Frank Poncherello

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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
Ponch entering the break room with a broken pinky finger as seen in "Down Time"
Frank Poncherello in "the pilot episode"

Francis Llewellyn Poncherello[1][2][3] (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.[3] He also has an uncle Henry.[2] He used to get bullied, and beaten up a lot by Andy Macedon who was a couple years older than him.[5]

Ponch's newly rebuilt Firebird can be seen once again on fire after being flipped over as seen in "Down Time"
Ponch is actually escorting passenger Mary Barnes to Jon's Rodeo as seen in "High Explosive"

Shortly before joining the CHP, Ponch worked in a garage as a mechanic. The first time Ponch had met Officer Jon Baker while deciding to ride his dirt bike without a motorcycle helmet, and jumping over a CHP patrol car. After a little police pursuit he had finally wiped out, and getting caught by Jon who now decides to give him the full speech about not wearing a motorcycle helmet. Ponch had met Jon once again for the second time while deciding to cruise around in a 1964 Chevrolet Impala with the members of the gang called Clono Condoris, and deciding to drink alcohol and litter on street eventually get pull car by a patrol. Ponch now finally gets out of the car, and decides to lie about Jon being his cousin. While Ponch was dirt biking out in field one day with his new best friend Jon, while putting the bikes back up on the truck, and finally handed an application by his friend that had convinced him to join the CHP.[6]

Ponch having a conversation with Bones while working his car as seen in "Destruction Derby"
Ponch now upset at both Jon and Getraer over his Firebird being recently totaled as seen in "Destruction Derby"

He was commissioned in the late summer of 1975 as an officer of the law.[7][8] [6] He started out in a patrol car before completing motor school and becoming a motorcycle officer.[6] 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.[7] Not long after the second probationary period ended, he was temporarily assigned to partner with a rookie officer, Brent Delaney, for a couple weeks.[6] In late 1982, he finally recieves a new partner by the name of Bobby Nelson[9], and until Bobby's younger brother Bruce Nelson becomes his partner later on in early 1983.[10]

Ponch’s newly rebuilt Firebird as seen in "Down Time"
Ponch now showing off with Baricza and Jon as seen in "Down Time"

For two years, Ponch lived in a motor home in a trailer park.[11] He used to drive his motor home around as personal transportation.[12][2][13] He once had to move in with Jon temporarily while his motor home generator was being fixed at Mike Auto Repair.[14] He eventually sold it back to the dealer for $2,625, and after his first apartment at The Tides and Waters Edge at Marina Harbor for $250 a month was flooded by a water bed from the floor above. He agree finally into move to another apartment temporarily for $500 month rent near the marina, and ended taking it permenantly after meeting his beautiful sexy blonde new neighbor from the floor above. He had originally planned on buying new furniture, a combination hi5 stereo which includes a cassette, 8 track, record player, and a brand new car with the money. He had finally had a home warming party where Dave growls at Getraer.[15] He had finally brought up Fay to an empty apartment with no furniture, and seen Jon grilling out on his patio.[16] He finally had rented furniture temporarily when his mom was coming to visit, and had miner bird as a pet.[3] He had finally bought furniture.[17] He had been to have dinner parties.[18][19][20][21] After Melanie Mitchell had accidentally ripped her pants he volunteered to take her back to his apartment to change then was caught by both his new girlfriend Jennifer and Grossie, and later decided to have a pool party during that same week.[22] He once had Steve help him fix the shower in the bathroom.[23]

Ponch and Kim getting closer to each other as seen in "Down Time"
Ponch is actually putting out the fire on his feature Firebird as seen in "Neighborhood Watch"

Ponch had finally bought a burned out Trans Am for $83 from a disgruntled owner who had started it on fire during a little disbute over impounding the car, and winning the bidding war against a tow truck driver.[24] He had finally began starting to restore the car along with Jon and his friend Kim, and managing to get it running.[25] He once received a brand new 1978 Mercedes 450 SL R107 as a gift from Barney while still restoring the car, and later decided to returned it because it's considered a bribe.[26] He had finally drove it by chaffuering a recently injured young black woman named Mary Barnes to Jon's rodeo.[27] The first time that he had finally finished completing a restoration it was repainted valencia gold with a trans am bird decal on the hood, also the car was stolen by Melodie Fisher and her best friend Brandy, and four days later was flip over while going airboune by his very strange new neighbor Kim Balford.[28] While doing another complete restoration when a rich billionaire named Arthur Forbinger offered to buy him a brand new car, and he turn it down because of bribery.[29] After completing a partial restoration by finally replacing the roof which included a new set of Cragar S/S, and reupholstering the interior in white when he decide to take Jon with him to go pick up his mother at the Los Angeles International Airport, and surprised her by showing it all burnt out.[3] He had finally completed another restoration after repainting the car same color, and had to escape completely naked after taking a shower at Robbie Davis's apartment in order to get away from her father Charlie Davis.[30] He drove around with Joan Ramirez a young school teacher as passenger while looking for Danny a recently suspended troubled student, and keeping the student out of trouble by having him join the CHP BMX Team.[31] After having another Trans Am bird decal put back on hood, and was flipped over by Jon entering the demolition derby trying to stop Bones Bateman.[32] He finally had a complete restoration of the car in an auto body shop then a few months later the rims were damaged along with both the mirrors including the right and left front and rear fenders flares getting broken off after being side swiped by a Hollywood tour bus being driven by the punk rock group known as The Bus Boys while they were robbing it, and force to drive on two drivers side wheels after going off a ramp for a few minutes finally coming back down damaging the suspension inside frame.[33] After he had finally finished repairing the side swipe, which includes replacing the mirrors, right and left front and rear fender flares, the front spoiler, BF Goodrich Radial TA tires, a new set of American Racing Ansen Sprints, suspension in the frame, and repainting the car the exact same color, and giving Jon a ride to the hospital to meet Andy Stratowski a CHP officer who is dying of cancer because of a large tumor in his brain.[19] The valet pull it front of the S.S. Princess Louise so that he can drive his date Paula back to the construction site then later follows a van full of thieves, and the next day while following the same van to the construction site to make a bust which turns into a little police chase with one of the drivers while trying to steal the forklift finally ending by damaging the drivers side mirror along with door and left rear fender while punching a hole all the way through passengers door along with the right rear fender.[34] After CHP had finally agreed to paid to have both the drivers door and passengers door along with both rear fenders replaced, right and left front and rear fender flares, a new set of American Racing Hurricanes, and agreeing to drive Jon home from theirs dates with Pam and Kathie.[35] Both Melanie and him had parked their motorcycles right next to it.[22] He almost had his new set of rims stolen along with a CB Radio, and was later pulled over during a little police chase while showing Jon around his old neighborhood by Local LAPD Motor Officer.[5] He later received a bomb inside the engine compartment from an explosives expert named Martin Beck while attending Bonnie's barbecue on Saturday night with his date Karen, and after the party was over his life was saved by T.C. Hunsacker who had spotted that the bomb was inside his engine compartment because there was two wires left on the ground by telling him not to start his car. After T.C. had safely removed the first bomb from his engine compartment a week later he had drove Jon to the bowling alley, and had received another bomb inside his engine compartmet. While leaving the bowling alley his car had started on fire after the bomb had exploded out in the parking lot.[36] After having it completely restore once again, and he later used in back of a roadblock at the Queen Mary to stop a hungarian motorcycle star named Janos who tried to steal a limo along with Jon's truck in the front.[37] He can later be seen washing it.[4] The left fender flare had got broken off during a police chase with Billy Rogers, and he later drove Rosa Aguila home after their date at The House Restaurant.[38] After he had finally finished replacing the left fender flare along with the front spoiler, and during a police chase both the right and left fender flares had gotten broken off after a little side swipe .[39] After he had finally finished repairing both the right and left fender flares along with the front spoiler which would turn out to be the last time, and while visiting an abused kid in the hospital the evil stepfather runs out stealing it starting a little police chase which finally ends after driving off a camper going airbourne by flipping over on to parked Citroen causing it to finally be totaled.[40] After his favorite old Trans Am was finally totaled then sold for scrap he decided to go out, and buy a beautiful brand new 1982 Trans Am in Blue Metallic.[41] He later drove Bobby home in it.[42] He can later be seen racing it.[43] He can be seen driving it.[44]

Ponch is now calming down with Jon in the office as seen in "Down Time"
Ponch's brand new 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am as seen in "Return To Death's Door"

In his free time, Ponch enjoys watching the soap opera, The Troubled World.[2][45][46] Ponch is also a fan of the game show Name Your Price and even appeared as a contestant.[45] One Sunday afternoon Ponch did enjoy the annual Joie Chitwood Stunt Show while at Ascot Park, and later agree to watch Bonnie perform stunts during a practice trail the next day.[33] Later on, Ponch gained fame as "The Barcelona Man" for a jeans ad.[47]

Ponch staking out the construction site as seen in "Forty Tons of Trouble"
Ponch's Firebird lifted up in the air after being damaged by a forklift as seen in "Forty Tons of Trouble"

Ponch's talents include: racquetball[7], basketball[48][49][50], bowler[51][36], jet-skier[8][16], volleyball player[52], ultralight pilot[53], tennis player[32][4], skate boarder[24], street/roller hockey player, handball player[30], student pilot[25], singer[54], hang-glider[55], sky-diver[56], wind-surfer[57], waterskiier (he claims), demolition derby driver[32], square dancer[3], drag racer[34], chess player[58], motorcycle rider[59][60], dirt biker[6][61][62][18], dirt track racer[32][63], stunt performer[33], wheelchair racer[49], go-cart racer[64], disco dancer[65][66], sailboarder[67], karate[5][38], and scuba diver.[21] He's also an LA Rams fan.[25] He wears a 9 1/2C bowling shoe.[51] He is actually a black belt in karate.[5][38]

Ponch's Firebird has it's left fender flare broken off after a little police chase last night as seen "A Threat of War"
Ponch's Firebird has both it's right and left fender flares broken off after a little side swipe as seen in "Overload"

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 away his Ding Dongs.[48] He actually wiped out after being thrown from his bike while trying to stop very quickly to avoid hitting the handicapped Vietnam Veterans and their male register nurse, causing him to accidentally to break his left pinky finger, and getting a total of five days of vacation time.[28] He actually was thrown from his bike while in persuit of a dirt bike, causing him to accidentally break his left wrist, and ending up in the hospital.[17] 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]

Ponch's Firebird going over the camper during a little police chase as seen in "Fallout"
Ponch returning the stuff Panda Bear back to Mrs. Claus and her Elf as seen in "Christmas Watch"

Ponch's leadership skills include: He had decide to show up at one of Andy's secret meetings during the night, and gave Andy an order to leave town by getting into his Cadillac. After Andy had refused the order by starting a fight, and had kicked him in the crotch. He started off by taking a beating from Andy, and had managed to turn things around by hitting Andy even harder. One of the gang members had decided to hand Andy a bō, and which he had knocked the bō out of Andy's hands. Andy gets sai while he had taken the bō. After he knocks the sai out of Andy's hands, someone tosses nunchaku to Andy. He then used a tonfa to take the nunchaku from Andy. He decides to drop the nunchaku and uses good old fashioned karate to beat the crap out of Andy.[5] He mentions that he was once a member of the gang Clono Condoris before there was even violence, and is often called Ponchy by his ex convict friend Andy.[5][38] He had agree to take care of girl named Marla who was the daughter of a tow truck driver named Danny that was actually trying to steal cars on the side for extra money.[18]

Ponch volunteers efforts include: He had volunteered his time at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles while dating a nurse named Gloria, and had agree to help out with his friends at their yearly carnival.[49] He had once taught a self-defense class down at the Youth Center.[5]

Ponch heroic efforts include: He had once rescue a women named Carol from her Volkswagen on the Harbor Freeway.[7] He had help save the life of four year old Chris Roberts who fallen in with his dirt dike in the Los Angeles River Bend, and manage keep him from drowning to death with help of Jon holding a hose.[61] He had manage to recused his new neighbor Kim who was part of a female car thief gang from his beautifully rebuilt Trans Am that had recently flipped over with the help of Jon.[28] He had also rescue Sindy who was accidentally blinded by a mirror at a construction site of building a house from her rolled over patrol car.[68] He had help keep an injured girl named Keli Adams calmed until the ambulance arrived, and managed to become friends with her later during the week.[49] He had help to save a man who had lost control of his car with the help of Bonnie using a rope, and Jon using a hang-glider getting him off the cliff.[55] He had help save a girl named Marla from sufficating of death inside a stolen MG in a junkyard with the help Jon, Bonnie, Baricza, and the now convict tow truck driver named Danny.[18] He had once gotten a tip from cb handle by the name of babbermouth in order to rescued Bonnie who was suffering from fatigue from her rolled over patrol car.[69] He had once rescued Turner who was hit in the head after swerving to avoid a school bus, and causing him to flip his cruiser.[20] Both him and Jon had responded to 11-99 call to rescue Getraer is involved in a serious motorcycle accident, and damages his right eye.[70]

Ponch's favorite hangouts are Lucy's Drive In[12][26][71], and the Villa Cinzano.[15][28]

His first favorite to enjoy eating is Tutti-frutti ice cream, and his second favorite choice to enjoy is eating strawberry ice cream.[56] His favorite choice to eat in popsicles is actually bomb pops, and his second favorite choice to eat is vanilla ice cream cones.[57] He has been known to drink buttermilk, organic orange juice, apple juice, grape juice, coffee, and enjoys eating doughnuts.[28] His favorite choice of food trucks at the beach are pizza, and ice cream.[57] He actually enjoys eating pizza[57][20], fish sandwiches[57], clam chowder[57], hot dogs[66], hamburgers[28][21], cheeseburgers, bratwurst, fries[28], popsicles[57], tacos[12][26], ice cream sandwiches, and ice cream cones.[57] His favorite snack food is Ding Dongs, and he likes to keep them in the refridgerator.[7][48][72][14] He claims to make "a mean potato salad."[2] He often takes to work a sandwich which Harlan calls a "Peanut Butter Chocolate Smoothy".[67] He actually likes keeping Candy in a grocery bag to put in his saddle bag for the trick or treaters.[73] He actually keeps junk food in a plastic bag in his saddle bag.[45][73] His favorite choice to eat in candy bars is Snickers.[45] His favorite choice to eat in Pizza is actually Pepperoni.[20]

Ponch now decides to go to centrals auto theft division as seen in "Down Time"
Ponch meeting his future wife, Carol as seen 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.[74]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Episode 105: "Career Day"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Episode 106: "Baby Food"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Episode 218: "Rally 'Round the Bank"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Episode 513: "Breaking Point"
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Episode 416: "Karate"
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Episode 122: "Flashback!"
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Episode 101: "Pilot"
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Episode 115: "Surf's Up"
  9. ↑ Episode 601: "Meet the New Guy"
  10. ↑ Episode 620: "Fast Company"
  11. ↑ Episode 103: "Dog Gone"
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Episode 104: "Moving Violation"
  13. ↑ Episode 107: "Taking Its Toll"
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Episode 113: "One Two Many"
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Episode 203: "Family Crisis"
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Episode 209: "The Sheik"
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Episode 307: "Hot Wheels" Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Ep307" defined multiple times with different content
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Episode 320: "Tow Truck Lady"
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Episode 402: "Sick Leave"
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Episode 409: "Crash Course" Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Ep409" defined multiple times with different content
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Episode 413: "Sharks"
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Episode 414: "Ponch's Angels"
  23. ↑ Episode 510: "Fast Money"
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Episode 205: "Neighborhood Watch"
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Episode 207: "High Flyer"
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Episode 210: "Return of the Turks"
  27. ↑ Episode 212: "High Explosive"
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 28.6 Episode 213: "Down Time"
  29. ↑ Episode 216: "Pressure Point"
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Episode 219: "Bio-Rhythms"
  31. ↑ Episode 221: "CHP BMX"
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Episode 312: "Destruction Derby"
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Episode 322: "Thrill Show"
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Episode 410: "Forty Tons of Trouble"
  35. ↑ Episode 411: "11-99: Officer Needs Help"
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Episode 417: "New Guy in Town"
  37. ↑ Episode 501: "Suicide Stunt"
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 Episode 522: "A Threat of War"
  39. ↑ Episode 525: "Overload"
  40. ↑ Episode 610: "Fallout"
  41. ↑ Episode 603: "The Spaceman Made Me Do It"
  42. ↑ Episode 604: "Rock Devil Rock"
  43. ↑ Episode 609: "Return to Death's Door"
  44. ↑ Episode 617: "Brat Patrol"
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 Episode 111: "Name Your Price"
  46. ↑ Episode 112: "Aweigh We Go"
  47. ↑ Episode 602: "Tight Fit"
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 Episode 102: "Undertow"
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 Episode 313: "Second Chance"
  50. ↑ Episode 412: "Home Fires Burning"
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 Episode 109: "Hustle"
  52. ↑ Episode 119: "Crash Diet"
  53. ↑ Episode 407: "Satan's Angels"
  54. ↑ Episode 516: "Battle of the Bands"
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 Episode 317: "E.M.T."
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 Episode 321: "The Strippers"
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 57.2 57.3 57.4 57.5 57.6 57.7 Episode 303: "Valley Go Home!"
  58. ↑ Episode 521: "The Game of War"
  59. ↑ Episode 211: "Supercycle"
  60. ↑ Episode 217: "The Matchmakers"
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 Episode 204: "Disaster Squad"
  62. ↑ Episode 222: "Ride the Whirlwind"
  63. ↑ Episode 319: "Off Road"
  64. ↑ Episode 401: "Go-Cart Terror"
  65. ↑ Episode 201: "Peaks and Valleys"
  66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 Episode 306: "Counterfeit"
  67. ↑ 67.0 67.1 Episode 403: "To Your Health"
  68. ↑ Episode 215: "Mait Team"
  69. ↑ Episode 324: "Dynamite Alley"
  70. ↑ Episode 421: "A Simple Operation"
  71. ↑ Episode 323: "Nightingale"
  72. ↑ Episode 108: "Green Thumb Burglar"
  73. ↑ 73.0 73.1 Episode 206: "Trick or Trick"
  74. ↑ Episode "CHiPs" '99: "CHiPs '99"
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