Written by James M. Tate / 5/11/2018 / No comments / andra evans , cop , dominique dunne , eighties , erik estrada , larry wilcox , TV
ERIK ESTRADA GOES (FOR) BROKE IN THE FINAL 'CHIPS' SEASON
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Tom Reilly gets the first Season 6 episode named for him 10/10/1982 |
The role of Office Bobby 'Hot Dog' Nelson was probably more shameful to fans of the series than the man himself, who, for a year, financially benefited from Larry's exit (Jon split to work the family ranch, but actually, the show first Jumped The Shark in Season 5's Battle of the Bands), which left a sad empty space on the L.A. freeway next to Erik Estrada's Frank 'Ponch' Poncherello, who really didn't seem to notice there was a gap to fill at all...
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Erik Estrada needed to take it off to covering his partner's departure |
Flipping the script, Hot Dog (who'd soon be joined by another blond rookie, Bruce Penhall, who was actually more likeable) was supposed to be what Ponch was in the first season: A devil-may-care rookie that experienced California Highway Patrolman Jon Baker had to take care of/keep an eye on...
No matter how hard Estrada, once a talented and legitimate character-actor in vehicles such as THE NEW CENTURIONS, tried to win over fans, male and females alike (and not in that order) from his mellow and patiently understanding, sandy-blond (and let's face it, completely lipless) mentor Baker, they remained an equal pair. In fact, Wilcox might be more beloved, in retrospect... Especially since he didn't try so hard to be famous-beyond-the-program concerned. And some girls, to this day, actually admit: "It was Jon we liked all along." Ponch simply tried too hard...
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Richard Simmons on top of Erik Estrada |
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Camp Value: ***1/2 |
The episode should've been titled The Beginning of the End since we're witnessing an actor's career that didn't have a chance: Had CHIPS ended after Season Five, there could've been more mystery beyond the campy pinup "Mexploitation" that took over, possibly providing Estrada a career beyond straight-to-video action flicks or guest roles on random dramas, Mexican soap operas, or playing himself on sitcoms. But Amazon Prime members should start watching this awesomely embarrassing Sixth Season first, and then, after realizing how genuinely bad the show got, return to the rudimentary stages to discover: This famously bad series wasn't (isn't) bad at all.
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It wasn't just Richard Simmons, The Dodger's manager Tommy Lasorda provides a vapid cameo as well |
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CHIPS Richard Simmons CHIPS Tommy Lasorda CHIPS Andrea Evans CHIPS Dominique Dunne CHIPS |
Labels:
andra evans,
cop,
dominique dunne,
eighties,
erik estrada,
larry wilcox,
TV
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