No particular reason, but I didn’t envision Erik Estrada being as nice of a guy as he was. When I first approached his table at the Hollywood Show on Saturday, April 2, 2011, he was away chatting with someone else. I sighed, wondering how long I would have to wait. Out of nowhere, Erik Estrada came rushing back to the table toward me, not to arrest me, but to give me a giant hug. Hmmm… he never did that to the criminals on the semi-classic 70’s TV cop show CHiPs.
Although Erik Estrada hasn’t gone on to star in anything as iconic as his role as Frances “Ponch” Poncherello (c’mon, does anyone really have that name?) in CHiPs, he has kept busy in various film, TV, commercial, and reality show appearances. But considering his role as the one and only Ponch, I wasn’t all that upset by paying the $30 he was asking for a signed photo and a picture with him.
I snuck into a second picture of sorts, when Wizard of Oz Munchkin Margaret Pellegrini (who I had previously met in Dallas, as seen here) came over to greet Erik Estrada. As they embraced, I goofily posed for a picture behind them as Bob snapped away for me.
It was my punchiest Ponchiest moment of the show that entire day. Over and out.
Celebrities of the Spring 2011 Hollywood Show will continue…
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