‘CHiPs’ Retro Recap: ‘The Strippers’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

I think it is safe to say that audiences everywhere, love seeing their favorite main characters be challenged like never before. In part because it makes for solid drama since trials and tribulations allow for these fictional people to learn and grow. But also, because it helps our minds heal when the going gets rough. Because films, books, television, they’re all incredible escapes to the spoils of daily life and seeing people that can handle anything that is thrown their way somehow inspires us like never before. And that all-important element to storytelling is why I continue to enjoy season three of CHiPs so much. For this particular series really is working hard to tell stories that challenge Ponch and Jon in unique ways, all while staying true to the lighthearted formula it has established for itself.
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But while our dynamic heroes have found themselves immersed in stories that have pushed them emotionally and prompted them to think a little differently as to how they’re going to solve a particular case, we’ve yet to just see life do what it does best and just pour on the trouble. Something that the writer’s room clearly wished to rectify in the next episode, and how ‘The Strippers’ pulled off this particular feat was quite the delight when all is said and done. Because in this particular tale, Ponch and Jon were forced to deal with two different sets of Creeps of the Weeks, which I think is a series record and well, while these intrepid cops were able to handle these jerks because they’re best motorcycle officers out there, neither group of baddies made it easy for them.

Take for example, the car thieves that we were introduced to first thing in this tale, since they made their presence known in bold and ugly fashion; by stealing the ride of a woman that Jon was dating. But to make matters worse, what they did with the car only added insult to injury, since they stripped the car down to nothing and abandoned it. Which isn’t so bad at first glance, but they did that so they could re purchase the car at an auction for cheap, before putting the car back together so they could sell it to someone else at a profit, and sadly there were more people who fell prey to this scheme. But what made them so hard to capture in the first place, is the sheer fact that they set up the home base of their operation in the hills where few would ever find them, and it took some creativity on Ponch and Jon’s part to finally bring these dudes in.

As for the other COTW’s that our dynamic duo had to deal with, well they too were stationed in the hills, and used a ranch as cover for a drug operation, one that ran supremely smooth. For they chartered a plane to fly over their ranch on a daily basis, and the pilots aboard that bird would drop the drugs at a designated location where someone was waiting, making it nearly impossible for the DEA agents in the area to complete their bust. But a chance and tense encounter between the CHP and the DEA allowed for the two departments to work together and put these guys behind bars in the most unique way imaginable, by having Ponch and Jon make use of their extensive skydiving skills to get the drop, on the drop and well, while this twist could have been cheesy, it ended up being quite cool thanks to how it was shot.

So, if that seems like a lot to cover for a single episode of CHiPs, you’re absolutely right. This one was just jam packed with plot points and challenges for our dynamic duo to face and I really am impressed with how they handled all of them. For in many ways, this was the amalgamation of everything that Ponch and Jon have dealt with this season. Since they had to keep level heads under pressure and had to make use of their detective skills to bring down all these creeps and well, clearly everything worked out just fine and in satisfying fashion and that makes this episode an absolute treat to watch. Because you simply cannot go wrong with heroes that go the extra mile to make the world a better place when the odds are against them. Until next time.  

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