Frank Poncherello: Difference between revisions

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It was [[Jon Baker]] who convinced him to join the [[CHP]].<ref name="Ep122" />  He was commissioned in the late summer of 1975 as an officer of the law.<ref name="Ep101">{{cite episode | num = 101 | title = Pilot}}</ref><ref name="Ep115">{{cite episode | num = 115 | title = Surf's Up}}</ref>  He started out in a patrol car before completing motor school and becoming a motorcycle officer.<ref name="Ep122" />  A year and a half into his law enforcement career, he was put on probation and, as a result, assigned as a partner to Jon Baker.  When he accidentally directed the relative of the captain into a ditch just as his probation was about to end, he was given another six months of probation.<ref name="Ep101" />  Not long after the second probationary period ended, he was temporarily assigned to partner with a rookie officer, [[Brent Delaney]], for a couple weeks.<ref name="Ep122"/>
It was [[Jon Baker]] who convinced him to join the [[CHP]].<ref name="Ep122" />  He was commissioned in the late summer of 1975 as an officer of the law.<ref name="Ep101">{{cite episode | num = 101 | title = Pilot}}</ref><ref name="Ep115">{{cite episode | num = 115 | title = Surf's Up}}</ref>  He started out in a patrol car before completing motor school and becoming a motorcycle officer.<ref name="Ep122" />  A year and a half into his law enforcement career, he was put on probation and, as a result, assigned as a partner to Jon Baker.  When he accidentally directed the relative of the captain into a ditch just as his probation was about to end, he was given another six months of probation.<ref name="Ep101" />  Not long after the second probationary period ended, he was temporarily assigned to partner with a rookie officer, [[Brent Delaney]], for a couple weeks.<ref name="Ep122"/>


In [[Season 6|late 1982]], his partner is [[Bobby Nelson]]<ref name="Ep601">{{cite episode | num = 601 | title = Meet the New Guy}}</ref>...until [[Bruce Nelson]] becomes his partner later on in [[Season 6|early 1983]].<ref name="Ep620">{{cite episode | num = 620 | title = Fast Company}}</ref>
In [[Season 6|late 1982]], he finally recieves a new partner by the name of [[Bobby Nelson]]<ref name="Ep601">{{cite episode | num = 601 | title = Meet the New Guy}}</ref>, and until Bobby's younger brother [[Bruce Nelson]] becomes his partner later on in [[Season 6|early 1983]].<ref name="Ep620">{{cite episode | num = 620 | title = Fast Company}}</ref>


[[Image:Rebuilt Firebird.jpg|thumb|Ponch’s newly rebuilt Firebird as seen in "[[Down Time]]"|left]]
[[Image:Rebuilt Firebird.jpg|thumb|Ponch’s newly rebuilt Firebird as seen in "[[Down Time]]"|left]]

Revision as of 23:41, 25 February 2012

Francis Llewellyn Poncherello
Actor Erik Estrada
Appears in Seasons 1 through 6 (1977 - 1983)
Call Numbers 7 Mary 4 / 7 Mary 6 in Season 6 / 79 Mary 4 in 1999
Badge Number B600
Frank Poncherello in the pilot episode

Francis Llewellyn Poncherello[1][2] (aka "Ponch") is a graduate of Lehigh Polytechnical High School where he set the school's all time record for visits to the principal's office.[1] His mother is named Maria and he has brothers named Robert and Martin in Chicago.[3] His sister, Patti, lives in New York.[4] Robert and Martin both work for his father in Chicago. He also has an uncle Henry.[2]

Shortly before joining the CHP, Ponch worked in a garage as a mechanic.[5]

It was Jon Baker who convinced him to join the CHP.[5] He was commissioned in the late summer of 1975 as an officer of the law.[6][7] He started out in a patrol car before completing motor school and becoming a motorcycle officer.[5] A year and a half into his law enforcement career, he was put on probation and, as a result, assigned as a partner to Jon Baker. When he accidentally directed the relative of the captain into a ditch just as his probation was about to end, he was given another six months of probation.[6] Not long after the second probationary period ended, he was temporarily assigned to partner with a rookie officer, Brent Delaney, for a couple weeks.[5]

In late 1982, he finally recieves a new partner by the name of Bobby Nelson[8], and until Bobby's younger brother Bruce Nelson becomes his partner later on in early 1983.[9]

Ponch’s newly rebuilt Firebird as seen in "Down Time"

For two years, Ponch lived in a motor home in a trailer park. He eventually sold it for $2,625 and moved to an apartment. He planned to buy furniture, an 8 track, and a car with the money.[10] He used to drive his motor home around as personal transportation, but bought a burned out Trans Am for $83[11]. and began starting the rebuild[12], also used it to chaffuer a young black woman named Mary Barnes to Jon's rodeo[13]. The first time that he had finally finished rebulding it was repainted valencia gold with a trans am bird on the hood, also the car was stolen by Melodie Fisher and Brandy, and four days later was flip over while going airboune by new neighbor Kim Balford.[14] He went to go his mother to show it all burnt out.[3] Which has been wrecked at least three more times, once by Jon in demolition derby trying to stop the car thieves[15], then flip to one side by city bus driven by the punk rock group[16], and finally by a forklift driver[17]. He had finally gotten a beautiful brand new 1982 Trans Am in Blue Metallic.[18]

Ponch's brand new 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

In his free time, Ponch enjoys watching the soap opera, The Troubled World.[2][19][20] Ponch is also a fan of the game show Name Your Price and even appeared as a contestant.[19] Later on, Ponch gained fame as "The Barcelona Man" for a jeans ad.[21]

Ponch's talents include: racquetball[6], basketball[22], bowler[23], jet-skier[7], volleyball player[24], ultralight pilot[25], tennis player[4], skate boarder, street/roller hockey player, handball player, student pilot, singer, hang-glider, sky-diver, wind-surfer, waterskiier (he claims), demolition derby driver, square dancer[3], drag racer, chess player, and black belt in karate[26]. He's also an LA Rams fan. He wears a 9 1/2C bowling shoe.[23]

Ponch's medical injuries include: He actually had gotten sprayed by gas truck that had actually caused him to be temporarily blinded, and ended spending one night in the hospital with a mean nurse taking his Ding Dongs.[22] He actually whipe out after being thrown from his bike, causing him to accidentally to break his left pinky finger, and getting a total of five days of vacation time.[14] He has also lost his confidence after swerving to avoid a speeding car, and ends up crashing through the front door of a store then winds up with his head in a display case with shards of glass pointing at his neck. [4]

He mentions that he was once a member of the gang Clone Condoris before there was even violence.[27] He is often called Ponchy by his ex convict friend Andy Macedon.[26][27]

Ponch heroic efforts include: He had once rescue a women named Carol from her Volkswagen on the Harbor Freeway.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name cannot be a simple integer. Use a descriptive title He had once gotten a tip from cb handle by the name of babbermouth in order to rescued Bonnie from her rolled over police cruiser.[28]

Ponch enjoys hanging out at the Cinzano with his friends.[10][14] His enjoy eating Tutti-frutti ice cream (although he has been known to eat strawberry[29]) and Ding Dongs[6][22][30]. He claims to make "a mean potato salad."[2] He often takes to work a sandwich which Harlan calls a "Peanut Butter Chocolate Smoothy".[31] Ponch keeps junk food in a plastic bag in his saddle bag.[19]

Ponch meeting his future wife, Carol, in the pilot episode

Shortly after the sixth season, Jon Baker returned to the CHP and became Ponch's partner for another year and a half. At some point during this time, Ponch married Carol, the woman he met in a car accident in the first episode. He had a son, Frank Jr.. When his wife became ill, Ponch retired to care for his family. After her death in 1989, he became a painter for ten years to get his mind off of it and painted the Golden Gate Bridge. About 15 years after he last saw Jon, he returned to the CHP in Marin County. When Bruce Nelson was promoted to sergeant, he took a temporary transfer to Los Angeles. After playing a major part in breaking up a carjacking ring, Captain Baker and Commissioner Getraer made the transfer permanent.[32]

Additional information

Ponch will be played by Wilmer Valderrama in the upcoming CHiPs Movie.[33]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Episode 105: "Career Day"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Episode 106: "Baby Food"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Episode 218: "Rally 'Round the Bank"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Episode 513: "Breaking Point"
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Episode 122: "Flashback!"
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Episode 101: "Pilot"
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Episode 115: "Surf's Up"
  8. ↑ Episode 601: "Meet the New Guy"
  9. ↑ Episode 620: "Fast Company"
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Episode 203: "Family Crisis"
  11. ↑ Episode 205: "Neighborhood Watch"
  12. ↑ Episode 207: "High Flyer"
  13. ↑ Episode 212: "High Explosive"
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Episode 213: "Down Time"
  15. ↑ Episode 312: "Destruction Derby"
  16. ↑ Episode 322: "Thrill Show"
  17. ↑ Episode 410: "Forty Tons of Trouble"
  18. ↑ Episode 609: "Return To Death's Door"
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Episode 111: "Name Your Price"
  20. ↑ Episode 112: "Aweigh We Go"
  21. ↑ Episode 602: "Tight Fit"
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Episode 102: "Undertow"
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Episode 109: "Hustle"
  24. ↑ Episode 119: "Crash Diet"
  25. ↑ Episode 407: "Satan's Angels"
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Episode 416: "Karate"
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Episode 522: "A Threat of War"
  28. ↑ Episode 324: "Dynamite Alley"
  29. ↑ Episode 321: "The Strippers"
  30. ↑ Episode 108: "Green Thumb Burglar"
  31. ↑ Episode 403: "To Your Health"
  32. ↑ Episode "CHiPs" '99: "CHiPs '99"
  33. ↑ Episode : "CHiPs Movie"
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