Welcome to the series premiere of 'Armed and Famous'. The police, they patrol our streets, they protect and serve, and they put their lives on the line every single day. Tonight, five celebrities will leave behind the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to become real police officers in Muncie, Indiana. The five celebrities/new recruits are:
Recording artist and author LaToya Jackson, who tells us that all of her life, she has always wanted to work at McDonald's (Huh?), and she's also wanted to be a police officer.
'Jackass' star Jason "Wee Man" Acuna, who says that he wants to be a police officer and have a badge, and he wants to get the call that says, "Wee Man, we need you in."
From 'The Osbournes', Jack Osbourne, who says that he thinks he has come to Muncie, Indiana to submerse himself in becoming a police officer whole-heartedly, including the brotherhood, the camaraderie, and the danger.
Seven-time WWE wrestling champion Trish Stratus, who says that she recently retired from wrestling and came here to become a cop, and she's going to kick ass and take names, "Stratusfaction guaranteed!" Oh, she's such a comedian!
And finally, international television icon, Erik Estrada, who tells us that he's back, but this time, as a real cop.
But first, these new recruits will train at the Muncie Police Academy to real police standards. They'll take an oath, and then they'll be given a badge, a partner, and a real gun. Real crimes, real criminals, and real celebrity cops. They are 'Armed and Famous'.
Muncie, Indiana, population: 67,000. The town of Muncie is located 60 miles northeast from Los Angeles, and a world away from Hollywood. A limo sandwiched in between two police escort cars speeds by, sirens blazing. Everyone standing in their yards looks confused, and one guy says that's what he calls a limo, while the other guy says, "Nice!" How profound!
The limo arrives at the police station, pulling up onto the curb/sidewalk. The celebrities step out of the limo. Erik tells us that since he was a child, he has desired to become a cop. He adds that he does have some preparation from his days on "CHIPS", but that was make-believe, and this is the real deal.
LaToya says that she's not physical; she doesn't like to hear people yell, and she doesn't like falling on the ground, but being a police officer is going to teach her a lot that she didn't know was inside of her.
Jack says that in the last three-and-a-half years, he has turned his life around, going from a lazy, overweight, drug addict, to someone who takes a lot of pride in himself. He adds that he kind of got fed up with being that guy, and decided he wanted to change his life.
Trish says that she realizes the fact that she's about to embark on a journey that's different from the rest of the world. She knows that there are real contact and real consequences, but she knows she has a challenge for herself because she has to prove to them that she's serious about this and earn their respect.
Jason says that he thinks some people may have in their heads that a 'Jackass' kid is coming there, who is just a party kid and does stupid things, but they don't know that he is going to take the job very seriously.
The celebrities line up inside in front of Sgt. Rick Eber, the training director. He tells them to have a seat, and he says that he wants to make one thing very clear: They are there to enforce the law. He tells Jason that he saw his movie, and he wasn't impressed (I personally love the 'Jackass' movies). Jason just nods. He tells Jason to jackass around there and see where it gets him.
He tells them that this is as real as it gets, as they are going to be police officers. He also says that during this training, they are going to teach them how to handle a firearm, and he says that the gun is designed to kill. Trish says that she doesn't know if she wants to say that she is excited to have a gun, but she is, even though she already has guns (she flexes her muscles).
The Sergeant tells the celebrities that they will be making arrests and placing someone in handcuffs, and they will be fighting people. He warns them that if they jack around once during the training, he will do everything through the chief to ensure that they are gone. He says that they can't sing or dance their way out of this one, obviously targeted towards LaToya, who tells us that just to hear the way he was speaking to her in a very controlling, loud, and hard voice made her realize that they don't play around. He asks the celebrities if they are ready for training, and they yell back, "Yes, sir!" He yells it again louder, and they respond again, louder. He tells them that the training begins now.
Today's lesson is that there is nothing routine about a routine traffic stop. An instructor tells them that they will be taking a course today called 'Stops', which covers nearly every traffic stop routine imaginable. They will go from the classroom phase to putting a toy gun in their gun belt and doing some mock vehicle stops of their own.
Another instructor tells them that they are now going to show them some videos, the first being from dashboard footage of a small-town police officer. It shows an officer arresting someone, and another person steps out of the vehicle. He draws his weapon at the second person, but the first person pulls a gun and begins to shoot the officer. Everyone looks horrified. Erik tells us that officers were getting clipped while doing stops, and Erik says that it will definitely wake you up, so he realized that he better suck it up really good, because he wants to get home after this is done with.
The celebrities are taken in a van down the road, and when they get out, an officer tells them that this is a real as they for vehicle stops, and they will do everything from the routine "let me see your license" to getting it on. He informs them that there will be no live weapons on the gun range, it will only be play guns and pellets, and even though they may hurt, there is no chance of getting killed.
Erik tells the others that he is going first, so they can learn from him and not make mistakes. Standing next to a police car, Erik yells for the driver of the green Saturn to open up the driver's door, and show both hands. He steps out of the vehicle, and Erik tells him to turn around. As the other cadets watch, Erik tells us that the other cadets have never done a cop show, and he did, Poncharelli on 'CHIPS', so in the aspect, he had a tremendous advantage. Erik yells for the guy to cup his hands and put them on the back of his head. The instructor tells him that it is only a ticket. Erik thought the instructor said a suspension, but he actually said a suspended infraction, and it's only a ticket. Erik yells never mind, sir, and Jack and Jason crack up. Erik says that he misunderstood the call, and the instructor tells him that it's all low-risk, and they'll get into high-risk later. Jack says that Erik may even try to call in an air strike.
Jack is next, and he "calls" into the police station that he is pulling over a green Saturn. Erik yells for him to focus. The "suspect" jumps out of the car and pulls a gun, and Jack quickly pulls his and begins to fire as well, hiding behind the car for protection. One instructor tells Jack that he had nice moves and did a good job.
LaToya is next, and she asks.....
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