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Hardcover
Publisher: William Morrow & Company
The hottest icon of '70s television tells his own story-an unflinchingly honest saga of the women, money, and show-biz politics that engulfed his Hollywood rise, and where he's been since his fall. In this startlingly honest tell-all autobiography, Erik Estrada reveals how he journeyed from the mean streets of East Harlem to the even meaner boulevards of Hollywood, where he became television's hottest star in the hit series "CHiPs." Gorgeous women, exclusive clubs, fast cars, and a jet-set world filled Estrada's life during the show's five-year run, but despite his success, Tinseltown's power structure wanted this irreverent actor out. It wasn't until 1994 that Estrada made his comeback-as the number-one Spanish-language soap opera star in the Mexican novela Dos Mujeres, un Camino - and as an icon to a generation of adults who had once yearned for Estrada's sexy charm in their living rooms every week. For his new audience and the loyal fans of CHiPs, here is a firsthand account of the solid, middle-class values, devoted mother, hard work, and the many inspirational women behind the television legend.
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| So he was a real person! |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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I grew up watching Chips and my older brother Jose, who later actually worked for the CHP for 20 years, was often teased as being an Erik Estrada lookalike.
So this character had a place in my life. It was great as a teenager-twentysomething Chicano to have a role model that was so successful. Estrada was so popular that his success and presence blunted a lot of negative role models and rascism I faced growing up.
The book details his early life and early career. That was really helpful in fleshing out the larger than life image I grew up with. I love autobiographies to see how the person weathers the storms in their life. I love connecting the dots and stepping stones of their life. Estrada had a reputation for being difficult to deal with; his most touching admission is that the lack of a father figure prevented him from learning how to get along w/ difficult people, how not to burn bridges etc. I found that very insightful.
He was a serious actor who worked his way up. After Chips, his success in a Mexican soap opera gave him an insight to his Latino background. He grew up a New York Puerto Rican (NewYorican?) who had never fully grasped what the Latino world is. As a Chicano educator, activist, nationalist I am happy when I see "Born Again Chicanos" or in this case Born Again Boricua.
Read this book and understand part of the 1970's.
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| A GOOD READ - worth getting! |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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If you or a friend like Erik Estrada - you'll enjoy reading this book. It is written to keep your attention and interest to continue. WELL DONE! A great gift idea for an Estrada fan.
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| MY TEEN IDOL |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED ERIK, SINCE I WAS A TEEN AND NOW TO READ ALL ABOUT HIM, WAS GREAT, I REALLY ENJOYED TO HEAR HIS LIFE STORY, AND HOW HIS MOM RAISED 3 KIDS ALONE AND HE DID HIS BEST TO KEEP HIS MOM HAPPY, AND I LOVE CHIPS I WATCH IT EVERY MORNING ON TNT AT 6:00AM IN THE MORNING BRINGS BACK MEMEORYS OF HIM. I VERY GLAD TO HEAR THAT HE FINALY FOUND THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE. AND HE'S A GREAT DAD TO HIS TWO BOYS AND HIS DAUGHTER. AND GLAD TO SEE HIM BACK ON TV ON THE BALD AND THE BEATUIFUL. TAKE CARE
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| A joy to read |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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I've been a fan of Erik Estrada's since the first season of "CHiPs", and am still an actively dedicated fan. I bought the autobiography in hardcover on sight without hesitation. The fan wanted the book immediately, and the amateur critic and aspiring writer have yet to regret the decision. I don't read a lot of autobiographies because I lose either interest in the story or respect for its author. The conversational style and the honest and balanced telling of this story grabbed my attention on Page 1 and held it through a cover-to-cover reading. Aside from giving details not usually revealed through other means, this book presented itself as something special from the first moment. I wasn't reading an autobiography with stylized prose and a detached third-person feel. I was listening as someone I have long admired told me about who he is and where his roots lie. I felt the story as it was being told, from the frustration of Hollywood's own form of politics to the elation of true love and a treasured family. From triumph to tragedy, it's all there. It's a story of courage, determination, faith and love - personal, cultural and spiritual. It's easy for celebrity autobiographies to become self-serving tell-all's, but this book maintains a straightforward perspective, allowing the story to be told with dignity and with class. It's a breath of fresh air, and an absolute pleasure to read. The fans who have remained devoted through the bad press and the "where are they now" stories have long held the hope that the truth would be revealed. It has in a compelling story, straight from the heart and well worth the wait. Thank you, Erik, for sharing your side of the story. If you're a fan, this book is a must. If you're not, read it and you just might become one.
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| Very straight forward |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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Erik Estrada's book is the best Hollywood bio I have ever read. He holds nothing back and is very honest about rough times and regrets in his life (i.e. failed marriages, his shaky relationship with Larry Wilcox). He seems like such a terrific person and great friend, too. God bless him, Nanette, and his two boys. Also, wasn't Mr. Estrada so much fun to watch in "CHiPS '99:? :)
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