This was an awful and I mean awful "reunion" special. The original TV series of the Late 1970s and early 1980s wasn't bad. And I on occasion watch the reruns on late night TV on cable's/satellite's TNT(Turner Network Television). The original show had charm to it but this reunion lacked that charm and a decent story line.
"CHiPs" 99 seemed more like a two hour version of a 60 minute episode that would not end. The made for TV movie was inconsistent with the original TV series. Larry Wilcox, who portrayed Officer John Baker left the show the year before it was canceled. So the following season the show wrote him off by having him go to work on the family farm/ranch. So, for the reunion, Officer Baker somehow becomes a captain, mean while Officer Francis "Ponch" Poncherello, Erik Estrada had disappeared because his wife was "sick." Its funny that in the made for TV flick there is one scene in which Baker tells Ponch that he was not invited to his wedding because he did not know where he was. In real life during the shows peak I read that Erik Estrada had not invited Wilcox to his wedding and when Wilcox was married he did the same. I just think its funny that the producers decided to actually put that into the storyline. Seems like it would have brought up some bad blood or the producers had some twisted sense of humor.
I wish that the producers for this special would have elected to use at least a cliché cop reunion special storyline. Something like all the old cops get back together to help find the murderer of one of their own, Harlan gets killed during a carjacking. Or Ponch gets framed for a string of carjacking murders and Baker comes out of retirement to help his buddy out. Even those story lines would have been far more enjoyable. Its like the producers rehashed an old episode and went on autopilot.
Oh and Baker and Ponch appear on Judge Judy within the show because a neighbor's dog is damaging Baker's lawn. And Johnny Cochran makes a guest appearance for the neighbor that Baker is suing. Can we say lame, really lame.
The special also had several of the original cast but the only ones that were really utilized were Estrada, Wilcox, and Robert Pine (Sgt. Joseph Getraer)
I would NOT recommend this special to anyone and would urge any fans of the original series or some younger fans to stick with the reruns.
"CHiPs" 99 seemed more like a two hour version of a 60 minute episode that would not end. The made for TV movie was inconsistent with the original TV series. Larry Wilcox, who portrayed Officer John Baker left the show the year before it was canceled. So the following season the show wrote him off by having him go to work on the family farm/ranch. So, for the reunion, Officer Baker somehow becomes a captain, mean while Officer Francis "Ponch" Poncherello, Erik Estrada had disappeared because his wife was "sick." Its funny that in the made for TV flick there is one scene in which Baker tells Ponch that he was not invited to his wedding because he did not know where he was. In real life during the shows peak I read that Erik Estrada had not invited Wilcox to his wedding and when Wilcox was married he did the same. I just think its funny that the producers decided to actually put that into the storyline. Seems like it would have brought up some bad blood or the producers had some twisted sense of humor.
I wish that the producers for this special would have elected to use at least a cliché cop reunion special storyline. Something like all the old cops get back together to help find the murderer of one of their own, Harlan gets killed during a carjacking. Or Ponch gets framed for a string of carjacking murders and Baker comes out of retirement to help his buddy out. Even those story lines would have been far more enjoyable. Its like the producers rehashed an old episode and went on autopilot.
Oh and Baker and Ponch appear on Judge Judy within the show because a neighbor's dog is damaging Baker's lawn. And Johnny Cochran makes a guest appearance for the neighbor that Baker is suing. Can we say lame, really lame.
The special also had several of the original cast but the only ones that were really utilized were Estrada, Wilcox, and Robert Pine (Sgt. Joseph Getraer)
I would NOT recommend this special to anyone and would urge any fans of the original series or some younger fans to stick with the reruns.