CHiPs/Hitch-Hiking Hitch

Hitch-Hiking Hitch
Season 1, Episode 17
Airdate	February 9, 1978
Written by	Bruce Shelly (teleplay), Karl Tunberg, Terence Tunberg (story)
Directed by	Phil Bondelli
← 1x16 Vintage '54	1x18 → Cry Wolf
CHiPs — Season One

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Hitch-Hiking Hitch is the seventeenth episode of the first season of CHiPs, and the seventeenth episode overall.

The main plot concerns a pair of teenage girls, Jenny and Marge, who find excitement in hitchhiking, but don't understand the dangers until it is almost too late. Other situations involve an elderly man who won't leave his house-on-wheels, a large man who creates an unusual parking violation in his attempt to gain a parking spot, and a runaway semitrailer truck that suddenly loses its brakes.

Guest Stars: Katherine Cannon (Mary Kate), Lark Geib (Jenny), Stacey Nelkin (Marge), Ben Davidson (Wrestler), Bridget Hanley (Photographer), Linda Dano (Eloise), George Chandler (Elmer)

Featuring: Daniel Benton (Mike), Sander Johnson (Brad), Chad States (Skipper), Joseph Perry (House Mover)

Plot Overview

Later, Jenny and Marge are revealed to not have learned their lesson about hitching rides, as they accept a ride from a seemingly nice young man in a customized 1974 Dodge van. Marge gets in but Jenny sees Jon and Ponch coming from afar and, remembering the stern warning the officers gave her earlier, backs out, leaving Marge to go alone with the man ...

... or make that TWO men. The other man was waiting in the back of the van, and all of a sudden advances on Marge, who screams. Fortunately, Jenny could hear Marge squealing in fear, and when Ponch demands answers from Jenny she's forced to admit she and Marge were hitchhiking again, and that Marge may be in danger. Ponch initiates a chase while Jon waits for a nearby cruiser to take Jenny home. Eventually, as Jon joins the chase, Marge realizes she can force the van to stop by pulling the key out of the ignition and throwing the keys out of the van. The man driving the van manages to brake safely as it comes to a stop over a sidewalk, and Jon and Ponch quickly arrest the two men and wait with them until a cruiser arrives to take them to jail for kidnapping. A shaken Marge confronts Jenny and tells her they are no longer friends.

Also:

• Getraer is also the subject of a magazine article calling him the 'Sergeant of the Month', but Ponch feels that he's a little too humble about the honor.

• During a rainstorm, Ponch and Jon go to a diner. A very large man (literally) picks up a Volkswagen Beetle and moves it into the street, and then also moves the officers motorcycles onto the sidewalk ... all before parking his large van into the parking space. Getraer drives by and sees the motorcycles on the sidewalk and goes in to confront Ponch and Jon, thinking they were above the rules. Just as Getraer is about to have them reprimanded, they see the large man coming from the van and determine he knows why there are some vehicles illegally parked. The man says he did and then tries to intimidate Getraer, but the sergeant stands his ground and makes him move all the vehicles to where they were before ... and the man relents.

Trivia

Memorable Moments

Former Oakland Raiders defensive star Ben Davidson plays a big dude in need of a parking space. He picks up Jon's and Ponch's bikes and moves them to the sidewalk while they are in a nearby restaurant eating. He then picks up a Volkswagen and moves it into the street and eases his car in, making it look like the VW is double-parked. Getraer happens by, notices the cycles on the sidewalk, and summons Jon and Ponch outside, asking them why they parked on the sidewalk. They protest that they didn't, and Getraer doesn't buy it till he sees the VW in the street and Davidson heading toward his car. He asks Davidson if he was responsible for this, and he says that he did. The sight of Getraer getting in the face of Davidson, who's at least twice his size, and telling him to restore everything the way it was, is a hoot, and Getraer also tells him "Neatness counts!".

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