contract dispute. Prior to season 6, Wilcox fell out with Estrada and left to be replaced by Tom Reilly (probationary officer Bobby Nelson) who was in turn replaced in later episodes by Bruce Penhall (probationary officer Bruce Nelson). Due to falling ratings through seasons 5 and 6, the show was cancelled in spring 1983.

Other regular actors were Michael Dorn (Officer Jebediah Turner), Brodie Greer (Officer Barry Baricza), Paul Linke (Officer Arthur Grossman), Robert Pine (Sgt. Joseph Getraer), Lou Wagner (Harlan Arliss), and Randi Oakes (Officer Bonnie Clark). Officer Clark was a "Chippie," a term used for any officer of the California Highway Patrol in real life, but on the show it applied only to female officers.

Filming locations were generally in the San Fernando Valley of California. Freeway crashes were performed on recently constructed highways that were about to 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.

Estrada and Wilcox lampooned their roles in the 1993 spoof movie Loaded Weapon 1. They appear in the shootout scene in the hotel.

In 1998, a television movie sequel entitled CHiPs '99 was created by TNT.

In 2005, a big-screen movie version of the show was announced, starring Wilmer Valderrama as Ponch. Valderrama was featured along with That 70's show co-star Danny Masterson in a parody of the show on Mad TV in 2002. The movie is tentatively set to be released in 2008.

The only character on the series to ever have "drawn down" (drawn his/her gun) on camera was Baricza (Brodie Greer). He did so twice: Once (his radio car's Ithaca Gun Company shotgun) in the episode, "Rainy Day", where the CHiPs conduct a felony traffic stop of a motorhome-based rolling gambling hall; the second time while being attacked by a karate-trained vehicle burglar named Danny (played by Danny Bonaduce) in the episode, "Karate". In that episode, Danny gains the upper hand on Officer Baricza, at which point Baricza feels he has no other choice but to draw his weapon (a large framed Smith & Wesson revolver). Danny then runs in retreat to a waiting get away van.

Cast of characters

• Larry Wilcox as Officer Jon Baker (1977-1982)
• Erik Estrada as Officer Frank "Ponch" Poncherello
• Robert Pine as Sergeant Joe Getraer
• Lew Saunders as Officer Gene Fritz (1977-1981)
• Brodie Greer as Officer Barry Baricza (1977-1982)
• Brianne Leary as Officer Sindy Cahill (1978-1979)
• Lou Wagner as Harlan Arliss, Automobile/Motorcycle Mechanic, CHP (1978-1983)
• Paul Linke as Officer Artie Grossman
• Randi Oakes as Officer Bonnie Clark (1979-1982)
• Michael Dorn as Officer Jebediah Turner (1980-1982)
• Tom Reilly as Officer Bobby "Hot Dog" Nelson (1982-1983)
• Tina Gayle as Officer Kathy Linahan (1982-1983)
• Bruce Penhall as Cadet/Officer Bruce Nelson (1982-1983)
• Clarence Gilyard, Jr. as Officer Benjamin Webster (1982-1983)

Broadcast history

• Sep 1977-Mar 1978, NBC Thu 8:00-9:00
• Apr 1978, NBC Sat 8:00-9:00
• May 1978-Aug 1978, NBC Thu 8:00-9:00
• Sep 1978-Mar 1980, NBC Sat 8:00-9:00
• Mar 1980-Mar 1983, NBC Sun 8:00-9:00
• Apr 1983-May 1983, NBC Sun 7:00-8:00
• May 1983-Jul 1983, NBC Sun 8:00-9:00

References