While Paul Linke is largely remembered for his role as Officer Arthur “Grossie” Grossman on CHiPs, he originally wasn’t a fan of the series, which ended after six seasons in 1983.
During a January 2026 interview on the Gruesome Hertzogg Podcast, Linke noted that he didn’t appear on CHiPs, which starred Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox as California Highway Patrol officers Francis Llewelyn “Ponch” Poncherello and Jon Baker, until Season 1, Episode 11. According to Linke, he watched one of the show’s earliest episodes and wasn’t impressed.
“I turned it on sort of mid-stream. And [Wilcox] and Eric had a scene where they were directing traffic. And Erik was talking about how much he loved junk food, and Jon was talking about how much he liked health food, and I went, ‘Oh my god, this show is awful.’ And within a week I was on it. It was so bizarre,” said the actor, now 78.
He explained that the show’s casting director, Gary Shaffer, had taken interest in him because of his role as Deputy Frank in the 1976 film, Moving Violation.
“I played a funny cop in it, and the casting director remembered me from that movie and brought me in,” explained Linke.
Paul Linke Revealed How He Found Out He Was Cast on ‘CHiPs’
In an October 2026 interview on That’s Classic, Linke said his father, Richard O. “Dick” Linke, who was Andy Griffith‘s manager, let him know that Shaffer wanted to meet with him for a show. When Linke “contacted Gary Shaffer,” he wasn’t told anything about the project.
“No name of the show or really anything,” recalled the actor.
Instead, he was just told to take a meeting at an office in MGM Studios, where he was introduced to “about 10 people,” including “Rick Rosner, who was the creator of CHiPs.” While he wasn’t given a script to audition with, he was able to show off his personality and humor, charming the room.
Linke also said he found out he secured the role after a CHiPs script was mailed to his home address.
“The script comes, and I open it. And on the title page, you know, CHiPs episode, title, episode number, under it, asterisk, it says ‘The part of Vincent is now Gross and will be played by Paul Linke,'” said Linke during the October 2026 interview.
Hence then, the article about this chips star thought the show was awful before joining the cast was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( This ‘CHiPs’ Star Thought the Show Was ‘Awful’ Before Joining the Cast )
Also on site :
- The U.S. has the world’s largest gold reserves—worth $1 trillion at market rates. But repricing that hoard ‘would backfire in a big way,’ analyst says
- Karen Hale’s mother has lived with breast cancer for nearly 30 years; now the Hales have given $50 million — the largest single gift ever to breast cancer research
- Seth Rogen Looks Completely Smitten With Wife Lauren Miller Rogen in Their Latest Red Carpet Appearance