Wheeling
| Wheeling | |
| Episode # | 314 |
| Air Date | December 8, 1979 |
| Briefing | ? |
Brief Plot
A trio of wheelchair-bound drivers create problems for Jon and Ponch both in and out of their vehicles. The father of a hit-and-run victim is determined to catch the driver responsible, with or without the help of the CHP.
Plot
While Ponch and Jon are patrolling the heavy traffic on the beautiful Harbor Freeway where there hasn‘t car accident this morning, and they keep making bets against each other about the week. Meanwhile a paralyzed Vietnam veteran named Artie while driving a beat up looking yellow and gray primer Chevrolet Chevy Van, and will soon start playing a game of freeway tag by tapping the bumper of his buddy Alan’s beautiful maroon Cadillac Coupe DeVille.
Luckily Ponch and Jon show up at the right time. Artie is later caught letting the air out of a car in a Handicap space. Meanwhile, the father thinks he sees the car of the guy that injured his son so he chases him. They are both pulled over and he presses charges against the man. After Ponch & Jon visit Artie & Co., the father and his son are seen fixing his mangled bike. Back at HQ, Ponch & Jon have to deal with "Mr. Saunders" (the father)...and tell him that the man he pulled over didn't do it. Artie and friends find the Mustang that injured the kid and pull a wire from the engine. When the guy comes out to his car, it won't start...and then the CHP shows up and he runs to the train station where he's captured. After taking "Brent" for a spin, Artie almost runs over the injured kid. Mr. Saunders chases them (of course) attracting Baricza's attention. Then the van rolls over while the car knocks down live power lines. Artie broke both arms while Mr. Saunders broke a leg.
In the end, Mr. Saunders is seen pushing Artie's wheelchair.
Guest Stars
- Taylor Lacher as Harry Saunders
- Ray Vitte as Don
- Paul Gale as Artie
- Ron Lombard as Alan
- David Gilliam as Brent
- Fil Formicola as Delgado
- Paul Linke as Grossman
- Brodie Greer as Baricza
Co-Starring
- Ned Wilson as Dr. McCleary
- Tim Maier as Kip
- Cissy Wellman as Helen
- Michael Mancini as Parker
- Gary Pagett as Man
- Milt Oberman as Attorney Stevens
- Ken Lesco as Sedan Driver
- Teri Landrum as Co-ed
- Randi Oakes as Bonnie Clark
Crew
- Produced by: Cy Chermak
- Written by: L. Ford Neale and John Huff
- Directed by: Barry Crane
- Executive Consultant: Rick Rosner
- Story Editors: William D. Gordon & James Doherty
- Associate Producer: 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: Les Gobruegge
- Editor: Peter E. Berger
- Unit Production Manager: Ron Grow
- Assistant Director: Lindsley Parsons III
- 2nd Assistant Director: John Peter Kousakis
- Script Supervisor: Jack Gannon
- Set Decorator: W. Joseph Kroesser
- Production Consultant: Dave McDannel
- Technical Advisor: Bill Kuethen
- Stunt Co-ordinator: Paul Nuckles
- Rerecorded at: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios
- Sound: Harlan Riggs, M. Curtis Price, C.A.S.
- Wardrobe Supervisor: Shelly Levine
- Makeup: Richard Cobos, S.M.A, Walter Schenck
- Hairdresser: Don Lynch
- 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
- We gratefully acknowledge the cooperation and assistance furnished by the California Paralyzed Veterans Association
- Filmed in METROCOLOR / Titles and Opticals MGM
- Rosner Television in association with MGM Television
Fun Facts
- The mock bull fighting scene was filmed around on and around Olvera Street. Artie's wheelchair comes to rest on North Alameda Street. View in Google Maps
- As Jon and Ponch approach the runaway wheelchair they pass the Plaza Fire House. Built in 1884, it was the first building to be constructed by the City of Los Angeles for housing fire fighting equipment and personnel.
- Jon and Ponch catch the hit-and-run driver in Union Station. View in Google Maps
- The crash scene near the end was filmed just off of Hannum Street in Culver City. All the buildings in the background have now gone, and the large Volkswagen warehouse is now an estate of townhouses. View in Google Maps
- Ray Vitte was a close friend of Donna Summer. He died after an altercation with the LAPD in 1983. Summer was part of a news conference which questioned the circumstances of his death.
Mistakes
| Preceded by: "Second Chance" |
Wheeling 314 |
Followed by: "Christmas Watch" |