My Dad Introduced us to CHiPs

Some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around TV nights with my family. One such night, a seemingly small decision by my dad forever altered our Saturday night traditions and introduced us to the thrilling world of CHiPs.

It was a typical evening in our home. We kids were sprawled on the floor, lying over the freshly vacuumed, dark carpet. My mom sat behind us in her recliner, perhaps holding one of my younger siblings. Bobby, my older brother, and David, a year younger, were to my right as we gathered around the old 1970s TV. It was one of those big, clunky sets—you could even smell the warm electronics if you sat close enough. We called it the "boob tube," as a playful nod to its bygone nickname.

That night, we were watching Wonder Woman. Mom didn’t care what we watched; she was lost in her own world, enjoying the serenity of being with her boys while holding the baby on her lap. The glow of the TV seemed to reflect her peaceful aura.

Then Dad walked in. “Hey, there’s a really good show on the other channel,” he said, with that authoritative yet curious tone that only dads can pull off. As the commercial break rolled in, he grabbed the dial and switched the channel. “Do you want to check it out?” he asked.

Suddenly, the screen lit up with a high-speed chase, gleaming motorcycles, and the unmistakable swagger of Ponch and Jon from CHiPs. We were transfixed. Within moments, my brothers and I were leaning closer to the screen, our attention fully captured by this adrenaline-pumping, action-packed show.

Dad, sensing our immediate interest, probably couldn’t resist teasing us a little. “Or do you want to go back to that girl show?” he quipped. Without hesitation, and in complete unison, we all shouted something along the lines of, “No way! This is awesome!” From that night forward, we were hooked. I don’t think we ever missed another episode.

Wonder Woman still had its moments when CHiPs wasn’t on, but as fate would have it, Wonder Woman was canceled not long after. Meanwhile, CHiPs lived on, becoming a staple of our family’s Saturday nights. Ponch and Jon, with their camaraderie and daring adventures, felt like extended family members.

Looking back, it wasn’t just the show itself that made CHiPs special; it was the way my dad brought us together, introducing us to something new that we could all enjoy as a family. My favorite part of the show, though, was always the car crashes. Sometimes we waited through the whole show just to watch the big crash at the end of the episode. Or, even better, there was a crash right at the beginning—or the allusion of one coming up. The sight of watching cars tumble and crash and crunch was enjoyable—even though it’s not necessarily something we’d like to endure in reality. But, on TV, it was awesome.

It’s funny how a simple channel change could spark such lasting memories, but that’s the magic of family moments like these. They stay with you forever.