Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Don't Ride On A Plane With Ponch's Son


If you saw the headline and said who the hell is Ponch, then let me give you some education. Ponch was a character in the show CHiPs which was the story of two California Highway Patrol officers who ride motorcycles and fight crime. Sounds exciting huh? Probably would be if not for some of the worst acting in the history of television and the fact that the writers thought disco was still alive. I think CHiPs was successful because of the really bad acting. Anyway, Ponch was played by Erik Estrada. Erik, who got laid a bunch while the show was on the air thought that having sex translated to superior acting skills and so became an asshole on the set and to the producers and with his actions caused the show to go from number 1 to being canceled.

For those of you who never saw CHiPs, you probably remember Erik from The Surreal Life. See, he was changed by then so you got to see the humble Erik. Not, the I have a movie career so am leaving this hit show and ending up on Telemundo even though I don't speak Spanish Erik.

Ponch has a son named Brandon who was arrested on December 13th after an air-rage incident on a flight from Los Angeles to Memphis, Tennessee. The pilot of the Northwest Airlines jet was forced to make an emergency landing at Oklahoma City after Brandon became agitated. He was then arrested by FBI agents.

A fellow passenger told the New York Daily News, "He was convinced that nobody was flying the plane. He jumped up and reached over the other passengers and lifted up their window cover. Then he tried to get out the airplane. Then he tried to get into the cockpit. He kept saying there were no pilots. It was wild. "

(Cabin crew) found military and police passengers and quietly brought them upfront, and they all restrained him."

Erik released a statement saying, "Brandon informed us recently that he has had stress and pressure at college, and has elected to see an on-campus psychologist. "I told him that it was a good idea to talk to someone. I would like to thank all the women and men of law enforcement, as well as Northwest Airlines, for helping my son when he was clearly not able to help himself. He now can get all the help that he clearly needs."
I'm just glad they didn't taser the guy and leave him twitching in the back somewhere. Obviously the guy needs help because everyone knows the windows on a plane don't open. Now, the exit doors that is another story. I was on an overnight flight and the flight attendants were sleeping or playing cards or drinking, and there was this little 5 year old kid who was jumping up and down on the silver handle of the emergency exit door as he looked out the little window on the door. That seriously freaked me out. His mom came out of the bathroom about the same time I saw him and she just took him back to their seats. No scolding or quick beating with a hanger or anything.


6 comments:

YahMoBThere said...

Wow, a parent that doesn't try to blame everyone else while screaming their kid is innocent. Hulk Hogan should take lessons.

Anonymous said...

lol beat him with a hanger. Ent you'd be the best dad, maybe you can nanny Jamie Lynn's baby. ;)

It sounds like Brandon Estrada was either on something or has some issues that therapy ain't gonna solve. Get the boy some meds, then we'll see what we can do.

Stacy said...

I knew who Ponch was without the explanation. Thanks for making me feel decrepit EL, now be a good boy and help me get to my walker.

Anonymous said...

Heh heh at least Erik is kinda amusing as the voice of Marco in Sealab 2021. That show is hilarious.


But yeah, thats a little upsetting about his son. I thought it'd just been some kind of angry outburst but this story makes it sound like he needs serious psychological help.

jax said...

Oh snap Ponch! I loved Chips and all the bimbo blondes' careers it launched.

Good for him for just coming out and saying "my son is a nutjob and he's getting help"

Although it sounds more like 'happy pills' more than stress..

Carte Blanche said...

I used to love Chips when I was a kid. I had a crush on the blond guy. At the time, my other fave shows included The Price Is Right and Scooby Doo.

My taste has improved slightly since the early 80's.

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