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| Available at Amazon.com |
CHiPs is a time capsule to the kitsch wonder of Southern California in the mid-Seventies. If Miami Vice was created as MTV cops, than CHiPs was BeeGees on Two Wheels. Officers Jon Baker (Larry Wilcox) and Frank “Ponch” Poncherello (Erik Estrada) were swingers with badges who passed out tickets and collected phone numbers. Their hot pursuits on the Los Angeles freeways came complete with a disco beat. While the arrested had the right to be silent; Jon and Ponch had the right to be sexy in their tight uniforms and motorcycle boots.
The episodes on CHiPs: The Complete Second Season resemble the educational films that ran in the health class. Bad drivers are educated over the course of an hour (actual running time around 48 minutes and 30 seconds) by Jon ad Ponch. CHiPs had as many wrecks as the 16mm films shown in Driver’s Ed., but they didn’t include the gore footage. You might get nauseous from the saccharine sweet messages from squeaky clean Jon. There was no exposing of the human soul or a dark seedy underbelly on CHiPs. This wasn’t the grandfather to The Wire.
Far as cop shows go, CHiPs is wonderfully unrealistic. During its heyday, most motorcycle cops considered it a comedy. The series can’t be completely dismissed as pure fantasy. While most of the reasons that cause accidents seem outlandish, there are enough stupid people in the real world that wreck for dumb reasons. “High Explosive” has a lost teen using his BB gun to shoot targets next to the highway. This does seem to happen in real news stories. The displaced country boy can’t find a proper firing range so he heads to the road. One of his BBs misses the target, nails a passing car. A nasty wreck takes place and the kid goes on the run. Being CHiPs, when they finally catch Ike, they don’t bust him up in the bullpen. Jon teaches the kid how to rope cows. The kid is played by Ike Eisenmann, frequently cast as the misguided kid who only needs a little attention to get on the right tracks. He was cast when a role called for a less-troubled Jackie Earle Haley character. The second story has a fired ambulance driver swipe his old vehicle for a dynamite run. Will he get caught before he blows up the Sunset Strip?
“Peaks and Valleys” takes the Disco Police image to the extreme as Jon and Ponch deliver a baby beneath the mirrored ball. “Supercycle” has a motorcycle nut dressed up as Evel Knievel attempting dangerous stunts on the streets and highways around Los Angeles. His buddies secretly film the exploits. We now call this Jackass. It’s up to Jon and Ponch to explain why you must pay attention when they warn you to not try these stunts at home. “The Sheik” has the cops getting tangled with a Middle Eastern speed demon who uses his diplomatic immunity to get away with reckless driving. Jon and Ponch have to save an out of control boater using early versions of the jet ski.
“The Grudge” is a classic of the series. The world’s oldest frat boys get busted smuggling pot when their RV gets stuck in a tunnel. Even though they should be sent to a pound-me-in-the ass-prison, their rich daddys’ connections only get them suspended from school. They’re furious and determined to get revenge on Jon and Ponch. They cause wrecks and bake up illegal brownies. They’re evil! One of the ancient college chums is Dirk Blocker, the son of Dan Blocker (Hoss on Bonanza). “Bio-Rhythms” brings that goofy ‘70s belief that you can chart your upcoming mood swings. But who wouldn’t play along with this science-mysticism when applied by Officer Sindy Cahill (Brianne Leary)?
If you can’t sleep cause your brain won’t cut off, don’t reach for those doctor prescribed sleeping pills. Put on any episode from CHiPs: The Complete Second Season and you’re guaranteed to lower your cranial activity. This show is pure fluff without all the heavy drama of a serious cop show. Jon and Ponch didn’t get burdened with the human drama found on Hill Street Blues or NYPD Blue. They just wanted to shake their booties when their shift ended. They kept the highways of the Seventies safe from bad vibes.
The Episodes
“Peaks and Valleys,” “The Volunteers,” “Family Crisis,” “Disaster Squad,” “Neighborhood Watch,” “Trick or Trick,” “High Flyer,” “The Grudge,” “The Sheik,” “Return of the Turks,” “Supercycle,” “High Explosive,” “Down Time,” “Repo Man,” “Mait Team,” “Pressure Point,” “The Matchmakers,” “Rally ‘Round the Bank,” “Bio-Rhythms,” “Quarantine,” “CHP-BMX” and “Ride the Whirlwind.”
The video is 1.33:1 full frame. The transfers are rather clean and detailed. You get to see the tight creases on Erik Estrada’s uniform. There’s occasional flecks of dirt in the frame, but nothing too distracting. The audio is Dolby Digital mono. You’ll have to tweak up the volume especially for the exterior scenes. There are Spanish and Portuguese dubs. The episodes have English subtitles.
The Real CHiPs (15:26) gives us a look at the officers that patrol the roads of California. Wonder if any of them have delivered babies at the disco.
The Greatest Adventures of CHiPs (1:37:04) is a clip show special. Jon and Ponch get a big award for their amazing duty so all the other CHiPs remember their favorite exploit. It’s all the big stunt sequences from earlier shows. Ponch gets wrapped up by a python. A tiger terrorizes a supermarket. They rescue a girl in an iron lung. There’s a pursuit involving nude volleyball players. The casual fan will overdose on the action.
CHiPs: The Complete Second Season is pure mindless cop action. For those who want to veg out while watching police work, Jon and Ponch are your men. They don’t burden their shift with too much depth. You have the right to be groovy.
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Warner Home Video presents CHiPs: The Complete Second Season. Starring: Erik Estrada, Larry Wilcox, Paul Linke & Robert Pine. Boxset Contents: 22 episodes on 3 flipper discs. Bonus content on single sided disc.. Originally Broadcasted: Sept. 16, 1978 – March 10, 1979. Released on DVD: June 3, 2008. Available at Amazon.com
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