CHiPs
CHiPs is an American crime drama about two California Highway Patrol motorcycle officers patrolling Los Angeles freeways. Created by Rick Rosner, it aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to May 1, 1983. The show ran six seasons with 139 episodes, plus a 1998 TV movie called CHiPs '99. It followed Ponch, played by Erik Estrada, and Jon, played by Larry Wilcox, as they balance high-speed chases with everyday life and humor. Their boss is Sergeant Getraer (Robert Pine).
The series used real CHP gear, riding Kawasaki motorcycles and driving Dodge Monaco patrol cars. Episodes mixed light comedy with action and dramatic moments, often ending with a light note or a social moment after a big chase. During Season 5, Estrada went on strike over syndication profits and was temporarily replaced by Bruce Jenner as Officer Steve McLeish; in Season 6, Wilcox was replaced by Tom Reilly as Officer Bobby Nelson, and Bruce Penhall joined as Officer Bruce Nelson. The show was filmed around Los Angeles on freeways and back roads, and Estrada sustained several on-set injuries during filming.
CHiPs has a lasting legacy, with reruns on various networks over the years, including MeTV and Charge!. The 1998 CHiPs '99 TV movie brought back some original cast members, and in 2017 a feature film remake was released starring Dax Shepard, Michael Peña, and Vincent D’Onofrio.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 15:45 (CET).