"CHiPs" won't make many lists of the all-time best cop shows. It regularly crossed the line from drama to comedy, often unintentionally. But "CHiPs" wasn't supposed to be a serious drama. It was mainly light-hearted fun, and the stars and audience both understood and appreciated it on that level.

The show may have had one serious side-effect: executive producer Rick Rosner credits it with saving the CHP motorcycle program. "The (real-life) CHP was going to phase out motor(cycle)s because they considered them highly dangerous and the insurance was very expensive," he said. "Then along comes 'CHiPs' and ... suddenly they're getting applicants who want to come to California to join the Highway Patrol to ride motors."