As we learn to write scripts we learn that one of the key elements to tell the Story from a perspective which might be the victim, the protagonist, 
the antagonist or a third party. Once that is established then the camera angles and the art of making a movie are supposed to “compliment” that perspective. Perspective can completely change how a story is told. The child of an impoverished family and his or her needs might be one perspective and yet the yearning mother who wanted to live her dream and is now caught with encumbering responsibility in conflict with her soul is another perspective. The story changes dramatically of course.
So, allow me to share my humble perspective with you some of my wonderful experiences during the CHIPS days. Remember it is but one perspective, and as the crass saying goes, we all have one!
My agents during the time of CHIPS were Herb Nanas and David Shapira. One of the agents in that office was Jon Feltheimer who is now the President and CEO of Lionsgate Films. Herbie Nanas was the agent for Sly Stallone and a slew of other actors and is old now but still producing films. David Shapira still has his agency and I believe he runs it with his children who are now agents also.
When CHIPS came a long I had the youthful passion to become a great actor one day and I had studied with a lot of great instructors. My so called actor idols were Marlon Brando and James Dean. As I grew older I liked character roles more and found them to be more challenging and more complex than a simple leading man. Most of my acting coaches and instructors were all very complimentary. So you combine compliments with ego and with youthful naiveté one quickly starts making bold “brush strokes” and believes that layering lots of intrigue and innuendo into a character by writing intense character Bibles was how you become interesting, complex and with some creative mystique. Oh my goodness the deep conversations we actors used to indulge in……what a comedy of B.S. So from the smallest of roles to bigger roles I always did lots of research and wrote lots of character Bibles to add what I construed as depth to the character. I remember later in life doing a movie with Vic Morrow who studied at the Actor’s Studio and was once considered a “method actor” and was respected in the film business as a major talent. I asked him about doing character Bibles like when he did the movie about Birdman of Alcatraz. He said he used to write intense Bibles also but now he doesn’t bother. At the time I found this shocking, and wondered why he had become so lazy and un-artistic. Preparation for an actor is everything and it warrants a lot of research and due diligence and rehearsal I mused. Later in life…..I agreed with Vic Morrow but I will not bore you with the transition of indulgence and growth. I guess as you get older you have written several versions of the Bible.
So, during this early acting period of my life I am getting cast in a lot of episodes and guest appearances and stuff. I am one of the busier actors in Hollywood according to my own mirror on the wall and I think there is only one direction and that is up and with velocity.
So when CHiPs came around I felt that it was a distraction and not up to my now “seasoned talent” and that I needed to make more astute choices to architect my career. Notice I said architect. Ohhhh my. Such youthful inept rhetorical crap I was lost in. These kinds of confused rhetoric and confused direction all stem from a latch key kid who was still not sure who in the hell he was or who he was going to be but only thing he knew for sure was that perhaps….. he was ricocheting off the walls and they did not know the term A.D.D. then. Here I was with no mentors, no real managers and all I had was my ego. An ego guiding a small boat in the ocean of predators. This is why a nourishing and supporting parenting network is so damn important – Both Parents. I did not lack the drive….but was surely ill equipped. I am sure that a TV series to my agents meant simply a ten percent commission EVERY week. That is cash in the account so don’t let the Goyum screw it up. However, when a young adult with no parents to guide him, no mentors or such to assist him with logic and business strategy, attempts to build a skyscraper with logs it can be……WELL, a little problematic to say the least and then add the fact that he cavalierly bellows out…..”hey logs are all fine and dandy……just do it! “ This is where an emotional infant screams with passionate ignorance and demands to build his own ship. Now you take this emotional infant and add another layer of false pride called Wyoming tough on him and then add another layer of Vietnam fear and rage on him and you have a…….puzzle or maybe chameleon depending on the volatility of the situation. And like most young people who are not sure who they are and which direction they are going and are not very wealthy, and have not been prepared by parents who know the depth of talent that LIFE requires……well, they succumb to the capital catnip labeled……. THOUSANDS…..notice plural a DAY!
So having said all of this, perhaps you now understand my perspective of who Larry Wilcox thought he was versus who he was. Now you take a bunch of actors, producers and the like and put them on this circle and you begin to define their….uh…..well……idiosyncrasies……..(notice I did not say maladies) and in math you have a combination of combinations which I like to call this or label this circle as a template for a geometric progression of injury and volatility. Let me just say from my little perch on the circle, that I chased, courted and embraced a few Larry Wilcox’s passionate perspectives and it was sometimes indulgent, sometimes lucrative and sometimes devastating or even…..tragic.
Working on CHiPs was a blast but often we have what I call an inner conflict which is a polite way of saying a need to self sabotage. I think I always felt that I should have been doing better roles, bigger pictures, and had better agents and managers, even though I was enjoying the desserts from CHIPS on a daily basis. I enjoyed the crew so very much and in retrospect seemed to relate more to them at times than the cast. I find the simple blue collar in me is helpful in these environments but I do not cower in its protection because I know that you must embrace the comfortable and the uncomfortable cultures and environments. However, I did enjoy the cast some of whom were cordial, some of whom were friendly depending on the day and some of whom were from aristocracy.
The actors each had to define their roles in CHiPs if the writers would give them a nibble or tool here and there which were rationed out. I have often said that the mechanics role and the Grossman’s role could have been written better and could have become an enormous counter balance in perspective and entertainment. As a result I would often try to make vegetable soup out of a simple broth and engage in deep psychological digressions about a character and such meaning. Ohhhhh, passionate youth! With Robert Pine, a gentleman, it was almost impossible to do anything with him because they wrote him as the lecturing Sergeant and there was not a lot of room to discuss subliminal suggestions and layered innuendo .The problem with working 6 days a week on a hit television series is that you are exhausted and have become a branded product. You really do not have time or interest in other personalities. You have no time off because when you are off on Sunday you are being asked to do a personal appearance or you are being stalked in the grocery store. I have always enjoyed the public and enjoyed hearing more of their stories versus my me, me, me stories, however, there are times I felt suffocated. In retrospect I say…..oh quit whining….you should have been so lucky dude so shut up!”
Each of the characters on the show as individuals were all very different. First the perspective of an actor is often selfish and is not one that is represented in a traditional TEAM mentality. You go to an office building to read for a part and there are 50 competing actors there trying to get in your head and make you feel like they are better. You compete head to head with them all on a daily basis and there is some wins, some losses, some ego and some pain. That is called “subtle if not overt conditioning” and so it is always a one on one game at the readings for a part in a movie or job. Now you take a group of actors, and place them on a set and you have to make a team. It is not an easy transition. You have actor X who thinks he or she should have been the star of the show. You have Actor R, who thinks they need to write more depth into their character. You have Actor Y who wants more money and cannot believe that he or she are only being paid such a small amount of money compared to the stars and the rationale to them is always the same……”sorry the stars took up all the budget”. And then you have the diversity of actors who come from very different backgrounds and each with positives and negatives when it comes to the goulash. So let’s just quit all of this narrative and try to succinctly say that; it is a sensitive and precarious environment of fear and survival all wondering about their very own “longevity” in Hollywood while playing like they are on the TEAM.
I looked forward to the charming Circus of CHIPS and at times frequented different cages if you will in the circus of acts. I was always looking for a stepping stone whereby I could transition from CHIPS into an upper level without looking like I wanted such a transition. Everyone in their own way was doing the same thing in a different way…..trying to build a stepping stone to their perception of a career. Each win was huge and each loss created pain and in some cases anger and resentment. And in one case or two, vindictive actions by some who took the loss as you had taken THEIR meal. There are a lot of fire hydrants and people are territorial to say the least.
After five years on CHIPS I was sailing along while focusing on a career which unfortunately was what I construed as my core, my being, and such a perception was encumbered by my youth. Here I was now flying to London and buying the rights to the Yorkshire Ripper and flying back and making a deal with MGM. Wow, was I ever smart and good at it. LOL…..Hardly but I was running the race with reckless abandon hoping to score the big one and impress people with my business savvy. Then I made a deal for the Wolfman Jack Story and pitched it with one of my agents to Columbia Pictures. I played various roles during my pitch so it was funny and entertaining and by then I had shed the parasitic drag of embarrassment and simply went for it with gusto. My agent told me I missed my calling and that I was so good that I should have become a very big agent. I thought that was a weird compliment but it fertilized a yearning identity and perhaps was digested and enjoyed in the wrong psychological growth compartment if you will. I then out maneuvered NBC and Playboy for the rights of The Dorothy Stratten Story the Death of a Playmate. I then made deals with various entities for starring roles in movies of the week and made more option deals on properties. I talked to the Presidents of studios and thought we were equals on many levels. Oh, the very raw ignorance of an unexposed youth traveling at a velocity beyond his threshold of competence and training!
So when after five years of CHIPS I felt my transition time needed to be timed correctly. I was time for me to turn up the RPM and to develop properties and direct and produce and perhaps act. I was scheduled to make a personal appearance in Brazil and I would be paid handsomely for such and then return and make an announcement about leaving and moving on. My agent called and explained that Erik Estrada had sued MGM and had made many demands. One of which is that NBC had a choice. Like me, he was making his career plans and it included getting me fired from the show. Erik had gone to NBC with an ultimatum to either fire me or make it his show or he would leave the show. He brought strategic players in and through positioning, got Rick Rosner, MGM and NBC to realize this was a losing situation unless they complied. So NBC was in a problematic position and MGM pleaded with NBC not to cancel the show but to continue for at least one more year so MGM could then syndicate the show with 100 or more episodes which would be required for an international syndication. So of course, NBC agreed for one more year and called my agent to explain that Larry Wilcox was not being asked to come back to the show. They said that perhaps we could all get together and come up with a press release and they were very sorry. LOL
So being the survival bull in a China closet that I was, I assembled my Public Relations Firm (Rogers and Cowan) and we schedule an interview with L.A. Times and we did a press release that I had decided to leave the show. So, I had already planned on doing this but now this made timing a very important issue. We did the article and it was released and NBC was very upset that we beat them to the punch and defined our very own story with a relative timeline.
After that, I did not see or hear from any of the actors on the show. I did not see or hear from any of the crew from the show because in Hollywood, everyone is being politically correct so they do not upset the apple cart and injure their very precarious employment. Remember, crew and actors are the same….always looking for their next job. The art of venomous smiles and obfuscation with a happy pat on the back can be the norm in Hollywood. I did not take it personally and understood that they were all playing the longevity game. I went on to produce an award winning series and then realized that shelf life can be a choice and I was not going to be a victim in my life. So I began to transition to both film and technology to create some independence.
I have never watched the new show until this past week (end of Fed 2015) and I watched one episode with the tall blond guy and the shorter cadet character. I felt they looked great on film and the show began to lean more to a “modeling show of men” versus a buddy series. The show for me lacked any reality and fell into the trap of exposing film daily. As I have said, anyone can point a camera and expose film with actors talking but few can help or explain to the actor how to transition the screen and become a family member with the viewer. This was a gift that my old Wyoming heritage gave me I think and it helped me with these relationships on screen. I believe that many of the actors on CHIPS have never had the rollicking relationships we had in Wyoming and it prepared me for loving and enjoying everyone. It seeped from my pores and it was fun to enjoy people. But for some reason some actors never experienced that kind of rural street brotherhood and it is a very defining fraternity. I think that is what is missing in the last year of CHIPS and I believe I know why. As a result you have a paper thin show with no chemistry. They become truly actors instead of characters. And so, CHIPS died that year with or without Jon Baker. Do I think the show would have continued if I had stayed? Cy Chermak, the producer and others think it would have continued for years. I am not as sure. However, I think all of the actors got a wonderful branding opportunity and each one took advantage of it in one way or other. I am still deeply grateful for the opportunity and I am forever indebted to some for my ignorance along the way.
One of the obvious things in the Me TV shows is the obfuscation that most do not understand. For example, Cy Chermak produced 95% of all of the CHIPS episodes but you do not see his credit on the MeTV show. Somehow, Rick Rosner, who was the original producer, went in there and negotiated a deal with MeTV and or Warner Brothers to list himself only. This is another part of the Hollywood Game that is about “strategic positioning” to try and cling to longevity. I shall reserve opinion on it. I have received no residuals from Me TV as of this date. I understand that some hidden parties are involved in the new movie and I hear that they may cast Erik in some role. Twice I had the rights to CHIPS and both times when I got ready to make a deal some veiled “ghost” killed the deal and it would never be disclosed to me other than it was a “legal decision”. So I focus on wars and my family and not skirmishes. I have no problem with that.
I never felt I really got to know any of the actors. I always wanted to know and understand more deeply Randi Oakes but she reminded me of a military child who moves around so often that her ability to connect just was not there. Who knows….maybe she just did not want to be near me. Brodie was a great guy but I was too indulgent chasing my own career to get to know Brodie at that time. Erik said that his theory on relationships was to make his enemies think they were friends. So, with that kind of philosophy and our competitive spirits it was a polite….”screw off” without saying anything. Robert Pine and Paul Linke were and are very nice guys. We are extremely different in so many ways from politics to life but I enjoyed and enjoy their company. Michael Dorn was a really nice guy and I liked Michael. However, he has gone on to bigger and better things than CHIPS and is now a busy actor and CHIPS is probably an aberration or a bad memory. Lew Saunders and Lou Wagner were also good guys. I see both from time to time and always felt a special heart for good ole Lou Saunders. Cy Chermak seemed to gravitate to Erik Estrada and Cy gave me a very unsafe feeling during the show and in meetings. We were from completely different cultures and he said some very mean things about me publicly at the wrong time. But then….Cy was betting on his own longevity and did not need some actor to ruin his career did he. A movie or TV Series is like horse racing….people bet and saddle up with the horse they think will win or will carry them to a win and give them some more longevity. I now meet with Cy from time to time and enjoy him and think he was a key architect of our longevity on CHIPS for sure. Cy is a good guy and was a good producer.
However, personally, I deeply believe the nuance of charisma and chemistry made the show . I will continue to be friends with all of the actors and producers and hope that I never hurt or injure them in their lifetimes. They are ALL human beings that need the same thing I do in life…..hugs…..not slaps. I will continue pursuing integrity and putting my family stamp on my work when possible. I am working on some movies, some TV distribution deals, and some really top notch technology today and enjoying the humility of being a student every day who has transitioned from thinking he was the teacher. LOL However, I continue to try and teach my children so they do not make my mistakes and I continue to submit to my wife managing me……and that is not easy. Ohhhh my goodness.
I left the show as a business tactician and in retrospect it was great timing to say the least. My brother Randy always said, “When you go to hand to hand combat training in the Marine Corps boot camp, make sure that you take the first offensive move and make it a mortal strike that removes the opponent in seconds otherwise you give him time to engage and never forget, usually time is the factor as you will live or die within 3 seconds of hand to hand.”
Hollywood is the epitome of capitalism and very competitive which some label as cut throat. It will give one pause about definitions, principles and greed mixed with fear and pain. Being a business man in the world of capitalists is tough and competitive and as my good Jewish friends say privately….there is no room for the Goy. …..meaning being stupid (one interpretation). Good luck and make sure you are smart, mentored, principled and competitive. Be a student your entire life!
Larry
I loved chips in the 80s and i love it Now. we need more shows like chips on the air. my granddaughters love watching it. Thanks for being u and hope u can come to the twin cities for a visit. thanks carol
I am always thrilled to hear that the children or grand children are now watching and enjoying CHIPS. Thank you and I hope one day I can visit the twin cities also.
Larry
I want to thank you for the article and the memories you have given all.of us. I truly can say you have been a personal favorite. I was a preteen to a teenager while the show was on and enjoyed it immensely. I waited to have a child and now have a 7 year old son that is enjoying the show greatly as well.
I appreciate your comments on integrity and principle. I have practiced criminal defense and as I enter my 24th year practicing it, I can state you must always remain true to who you are. As a public defender, I am often caught between prosecutors that do not trust me and clients that think because I am paid by the state that I am not fully on their side. My focus has to be on were my client’s rights maintained and can the case be proven. Ironically all the police shows I watched as a kid made me believe that most police want to do it right and in my experience when properly trained, they do. Sorry I digressed, Thank you again for all you have done and continue to do
Tim Boozer
thanks Tim. The justice system has so many iterations of logic and psychology it scares the hell out of me. I believe it is the one area no one should venture into…..a truly no visit zone. I also think youth are way to immature in some cases with their choices and can wrongly loose a long portion of their life….and that is lost FOREVER. I hope your work is empathetic and fruitful for all. I thank you for your service and sincerely understand how the lack of trust continues to burden ANY relationship. Thank you for your work and thank you for watching CHIPS.
Very nicely written…the growth toward maturity seems to reflect my own development and understanding of myself over the years. I often wondered why you ended up leaving the show. I recently watched an episode from season 6 and got the distinct impression that the producers were trying hard to make Tom Reilly look like John Baker…just could not make it…funny that Erik’s desire to have you thrown from the show ended up being the nail in the coffin. As the military saying goes, “there is no I in TEAM, but there is a ME,” it is unfortunate the show went away, because of the people you and the cast impacted. Had it not been for Desert Storm, I was #1 on the list in 1990 to be a cadet and I’d be a CHP officer getting ready to retire, but instead have had a wonderful career in my 25+ years as a law enforcement officer with the Air Force and Department of Defense…a career inspired in part by “CHiPs.” I now watch with my kids who let their friends know that their favorite TV shows are “CHiPs,” “Emergency,” and “M*A*S*H.” Thanks for your portrayal of John Baker and good lick in the future!!!
Thank you Thomas. I am glad the “kids” enjoy the show…..it is special to me that it carries on over all these years. Congrats on your career and good luck with the most important career….PARENTING.
Wow
Well, WOW can be an ambiguous term…….LOL….but I will choose thank you and I am grateful for your time with my indulgent article.
Larry
Larry, that was a very incite full story to
read. I grew up watching you and begged my mom to let me stay up to watch Chips.. You are one of my heroes.
Thank you Chris….
Mr. Wilcox,
I loved the article. I currently work for a very small company that provides medical coverage for film crews. I have to say, that it has been very eye opening to see what goes on behind the scenes of even a 30 second commercial. I wish you well in whatever future endeavors you have.
Take Care,
Aline
Aline,
Thank you and I bet you have some great stories. LOL
I totally agree with you we all are humans god bless and thanks for the moments of sharing the memories of chips I till this day watch them
Thank you Tammy.
Thanks Larry for your perspective on life and moving on from CHiPs. I always believed that you should be part of a team no matter where you work otherwise the business will fail. I also believe that every day is a day to learn something new, and no one in this world knows everything. Also one thing I learned in life is their is good in everyone, sometimes it is just harder to find. Thanks for the compelling thoughts that you write. It gives me a different perspective on what actors think of each other. Thanks for another insightful article.
Well then we think in parallel…..thank you Nancy.
Larry —
I enjoyed reading your article. So much goes into a television show that many of us common people do not realize. Working six days a week (probably 8-12 hours a day) would wear thin very quickly. I’m sorry to read that everything evolved the way it did, but it seems that you’ve learned from it, and like you said, you made the first offensive move despite the situation. Be happy for your choices. You’ve done well. What really surprises me is that it is the first time you are actually seeing these episodes in over thirty-two years. I remember watching them from my youth and, now that I’m older and wiser, find it a challenge to watch them. My wife and I watch them together, but I will make my comments. I look forward to seeing the beginning of the show once again, and look forward to your return. Thanks for an honest article. Best regards, Dan
Dan, thank you for the note and your time. I think the fact that I did not watch the 6th season says a lot. Sometimes an environment becomes toxic and if you stay you become one of the contaminants. But as I look back I am still very happy for the experience and still working from time to time with ALL of the parties from the past. I can only control my own thoughts and actions and try to keep my head high as I walk through the flower bed, or through FIRE.
Very well done. Your insight of being young and in the business was insightful. It seems the series was hard on you and for that I am sorry. You seem to be at peace with that part of your life and happy in what you are doing know. A person can go through life and never experience that. I wish the best for you and your family. I will always enjoy hearing about you in what ever you may be involved in. Take care and thank you.
With all respect,
Carol Mikita
Carol,
Thank you for indulging me. Yes I am at peace and I continue to love every day that I can pass on some aged wisdom to my children which are in fact my main purpose. As humans we are here to HELP each other in so many ways. I will never understand the predator or the person who brags or whines about his or her parasitic life. We only have so much time…..to HELP.
Just want to let you know chips isnt the same without you. You take care of yourself . Are you involved in the new chips that coming out
Thank you Delaura. I am not involved in the new CHIPS as of this date.
I like chips I wish you wounld make new chips
Thank you Pattie.
After reading this I can understand why you left the show. That being said, I’m not liking the last season very well. It seems as though it’s all about Erik and I miss the buddy part of the show as well as the parts of police work. There doesn’t seem to be that much police work in a show that is suppose to be about police. Since the last season has started, I have listened to the show rather than watch it, because it’s not as interesting.
I saw the preview of the new movie coming out this year and am looking forward to seeing it. Keep us up to date on when it will be out as well as any other projects you are working on.
Yes the last season looks like a “work in progress” and it never really got its definition. Thank you Brenda.
I think your one of the finest actors on TV. Love Chips. When you left it was never the same. tho I watch anyway.
Thank you Barbara…and keep watching.
Thank you for taking the time to share your story with us. I felt and still feel closer to you / Jon Baker than the other characters on the show. Now watching CHiPs on METV takes me back to being 8-10 yrs old and the excitement of hearing the CHiPs theme song. I still feel giddy when it comes on and remember each scene that coincides with the music. Corny I know but I love it 🙂 And i still wish to go to Wyoming if nothing else but to enjoy God’s wide open country. Thank you for being such a wonderful role model for a Tennessee girl. I look forward to seeing 94 Feet. I know it will be an awesome film with you being a part of it. And thank you for sharing your current ongoings with your fans.
Love sincerely,
Your #1 fan 🙂
Suzi Shell
When u left i watched a few episodes but it was not the same or as,good so i just stopped,watching….God Bless
Thanks Mike for watching and reading the column.
Larry: This was well written.
You are a fine person, who has done well. CHiPs, was a great show for myself growing up. But I was a kid, when the show was being made. I do watch on ME TV , in Cincinnati. Today, people still take the time to reach out to you. My friend, you did something special, be very happy of that. All the best. – Chris
Thanks Chris….I am very happy and really enjoy meeting the people and seeing the new fans (their kids often). I was a lucky Wyoming boy.
Larry,
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your column as well as other columns you’ve written. When it comes to CHiPs, you were always my favorite on the show. I wish there were more police officers in this world like you and the Jon Baker character. I’ve watched the last season and it just wasn’t right without you. I met Erik Estrada a few years ago, but you/re the one I’ve always wanted to meet. It would be an honor to shake hands with my favorite CHP. I’m hoping attend the event in Louisiana this summer. Anyway, I’ve always enjoyed your work as an entertainer.
Cheers.
Will Rodgers
The Voice Man
thank you Will…..good to hear from you and hope to see you in Louisiana.
Larry,
After U left,I was upset U were gone and stopped watching the show.
Well thank you for watching when you did Lois. And thank you for reading the column.
Larry, I must say that you turned out to be quite a writer! I was a fan of the CHIPs series and did not know of Erik Estradas demands that made you leave the show! It obviously went down hill after that in the last season without you. You apparently were the better man in this by allowing your fans to think that you had resigned from the show. I for one, as one of those Jewish folks who have never said, ‘There is no room for the Goyem’, I applaud your ethics. Good luck in all of your future endeavors. I will always be one of your fans!
Hey Verne….good to hear from you….we should have some Chinese food together one day. LOL…My Jewish mates say I am the most Jewish Goyem they ever met. I have often wondered about that ambiguity. .God Bless.
Thanks for this, great insights. You are a nice guy. Have a good one.
Thank you Tiffany.
Very well written, as always. Love reading your insights. Personally, they should have let Erik quit and kept the rest of you. That might have been a much needed wake up call. The eps you guys did while he was off fighting with MGM in Season 5 were really great. You all seemed relaxed and the chemistry was golden because all of you shared the spotlight. Thanks for sharing and hugs!
funny Sue….I have had these TEAM discussions with my children and it warrants thinking on their part. I often say that TEAM building means you give and continue to try and give on many levels. Sometimes certain people are socially awkward; or they come from different cultures; or they distrust; or they have fears etc…and it is so important to reach to them and genuinely hug their souls and to never compromise their trust. It take sincerity, and love and time but is so very rewarding. God gave us TIME to LOVE didn’t he. God Bless you Sue and God Bless Mike. Gratefully,
My family and I enjoyed Chip’s from the original airing’s, and still enjoy it today in reruns. I knew back then of problems during the original filming of the series, and the stories coming out in the tabloids, but one never gets to the core of it for whatever reasons. The old saying is true, “Life is a learning lesson” I’m glad to know Larry has moved on, and can still enjoy friendships from the show ! Best of luck Larry in all your endeavors!
Thanks Larry- you were the ‘stability’ of the show, along with Robert Pine. My son Derek had plans to attend the academy but passed away before then; his interest was due to your influence… and that speaks well of you! Folks here in Oklahoma restored a 70’s CHP Slicktop and dedicated it to my son’s memory… all due to you and your colleagues. Those memories are preciouse to an old Dad.
I disagree with you, the epsoides without Erik were not good. CHiPs was awesome with both Jon and Ponch. I agree with Larry that season six was more of a male modeling show than a police drama, this and the lack of Jon did the show in. It is so unfortunate for all of us fans that Larry and Erik were distanced and that the show dies after season sick, especially without a closing episode.
Larry
Thank you for being one of my actors I grew up on stating with Lassie.
Larry,
Your thoughtful reflections satisfy me as a Chips fan, yes, but they also spur my own reflections. This post is especially inspirational. Thanks.
Dave
Well then….that makes your response a GIFT to me. Thank you.
Larry
I so loved this read honesty and dignity,but truth. So glad to know the truth about what really happened in your own words. Texas loves you friend.
And Oh How I LOVE Texas. Hugs.
larry
Larry, thank you. As a child Chips was one of my Favorite TV shows. It aslo inspired me to become a motorcyclist. Even till this day I sometimes hom the show theme song in my head when I take off onto a Highway. Its great! Now I watch MeTv with my daughter she is 10 and I watch her enjoy the show the way I did. I am amazed how she was Highly upset when they started airing those last episodes with you absent. I explained to her that is exactly when i as a child stopped watching chips, I was Highly upset myself as a Child.
Thanks Again Larry
AL.
Please HUG Her for me. Thank you.
larry
Thank you Larry for sharing this. It give us a little more introspective into who you really are. I had no idea on how the last season happened. God bless you for being who you are and that you care about people which includes your devoted fans. Take care and thanks again.
Thank YOU Cathy…Hugs.
Funny thing….WE are all here for each other.
Larry
Thank you Mr. Wilcox for sharing your experiences and perspective. As I’ve grown older I completely understand how having a good foundation growing up -family, friends, church members, mentors, etc. – helped me along the way. Sometimes I think people forget or de-emphasize just how important that is.
I’m glad that you have found peace and happiness in your life and that you are comfortable in your own skin. In the end that’s what really matters.
Thank you Melinda. I am comfortable knowing that I have perpetuated better offspring than myself. That gives me comfort.
Larry
Larry, Very well spoken. Bravo! I have so much appreciation for your work and what you’ve accomplished in your career. Thank you!
thanks Jim….having fun with REAL people.
Larry
very well written. you say what is on mind and i enjoyed reading it. thanks again for all you do. Hug are needed more in the business in stead of all the BS that is there now.
Larry thank you for sharing !!! you are a diamond!!!
Pam
It’s wonderful to hear the true and honest perspective of those who were actually involved with such a great show. CHiPs has been a favorite of mine since I was 7 years old. While I am still as passionate about the show today as I was when I was a child, I am thrilled to be passing the torch to my 6 yr old (6 1/2 if you were to ask him) He knows that it comes on at 6pm Eastern time and is more than happy to perch himself next to me on the couch for CHiPs and dip! Pun intended! Well, think spring and Super Megafest. Soon the 6ft of snow we have will melt and April will be upon us. April means Super Megafest. Super Megafest means I will fulfill my dream of meeting you! Kelly
thank you Kelly….look forward to meeting him. Funny how PERSPECTIVES get confusing sometimes with temporary stuff and Important Stuff. If more people would focus their lives on IMPORTANT STUFF life would be so much better.
I loved CHiPS and always thought You and your
Character never received the recognition deserved.
As for Erik,I beleived from day one he had an ego
Problem and needed all the attention.deep down I feel
It was him that led to the demise of the show even if
You stayed. You were the true star , best wishes
With your future.
Hi Larry,
Very informative story,and touching too.
I admired you and you work on the show and was sad to hear how you were treated. I always beleived that Erik’s ego was to big for his britches, and not surprised the show didn’t last long after your departure. Glad you are doing ok and wish only the best for you and your Family.
One if your Fans
Jon
Jon Baker and Larry Wilcox say Thank You.
Larry – thank you for sharing your insight. I always enjoyed the show, as long as you were in it. The on-screen chemistry between you and Erik Estrada is exactly what made the show. Upon watching the show in syndication, my first thought was not to check out where life may have taken Estrada – but instead to check out the course your life had taken. You are a down-to-earth person, which is a rarity in this day and age. Thank you for your insight into show business and sharing your journey.
Time is such a gift…and so I thank YOU Carla for indulging me with your TIME. Gratefully, Larry
Hi Larry….I just read the above. I remember a feeling I used to get about you while watching Chips. I always felt that your caring nature was inbred in you and not part of you as an actor. I just wanted to let you know that….I often wished that I had met someone like you that was truly “real”. Hope you get to read this because what you said about the other actors on the show lacking in this made you stand out in front of the others. Thank you.
thank you Patricia. I am sure you will meet someone equal or better than myself. LOL….but I also hope that I get to meet YOU someday. God Bless. Larry
Thank You Pam…..I don’t try to write….just let the fingers go and it comes out. Probably a little rough but it is honest.
Larry
Mr. Wilcox , Im sure you’ve heard this before but I’m just one you the thousands of people you influenced to become a cop. As a kid we would watch you and play CHiPs on our bikes. Later as we grew up we’d be pushing a real cruiser or riding motor around like our TV role models did in our youth. After we took our oathes to protect and serve all over the country we did just that. For over 20 years your influence on a young boy in New Jersey is responsible for a lot of good and and every person that each of us came in contact with during our careers so did you. Thanks for the great memories and influence on our lives.
Larry
Watching Chips tonite I noticed Cy Chermak listed as Executive Producer . Thought you might want to know .
Thank you Larry for your explanation. When season 6 started on Me-Tv recently we were wondering what had happened when you were just gone. We watched the first 2 but it didn’t feel the same so now we watch re-runs of Blue Bloods. What can I say my husband was also Magnum PI fan. 🙂
I always knew you had more personality than the others on Chips. You seemed authentic and you were not, and are not superficial or fake. The show totally sucked without you LOL! I’ll Bet they would like to forget Bruce Jenner was ever on the show these days! Best of luck to you now and always Larry
Larry,
I just discovered your site and have spent more time that I probably should have this morning reading several of your posts. Like many others, CHiPs was a huge part of my childhood. My brother and I would spend hours riding our bikes in two man formation around the neighborhood – often pulling my dad over on his way home from work – and acting like Jon and Ponch. I was obviously Jon, complete with the baton. I have loved being able to watch the show again and having the chance to share it with my kids. There’s no question that CHiPS wasn’t the same after you left, but those first 5 years will always be a treasured part of my childhood. Thanks for making it what it was and thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights with us.
Jon
Hi Larry.
What you went through while filming CHiPS sounds very similar to when I was a Firefighter/EMT and all the politics and back stabbing that went on out of public view at the Fire Department.
I was forced out of my place on the fire department very much the way you lost your spot on the tv show.
You did quite well when you moved on from the show as did I when I moved on from the fire/ems service.
I never made “actor money” but I did work with a lot of folks that I am proud to call family.
BTW-I became a firefighter because of CHiPS.
I actually have a friend that was a CHP motor officer at CHP Central when you were filming the TV show.
Thank You for inspiring me to be a better person and also for helping to teach me to respect others and not to judge people without first knowing them.
Can’t get enough of CHiPs.Loved watching it as a kid and still love it at 50. My favorite episode was when you were holding that girl, that rolled her Red Mustang over, in your arms and comforting her, it always brings a tear to my eye. You were the true hero.
Larry,
I must say that as a kid, I watched every episode of Chips. Also, as a kid, I wanted to be a police officer. (Probably directly related to the fact that I loved Chips). Well here I am, many years later, I am a police officer, actually trained and riding police motors, too. Your above letter was very interesting. I know Chips was a very entertaining show, but to me, it was much more than that. I’m glad your still doing well. It’s great to read your comments as well. Take care of yourself.
Jeff
Hi, Larry. I met you in either 1979 or 1980 in Denver at an appearance where you and Estrada were scheduled to appear. My family had been in Denver for only two years at the time, and the autograph and question I posed about the CHP station location and answer I received was a thrill for me. Meeting you was a reminder of a show I had begun watching when we lived in Los Angeles. Though Estrada did not show, it was no great loss, as watch you sign autographs and answer questions was an honor and quite interesting for many attendees.
Watching CHIPS as an adult certainly brings about a curiosity about why certain things happened and wondering why a few of the characters were never truly fleshed out or provided a bigger role. Your comments regarding Paul Linke, Lou Wagner and Robert Pine were spot on. Obviously, they could act, and even slightly extending their roles would have interesting. For example, in one episode, Bonnie visited the good Sgt at home, where he was working on his rock collection hobby. An opportunity to explore that a bit, yet the short talk convinced Bonnie to remain with the patrol, if I recall correctly. Robert Pine’s character became more personal in a few other episodes, but otherwise a bit of a miss.
I recall Lou’s role as “I adjusted your spoke, Ponch,” or “your idle speed was a 1/4 inch out-of-adjustment.” Since he wanted to be a cop but was too short, he could have seen a robbery on the way home from work, followed the perpetrators until units could take over, etc. His dog had a periodic “growling” role, though, which was fun, yet it is apparent that opportunities were missed with the supporting cast.
Thank you for hosting this page and for your efforts as “Jon Baker” for those years. Many of us still appreciate the down-to-earth demeanor and sound ethical conduct during CHIPS. That was clearly you as a person, which resonates with me in a society where such conduct isn’t always so apparent. I have followed your post-CHIPS efforts as a businessman and continue to do so. Take care of yourself and your family!
Mr. Wilcox, Thanks fo offering your insights. Personal growth is rarely easy regardless of youthful experiences. At 71 (now) I’ve put the struggle behind me and make my adventures motorcycle camping (new Harley + trailer) while criss crossing the USA since I retired. I wish you peace. I wish you well. Jim
This was truly an insightful article. As I’ve explored your website, the FB fan page and read articles you wrote like these, I’ve found myself beyond thrilled to discover that you are true-to-life hero which is so evident in Jon Baker. Jon was clearly always the gentleman (and, therefore, my favorite!) and it is clear that you are, too. My children (9 and 5) watch CHiPs each night with my husband and I. It’s been really fun watching it together as a family and reminiscing of times past. My son loves the show, in particularly, and aspires to be a motor officer when he grows up. He turns 6 next month and has even asked for a CHiPs themed party. You, too, are his favorite. He tells me he likes Jon Baker the best because he is nice and helps people and that that’s why he wants to be a motor officer, too. You’ve really inspired him to be his best self. Thank you!
First and foremost, I absolutely LOVE you.
I am sorry that “the industry” was/is so corrupt as to allow people, Erik Estrada, to so easily manipulate them.
I currently watch you every night on MeTv but now, knowing you still don’t receive compensation, I’m wondering if I should.
I’m in my mid 40’s and have the biggest crush on you. Both the younger you and the handsome more mature you.
My husband just laughs and shakes his head at me.
I sincerely hope your in great health and enjoying the life you’ve made for yourself with your beautiful wife.
Sincerely,
Jenean