'Fess up, people - You think CHiPs is the greatest TV show EVER, and it is! (2 Viewers)

[Polbroth]

In searching out CHiPs threads here, I see many a "Season this or that" hard media release discussion, but no pure appreciation thread.

In some 20+ years of this forum's existence, HOW is this possible???

Easily the dumbest, coolest, most exciting and purely fun series EVER, it's unequaled in its capacity to entertain without shocking you, or breaking your brain or your heart.

The stunts?

AMAZING.

The peek into the cultural and physical landscape of L.A. 40+ years ago?

PRICELESS.

The capacity of the show to make you laugh, or thrill you, or genuinely touch you, and almost always unexpectedly?

ENDLESS.

The excitement of spotting future or past celebrities in zany supporting or cameo roles?

INDESCRIBABLE.

I just saw an episode today that featured a famous Woody Allen ex, and I kept thinking "Who IS that?" until I looked her up.

The kooky coolness of the show just never stops (well, maybe in the final Baker-free season...), and it's time we celebrated all things CHiPpy!

Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba!!

 

[GlennC]

You forgot the fantastic music score.

 

[Polbroth]

You forgot the fantastic music score.

That's what my last line alluded to!

But you mean fantastic and then MORE fantastic; the pre-disco score was amazeballs, but the disco redo?

Ambrosia!!!

 

[The 1960's]

CHiPs (1977-1983)
Stars Erik Estrada Larry Wilcox Robert Pine

S01E09 Hustle (Nov.24.1977)
Stars Erik Estrada Larry Wilcox Robert Pine Broderick Crawford Brodie Greer Lew Saunders Reb Brown Kay Peters Marty Ingels Sandra Ann Will Carradine Yuki Shimoda Ari Sorko-Ram Robert Hoff Michael Masters Lora Marie Taylor​

---

The officers investigate some motorcycle-riding thieves, while Ponch convinces Jon to join a CHP bowling tournament.​

---

---

---

---

Highway Patrol (1955-1959)
Stars Broderick Crawford Art Gilmore William Boyett Vance Skarstedt Ron Foster Wayne Heffley Terry Frost Frank Warren Stuart Whitman Jay Douglas Joe Patridge Morgan Jones Roy Bourgeois Dean Cromer Lorraine Dell Wood Byron Keith Troy Melton Linné Ahlstrand Jon Locke Charlie Crafts Charles H. Gray Charles H. Gray Bob Gilbreath Michael Garth Brad Trumbull Gene Roth Guy Williams​

---

---

---

---

 

[GlennC]

Both are wonderful. I have all the soundtrack releases.

 

[Polbroth]

CHiPs (1977-1983)
Stars Erik Estrada Larry Wilcox Robert Pine
​

---

---

So dumb, so cool, so fun - the Batman of the 70s/80s!

And I saw the Crawford episode last week - classic!

Both are wonderful. I have all the soundtrack releases.

There are soundtracks?

Want!

 

[jayembee]

'Fess up, people - You think CHiPs is the greatest TV show EVER, and it is!​

Quite frankly, I have no opinion on the matter. I've never seen a single episode of the show.

 

[Philip Verdieck]

'Fess up, people - You think CHiPs is the greatest TV show EVER, and it is!​

Quite frankly, I have no opinion on the matter. I've never seen a single episode of the show.

If you ever want to watch a show where one car swerving on the highway will cause the trailing 3 dozen+ cars to spontaneously crash, explode, roll over and behave in actions not dictated by physics, then its the show for you.

I can't recall a TV show that had stupider automotive mayhem ever produced.

 

[Polbroth]

'Fess up, people - You think CHiPs is the greatest TV show EVER, and it is!​

Quite frankly, I have no opinion on the matter. I've never seen a single episode of the show.

This was me before I got hooked!

I've only seen it in reruns, but was immediately taken with its kookiness.

Whatever you do, DON'T ever watch an episode, or you could end up a hardcore CHiPophile like me!

 

[jayembee]

This was me before I got hooked!

I've only seen it in reruns, but was immediately taken with its kookiness.

Whatever you do, DON'T ever watch an episode, or you could end up a hardcore CHiPophile like me!

Don't worry. I've managed to stay temptation-free since the show first aired, and I've got enough other things to watch that I don't imagine that my status will ever change in the future.

 

[Polbroth]

If you ever want to watch a show where one car swerving on the highway will cause the trailing 3 dozen+ cars to spontaneously crash, explode, roll over and behave in actions not dictated by physics, then its the show for you.

I can't recall a TV show that had stupider automotive mayhem ever produced.

Completely insane, right?

The really crazy thing is that some of the stunts were incredible - and quite dangerous - so you have this parallel thing where the show is super-cheesy and implausible, but also genuinely thrilling at times from an execution standpoint; breathtaking.

Part of its fun & charm!

 

[Kevin Hewell]

Sometimes cheesy fun is great.



Done in Lego.

 

[ponset]

 

[Mark_B]

Emergency! is in the same time frame and style. Paramedics Gage and Desoto operating out of Station 51. Chicago Fire has an Engine 51 in honor of it. Loved both shows.

 

[Polbroth]

Emergency! is in the same time frame and style. Paramedics Gage and Desoto operating out of Station 51. Chicago Fire has an Engine 51 in honor of it. Loved both shows.

Dragnet, Adam-12, Emergency! and then CHiPs - all great in their own way, with Dragnet one of the greatest series of all time; incredible season to season QC.

But the reason I love CHiPs the most is that UNLIKE the other 3, it's silliness factor is nearly always off the charts, and it skews the youngest and least disturbing.

So what makes a classic like Dragnet great - it's brilliantly handled heavy themes (that post MLK-assassination episode!) - is nearly always absent in CHiPs.

Just good clean kooky fun!

 

[Bryan^H]

Dragnet, Adam-12, Emergency! and then CHiPs - all great in their own way, with Dragnet one of the greatest series of all time; incredible season to season QC.

But the reason I love CHiPs the most is that UNLIKE the other 3, it's silliness factor is nearly always off the charts, and it skews the youngest and least disturbing.

So what makes a classic like Dragnet great - it's brilliantly handled heavy themes (that post MLK-assassination episode!) - is nearly always absent in CHiPs.

Just good clean kooky fun!

I own all the DVD seasons, and bought the first season digitally because of the HD is stunning. Widescreen though, not OAR unfortunately. It is great 70's escapism. Lots of fun.

 

[84lion]

For those interested...CHiPs is now on Amazon Prime (Freevee) in HD.