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Michael Peña defends CHiPs remake after slating from original star

Ben Arnold
·Contributor
CHiPs… Pena and Shepard defend new movie version – Credit: Warner Bros
CHiPs… Pena and Shepard defend new movie version – Credit: Warner Bros

Following a bit of a savaging by Larry Wilcox, the original Jon Baker from 70s and 80s cop show ‘CHiPs’, stars of the newly rebooted movie version have jumped to its defence.

Wilcox, who now works in ‘banking and philanthropic projects’ and collects French Burgundy, according to his website, slammed the new movie iteration of the California Highway Patrol.

He later backtracked a little, but the damage was already done.

Michael Peña, who plays Erik Estrada’s character Ponch, told PA: “Every time I said; ‘Man I’m doing CHiPs’, 100% of the time they would ask; ‘Is Erik Estrada going to be in it?’

“Unfortunately, or whatever, not a lot of people ask for Larry.

“He hasn’t even seen the movie. Maybe he’s just bitter that he wasn’t in the movie.”

Dax Shepard, who plays Wilcox’s character, added: “He seems to be unhappy. I wish he liked it and that’s unfortunate he doesn’t.

(Credit: NBC)
(Credit: NBC)

“When I told people I was doing CHiPs – probably 100 people – 100 of them asked me if Erik Estrada was going to be in the movie.

“I said; ‘I’ve got to put that man in this movie or people are going to be very upset’.”

In 2010, Wilcox pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit securities fraud for his involvement in a so-called ‘pump and dump’ scheme.

He served three years probation, and had to complete 500 hours of community service.

Erik Estrada, meanwhile, still works in TV and movies, having lent his voice to shows like ‘Adventure Time’ and starring in Christian drama movie ‘Virtuous’ in 2014.

‘CHiPs’ is out across the UK on March 24.

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