Down Time

Down Time
Episode #	213
Air Date	December 16, 1978
Briefing	Put out an APB for blonde, beautiful burglars. Ponch's prized car is boosted by a cadre of female thieves.

Title screen

Brief Plot

Ponch is proud of his newly rebuilt Firebird, but sadly his car gets stolen. Ponch's vacation plans are ruined when a gang of female car thieves steals his newly rebuilt Firebird. Little does Ponch know that his new neighbor is part of the gang that stole his and other vehicles from the Marina area. Jon's wallet is stolen as a relentless streak of bad luck afflicts the duo. Ponch breaks his pinky finger during a police chase. Getarer loses the duty roster. Sindy wants to go on a diet and get married.

Plot

Ponch’s newly rebuilt Firebird

Ponch now showing off with Baricza and Jon

After just another morning of constant rain a motor officer finally starts riding out while Ponch and Jon pull into Central on their bikes, and a patrol car pulls out. Ponch is now inside the building by having Sindy, Baricza, and Grossie follow him to the back door. Ponch finally agrees to take them outside for a very special surprise in the parking lot. Jon is walking in the other direction, and Ponch stops him just in time to turn him around in the other direction. Ponch now finally opens up the back door by letting his friends go outside to show them a very special surprise which actually turns out to be a recently restored Pontiac Firebird Trans Am in parking lot. Ponch just had it freshly repainted in the original color which is actually Canyon Copper, and finally ends up putting a brand new bird decal on the hood.

Ponch new neighbor Kim

Brandy is filing her nails

Sindy, Baricza, Grossie, and Jon are now starting to admire Ponch’s beautifully restore car. Grossie was actually starting to think that Ponch would eventually give up on the restoration project, and consider trading in that old hunk of junk car of his for a brand new set of wheels. Ponch now reassures Grossie that it’s actually the same car. Sindy knows that it’s actually the same old, and ugly burnt out hunk of junk car that Ponch had bought for $83 at a fire sale about two months ago. Ponch knows that Sindy is actually about the car that he just finish restoring a couple of days ago. Grossie actually knows about Ponch restoring the car by himself along with a little help from his friends, and is very impressed with the beautiful restoration work.

Melodie is now backing up

Melodie is now pulling out

Both Jon and Baricza now look at Grossie for his comment on Ponch car. Sindy knows that Ponch actually has a male alter ego for old muscle cars. Ponch now has his feelings hurt a little a bit by Sindy's sexiest remark about the car. All of Ponch’s friends are still admiring his beautifully restored car. Grossie now finally decides to give Ponch a very special compliment on his beautifully restored car. Ponch is now proud new owner of this beautifully restored car. Sindy now decides to have a long talk with Ponch about his beautifully restore car. While Ponch and Sindy are having a long talk their actually unaware about Getraer is coming outside only to admire this beautifully restore car for just about a minute. Getraer finally admires Ponch’s beautifully restore car for just about a minute, and is impressed with the restoration process.

Melodie is now driving Ponch's Firebird down the street

Kim and Melodie are now driving off

Getraer now finally decides to change his mind about admiring Ponch’s beautifully restore car, and wants all of his colleagues to hit the streets right now in order to do their jobs. While Sindy, Baricza, and Grossie now finally decide to do their jobs, and will get going along with the rest of their day in order to protect the streets free from crime. Jon now finally decides to do his job, and gets going along with the rest of the day by putting on his aviator sunglasses. Jon now finally decides to walk away, and is actually leaving poor Ponch still standing there like a vegetable admiring his beautifully restore car. Ponch will eventually now decide to get going along with Jon, and rest of their day together by finally walking away from his beautifully restored car.

Kim and Melodie are now driving away

Two women making a sharp turn onto the on ramp

At the end of the day around five o’clock in the afternoon after Ponch has just finished running some errands, and finally picks up his uniform from the dry cleaners. Ponch is now driving back all alone to his apartment at the marina, and while deciding to enjoy his beautifully restored car. While Ponch is still driving on the outside of the underground parking garage, and is unaware that his very strange beautiful new neighbor with very short blonde haircut has just finished pulling into her parking spot. She is now starting to finally get out her beautiful brand new Datsun 280Z, and Ponch has just finished pulling into his parking spot. Ponch with a recently broken pinky finger, and her now finally decide to get out of both of their cars at the same time.

Two women making a very sharp turn

In the early afternoon around lunchtime that same day, while sitting on their police motorcycles taking a lunch break at the construction site near the entrance ramp of the Harbor Freeway, and Jon is now starting to get annoyed by Ponch bragging about his beautifully rebuilt Trans Am. Jon now wants to fall asleep unless Ponch changes the subject to anything else besides his beautifully rebuilt Trans Am, and which also includes the Middle East Oil Crisis for an example. Ponch just seem to can’t get off the subject about his beautifully rebuilt Trans Am, now starting to become more annoying by still bragging about his car hitting 60 mph in 8.6 seconds, and wants to make a bet with Jon that he can make it from Tel Aviv to Sussex Canal in less then a hour and a half. While still on their lunch break, Jon still has to listen to Ponch brag about his beautifully rebuilt Trans Am, now suspects that two beautiful blonde haired women are speeding through traffic by cutting off other cars, and entering the ramp while driving around in a all black late 77 Corvette carrying old expire license plates. Ponch just happens to know that they stopped making yellow/black plates about eight years prior, their lunch break is now cut very short when they have to start up there motorcycles, and take off in order to start giving a police pursuit of a recently stolen Corvette by going up the Harbor Freeway entrance ramp. Thinking that the Corvette could be recently stolen, also is carrying a change of temporary expire old license plates, Ponch now agrees to call in the expire license plate numbers of the car, and Jon calls in a 10-4 on his CB radio. Both Ponch and Jon are still giving a police pursuit of a recently stolen Corvette down the Harbor Freeway for couple of miles. The two beautiful blond haired car thieves are now enjoying the police pursuit of Ponch and Jon, and now make a last minute decision to take the Harbor Freeway exit ramp.

Two women making an escape in SAO 476

Two women after knocking down the automated crossing guard

While Ponch and Jon are still pursuit to the two beautiful blonde haired car thieves in a recently stolen Corvette that is temporarily carrying old expire license plates driving down the Harbor Freeway exit ramp. After finally getting off the Harbor Freeway by taking the exit ramp, both beautiful blonde haired women are now speeding into the city streets, and at the last minute decide very quickly to turn the corner. Ponch and Jon now have to very quickly turn the corner, both beautiful blonde hair women now at the last minute decide turn into a city parking lot by running over an orange cone, and knocking down a stop guard. The two beautiful blonde hair car thieves now decide to have some fun with Ponch and Jon by driving around in circles inside the city parking lot, and finally manage to drive through the city parking garage. While still driving inside the city parking lot, and are unaware that a group of handicapped Vietnam Veterans that are now in wheel chairing themselves down the city sidewalk. The two beautiful blonde haired car thieves now dangerously approach the group a handicapped Vietnam Veterans trying to well a cross city parking lot exit while still in their wheelchairs. Only one handicapped Vietnam Veteran make it across the exit very quickly in his wheelchair, and the two really crazy beautiful blonde haired car thieves drving a recently stolen Corvette now decide to cut off the rest of the group of handicapped Vietnam Veterans, and their registered male nurse. Ponch now tries to stop very quickly to avoid hitting the group of handicapped Vietnam Veterans, and their register male nurse causing him to accidently be thrown while wiping out on his bike. An injured Ponch is now lying on the ground inside the city parking lot after being thrown from his bike, and is still very unaware that he accidentally broke his left pinky finger in the process.

A baby blue Firebird passing by the car dealer

Two women pulling into Al Dubowe Used Cars

Jon now manages to come to a full complete stop, finally getting off his motorcycle very safely only to make sure that Ponch who is still lying on the ground inside the city parking lot, and the group of handicapped Vietnam Veterans with their register male nurse are not injured during the recent incident. Jon now helps Ponch get off the ground while still inside the city parking lot, and has to listen to one very angry complaint about the recently stolen Corvette that was being driven by the two really crazy beautiful haired women that could have easily killed someone today from the register male nurse. Jon after taking the report, now give immediate command to the group of handicapped Vietnam Veterans, and their register male nurse to split. Ponch now takes off his left hand glove, and is trying to massage the swelling out of his injured left pinky finger. While Ponch tries to shake off his injury, and Jon now uses the CB radio in order to call in code 4 into central about losing the pursuit. Jon eventually notices that Ponch is trying straighten out the knuckle of his injured left pinky finger, and knows that he was told a lie about not being injured during the incident. Ponch now once again is trying to tell Jon a lie about being perfectly fine, and eventually the truth comes out about him recently injuring his left pinky finger after being thrown from his bike during the incident. Jon knows that he has to take the very stubborn Ponch to the nearest emergency room which is at the Los Angeles County USC Medical Center for his medical injury, and doesn't want to given a hard time today. Ponch is now very upset about his recent injury, and has worried look on his face. After finally escaping police pursuit that given today by Ponch and Jon. The beautiful blonde haired car thieves now decide to slow down, and continue to deliver the recently stolen Corvette carrying a temporarily change of old expire license plates to a car dealer. The two beautiful blonde haired car thieves now decide to get out of the car, and walk into the office building.

Baricza making a joke about Ponch's broken left pinky finger

Jon now enters the break room for a snack

While at Central where the contractors are here week, and are starting the remodeling project today by making complete modern updated changes. Baricza now comes in carrying a box, and decides to be a complete idiot for a minute by making a very stupid joke about reporting a missing officers lounge. Getraer is now really crabby mood about starting the remodeling project today, also doesn’t want hear Baricza’s stupid joke today, and wants to be call in on next Tuesday for a good laugh. Baricza continues to ignore Getraer’s really crabby mood today, and finally finishes carrying the box to put on the table where Sindy and Grossie are doing some filing work today. Grossie now sees Jon arriving back from the emergency room with the seriously injured Ponch following right behind him, and decides to be another complete idiot for a minute by announcing their arrival. Sindy now makes a stupid joke about Ponch being the fallen hero that is supposed to being carried out on a shield. Ponch is now embarrassed about his recently broken left pinky finger, and doesn’t want to hear Sindy’s stupid joke today. Baricza now makes another stupid joke about how Ponch is never gonna to play the piano again. Ponch is very upset, and doesn’t to hear it today. Getraer now wants Ponch come into his office in order to file a medical injury report, and walks out. Ponch and Jon now decide ignore Getraer’s request come into the office, and want to know about the remodeling that is going on today. Baricza now gives Ponch and Jon the information about putting in women's locker room. Grossie now gives additional information about the remodeling orders coming from state office of Sacramento. Sindy thinks it’s another way for women's lib to forward in the workplace. An angry Getraer after being ignored by Ponch's refusal to come into his office in order to file a medical injury report, and now has to yell at him for refusing to listen. An embarrassed Ponch now has to walk out with Getraer and Jon to go file a medical injury report.

Sindy eating a doughnut while enjoying a cup of coffee

Ponch now enters the break room

Ponch and Jon are now going into Getraer's office in order to file a medical injury report. Getraer now moves the box in order to sit at his desk to file a recent medical injury report about Ponch accidentally breaking his left pinky finger while wiping out on his bike during today‘s police pursuit on the stolen Corvette driven by two beautiful blonde haired car thieves that was temporarily carrying a change of old expire license plates. Getraer now sits at his desk to file a recent medical injury report, and wants see the broken left pinky finger on Ponch’s left hand. Ponch who is now embarrassed about wearing a splint on his broken left pinky finger, and finally to show Getraer his left hand in order file a recent medical report. Getraer who is smiling to keep from laughing by chatting away about Ponch’s recent medical injury about accidentally breaking left pinky finger. Jon now wants Ponch doing a light workload while on desk duty for at least the minimum of one week. Getraer doesn’t want Ponch doing a light workload while on desk duty knowing that half of the regular staff is going to be out in the hallway. Ponch now insists on going back onto the streets while being temporarily assigned another bike, and is willing to make best of it. Getraer now has an even better idea, knowing that Ponch will just be in the way during the remodeling project at Central, and has to move the typewriter in order to pull the file out of the filing cabinet now offering him five days of vacation time that are coming up. Ponch is now surprised about finding out that he has five days vacation time. Getraer now wants Ponch to take his five days of vacation or lose them eventually by next month. Jon now offers to take the five days of vacation time if Ponch does not want it. Ponch now knowing that he going to receive royal treatment for his broken left pinky finger, eventually changes mind about going on vacation by wanting to go into the men’s locker room to change his clothes, and plan out his trip. Ponch knows about usually not receiving royal treatment for his past medical injuries, and walks out of Getraer's office. A few seconds later after Ponch walks out, Getraer now hears his office telephone ringing, he now has to dig threw the boxes in order to find the telephone, and finally answers the very important telephone call from state office in Sacramento.

Ponch is now reading some local vaction brochures

Jon driving Ponch home at the end of the day

While in the break room where Sindy is reading her magazine, and Baricza is enjoying a doughnut and a cup of coffee. Jon who is now very hungry after dealing with filing of Ponch’s medical injury report, finally goes into the break room to grab a quick snack, and wants to know if theirs something that really good for disgusting. Sindy knows this will be the perfect time to go on a diet if she wasn't so hungry, and finally eats her doughnut. Ponch finally comes into the break room, and is now reading some local vacation brochures including a magazine from a travel agency. Baricza knows that Ponch is receiving the royal vacation treatment for his recent broken left pinky finger. Ponch finally sits down to plan out his vacation, now needs to take one trip to the local California American Automobile Association, and already has his whole five days of vacation planned out. Jon just can't stand it when Ponch starts planning his beautiful scenic route five day vacation. Baricza now finds out that Ponch wants to visit San Francisco. Ponch starts talking about tomorrow morning when his five day vacation officially starts, first he will be starting the perfect day by taking a perfect drive along the coast in his beautifully rebuilt Trans Am, and along the way he will be visiting Big Sur, Carmel, and Monterey. Sindy now wants to marry Ponch today, and began tomorrow morning as newlyweds going on their honeymoon to San Francisco. Ponch now wants to know about Sindy keeping a secret diary. Sindy knows that none of Ponch‘s business about her keeping a secret diary. Ponch now apologizes to Sindy about going into her business. Jon now wants to know if anyone has change for a buck, and informs everybody that his wallet has recently gone missing. Both Sindy and Baricza now take a look on the floor without getting out of their chairs. Getraer now enters the break room, and wants to know if anyone has seen the duty roster today. Barciza is now suggesting that Getraer accidentally left in the office. Jon is now thinking that Getraer is a complete idiot for losing the duty roster. Sindy is thinking that Getraer accidentally left it at home today. Ponch now thinks that Getraer may have misplaced it somewhere in the office. Getraer now feels like a complete idiot with Jon giving him a complete stupid look today, now wants to put in for early retirement, and walks out of the break room. Sindy now checks the floor, and Jon is now looking like a complete idiot for losing his wallet today.

Porsche passing by the apartment building

Ponch's newly rebuilt Firebird is stolen

At the end of the day around 3:00 p.m., after Ponch’s recent medical injury which is actually a broken left pinky finger when accidentally wiping out his bike during a police pursuit of two beautiful crazy blonde hair women while on the first shift of the day, and is now very thankful for getting a ride back to his apartment in Jon’s truck. Jon knows that Ponch doesn’t need to thank him for a ride home today. Ponch now wants Jon to carefully watch Harlan doing the repairs on his bike while he is going on vacation tomorrow. Jon wants to check Ponch’s patio for his missing wallet. After arriving at Ponch's apartment, a Porsche passes by the complex, and a group of beautiful women are now playing a game of volleyball in front of the pool area. Jon now feeling like a complete idiot is actually looking for his missing wallet on Ponch's patio but still cannot find it, and starts noticing that Ponch's very strange beautiful blonde hair new neighbor is watching him with her brand new set of binoculars from the floor above. After Jon notices that the very strange beautiful blonde hair new neighbor was waving at him, Ponch now tries to introduce him by her name which is actually Kim Balford, and which is actually the newest edition around here. Jon now wonders if Kim was watching him or another guy with the binoculars. Ponch knows that this is actually new age of active people, and women have their rights in today’s society. Jon now walks into Ponch’s apartment wanting to use the telephone in order to stop three blank checks, and knows about his partner going on vacation tomorrow morning. Ponch now let Jon know that will be taking a perfect drive along the coast in order to break in the new set of tires on his beautifully rebuilt Trans Am. The next morning around 7:00 a.m., two hours after Ponch has already packed his luggage which is actually follow by quick and easy breakfast, also includes a five minute shower and shave, and finally a change of clothes. Ponch is now walking out into the heavy rain while carrying a suitcase with his recently injured left hand, and a garment bag over his head in order to keep him clean and dry with the right hand. Ponch is now walking into the underground parking garage, finally looking up for a minutes, notices that his beautifully rebuilt Trans Am has recently just been stolen from it’s reserved parking spot. Ponch is now very upset about beautiful rebuilt Trans Am being recently stolen, now putting his luggage down, and starts walking through the inside of the underground parking garage. Ponch now stops walking for a minute, then decides to turn around on both sides following a complete turn around, and now has a very worried and upset look on his face.

A checker taxicab pulls into Central

Ponch has to take a checker taxicab to Central

After Ponch’s beautifully rebuilt Trans Am has just been stolen, and he is now very upset by having to take a checker taxicab to Central in order to file a stolen automobile report. Both Grossie and Baricza now come outside, and surprised to see the poor recently injured Ponch who is upset of having to pay the cab driver the metered fare for taking him to Central. Baricza now tries to nice to Ponch who is actually in a crabby mood, and wanting to know about the event that really happened today. Grossie now embarrasses Ponch by wanting to know the knowledge of rebuilding taxicabs. Ponch is now embarrassed by both Grossie and Baricza, and angrily gives out a fake smile by ignoring both of their questions today. Grossie and Baricza are now snubbed by a really angry Ponch now going into the building. Getraer is now supervising the movers that there to help out by moving desks into another room temporarily, and while the other rooms are being remodeled inside the building. An angry Ponch now comes into the room, but doesn’t like being ignored by Getraer, and is becoming very impatient about reporting his beautifully rebuilt Trans Am stolen. Getraer is to busy supervising the movers that are helping by moving furniture around temporarily, and wants Ponch to wait a little bit longer in order to fill the stolen automobile report. An angry Ponch is now getting sick and tried of waiting for help in order to file a stolen automobile report, and now becomes impatient about being ignored for another minute by Getraer supervising the movers. After becoming intolerable towards the help of Getraer supervising the movers, an angry impatient Ponch now decides to walk away, and goes into the men's locker room now hoping that Jon would help him file a stolen automobile report. Jon is now looking for his missing wallet inside his locker, which contains his drivers license, credit cards, oil company card, social security card, and medical insurance card. Ponch now becomes even more intolerable with an attitude towards Jon about his beautiful rebuilt Trans Am being recently stolen last night or sometime this morning. Jon is now still looking for his missing wallet, and wants to know about Ponch filing a stolen automobile report. Ponch now lets Jon know about filing a stolen automobile report with the LAPD, and had a patrol car out looking for his beautifully rebuilt Trans Am within five minutes. Ponch now has to listen to poor Jon complaining about losing his medical insurance card, and finally explodes with an attitude about believing service today by walking out of the men’s locker room.

Ponch is now calming down with Jon in the office

After walking out of the men’s locker room with an attitude towards Jon about filing the stolen automobile report on his beautifully rebuilt Trans Am, Ponch is now inside Getraer’s office using the telephone in order to call the local neighborhood Allstate insurance office. While Jon is still is walking in hallway, now can hear an impatiently intolerable Ponch being rude on the telephone to the receptionist, and is angrily demanding to get a hold of his insurance agent which is actually Max Kinneman. Jon finally walks into the office, and impatiently intolerable Ponch is still on the telephone now leaving a message with the receptionist in order to get a hold of Kinneman to meet him at Central. Ponch now ticked off with Allstate handling the insurance loss claim on his beautiful rebuilt Trans Am that was just recently stolen, and finally hangs up the telephone. Jon finally apologizes to the intolerable Ponch for being wrap up in his own selfish world of business, and wants let Ponch know about his recently stolen beautiful rebuilt Trans Am that just didn't sink in to his head. Ponch now finally calms down, and wants to give Allstate sometime to get his insurance loss claim on his recently stolen beautifully rebuilt Trans Am. Getraer finally peeks into the doorway his office to let Ponch and Jon know about not running a social club for chit chat, and now walks off. Ponch now thinks that Getraer is actually the man with all heart. Getraer finally peeks into the doorway of his office once again, only to let Ponch know about filing of the stolen automobile report on his beautifully rebuilt Trans Am into the computer, and will making recently stolen cars very special items at the next briefing. Ponch is now very thankful to Getraer for finally filing the stolen automobile report on beautifully rebuilt Trans Am into the computer. Getraer now wants Ponch to go back to his apartment, and relax by taking a vacation from work today. Ponch knows that he is officially on vacation, and now manages to stop poor Sindy in the hallway. Sindy was thinking that Ponch was taking a perfect drive along the coast in his beautifully rebuilt Trans Am, and is now finally on his way to San Francisco. Ponch now lets Sindy know that his plans have change when his beautifully rebuilt Trans Am was recently stolen. Sindy is now thinking that Ponch is upset of about it. Ponch now wants to borrow poor Sindy’s Kawasaki KZ750 in order to get around town. Sindy doesn’t think that Ponch can ride a bike with a recently medical injury. Jon is now looking at Sindy for being selfish. Sindy finally agrees to hand Ponch the keys, and the white motorcycle helmet for her bike. Ponch is very thankful to Sindy for letting borrow her bike temporarily. After being annoyed by Ponch in order to borrow a bike, Sindy now needs to hitch a ride home, and finally manages to walk away. Jon now wants to know were Ponch is going with Sindy’s bike temporarily. Ponch now let’s Jon know now about going to Auto Theft Division of Central, also wanting to get his last the thing back in his life which is actually a beautiful rebuilt Trans Am, and finally walks out of building.

Ponch and Kim getting closer to each other

Ponch goes to Kim's apartment where there's music playing and knocks on the door. Kim asks who is at the door and Ponch responds that it is her neighbor, Frank Poncherello. Kim tells Ponch that the door is open. Ponch walks in and closes the door while mentioning that Kim shouldn't leave her door unlocked. Kim tells Ponch that they don't worry about thing like that in Minnesota. Ponch sees Kim doing yoga.

Kim wearing a bikini on a party boat

Kim getting away in Ponch's newly rebuilt Firebird

Kim doing a sharp turn in Ponch's newly rebuilt Firebird

Kim driving Ponch's newly rebuilt Firebird

Kim going airbourne in Ponch's newly rebuilt Firebird

An Ambulance arriving at the accident scene.

Ponch's newly rebuilt Firebird involved a wreck now with an out of control fire

Great Quote

"That Baloney" - Ponch

Guest Stars

• Burr DeBenning as Bill Ross
• Randi Oakes as Kim Balford

Also Starring

• Brianne Leary as Sindy
• Brodie Greer as Baricza
• Paul Linke as Grossman
• Susan Kiger as Brandy
• Deborah Zon as Melodie Fisher
• Cynthia Brian as Teller

Featuring

• Barry Cahill as Max Kinneman
• John Hart as Boat Owner
• Alfred Dennis as Companion #1
• Art Lewis as Companion #2
• Norman Mont-Eton as Oscar

Crew

• Produced by: Cy Chermak
• Written by: Richard B. Mittleman
• Directed by: John Florea
• Executive Consultant: Rick Rosner
• Story Editors: William D. Gordon & James Doherty
• Associate Producers: Wm. L. Young and Paul Rabwin
• 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: Thom Anable
• Assistant Director: Richard Schor
• 2nd Assistant Director: Mary Lou Maclaury
• Script Supervisor: Jack Gannon
• Set Decorator: W. Joseph Kroesser
• Production Consultant: Bob Hayden
• Technical Advisor: Dick Barton
• Sound: Robert Sheridan & 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

• The first time that Ponch had finished his newly rebuilt Firebird it had a Trans Am bird on the hood.
• Kim Balford is played by Randi Oakes who would later play Bonnie Clark in seasons 3 through 5 of the show.
• Susan Kiger, who plays Brandy was Playboy's Playmate of the Month for January 1977.
• Ponch's original interior inside the car was black leather.
• Ponch's original factory mags were charcoal Z28 Rally Wheels.
• Ponch's car was the left over movie car from the film Corvette Summer.
• Ponch's car is a 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.
• Ponch's car has a second lower side vent exclusive to 1971 Formulas.
• Ponch's interior includes high back bucket seats.
• Ponch's car exterior also includes Trans Am Fender extenders, Trans Am air extractors, and a rear top spoiler.
• Ponch's license plate is 033 PCE.
• Ponch's car was also driven Joey Aresco's character Niles in the first season episode Crack-Up, although Joey doesn't appear in this episode.
• When Jon drives Ponch home, we see Jon's truck at the intersection of Adams Blvd. and Arlington Ave. View in Google Maps
• Kim lives in Apartment 217.
• Al Dubowe's Auto Sales was at the intersection of La Cienega Ave. and Washington Blvd. in Culver City.
• The truck loaded with cars passes Davis Bros. Tires located at 5931 Washington Blvd. in Culver City.
• The ambulance is actually the 1968 Ford Econoline left over from the episode High Explosive.

Mistakes

• Jon actually mentions that the 1978 Chevrolet Corvette C3 is a 1977 model.
• When Ponch introduces himself to Kim his pinky finger is broken, but this does not happen until later when he wrecks while they are chasing the Corvette.
• When the Corvette approaches the group in wheelchairs, the first guy in a wheelchair is nearly across the parking lot exit when we see the Corvette approach. When the shot cuts to the interior of the Corvette, he has just begun to cross the exit.
• When Kim runs into Ponch and Jon having lunch, she refers to him as 'Ponch' although he has only introduced himself as Frank Poncherello. Why wouldn't she call him Frank or Officer Poncherello?
• The scene where Ponch shows the department his newly rebuilt 1971 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, and middle scene where Melodie and Brandy steal his car are at the beginning.
• While sitting in the Lincoln, Kim refers to "the talkative one to the left, happens to be a cop looking for a stolen car, his stolen car" ; however, Jon was to their left, not Ponch.
• Before Grossman pursues Kim and Melodie in the Lincoln, we see traffic moving behind him in close-up shots; however, when he begins pursuit, there is no traffic--everyone is stopped at the light.

The Lincoln is empty.

• When Kim and Melodie ditch the Lincoln, it seems as though they went into the water in with the car; however, the car is empty as it leaves the pier.

Melodie shows through her bikini top.

• A network censor apparently missed Melodie's bikini top.
• The car that Kim and Melodie are being chased by Grossman in changes license plates. They start out dark in colour with yellow lettering. As it plunges into the water, the plates change to yellow with dark lettering.
• Melodie's clothes change from a brown tight sweater and slack to blouse and jeans in between stealing Ponch's car and delivering it.
• Whomever painted Ponch's Firebird did a fantastic job on it. They painted the grills, headlight buckets, and all of the chrome window trim as well.
• When Jon is giving Ponch a ride home in his pick-up, he makes a right on red without making a full and complete stop. The cross traffic light has just gone to yellow.
• When the Firebird rolls over during the final pursuit, the fuel tank has been removed. Also, the left rear tire appears to be completely bald (or a racing slick).

Buy this episode

• Down Time on DVD at Amazon.com

Preceded by: "High Explosive"

Down Time 213

Followed by: "Repo Man"