String (Jan-Michael Vincent) and Dom (Ernest Borgnine) fly into more trouble this week! First up is Moffett’s Ghost, which aired 6 October, 1984, and was written by T.S. Cook. Briggs (Alex McCord) shows up for the first time of the season, and alongside him is Deborah Pratt’s Marella. Things get a little odd for…
Category: Bellisario & Cannell
The Rockford Files (1979) – Kill the Messenger and A Good Clean Bust with Sequel Rights
Jim Rockford (James Garner) is in for a lot of fun this week. First up is Kill the Messenger, written by Juanita Bartlett. This one aired 27 October, 1978. The phone gag features a very early version of phone tag. Dennis (Joe Santos) is getting ready to take his lieutenant’s exam, and is suffering…
Airwolf (1984) – Sweet Britches and Firestorm
Season two of this helicopter thriller starts with a bang for Stringfellow Hawke (Jan-Michael Vincent) and Dominic Santini (Ernest Borgnine). First up, with an airdate of 22 September, 1984, is Sweet Britches, which was written by Bellisario, and features a couple of familiar faces, like Lance LeGault as corrupt sheriff, J.J. Bogan, and Jeff…
The Rockford Files (1978) – The Jersey Bounce and White On White And Nearly Perfect
Jim’s (James Garner) fifth season finds him in more and more trouble. First up is The Jersey Bounce, which aired 6 October, 1978 which was put together by Cannell, Juanita Bartlett and David Chase. The phone gag features a fun call from Angel (Stuart Margolin). It seems Rocky (Noah Beery Jr.) is having trouble…
Magnum p.i. (1982) – The Elmo Ziller Story and Three Minus Two
Season two of Magnum p.i. comes to a close with the two episodes this week. First up is The Elmo Ziller Story, which aired 25 March, 1982, and was written by Robert Hamilton. Thomas (Tom Selleck) thinks Higgins (John Hillerman) is him on when he’s asked to protect Elmo Ziller, who looks exactly like…
The Rockford Files (1978) – Heartaches of a Fool and Rosendahl and Gilda Stern are Dead
Private investigator Jim Rockford (James Garner) is back as season five opens. The season premier was 22 September, 1978 and saw Jim’s dad, Rocky (Noah Beery jr.) in a bit of a trouble in this episode written by Cannell. And the first phone message of the year features a phone call from a person…
Magnum p.i. (1982) – Double Jeopardy and The Last Page
Thomas (Tom Selleck) meets one of his screen crushes when a film, Tahiti Kill, based on one of Robin Masters’ bestsellers is doing some shooting on the estate in the first episode this week, Double Jeopardy. It was written by Reuben Leder, Babs Greyhosky and Bill Taub, and aired 25 February, 1982. When Higgins…
The Rockford Files (1978) – The House on Willis Avenue
Season four of The Rockford Files comes to a close with this feature-length episode that aired 24 February, 1978, and was written by Cannell himself. The phone gag this time around features a call from the phone company, advising him that there is an end to his service coming… in two minutes. And I…
Magnum p.i. (1982) – One More Summer and Texas Lightning
It’s back to Hawaii for more fun with Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck) and the gang. First up is One More Summer, which aired 11 February, 1982, and was written by Reuben Leder and Del Reisman. When a pro team arrives in Honolulu to train, an old friend from Thomas’ Navy football days reaches out…
The Rockford Files (1978) – The Competitive Edge and The Prisoner of Rosemont Hall
Rockford (James Garner) finds himself in a mental institution in the first episode of this week’s review. The Competitive Edge originally aired 10 February, 1978 and was written by Gordon T. Dawson. The phone gag this time around featured a call from Becker (Joe Santos) who knows Jim is deliberately not answering the phone because…
The Mind Reels 