CHiPs

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

Related Topics:
US - Television - NBC - September 15 - 1977 - July 17 - 1983 - Rick Rosner - Erik Estrada - Larry Wilcox - Los Angeles - California Highway Patrol

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

Related Topics:
Television movie - Bruce Jenner - Tom Reilly - Bruce Penhall

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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.

Related Topics:
Michael Dorn - Paul Linke - Robert Pine - Lou Wagner - Randi Oakes

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Filming locations were generally in the San Fernando Valley of California. Freeway crashes were done 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.

Related Topics:
San Fernando Valley - California - Montrose, California - Sylmar, California - Riverside International Raceway - Riverside, California

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In 1998, a final sequel entitled CHiPs '99 was made.

Related Topics:
1998 - CHiPs '99

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