‘CHiPs’ Retro Recap: ‘Hitch-Hiking Hitch’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

If there’s one common truth I’ve come to learn about situational television shows, it’s that they are downright afraid to steer clear of the formula they’ve taken the time to establish. Which is not a bad thing by any means. Because sticking with what works is quite the solid formula for success, but I have to admit that sometimes the same old thing does get a little stale, which is why I’m always supremely excited when a T.V. series takes the time to shatter its own formulas. Because it means the people behind the scenes have great faith in their cast and crew to execute something fresh in the smoothest of fashion and well, this is on my mind today simply due to the fact that the next episode of CHiPs, ‘Hitch-Hiking Hitch’, beautifully breaks the mold that this series worked so hard to establish.
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Case and point, the fact that there is no Creep of the Week in this particular tale, which doesn’t seem all that shocking or different at first glance, since the series has done such a thing before in season one. But often times, when a slimy thief or thieves disappears from the plot, they’re instead replaced by some heavier storylines that give the audience pause. But in this episode, positivity was the key, and that led to quite the entertaining affair, one that was able to provide us with more elaborate action scenes not involving a scumbag, such as the thrilling sequence where Ponch and Jon needed to use Bear’s cruiser as a giant two ton breaking device in order to slow down a runaway truck and that was supremely cool to watch since the stunts and editing in this part of the story were simply on point, and this definitely put me on the edge of my seat.

But the magic of this episode doesn’t end there, simply due to the fact that this particular episode more or less lets loose when it comes to the fun. Because there is a delightful sub plot involving Ponch and Jon and the Sarge when they learn that Getrear is being spotlighted by the CHP’s internal magazine, and this lovely thread is memorable simply because the boys take a little time to have fun with the Sarge and his awesome honor and this sequence really took the time to highlight Joe’s dedication to humility, and just how much of a badass Sergeant he can be, since he had to handle a man four times his size at one point and it was nice to see the Sarge get a little more airtime than usual. However, while that was cool in its own right to see, we cannot forget about Ponch and Jon’s journey in this tale, because they found themselves involved in one of their most unique traffic situations to date, one that brought an utter smile to my face.

For while they were on patrol, they came across quite the traffic jam. One caused by a house mover who was unable to move the home he was hired to haul away and the holdup here, related to a family dispute. Because an elderly dad, who was upset about being put into a retirement home, locked himself into the house in the hopes of having his daughter see the light about keeping the family together, and thanks to our dynamic duo, the dispute was resolved and dear old dad was able to come home and the good hearted nature present here, also extended to the main plot line in this tale. For we also came to meet a pair of teenagers named Jenny and Marge, and well, Jenny was a bit of a bully who made Marge do dumb things, like hitch-hike on a regular basis and they just so happened to cross paths with Ponch and Jon, prompting the duo to try and teach these two some fine lessons about the dangers of grabbing a ride with a stranger, and while they didn’t exactly get through to Jenny, and had to step in and save Marge’s life when an impromptu ride went south, what matters more is the effort they put into being a positive influence.

If anything, I was quite unprepared for how positive and lighthearted this episode turned out to be, and that quickly helped to remind me that my favorite episodes when it comes to this particular series, are when the story forgets about formula and provides the audience with a ‘day in the life’ of Ponch and Jon. Because this is when we see their dedication to the job, and what the badge stands for, and it’s also when we see them at their best and that’s precisely why I loved this episode through and through, and I love the fact that this series can be traditional or unique on a moment’s notice and well, as we get closer to the end of season one, I have to admit that I’m a tad melancholy because I simply don’t want it to end. Because this first year has been a rollercoaster ride of unexpected surprises and refreshing stories and while I understand that there are five more seasons after this one, the experience of properly watching this all-important first season really has been something special, which means it is time for me to dive into the next episode, and cherish more of these magical stories. Until next time. 

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