MovieChat Forums > CHiPs '99 (1998) Discussion > The Writers of This TV Movie Got The Fac...

The Writers of This TV Movie Got The Facts Wrong!

posted 16 years ago by tbirdman-1
5 replies | jump to latest

In the first 30 mins. of CHIPS 99 it is explained that Ponch
left the city of Los Angeles not the CHP and went away for
many years. Jon Baker stayed on the force and got promoted
to captain of his precinct. When Ponch and Jon met up again
Baker expressed how much he had missed his former partner
all of this time. However Larry Wilcox quit the series in
1982 just after season 5 ended and he was replaced by
Bruce Penhall and Tom Reilly. His departure was explained
by having Baker leave the force and go back home to Wyoming
to be with his family. It was Ponch who remained in LA and
in the CHP and Erik Estrada stayed with the show through
the sixth and final season. I never understood why the
writers and producers of the tv movie didn't keep things
the same from the tv show for continuity sake and it would
have been much more sensible and believable for the fans.
The explanation of Baker staying on the force and Ponch
having left town just didn't make any sense! However
having their former sergeant Getraer rise to the position
of commissioner of the CHP was well done. He was a career
officer and I liked Robert Pine in his role. Anyone care
to add their opinions?

LorenzoSunnyFlorida

I'm James "Sonny" Crockett!

[–] heiglfanatic 16 years ago

Maybe it was just a way to have as many as the original cast members back. I don't know I never have noticed it before. Maybe that is why with the lacking story line the new series wasn't pick up.

Mr. Salt: What is this, Wonka, some kind of funhouse?

Willy Wonka: Why? Having fun?

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] darkavenger77 13 years ago

I noticed that also. In real life, some cops realize after a few years they'd like to do something else. It's possible Baker left and worked at something else for a few years before having another change of career back to the CHP. The amount of time that had gone by was sufficient for this to have taken place and for him to attain the rank of Captain.

Contrast this with In the Heat of the Night where everyone gets a nearly annual promotion. In a small department you don't have that many supervisors.

Note to writers:
If you must kill off a character, make it the sunglasses dude on CSI Miami!

[–] stickley85 13 years ago

Good point there.For some strange reason people try not to remember season 5.Also Bruce Nelson's character is there,but they never ever mention his brother Bobby once.You would figure when Ponch comes back he would ask Bruce how his brother is doing,or better yet have him in the reunion movie.Also what happened to Linahan,Harlan,Cahill,Turner,Fritz,Shain,or even Webster?It would have been nice to have Bonnie in this too.

[–] Blacksheepone 12 years ago

Im assuming the reason Cahill(Brianne Leary wasn't in this movie is because she and Erik Estrada had a falling out of sorts back in the day.According to Leary he tried to get her fired.She told this story on a late night talk show she cohosted in the early 90s.She goes to a event for actors who played police officers and he was there. She goes up to say hi to him and while shes doing so, words appeared on the screen that said "tried to get me fired!!"