{"title":"CHiPs","dateDebut":"1977","dateEnd":"1983","description":"CHiPs \u0097 California Highway Patrols \u0097 was a mainstay\r\nof disco-era TV, and still stands today as an immensely\r\nenjoyable throwback to the period. Created in 1977 by\r\nproducer Rick Rosner, the show followed a troupe of\r\nCalifornia motorcycle cops as they patrol the Golden\r\nState\u0092s freeways looking for ne\u0092er-do-wells of all stripes\r\n(the formula was about five cases per one-hour episode).\r\n\r\nLeading the way is Officer Francis \u0093Ponch\u0094 Poncherello,\r\na carefree cop with a devestating, lady-killing smile and\r\nan easy-going (but not TOO easy-going) attitude to match\r\nthe SoCal lifestyle. His partner through most of the series\u0092\r\nsix year run was blonde-haired Officer Jonathan Baker,\r\nwho balanced Ponch\u0092s free spirit with a healthy dose of\r\nreason and logic. Wilcox left the show in 1982, and was\r\nreplaced by Tom Reilly, playing Officer\r\nBobby \u0093Hot Dog\u0094 Nelson.\r\n\r\nWith John Carl Parker\u0092s memorably brassy theme greeting\r\nviewers each week, CHiPs began spearheading NBC\u0092s\r\nThursday night \u0093family hour\u0094 schedule, but after a while,\r\nmoved to weekends, where it flourished, breaking into\r\nthe top 25 highest-rated shows for three years straight.\r\nIts chief weapon: a very family-friendly attitude with\r\nstill enough room left for plenty of car chases, IN ONE GREAT EPISODE THE TEAM STOP A MOTORIST FOR SPEEDING, IT TURNS OUT TO BE BRODERICK CRAWFORD FROM THE EARLIER SERIES \"HIGHWAY PATROL\" \r\nmotorcycle wipeouts, jack-knifing trucks, frantic\r\nor wise-cracking motorists, and disco dancing.","leadImageMedUrl":"http:\/\/distro-1.retrojunk.com\/secure\/d49d17a1b53f64ba1c4fb2b1714026306a9d187888c144c33789ed4388d4122d4f8c4a\/image\/2cc_8289b9fbeb.jpg"}