If you grew up in late 70s or early 80s New Zealand, you probably spent your Friday nights in front of the TV watching CHiPs . Kiwis of that generation might even recall when the show’s star Erik Estrada, who played California Highway Patrol Officer “Ponch”, travelled to Aotearoa for a charity telethon in Auckland. “I was in your country in ‘82 or ‘83, and I had a great time while I was there.
I remember going horseback riding in the countryside and that was a beautiful, beautiful thing,” Estrada tells the Herald . “They welcomed me with open arms when I was there, and it was great to be part of the telethon and raise the money. But I remember that there was somebody there, right in front of the whole country on television, they said, ‘Oh, you TV guys, you TV action heroes, you guys ain’t got nothing.
You ain’t got no muscles. I bet you can’t even do 25 push-ups.’.