After several years of waiting, CHIPs: The Complete Third Season has finally made its way to DVD. The first show I remember being appointment television for me, CHIPs focused on two California Highway Patrolman (“CHiPs”), Officers Jon Baker (Larry Wilcox) and Frank “Ponch” Poncherello (Erik Estrada) riding around the freeways of greater Los Angeles on their Kawasaki’s dealing with accidents, and all manner of illegal activity.
Ponch and Jon had very different personalities. Ponch was a ladies man, and prone to getting himself into a bit of trouble, while Jon was more level-headed and tried his best to keep Ponch out of trouble with their commanding officer Sergeant Joseph Getraer (Robert Pine).
The third season saw the real world insert itself into the show, when Erik Estrada hurt both of his arms and broke some ribs in a motorcycle accident during filming. The show found Ponch laid up in the hospital after a motorcycle accident, and briefly put on front desk duty. This leaves Baker riding with Sergeant Getraer or Officer Grossman (Paul Linke). This also allowed for the introduction of some additional CHP officers including Jebediah Turner (Michael Dorn, with a ‘70s ‘stache) and Bonnie Clark (Randi Oakes).
This season’s two-part premiere is cheesetastic stuff. Aptly titled “Roller Disco,” finds nearly everyone, from the cast to guest stars strapping on a pair of skates, tube socks, and the most unflattering short shorts, and getting down! The story features ‘70s heartthrob Leif Garrett as a spoiled rock star who believes his manager/producer (Bill Daily) is riding him to hard. Larry Linville and Larry Storch find two losers on the road with a car modified to emit sparks at tailgaters, causing several accidents. If that wasn’t enough, Helena Kallianiotes leads a trio of thieves on the Santa Monica Boardwalk. The other two are played by Jim Brown and Fred Williamson. Even Ed McMahon makes a cameo as himself!
As exciting as that is, the finale of the two-parter ends with with the CHP’s annual, star-studded charity event. The seventies star power is impressive: Antonio Fargas, Vic Tayback, Dana Plato, Todd Bridges, Tina Louise, and Robert Mandan, among others turn up to revel in the disco themed goodness. Don’t judge me, but I enjoyed every minute of it.
Throughout the third season’s episodes CHIPs addresses important topics of the day—gas syphoning and the energy crisis in their non-threatening way. Several names of note show up as guest stars: Billy Barty, Edd Byrnes, Aldo Ray, Dee Wallace and her husband, Christopher Stone, Ralph Meeker, Anne Ramsey, Brion James, an unknown Michelle Pfeiffer, Phillip McKeon and William Schallert among others.
CHIPs is hard to take too seriously, but the fact that everyone involved seems to know the main goal is to have fun, makes the show worthwhile. One can only hope Warner Bros. delivers the rest of the series sooner than later.
Presented in widescreen, the five DVD set looks fairly clean throughout. There are a few minor artifacts here and there, but since we’re talking about a shoe that’s thirty-five years old, there’s nothing to quibble about. Colors aren’t particularly vibrant, but they’re not faded either.
English Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono track isn’t fabulous, but it reproduces the dialogue well. The ‘70s era disco music doesn’t have the punch you might expect, but it does come through rather cleanly.
English and French subtitles are included.
There are no extras available.
