"CHiPs" (1977) TV series 1977-1983

Creator:

Rick Rosner
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

15 September 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

The adventures of two California Highway Patrol motorcycle officers.

Plot Keywords:

California | Highway Patrol | Motorcycle | Bachelor | Acronym In Title

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Erik Estrada	...	Officer Francis Llewellyn 'Ponch' Poncherello (139 episodes, 1977-1983)
Robert Pine	...	Sgt. Joseph Getraer (139 episodes, 1977-1983)
Larry Wilcox	...	Officer Jon Baker (117 episodes, 1977-1982)
Paul Linke	...	Officer Arthur Grossman / ... (78 episodes, 1977-1983)
Brodie Greer	...	Officer Barry Baricza / ... (75 episodes, 1977-1982)

Series Directed by
Phil Bondelli		(23 episodes, 1978-1983)
John Florea		(19 episodes, 1978-1983)
Gordon Hessler		(12 episodes, 1978-1982)
Barry Crane		(11 episodes, 1978-1982)
Leslie H. Martinson		(11 episodes, 1981-1982)
Don Weis		(9 episodes, 1979-1980)
Charles Bail		(7 episodes, 1981-1983)
Michael Caffey		(5 episodes, 1977-1981)
Bruce Kessler		(4 episodes, 1979-1981)
Georg Fenady		(3 episodes, 1977-1978)
Paul Krasny		(3 episodes, 1977-1978)
John Astin		(3 episodes, 1982-1983)
Christian I. Nyby II		(2 episodes, 1977)
Ric Rondell		(2 episodes, 1977)
Larry Wilcox		(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
Harvey S. Laidman		(2 episodes, 1979)
Earl Bellamy		(2 episodes, 1981)
Arnold Laven		(2 episodes, 1981)
Richard Irving		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Robert Pine		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Winrich Kolbe		(2 episodes, 1982)
Don Chaffey		(unknown episodes)
Donald L. Gold		(unknown episodes)
Alexander Grasshoff		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Rick Rosner		(139 episodes, 1977-1983)
Rudolph Borchert		(14 episodes, 1978-1982)
L. Ford Neale		(11 episodes, 1978-1982)
Rick Mittleman		(10 episodes, 1977-1982)
John Huff		(10 episodes, 1979-1982)
James Doherty		(9 episodes, 1978-1982)
James Schmerer		(9 episodes, 1978-1981)
William D. Gordon		(8 episodes, 1978-1981)
Larry Alexander		(7 episodes, 1977-1982)
Bruce Shelly		(6 episodes, 1977-1982)
Frank Telford		(6 episodes, 1978-1981)
Joseph Gunn		(6 episodes, 1982-1983)
Larry Mollin		(6 episodes, 1982-1983)
Gerald Sanford		(6 episodes, 1982-1983)
Stephen Lord		(5 episodes, 1978-1982)
Paul Mason		(5 episodes, 1982-1983)
William Douglas Lansford		(3 episodes, 1980-1982)
Paul Robert Coyle		(2 episodes, 1977-1979)
Jock MacKelvie		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)
Skip Webster		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)
Paul Playdon		(2 episodes, 1977)
Max Hodge		(2 episodes, 1978-1980)
Jerry Thomas		(2 episodes, 1978-1980)
Frank Chase		(2 episodes, 1979-1981)
Kenneth Dorward		(2 episodes, 1980-1981)
Loraine Despres		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Donald L. Gold		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Barry Jacobs		(2 episodes, 1983)
Stuart Jacobs		(2 episodes, 1983)
Jack Hanrahan		(unknown episodes)
Ivan Nagy		(unknown episodes)
Bruce Reisman		(unknown episodes)
Elliott Street		(unknown episodes)
Shirley Ulmer		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Cy Chermak	....	producer / executive producer (133 episodes, 1977-1983)
Paul Rabwin	....	producer / associate producer (116 episodes, 1978-1993)
Larry Mollin	....	creative consultant (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Randall Torno	....	associate producer (8 episodes, 1981-1983)
Rick Rosner	....	producer / executive producer (5 episodes, 1977-1979)
Paul Mason	....	supervising producer (4 episodes, 1982-1983)
Ric Rondell	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 1977)
William Cairncross	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 1978)
Philip D. Fehrle	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1977)
Donald L. Gold	....	producer (2 episodes, 1983)
Joseph Gunn	....	producer (2 episodes, 1983)

Series Original Music by
Alan Silvestri		(12 episodes, 1978-1983)
John Carl Parker		(3 episodes, 1977-1982)
Billy May		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Peter Salim		(118 episodes, 1977-1983)
Robert F. Sparks		(21 episodes, 1977-1983)

Series Film Editing by
William Neel		(11 episodes, 1978-1983)
Albert P. Wilson		(4 episodes, 1980-1981)
Richard E. Rabjohn		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)
Joe Morrisey		(2 episodes, 1980-1981)
Geoffrey Rowland		(2 episodes, 1980)

Series Casting by
Cathy Henderson		(48 episodes, 1980-1982)
Gary Shaffer		(6 episodes, 1977-1978)
Barbara Hanley		(3 episodes, 1982)
Mike Hanks		(2 episodes, 1979)
Jerold Franks		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Al Onorato		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Joe Scully		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Joseph M. Altadonna		(22 episodes, 1977-1978)
Stephen Myles Berger		(10 episodes, 1980-1983)
Les Gobruegge		(4 episodes, 1979-1980)

Series Set Decoration by
W. Joe Kroesser		(18 episodes, 1977-1983)

Series Makeup Department
Richard Cobos	....	makeup artist (13 episodes, 1979-1983)
Don Lynch	....	hair stylist (12 episodes, 1979-1983)
Walter Schenk	....	makeup artist (11 episodes, 1979-1982)
John Norin	....	makeup artist (6 episodes, 1977-1978)
Jane Aull	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Production Management
Ted Zachary	....	executive in charge of production (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Donald L. Gold	....	unit production manager (9 episodes, 1980-1982)
William L. Young	....	unit production manager (3 episodes, 1978)
Ronald R. Grow	....	unit production manager (3 episodes, 1979-1980)
Barry Stern	....	unit production manager (2 episodes, 1977)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Denny Salvaryn	....	assistant director / first assistant director (52 episodes, 1980-1982)
Lindsley Parsons III	....	first assistant director / assistant director (18 episodes, 1978-1980)
John M. Poer	....	first assistant director (12 episodes, 1978)
Paul Rabwin	....	second unit director (10 episodes, 1978-1982)
Leslie Jackson Houston	....	second assistant director (8 episodes, 1980-1982)
Ronald R. Grow	....	assistant director / first assistant director (7 episodes, 1978-1979)
Mary Lou MacLaury	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (7 episodes, 1978-1979)
Randall Henderson	....	second assistant director (6 episodes, 1978)
Robert S. Mills	....	dga trainee (5 episodes, 1979)
Robert P. Cohen	....	second assistant director (4 episodes, 1978)
Michael J. Kane	....	second assistant director (4 episodes, 1978)
Steven P. Saeta	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 1982)
William Saint John	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1977)
Richard T. Schor	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1978-1979)
David McGiffert	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1978)
William A. Morrison	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1978)
Steve Perry	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1978)
Paul Chavez	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1979)
Roger Slager	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1979)
Forrest L. Futrell	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1980)
Charles Norton	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Margaret Mazzola	....	set dressing (9 episodes, 1981-1982)

Series Sound Department
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist (125 episodes, 1977-1983)
Duncan McEwan	....	sound recordist (60 episodes, 1979-1982)
M. Curtis Price	....	sound (13 episodes, 1979-1983)
Harlan Riggs	....	sound (11 episodes, 1980-1983)
Hal Watkins	....	sound (6 episodes, 1977-1978)
Maury Harris	....	sound (5 episodes, 1977-1978)
Marty Church	....	adr mixer / foley mixer (unknown episodes)
George E. Marshall Jr.	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Ed Osborne	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Pat Elmendorf	....	special effects (1 episode, 1977)
Andrew Miller	....	special effects foreman (unknown episodes)
Christophor Newkirk	....	special effects assistant (unknown episodes)
Dale Newkirk	....	special effects foreman (unknown episodes)
Marlowe Newkirk	....	special effects coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Paul Nuckles	....	stunt coordinator (18 episodes, 1977-1983)
Ed McDermott II	....	precision driver (7 episodes, 1980-1983)
Richard Epper	....	stunts / stunt performer (5 episodes, 1979-1982)
Ken Ferguson	....	stunt performer / stunt performer: M.C.Racer (4 episodes, 1977-1982)
Rick Cirimele	....	stunts / stunt performer (3 episodes, 1979-1982)
Jesse Wayne	....	stunts (3 episodes, 1979-1981)
Rex Blackwell	....	stunt driver / stunts (2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Chips	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1980-1982)
John Ashby	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1981)
Kenny Bates	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Bud Davis	....	assistant stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Tom Elliott	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Debbie Evans	....	stunt driving: motorcycles / stunts (unknown episodes)
Greg Gault	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Chuck Hicks	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Gene LeBell	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Dennis Lehane	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Ray Lykins	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jim McConnell	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Eddie Paul	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Stafford	....	key assistant camera (26 episodes, 1978-1980)
Earl C. Williman	....	gaffer (22 episodes, 1979-1980)
Peter Salim	....	camera operator (21 episodes, 1980-1981)
Michael J. Schwartz	....	lighting technician (21 episodes, 1980-1981)
Thomas P. Powell	....	lighting technician (19 episodes, 1977-1978)
Fred R. Krug	....	camera operator (6 episodes, 1978-1980)
Virgil E. Hammond III	....	camera technician: Cinemobile Systems (6 episodes, 1982)
Michael J. Jacobs	....	special still photographer (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gregory B. Peña	....	daily set costumer (21 episodes, 1982-1983)
Shelly Levine	....	costume supervisor / wardrobe supervisor / ... (16 episodes, 1978-1983)
Richard La Motte	....	wardrobe: men (2 episodes, 1977)

Series Editorial Department
Darrell Upshaw	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 1982)

Series Music Department
John Carl Parker	....	composer: theme music (139 episodes, 1977-1983)
Harry V. Lojewski	....	music supervisor (19 episodes, 1977-1983)
Jan Gershkoff	....	music editor (2 episodes, 1982)

Series Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver (5 episodes, 1977-1980)
Frank Khoury	....	transportation / driver (4 episodes, 1977-1982)
Randy Peters	....	driver (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Larry Luttrell	....	location manager (60 episodes, 1978-1981)
Paul Rabwin	....	story editor (14 episodes, 1980-1981)
Jack Gannon	....	script supervisor (13 episodes, 1978-1982)
Denis McCallion	....	location manager (12 episodes, 1977-1978)
William D. Gordon	....	story editor / story supervisor (11 episodes, 1978-1982)
Rick Rosner	....	executive consultant (11 episodes, 1979-1983)
Dave McDannel	....	production consultant (11 episodes, 1979-1982)
James Doherty	....	story editor (9 episodes, 1978-1981)
Rod Baker	....	story editor (5 episodes, 1977-1978)
Bob Hayden	....	production consultant (5 episodes, 1977-1978)
Glen Olson	....	story editor (5 episodes, 1977-1978)
Roni Rochin	....	production assistant / production assistance (5 episodes, 1977-1978)
Mike Sylvia	....	technical advisor (5 episodes, 1977-1978)
Paul Playdon	....	developed for television by / developed for television / ... (4 episodes, 1977-1983)
Randall Torno	....	assistant to producer (4 episodes, 1980-1981)
John Huff	....	story editor (4 episodes, 1981-1982)
L. Ford Neale	....	story editor (4 episodes, 1981-1982)
Larry Mollin	....	creative consultant / location manager: France (4 episodes, 1982-1983)
Joyce Webb	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 1977)
Jerry Nista	....	choreographer (2 episodes, 1979)
Suzi Alter	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Gerald Sanford	....	executive story consultant / location manager: France / ... (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Bill Udell	....	production consultant (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Sonny P. Filippini	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Dixie Fusillo	....	production accountant (unknown episodes)
Michael Neale	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Shirley Ulmer	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Glen B. Craig	....	with appreciation to / with appreciation to: Commissioner, California Highway Patrol / ... (136 episodes, 1977-1983)

Production Companies

• MGM Television
• Rosner Television

Distributors

• AVRO Television (1984) (Netherlands) (TV)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
• Turner Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (complete first season)
• Turner Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (complete second season)

Special Effects

• Newkirk Special Effects

Other Companies

• Cinemobile System  locations
• Kawasaki Motors  motorcycles
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)  titles and opticals
• Unique Movie Cars  picture cars

Also Known As:

"CHiPs Patrol" - USA (syndication title)

Runtime:

60 min (139 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | USA:TV-PG | Australia:PG | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Long Beach, California, USA

Company:

MGM Television

Trivia:

Jon and Ponch's unit IDs were L.A. County Seven Mary Three and Seven Mary Four, respectively.

Quotes:

[a hacker has messed up the CHP's payroll]
Sgt. Joseph Getraer:Now, about the paychecks.
Officer Barry Baricza:Yeah, I've got a car payment due!
[the other officers start complaining]
Sgt. Joseph Getraer:Settle down! Just settle down and we'll try to sort out your paychecks.
Officer Barry Baricza:Well, how much was YOUR paycheck?
Sgt. Joseph Getraer:[nervously] It's... more than I usually get.
[under his breath]
Sgt. Joseph Getraer:It's closer to what I deserve.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Galactica 1980: The Super Scouts: Part 1 (#1.4)" (1980)

Classic 1970s show, it was even better as Summer Reruns in the '80s

"CHiPs", what you can say. The California Highway Patrol got the best PR they could ever hope for in this classic buddy cop show from the 1970s. Built on comedy and riveting freeway chases, Larry Wilcox and Erik Estrada starred as officers Jon Baker and Frank "Ponch" Poncherrello. The series immediately found an audience, especially with children because of it's fantastic car chases and entertaining action stunts. It was guaranteed that a car would flip over or someone got thrown off a bike or flopped face first into cement in every episode. It didn't matter if they were so obviously staged, no one else was doing such things back in those days so it was fun to see it on CHiPs. There just had to be chase on the freeways in each episode, and they surprisingly hold up today. I guess a high speed chase at over 90 mph in 1977 is the same as one that happens in 2007. That's another thing, watching this series it's amazing how little life in North America has changed in the past 30 years. Only the fashions, music and obviously some media oriented (internet, fast computers, flat screen plasma and LCD TVs, palm pilots, etc, etc) electronic technology has changed. Otherwise look at how life in 1977 is still so much the same as 2007. It's weird watching Ponch and Jon today and reflecting that I'm now around the *same age* (freaky!) as those guys were back then (late 20s-early 30s). I see them in an entirely different light today then when I viewed this show as a child, as I can relate to more of their life and understand their still relatively young adult problems.

CHiPs had a tendency to be cheesy, especially with the way Erik Estrada hammed it up as Ponch. But who cared, Estrada and Wilcox had terrific on screen chemistry (even if they didn't get along in real life), that you just were glued to TV to watch these guys chase bad guys. The corny nature of the show has famously turned off people who were older and "too cool" during CHiPs run, but they missed out on a great TV show if only had they been children. Who cares what they think now anyway, they're old farts in 2007. Although CHiPs was clearly a '70s TV show, it actually ran over into the early 80s and in my opinion probably found it's massive cult audience in the 1980s. CHiPs was rerun ENDLESSLY in the '80s. It was on every freakin' day, Monday-Friday. Home sick from school? Watch CHiPs. Holidays? Make sure to watch CHiPs. And of course the summer months, watch CHiPs, usually airing at 8am or 4pm, sometimes both timeslots. Rainy days were and still are great for CHiPs viewing. Basically what I'm saying is that this is a show that didn't have a lot of depth to it, which is why children were so hooked onto it. It makes fantastic viewing for anyone that wants to pass the time with nothing but pure TV entertainment, with enough adult sensibilities going on to make it still very watchable. I slightly missed the original run of CHiPs, either I wasn't around or was too young, but I grew up as a child in the 80s and every single damn summer I watched CHiPs. I wasn't alone, every kid who was 12 and under in the 80s watched this show during the summer months. What an awesome way to pass an hour when you had no school. The cops never drew their guns and the violence was almost non-existent, this is a series that could never be made today. You got the day off from work and it's raining outside, time to watch an episode of CHiPs.