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…
Tag: phone gag
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…
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 Rockford Files (1978) – Dwarf in a Helium Hat and South by Southesast
Mistaken identities seem to be the key to both episodes this week, as Jim Rockford (James Garner) gets wrapped up in a couple more cases. First up is Dwarf in a Helium Hat, which aired 27 January, 1978. It was written by Cannell and David Chase. There’s a missed opportunity with the phone gag…
The Rockford Files (1977/1978) – A Deadly Maze and The Attractive Nuisance
Jim (James Garner) finds himself in more trouble this week, which sees the last episode of ’77 and the first of ’78 under review. First up is A Deadly Maze, which aired 23 December, 1977 and was written by Juanita Bartlett. The phone gag this time out features a call from a friend of Jim’s…
The Rockford Files (1977) – The Mayor’s Committee from Deer Lick Falls & Hotel of Fear
This week finds Jim (James Garner) in all kinds of trouble as he gets caught up in a murder scheme, and Angel (Stuart Margolin) becomes a target of a hitman! First up is The Mayor’s Committee from Dee Lick Falls, which aired 25 November, 1977, and was written by William R. Stratton. The phone gag…
The Rockford Files (1977) – Quickie Nirvana & Irving the Explainer
Jim Rockford (James Garner) finds himself in all manner of trouble in this week’s episodes. First up is Quickie Nirvana, which aired 11 November, 1977 and was written by David Chase. The phone gag this time around featured someone calling, complaining about having left a message a few times, and wondering if Jim still…
The Rockford Files (1977) – The Dog and Pony Show & Requiem for a Funny Box
There’s a lot of fun to be had in this week’s double episode of The Rockford Files. First up, there is The Dog and Pony Show, which aired 21 October, 1977 and was written by David Chase. The phone gag features a call from a friend collecting on a bet, and letting Jim (James…
The Rockford Files (1977) – The Battle of Canoga Park & Second Chance
More trouble finds Jim (James Garner) this week as he gets caught up in a murder, and a domestic! The Battle of Canoga Park was written by Juanita Bartlett and aired 30 September, 1977. The phone gag features a call from a neighbor war letting them know they are looking for their missing pet……
The Rockford Files (1977) – Beamer’s Last Case & Trouble in Chapter 17
Season 4 of The Rockford Files got under way on 16 September, 1977 with Beamer’s Last Case, written by Cannell from a story by Booker Bradshaw and Calvin Kelly. The first phone gag of the season features a call from Angel (Stuart Margolin) who announces he’s got a new apartment, and has some friends…
The Rockford Files (1977) – Crack Back & Dirty Money, Black Light
Season 3 of The Rockford Files comes to a close with these two episodes. First up is Crack Back, written by Juanita Bartlett, and aired, originally on 25 March, 1977. Knowing Bartlett had written this one, told me that it would be very character driven, and it did not disappoint. The phone gag this…
The Rockford Files (1977) – To Protect and Serve Parts 1 & 2
A cop groupie causes all manner of trouble in the two-parter I look at this week. David Chase wrote this episode, which originally aired 11 March, 1977 with the second part following a week later on 18 March. The phone gag for the first episode featured a female friend of Rocky’s (Noah Beery Jr.)…
