Memories of CHiPs

The CHIPS Reunion will bring together a lot of diverse personalities and lives.  I am excited to see my old cast and crew who worked so hard to do a show that was filled with southern California life with the two stars….the motorcycles.  I am also very excited to meet the many fans who loved CHIPS and who employed us indirectly with their viewership.

Each of the characters were special and each went on to their own live and in the case of Michael Dorn, bigger stardom.  Often today I think about the egos of each of us, and how others had to suck it up and not express their egos or their needs because the show was written around two stars and the supporting cast.  The musical chairs of Hollywoood in retrospect mean nothing, but when you are sitting center state in your youth, you sure think it has meaning.  Like all teams, you all realize how important ROLE playing team members are to the success of you and the show. Two men do not make a team!

Yesterday, I was in the gym working out and I ran into a crew member from CHIPS and he said….Larry….Larry Wilcox, is that you?  I said yep.  He said, “wow….I used to work with you on CHIPS and I was a gaffer!” We talked and joked about the fun times we had and he went on to say something that stuck in my mind. He said, “when I meet young actors today, they just do not realize what it was like in our time TV was so special and so big and powerful.  We enjoyed 20 plus Nielsen ratings and today they enjoy a 2 Nielsen rating.  I am so grateful Larry it was a great time and thank you.”  I said  thank YOU and we smiled and we parted.  I thought about his eyes and the meaning of the gift of his memory. Yes, we were so very lucky!

Paul Linke and his life story is one that is bigger than CHiPs and he continues to press on and is a highly acclaimed playwright and actor.  I could spend hours just asking Paul about his life but have always felt it was rude and intrusive.  We only tapped a small amount of his blessed talent but he was funny and a nice comic relief for the show.  I look forward to listening to Paul.

Randi Oakes for me was a special girl but I just was not sure how to get too close to her.  I always felt like she was a constrained nucleus of beauty and wisdom.  Sometimes I flirted with her, and sometimes I felt like she was my sister and family.  I never really got to know or understand Randi and it is my “bad”.   She is happily married now with a wonderful family, and I missed an important chapter in her life.  She was a special girl in a tough gender biased environment.  However, most men say they loved Randi!

Erik Estrada …well I have called Erik and he has not returned my call.  Robert Pine has called Erik and he has not returned his call.  Erik may or may not show up to support the CHP 11-99 Fund (officers killed in the line of duty ) and their families.  He may not be able to help the Optimist Club and School for Kids and his manager, according to my agent, said he no longer wanted the limited identity of CHIPS because he was trying to establish a broader horizon now.  I hope Erik takes the high road and decides to come but who knows what conflicts one has in life these days.  But, once again, for the record Ponch, we sure had some fun and I will never forget it.  I hope you have good memories because I sure do ……and the PRESS can write whatever they want which was B.S.  Of course we have and had our differences but they were a long way from a feud, and if they only knew our private good times together in each other’s motor homes.  LOL

The Senior Senator and Diplomat was and is Robert Pine.  Robert has always been a fine and well raised gentleman who enjoyed the life of a thespian.  His wife was also a very talented actress and of course his famous offspring.  His daughter I remember as full of life and so very vivacious and cute.  Robert is the kind of person that you can talk to for an hour of polite exchanges but if you probe Robert you will be the guest of some impressive acumen and wisdom.  Robert is simply……gracious.

Brianne Leary was so happy and vivacious and was willing to try and be vulnerable.  She was smart, witty and cute on the show.  It was a time when she seemed to be breaking out as a star and then she left the show.  She has so much to say herself and it will be another fine time for me to listen with sensitivity.

Lou Saunders was handsome, a smiling  African American and the real jock in the cast.  When we played basketball against the Los Angeles Rams Lou could actually hold his own! He moved like an athlete and his demeanor was one of a kind man.

Brodie Greer  was another great guy and great athlete.  He was tall, handsome and got lots of fan mail.  Brodie has moved on in life and lives up north and is in Real Estate.  I am anxious to hear his stories.

And of course Lou Wagner’s Harlan the mechanic was a wonderful character introduced in the show to give more comedic relief.  I often thought he had the best written character in the show!

Bruce Penhall was probably the most handsome actor ever on the show with his boyish good looks and his world champion status as a motorcycle racer, off shore boat racer and on and on.  Every girl loved Bruce and his stories are amazing.

Bruce Jenner was full of positive energy and ready for life.  He was a natural on the show and was used as a pawn to get Erik Estrada to settle his legal matters with MGM and NBC.  So Bruce, who everyone liked, was a sacrificial item in the politics of legal actions but he was a good guy and did his role well.

The crew had the hardest job, and that was to support all the actors and all of the egos without taking sides and working 15 hour days for a lesser pay.  Erik and I would show up at 7 am in our Rolls Royce convertibles and go to makeup while they had been working for 1-2 hours already.  These guys became special family and they really made us look and perform much better than we did in reality.  Cy Chermak was a very smart producer and he knew how to put lipstick on a pig in the editing room.  I quietly marveled at his talent and yet my O.D.D. kept me from openly thanking him for so much.

Rick Rosner cast me in CHIPS and I am forever grateful.  Bob Hayden was my CHP double and he was the best and really should have been cast before Larry Wilcox.

Most of the cast members lost family members during and after the show some recently and some long past. Each of these scars added a tributary in their lives.

My worry for the reunion is that there will not be enough time and I will want to LISTEN to my colleagues, instead of talking.  There is so much to catch up on and to reminisce about all the guest stars who went on to become bigger stars.

You also come to know your fans over time.  It is an interesting journey and as an actor I always wondered WHY?  However, after many years I have realized that WHY is the problem of perspective and one should get to know this family who have scrutinized your every piece of film.  These people have their own majestic reasons for watching CHIPS and some are dramatic and represent the miracles of survival through a TV Screen as an escape mechanism.  In my own case, today I walked in to Loews to buy some equipment and I greeted a gentleman and his wife and he said how much excitement and hope CHIPS gave him as a boy. Later today I promised a US MARSHAL that I would bring him an autographed photo and his demeanor became that of a 12 year old filled with joy and gratitude.  And I have many fans from many countries now who know that I am not impressed with actors or celebrities but I am impressed with people and our ability to share gifts.  Sue Walsh started as a young fan and has become a great and loyal friend.

I hope all of you will come to the CHIPS Reunion on Sept 15th at the LAX Hilton and support the charities of fallen police officers (11-99 foundation) and Kids at risk within the Optimist School.  CHIPS cares about all of them and we care about YOU.  Please come buy and get your ticket online at CHIPSReunion.com

Sincerely grateful – Larry D. Wilcox – Jon Baker – 7M3

28 Comments:

  1. Enjoyed your new colunm. Great job. Awesome show and many wonderful child hood memories thinking back to good ol days of CHiPs.

    Thanks Larry.

  2. Dear Mr. Wilcox,

    I think your take on this is absolutely remarkable and somewhat rare–unfortunately. It encompasses what I would consider a real class act–which you are.

    I wish I could come myself to your CHiPs reunion, but living on another continent makes it difficult.

    I hope sometime you will write a mini (or full) memoir about your time in the CHiPs role — and post, because I for one would love to read it.

    Best regards

    Andrew Sporner

  3. larry you are truly a wonderful man and you have given not only me but legions of your fans so much joy when we were growing up,you are such a part of tv history, thank you for being you and thank you for all my wonderful childhood memories(aka riding around my street back home in ireland pretending to go after bad drivers hehe ) thank you for your blogs and letting us know that you really are a gentleman and a scholar 🙂 god bless you and your family have a great week 🙂

  4. Robert plPerales

    I’m a big fan of the show I have the first two seasons, wish WB would settle and realese the rest of the seasons

  5. Hi, Larry!!
    You brought me back to the past with this text. I can say without doubt that CHiPs was part of best time of my childhood. A childhood not too sweet, but full of dreams and wishes of happiness. Me and my brother, had the cast and crew like friends! LOL .. Of course everyone had their favorite. Jon Baker was the one who showed me all tenderness, gentleness and sensitivity that a person should have for another. I wish he were my old brother! LOL .. Ponch mingled with my own feelings of insecurity, desire to be better, adding your mood naive, that made me laugh a lot. Eternal gratitude to all!
    Unfortunately, I will not be at the meeting, but a good part of my heart will be with you! = 0)
    And, Larry, when I found you on Facebook, you could not see my face .. I also went back to my 9 year old … LOL.
    A hug from Brazil!
    Débora Gomes- 10-4

  6. dear the cast of chips
    i grew up watching chips when i was a kid i enjoyed it then as i do now.but i was wondering if any of you know how i can get one of the motorcyles from chips’99 i would be very greatful for your help.

    sincercly yours,
    dave schneider

  7. Great column. Looking forward to Sep 15th. I have my ticket and am flying in for the day!

  8. Larry, I want to say that what you wrote really touched me. You have always from the time I was a child watching CHIPS been a honorable stand up guy. What you wrote about your colleagues was amazing…and classy…it was you. I am sad to hear the Erik hasn’t returned any of your calls. I hope he shows up and remembers the real cause for the event…..OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AS WELL AS THE FANS WHO LOVED HIM AND STILL LOVE HIM…and remember him mostly as your partner…you guys together were amazing. My childhood has great memories and alot of them included watching your show. Thank you for being the Class Act you always have been on screen and off. God Bless

  9. Mr. Wilcox,

    Thank you for your insight and giving us fans a peek into the cast and crew of a beloved show. I will be attending the reunion and hope to have lots of time to spend with new friends from the FB page as well as getting to meet all of the cast. You are far too humble and I hope you get to spend as much time as you can with old friends. You are a very selfless person who does a lot for others. You helped my daughter with a school project earlier this year and she got an A on it as well as the highest grade in the class. She was tickled when you tweeted about answering the questions for a 12 year old girl. I will be bringing her report so she can hopefully get it autographed.

    Looking forward to September,
    Shana Striha

  10. Very well written Larry, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the column, I felt like I was sitting there with you just talking (wish I was really – LOL!!!). Loved the show, it was terrific, and I always waited and waited until it was time for CHiPS to come on TV. Now I don’t have to as I am getting the DVD’s which I have been wanting for ages.

  11. Larry,
    I thoroughly enjoyed this months column and I also cannot wait to hear all the stories waiting to be told at the reunion!
    I loved CHiPs then and I love it now. I enjoy watching the episodes over and over again. There is always something new to be seen in each one.
    I am so looking forward to meeting all of the cast and crew who will be at the reunion in September, and consider myself very blessed to be able to attend.

    Thank you for bringing such joy into our lives and God Bless you and your family

  12. Thanks for sharing your memories with us Larry. Sounds like you were closer to some cast members more than others which is how it usually is. I hope you get a chance to catch up with everybody at the reunion.

  13. Larry is very good has good memories those moments that never comeback anymore, but this reunion show to us everything is possible.

  14. Larry you are wonderful and when you were there for erik on his. fateful day i think you should have gotten more praise seeing erik through what was so horrific i believe you are the reason he survived what was it like for you were you at the hospital a lot

  15. Larry when I viewed as many episodes of CHIPS I must say that if there was any show that featured so much destruction of vehicles it would be CHIPS and speaking of vehicles I wonder if it was an exaggeration (if you know what I mean) where there were scenes where some vehicles instead of colliding against a vehicle in its way it instead would leap over the vehicle that was in the way and other times a vehicle would leap over a vehicle in its way but end up crashing upside down or on its side.Finally I seem to recall that there were 3 different episodes where Plymouth Road Runners would become damaged and in other episodes Cadillacs would get damaged so my question is do you know if the producer or creator of CHIPS had some Ill will feelings against Cadillacs and Plymouth Road Runners? Please reply if you can.Thank you.

  16. Hi Larry,
    I loved your show and still enjoy the reruns that come on now. The show was refreshing and showed a different side of the CHP. You are a fine actor.
    I just received this news letter and I am disappointed I missed the reunion in September. I would love to attend another reunion in the future. You were my favorite.
    Elaine

    • Dear Mr.Wilcox,
      I would love more than anything to be able to attend a reunion show sometime. I , of course have been a fan since the beginning. It is great to read the various stories of your co-stars as well as the production crew and their families. TV has changed quite drastically since as early as the late 60’s.
      The beginning of the 80’s was a refreshing one for the world as well as the TV shows that were on. Anyway again I would say Thank You for bringing Jon Baker to life and let me say this that your portrayal of a police officer was spot on in my opinion. Being a patrolman here in New Jersey I’ve met a lot of cops and each one is different in their own way and you’re right up there with them. Take care and good luck in all that you do and as I safe to every police officer ” Be Safe”.
      Pat..

  17. CHiPs is on ME TV where I live and I watch it a lot. I grew up with you and Ponch. I had a crush on you and my sister liked Ponch. You sound like such a nice person; so down-to-earth just like your character. Actually I feel pretty silly sending this, but what the heck. Take care!

  18. I was just wondering if anyone knows why when they do these reunions for CHiPs they never invite Tome Reilly to them?

  19. Larry you guys where part of my life. You and Erik where part of me joining the force not because of the glamor but helping people. I enjoy being a cop and look to being a impact to the younger generation

  20. Larry you guys where part of my life. You and Erik where part of me joining the force not because of the glamor but helping people. I enjoy being a cop and hope to be a impact to the younger generation be safe brother and god bless Charlie 123

  21. Hi Larry !!
    It is so great to see someone appreciate what they have!! Today’s actors are so jaded , so spoiled they sure could take some advice on how to handle celebrity from you !! I hope you had a great reunion , CHIPS was #1 to me until you left . You and Erik were the best team on TV and nobody has come close since. You are an awesome person , and I wish you all the best !

  22. Was a huge CHiPs fan and you were my favorite.

  23. Tom Reilly ( office Bobby Nelson) was arrested For DUI ,and was discovered to be under the influence of quaaludes . When the real CHP found out , they threatened to take the right to use the CHP badge on the show. Because of all this ” bobby Nelson” became a secondary cast member , and Bruce penhall, whom everybody got along with !! Became ponch’s new partner. So Reilly is definitely not a fan fave, and I tend to believe his former cast mates are not. Close to him ,

  24. I am so very,very grateful to all the artists, actors, and actress who put together the show called CHiPS. I knew all you people work very hard to make the show an excellent entertainment for all of us fans and viewers alike. Again, THANK YOU ALL. THANK you Larry Wilcox and Erik Estrada( Jon and Ponch).And Everybody

  25. Roy S. Sanders

    I wish I could have came to the reunion and am a big fan of the cast and the show.

    Thanks!!!!

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