MovieChat Forums > CHiPs (1977) Discussion > Where is Ponch From?

Where is Ponch From?

posted 10 years ago by robbgw
10 replies | jump to latest

OK, this is more out of curiosity than anything, since a continuity error on a 70's/80's show isn't exactly earth shattering, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't imagining things.

I've been watching the show on MeTV for the first time in 15 or more years, and enjoying it greatly. Here's what I noticed.

In an early season, Ponch's mom flies in from Chicago to visit her son, and I'm pretty sure they even talk about the old neighborhood. This week, in one of the Danny Bonaducci Karate episodes, he talks about his old neighborhood there in LA. Which is it?

Oh, and then there's the fact that I can't figure out if he's supposed to be of Italian or Hispanic descent...

[–] basterd7 10 years ago

Pretty sure Ponch grew up in LA, cuz there was an episode where he revisited his old high school to make a speech, and also the Andy Macedon episodes where Ponch talks about the old neighborhood. As for Ponch, he's supposed to be of Puerto Rican descent, even though Poncharello definitely sounds Italian.

[–] caligirlbr323 10 years ago

I think he is supposed to be Mexican American/ Chicano. It never really stated but he is supposed to be Hispanic not Italian. Even though Erik is Puerto Rican , I think Ponch is supposed to be of Mexican decent, being that LA has a big Mexican population and not many Puerto Ricans . It is silly that they didn't make Ponch a transplant from back east being Erik has a strong NY accent still! I read somewhere originally Ponch was going to be Italian, but after they cast Erik they made him be Hispanic.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] darkavenger77 10 years ago

In an early season, Ponch's mom flies in from Chicago to visit her son, and I'm pretty sure they even talk about the old neighborhood. This week, in one of the Danny Bonaducci Karate episodes, he talks about his old neighborhood there in LA. Which is it?

Oh, and then there's the fact that I can't figure out if he's supposed to be of Italian or Hispanic descent...

I found a wiki page that has a lot of info on the character:
http://chips-tv.com/wiki/Frank_Poncherello

Looks like he has family in Chicago, but he attended high school in LA. Based upon his affiliation with a Hispanic gang (as well as his speaking Spanish on at least one occasion), it could be presumed the character was Hispanic.

Dean: I am wearing sunglasses at night. You know who does that? No-talent douche bags!

[–] robbgw 10 years ago

I am so glad you found this (I looked for something similar, but not hard enough apparently.)

It's kind of hard to read, but it's worth it just for this section;

Ponch's talents include: racquetball, basketball, bowler, jet-skier, volleyball player, ultralight pilot, tennis player, skate boarder, street/roller hockey player, handball player, student pilot, singer, hang-glider, sky-diver, wind-surfer, waterskiier (he claims), demolition derby driver, square dancer, drag racer, chess player, motorcycle rider, dirt biker, dirt track racer, stunt performer, wheelchair racer, go-cart racer, disco dancer, sailboarder, karate, scuba diver, bicyclist, weight lifter, unicyclist, and sprint car racer. He's also an LA Rams fan. He wears a 9 1/2C bowling shoe. He is actually a black belt in karate.

[–] darkavenger77 10 years ago

It's kind of hard to read,

Agreed. I think the wiki pages are written by people that do not speak English as their first language (e.g. the excessive use of "finally" in that section), but there is a lot of info, most with episode references.

Dean: I am wearing sunglasses at night. You know who does that? No-talent douche bags!

[–] ShadowsouL 10 years ago

From the Poncherosa.

"Is SpongeBob SquarePants not down there in Bikini Bottom giving Squidward the business?"

[–] Eclectic_Flamingo 10 years ago

I'd been trying to figure this out for a long time.

I don't believe they've ever revealed where he is from, just somewhere in Los Angeles. Doing some research I've discovered they shot almost all of the scenes that take place in Ponch's old neighborhood in Pico Union (also the same area where the starring CHP station is located). So from the process of elimination and no real answer from the show, one can assume Ponch was from that area.

This bread has NUTS IN IT!

[–] basterd7 10 years ago

Okay, this latest episode, Return to Death's Door, answered some questions. Bobby calls Ponch a hot blooded Mexican tamale. So Ponch is definitely Mexican. It also showed Ponch's old "hood." Uh, I thought Ponch was from the mean streets of the barrio, but that neighborhood looked like a nice part of Santa Monica. So disillusioning.

[–] caligirlbr323 10 years ago

Yeah that is what I thought all along and I posted before that Ponch was Mexican! That was funny when Bobby called him a Hot blooded Mexican tamale! LOL!!