CHiPs

CHiPsis an Americancrime dramatelevision series created byRick Rosnerand originally aired onNBCfrom September 15, 1977 to May 1, 1983. It follows the lives of two motorcycleofficersof theCalifornia Highway Patrol(CHP). The series ran for 139 episodes over six seasons, plus one reuniontelevision filmin October 1998.
CHiPsis an action crime drama in a standard hour-long time slot, which at the time required 48 minutes of actual programming. A signature of the show, especially in the later seasons, were frequent over-the-top freewaypileups.For filming, traffic on Los Angeles freeways that were yet to be opened, was non-existent and most chase scenes were done on the back roads.
The show was created byRick Rosner, and starredErik Estradaas macho, rambunctious Officer Francis ("Frank") Llewellyn "Ponch" Poncherello andLarry Wilcoxas his straitlaced partner, Officer Jonathan ("Jon") Andrew 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 immediate supervisor Sergeant Joseph Getraer (Robert Pine), the two were Highway Patrolmen of the Central Los Angeles office of theCalifornia Highway Patrol(CHP, hence the nameCHiPs).
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.
In the fifth season (1981–82), Estrada went onstrikeover a dispute over syndication profits. As a result, he did not appear in three 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.Wilcox fell out with the producers over what he saw as continual favoritism toward Estrada, and did not return for the sixth and final season. Wilcox was replaced byTom Reilly(Officer Bobby Nelson).
Bruce Penhall, a native ofBalboa Island, Newport Beach, and amotorcycle speedwayrider who had won the1981and1982Speedway 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 theLos 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 theCHiPscast, Penhall had officially announced his retirement from speedway racing on the podium of the 1982 World Final.
According to a 1998TV Guidearticle, show creator Rick Rosner was a reserve deputy with theLos 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 created240-Robert, which seemed like a hybrid ofCHiPsandEmergency!.
Episodes occasionally mention Jon Baker's service inVietnam. This makes his character one of the earliest regular (and one of the more positive) portrayals of aVietnam veteranon television. Larry Wilcox himself served 13 months in Vietnam as aMarineartilleryman.
Production made use of freeways in theLos Angelesarea that had been recently completed but were not yet opened to the public. For season 1, the intersection ofInterstate 210andCalifornia State Route 2inLa Canada Flintridgewas used often (along with a short stretch of Highway 2).  For season 2, a section ofInterstate 210five miles to the west inLa Crescenta, California, was used, until it too was opened to the public.  For seasons3 –5, the filming location was moved another 10miles to the west, to the intersection of theInterstate 210andCalifornia State Route 118inSylmar, California. When that section of freeway was finally opened, production shifted again to a short section of the 710 Long Beach Freeway inLong Beach, California, as well as a long stretch of Pershing Drive, nearLos Angeles International Airport. The only time production moved out of Los Angeles was for the episodeDrive, Lady, Driveand used theRiverside International RacewayinMoreno Valleyfor the racing scenes.
Motor officers inCHiPsrodeKawasaki Z1-PandZ900-C2police motorcycles in seasons 1 and 2, andKZ1000-C1motorcycles from season 3 onwards.
Despite theFord Motor Company's credit as a vehicle provider for four of the series' six seasons, cars and trucks were supplied by several manufacturers. All police cars were made byDodge‍—‍specifically 1974 and 1978Dodge Monaco⁠‍—‍as they were actual CHP cruisers bought at police auction for the show. In the third-season episode,Hot Wheels(episode 8) the show featuredAMC Matadorpolice cars in a one-off appearance.
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 scab can be seen on his arm after he was flung from one of the motorcycles and skidded along the ground. 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 inCHiPs, 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 timeCHiPswas in production, and only qualified for a license after three attempts, while preparing for an appearance on the reality television showBack to the Grind.
NBCaired reruns of this series on its 1982 daytime schedule from April to September.
During the original run of the series, syndicatedrerunsof older episodes was retitledCHiPs Patrolto avoid confusion.Later syndicated reruns after the show went out of production reverted to the original title.
CHiPsepisodes were usually a combination of light comedy and drama. A typical episode would start with Ponch and Jon on routine patrol or being assigned to an interesting beat, such asMalibuor theSunset 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, unrelatedvignettesoften transpired during "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 adénouementof Ponch and Jon participating in a new activity (such asjet skiingorskydiving), designed to showcase the pair's glamorousSouthern Californialifestyle. 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.
(all times Eastern/Pacific Time; subtract one hour for Central/Mountain Time)
NBC aired reruns of the series weekdays at 3PM EST between April 26, 1982 and September 10, 1982. The show aired onMeTVfrom December 19, 2013 to May 26, 2017. The show currently airs onCharge!.
In the United Kingdom, the series was broadcast byITVbut was not screened nationally. The series started in January 1979 in the London region, but began with season two (the first episode shown was episode 2x02 "The Volunteers") by February most otherITVregions originally screened in the Saturday teatime 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 during the weekend throughout the year by the different ITV regions. The series shared its Saturday teatime slot with other series such asThe A-Team,Knight Rider,Magnum, P.I., andWhiz Kids.
During 1984, most ITV stations continued with the Saturday teatime slot except forAnglia Television,Scottish Television(STV) andTelevision South West(TSW), who broadcast episodes during the weekend mornings or Sunday afternoons. By early 1985, the series was being broadcast during Saturday mornings by Anglia,Central,Grampian,Granada, STV andTyne Tees. In other regions it had a Saturday lunchtime slot of 13:20 where, from September 1985, it rotated the slot with episodes ofAirwolf.
Most ITV areas completed the series by 1986, whileLWT,TVS, andTSWfinished series six in 1987 after starting in 1985. A few companies repeated the series in 1987. It was previously shown onBravobetween 2002 and 2004. Repeated onForces TVuntil the 30th of June 2022 which is when Forces TV closed down.
The entire series was shown in New Zealand onTVNZfrom 1978. In Australia, from the same year, the Seven Network broadcast the series in its entirety, one episode per week usually in the prime 7.30PM timeslot.
Warner Home Videoreleased the first two seasons ofCHiPson DVD in Regions 1, 2, and 4 between 2007 and 2008. On March 3, 2015 (over six years later), the third season was released on DVD in Region 1.The fourth season was released in Region 1 on March 15, 2016.The fifth season was released in Region 1 on March 14, 2017.The sixth season and the complete series were released in Region 1 on June 6, 2017.
All 139 episodes are at theiTunes Store.
CHiPs '99is a 1998 Americanmade-for-televisioncrimedrama filmand asequelto the series. It was directed byJon Cassar. Several cast members from the original series reprise their roles. Original cast with promotions were Jon Baker as acaptainand Joe Getraer as theCHP Commissioner. Other original cast members were Officer Frank Poncherello returning from a 15-year hiatus from the CHP, Officer Barry Baricza and Arthur (Artie) "Grossie" Grossman as a Detective. Bruce Penhall also returns as newly promoted Sergeant Bruce Nelson.
A film remake was released on March 24, 2017, withDax Shepardco-producing with Andrew Panay, writing, directing and starring as Officer Jon Baker,Michael Peñaas Frank "Ponch" Poncherello andVincent D'Onofrioas the film's villain.
A series of 8 inch and 33⁄4inch action figures was released byMegoin 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-inannualswere 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.. A comic strip adaptation was drawn byJim BaikieforLook-Inmagazine.
In 2006, a limited editionsoundtrackwas released on CD by Turner Classic Movies' music division viaFilm Score Monthly, featuring the original recordings of the main theme by John Parker (Parker's theme replaced an unused composition byMike PostandPete Carpenter, who scored the pilot) and in-episode musical scores from many episodes of the second season, as composed and conducted byAlan 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 byBruce 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.