Peaks and Valleys

Peaks and Valleys
Episode #	201
Air Date	Sep 16, 1978
Briefing	none

Title screen

Brief Plot

Central gets a new mechanic, Harlan Arliss. Ponch and Jon are accused of improperly moving an accident victim. Jon meets an old friend who tries to convince him that there are better jobs out there than CHP officer.

Plot

Switching drivers get stuck

Camper Accident

While driving on the freeway, a couple attempts to switch seats and gets stuck. Ponch and Jon pull them over. A camper driver gets distracted by them and drives off the road. As Ponch and Jon work to get the back of the camper open, two men in brown uniforms and gold helmets run over to aid the rescue. Ponch and Jon help two children from the back of the camper as the workmen remove the driver. When the paramedics arrive, they examine the driver and one of them accuses Ponch and Jon of moving the driver.

Later, they pull over a high school buddy of Jon, Stan Bosca, who tries to talk him into selling cars. He comments that Jon could do much better with is life than "blowing it on drunks and speeders."

When they return to Central, they arrive to a spotless garage. They meet Dave the dog and his owner Harlan (the new mechanic). Grossie tells them that the dog was on dope patrol at the border. Ponch and Jon discuss the camper accident with Getraer, who informs them that there has been a complaint lodged against them.

If Harlan were two inches taller...

As Ponch and Jon go back on patrol, Harlan tells Getraer that he would be a CHP officer if he were two inches taller. Getraer insults him by stating that if Harlan were two inches shorter, he would be riding losers at Hollywood Park.

Ponch and Jon save the driver.

At the hospital, the spinal victim recalls that the resucers were wearing helmets, brown uniforms, and boots. The victim identifies Ponch and Jon as the men that pulled him from the camper. The victim expresses concern for the officers, but the lawyer informs him that they should not care about the fate of the officers. Ponch and Jon discuss their predicament as a woman in a classic car drives past them.

Later, Ponch and Jon chase a truck with a trailer fire. They pull the driver out of the vehicle just before the truck explodes. The paramedics arrive and tend to the the driver as the fire department puts out the fire. Getraer arrives to inform them there will be a hearing regarding the camper accident and that they should be concerned about a potential civil action against them.

While off duty, they visit the used car lot and consider working there. Stan Bosca pitches the benefits of the job and tries to make Jon feel guilty because he cannot "help a friend out" by burying the ticket he wrote.

A bad day for Baricza's car.

The next morning, Ponch helps Jon tell high school students about the California Highway Patrol. They demonstrate their motor riding skills and perform some tricks for the students.

While Jon gives a ticket, Ponch and Baricza respond to an anonymous call of dirt bikes near the reservoir. When Baricza leaves his cruiser to investigate, two guys shoot up his cruiser. Ponch calls in "shots fired" and Jon responds. As the guys walk away, Baricza draws his weapon on them. Ponch and Baricza are arresting them when Jon arrives.

Ponch on the dance floor.

Later, Ponch introduces Jon to a woman, the one they have seen driving classic cars around the city, who asks him to a disco. Then they visit the spinal victim, Bob Niles, in the hospital. He remembers that it wasn't Ponch and Jon that moved him...but power line guys!

That night, Ponch and Jon show off their disco techniques with the ladies. When they take a break from the dance floor, a pregnant woman is about to give birth. Ponch takes control while Jon assists. In the world's easiest delivery, she gives birth to a boy. Ponch and Jon enjoy the applause when the DJ announces that they're CHP officers.

Special Guest Stars

• Troy Donahue as Bob Niles
• Kaye Stevens as Karen Niles
• Lou Wagner as Harlan

Guest Stars

• Richard Gates as Stan Bosca
• Martin West as Lundsford
• Pam Norman as Melanie

Featuring

• Jack Rader as Carl
• Brodie Greer as Baricza
• Paul Linke as Grossman
• Lew Saunders as Fritz
• Paul Mace as Bernie
• David Clover as Medic #2
• Peter Looney as Rogers
• Melody Queen-Engle as Pregnant Woman
• Annie Wharton as Corky
• M.G. Kelly as Himself

Crew

• Produced by: Cy Chermak
• Written by: Rudolph Borchert
• Directed by: Phil Bondelli
• Executive Consultant: Rick Rosner
• Story Editors: William D. Gordon & James Doherty
• Associate Producer: Wm. L. Young
• Developed for television by: Paul Playdon
• Music by: Alan Silvestri
• Theme by: John Parker
• Music Supervisor: Harry V. Lojewski
• Director of Photography: Robert F. Sparks
• Art Director: Joseph M. Altadonna
• Editor: William Neel
• Unit Production Manager: Wm. L. Young
• Assistant Director: Bud Grace
• 2nd Assistant Director: Michael Kane
• Script Supervisor: Stephen W. Dorsch
• Set Decorator: W. Joseph Kroesser
• Production Consultant: Bob Hayden
• Technical Advisor: Dick Barton
• Disco Sequences by: Joe Bennett
• Sound: Maury Harris & Hal Watkins, C.A.S.
• Stunt Co-ordinator: Paul Nuckles
• Wardrobe Supervisor: Shelly Levine
• Makeup: John M. Norin
• Casting: Michael O. Hanks
• Locations by: Cinemobile Systems
• With Appreciation to Glen B. Craig, Commissioner California Highway Patrol
• Motorcycles Furnished by: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
• Automobiles furnished by: Ford Motor Company
• Filmed in METROCOLOR / Titles and Opticals MGM
• Rosner Television in association with MGM Television

Fun Facts

• Ponch's dancing clip in the Season 6 theme is from this episode.
• People often remember this episode because Ponch and Jon deliver a baby in a disco.
• This episode is the first to use Alan Silvestri's 'disco' of the main theme.
• This episode introduces Lou Wagner as mechanic Harlan Arliss.
• This episode does not end with the freeze frame ending that was characteristic of the first season.

Buy this episode

• Peaks and Valleys on DVD at Amazon.com
• Watch this episode free on AOL Video

Preceded by: "Flashback!"

Peaks and Valleys 201

Followed by: "The Volunteers"