Get excited, CHiPs fans, it's time for another installment of Degrees of Fresno.
I came across this picture of Erik Estrada today and knew that it had to be posted on the Beehive in some way, shape or form, so here we go.
You know how to handle this: tie Ponch to Fresno using connections made through his acting jobs, personal life, what have you -- just like the Kevin Bacon game, minus the pork. (See links to previous DoF efforts here, here and here if you still don't get it.)
Ready? Go.
It's Erik Estrada vs.
A friend of mine worked at Starbucks at Sierra Vista mall a while back and Erik Estrada came in. He didn't know who he was until after the fact.
His hair looked so much better in Van Wilder.
Erik Estrada was in Misery Brothers with Abe Vigoda, who was in Cannonball Run with Richard Kiel, a fresno resident.
Erik Estrada was a guest star in the TV series Hunter...Richard Beauchamp played a character names "Carlos" in 2 episodes of Hunter and was also in the mini-series "Fresno" where he played the important role of "1st Soldier"
He is Puerto Rican...and his mom's name is Carmen.
I am Puerto Rican...my mom's name is Carmen.
I live in Fresno...
I just had to comment on the picture. Is that doctored up or something? What happened to him? Yikes.
If you read into H-Mac's post, Erik looks good with a string of pearls...this is curiously linked to the meaning of the band Pearl Jam's name...Pearl Jam played in Fresno on October 27, 2000...
This is harder than I thought ...
(who's going to knock that one out of the park?)
Erik Estrada was in a movie called Caged Fury with Michael Parks. Michael Parks was in Kill Bill 2 with Sid Haig. Sid Haig was born in Fresno.
Erik Estrada was at that Starbucks in Fresno because he was to star in my version of 'Chorus Line' at the Warnor's Theatre, before my investor dropped out.
Talk about bad memories...whew.
But Eric and his wife were terrific and spent 2 exhausting days here doing press/pub and shmoozing.
Shame, too...we had pre-sold 27,000 in tickets for that sucker, but just couldn't make it fly. Double shame cuz it damaged my reputation for years and years and years. Until I chose to damage it more myself later...
So to sum up:
Erik Estrada was to play 'The Director' in "Chorus Line" in Fresno. He'd even memorized that tough opening sequence (after I told him he really couldn't use index or cue cards for the live stage): "Again, step kick kick leap kick touch...again, step kick kick leap kick touch!"
I would just like to commend The Hive on the sweet Degrees of Fresno segment. Damn, I wish I'd thought of it. If nothing else, for the excuse to use the name "Ponch" in a Fresno related post.
Erik Estrada was on the Surreal Life with Trishelle from Real World: Vegas, who was on RW/RR Challenge: The Inferno with Tonya (from RW: Chicago), who was on RW/RR Challenge: The Island, with Dunbar from RW: Sydney with Trisha Cummings, who is from Fresno.
Erik Estrada played a fake CHP officer. My dad is a real CHP officer. Pops lives in Fresno. Peace out.