Farewell, hot dog. Baker-replacement bobby nelson (tom reilly - VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, ANIMAL INSTINCTS 1-2) gets replaced as ponch's partner, as the series scrambles futilely to stay above water. He's still in the episode, but out of the limelight, as ponch takes on his younger brother bruce (bruce penhall - GUNS, CHiPs '99) as his new new partner. The show's normal misogynistic, violent failings aside, this one is strangely competent, dialogue and plot-wise. And the show can't be faulted for ditching hot dog - reilly was a bit wooden, and bruce is an upgrade. In hindsight, the producers had clearly been grooming penhall to take over for some time. Not a bad story, as ponch and bruce take on a corrupt small-town sheriff.