CHiPS, which stands for California Highway Patrols, first aired in the 1970s and became a massive ratings success, combining action, melodrama and comedy in the daily lives of two state motorcycle officers patrolling the freeway system in sun-drenched Los Angeles. Officer Jon Baker (played by Larry Wilcox) is the straight-laced, serious character while Frank "Ponch" Poncherello (played by cheesy yet loveable Erik Estrada) is the more free-wheeling member of the duo. Throughout the shows run, episodes ranged from the humorous (such as helping a stranded motorist) to the tragic (a multi-car pile-up with multiple deaths) to the downright bizarre (using a circus elephant to tow a broken-down truck!).
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