Hustle

Hustle
Episode #	109
Air Date	Nov 24, 1977
Briefing	The motorcycle-riding thieves

Plot

After Ponch tries to talk Jon into joining a CHP bowling tournament, a call comes in about a robbery. While riding down the freeway, Ponch gets a cigarette flicked on him, they find motorcycle riders fitting the description and pull them over. They realize they're the wrong people when they find out they're women.

After the theme, Ponch and Jon head to the County of Los Angeles Municipal Traffic Court. Ponch presents his case against Mr. Engelhart, who crossed Ponch's flare line. Mr. Engelhart has a poor presentation and then asks for (and gets) a continuance to gather more evidence.

Out on the highway, Ponch is complaining when he notices a car fail to stop at a stop sign. When they pull the car over, Ponch is excited about meeting Broderick Crawford. Soon, Mr. Engelhart shows up and Ponch makes him leave. When Ponch returns to Jon and Broderick Crawford, Jon lets him go. Ponch is upset he didn't get an autograph...but Jon had him sign a warning and offers Ponch a Xerox copy.

Later, Ponch and Jon are at the bowling alley. Ponch hits on two women to try to get them to bowl against him and Jon. When Jon and Ponch break up some trouble at the register, the women are suddenly attracted to them. When Ponch tries to give tips, he gets just one pin. Jon gets two strikes and confesses to once being a bowling instructor.

The next day, Ponch and Jon encounter two women arguing on the highway. Meanwhile, the motorcycle-riding thieves rob another grocery store and are chased by the LAPD. When an accident report comes in during the briefing, Getraer sends out Ponch and Jon. After removing an electric shock victim, Ponch removes electric lines from the car while Jon jumps on the car to keep the woman inside until it's safe.

While Ponch heads to court, Jon finds a car with only three wheels and pulls it over. Jon is having a hard time with the car's French speaking driver. Luckily Shain shows up and takes over. In court, Mr. Engelhart has pictures of Ponch in some questionable situations. Ponch has an explanation for each one and Mr. Engelhart is found guilty.

After leaving Winchell's Donuts, Ponch and Jon respond to a call about the motorcycle-riding thieves. The thieves ride through a park and Ponch and Jon follow. As Jon turns near a chain link fence, he hits his right hand. Ponch and Jon finally corner the thieves and arrest them.

At the next day's briefing, Jon reveals that he hurt his hand during the chase after Ponch had just doubled all the bowling bets.

Great Quote

"You know, I was making those Highway Patrol shows long before you guys were born."

"Yeah, they don't make TV shows like that anymore."

-Broderick Crawford and Jon (poking fun at "CHiPs")

Guest Stars

• Reb Brown (as Brouillette)
• Kay Peters (as Judge Linda)
• Marty Ingels (as Sidney)
• Sandra Will (as Sheila)
• Hubert Noel (as Citroen Driver)
• Yuki Shimoda (as Mr. Wee)
• Broderick Crawford as Himself (uncredited)

Crew

• Written by: John Groves
• Directed by: Georg Fenady

Fun Facts

• The baby removed from the car covered in electrical lines is in the same type of car seat that's used for the robot "Gypsy" in Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Mistakes

• In the first scene, the voices of Ponch and Jon were obviously dubbed in later.
• When Mr. Engelhart presents his photos in court, one is of Ponch and Jon laughing with Broderick Crawford. The shot is of the side of the car. Mr. Engelhart's truck was parked behind the motorcycles. (Also, the position Ponch and Jon are in never happened. Jon was always standing up straight and Ponch never leaned in that close with his back to the window.)
• In the first close-up of Jon after he hits his hand on the gate, he's wearing black gloves. In the next shot, as he enters a tunnel, the gloves are tan.