Battle of the Bands

Battle of the Bands
Episode #	516
Air Date	Jan 31, 1982
Briefing	?

Plot

After slashing some tires, some punks break into the van of the band "Snow Pink". After stealing guitars, they then set the brakes loose on the van and let it roll down the hill. Ponch and Jon chase the punks but they manage to get away.

Back at Central, Jon, Getraer, and Harlan give Ponch some ribbing about his singing. Later, they head out to talk to Snow Pink herself. They return a sliced-up microphone but inform her they haven't found her guitars yet. At her club, Duke is screening tapes. He invites the band "Pain" to be in the Battle of the Bands after Snow convices him to put them in. We soon find out that "Pain" is the punks' band!

Later, at Central, Grossie slam dances against the lockers and tells the history of slam dancing. A classic "CHiPs" moment!

Shortly thereafter, Ponch and Jon go visit "Pain". Just before they're about to go inside, one of the band members throws a bass guitar off the roof and onto a car causing a multiple-vehicle accident. After making sure a man's okay, they chase the punks who escape on their motorcycles. The punks climb a barb-wire fence and escape.

After Ponch leaves to get ready for his performance, Jon goes to try to talk Duke into more security. When Jon and Ponch meet up again, Ponch admits he's happy being a CHP and doesn't want to give it up.

That night, at the Battle of the Bands, "Pain" rips up the bathroom while "Snow Pink" performs. Soon enough, "Pain" begins disrupting the audience. When Duke tries to kick them out, they threaten him with a knife.

After the commercial, "Pain" performs. Punks in the audience start slam dancing as Snow Pink notices her guitar being used by a member of "Pain". Since "Pain" locked everyone out, Jon breaks a window to get in. He finds Duke tied up in a closet. Jon enters the concert hall and "Pain" runs off as a riot starts. Police officers get the crowd under control with Jon's vocal help. As the leader of "Pain" tries to escape, Ponch rides up causing the punk to spill. The punk threatens to blow them both up by holding a lighter near leaking gas. Ponch blows out the flame and saves the day.

Back inside, Ponch performs "Celebration" in front of Grossie, Turner, Baricza, Harlan, Jon, Getraer, and Bonnie. When he finishes, the winner of the Battle of the Bands is announced as "Snow Pink".

Great Quote

"Oh Ponch! You were terrific last night!" -Bonnie to Ponch (regarding his singing)

Guest Stars

• Susan Richardson (as Snow Pink)
• Bill Forsythe (aka "William Forsythe" as Trasher)
• Doug McClure (from Out of this World as Duke)
• Daniel Davies (as Potato Head)
• James Margolin (as Fido)
• Lori Street (as Surfer Girl)
• David Boyle (as Father)
• Shepherd (as Snow's Band)
• Jeff Harlan (as Disc Jockey)

Crew

• Written by: Larry Mollin
• Directed by: Barry Crane

Fun Facts

• This episode has original music and Erik Estrada singing "Celebration"!

Mistakes

• The punks open Snow Pink's van by wrapping a chain around the door handle. That's a strange technique!
• Before the van jumps onto the beach the volleyball players run. How could they be sure the van was going to jump onto the beach?
• Ponch and Jon must be psychic. Without seeing the punks set the van in motion down the hill, they chase them.
• When the guitar causes an accident, there's nobody in the crashing white car.
• After checking one person at that accident, Ponch and Jon leave. They ignore everyone else.