After 6 seasons, I’m now on the final two episodes of this landmark series. And while the first episode is a bit of a let-down in terms of a story for Rockford (James Garner), you can definitely see a blueprint for a show that helped define 21st century television (though it started in 1999)….
Tag: phone message
The Rockford Files (1979) – No-Fault Affair and The Big Cheese
Rita Moreno is back again as Rita Capkovic in the first episode up this week. No-Fault Affair was written by Juanita Bartlett, and originally aired 30 November, 1979. The phone gag this time around features someone calling thinking the number was for dial-a-joke. Rita has aspirations of becoming a hair dresser, she’s been to beauty school,…
The Rockford Files (1979) – Only Rock’n’Roll Will Never Die: Part 2 and Love is the Word
Private investigator James Rockford (James Garner) continues his investigations this week, with the follow-up part to Only Rock’n’Roll Will Never Die. Airing on 19 October, 1979, and written by David Chase, the story continues with Jim’s search for the missing record producer. The phone message was from a nice little old lady who’s moving,…
The Rockford Files (1979) – Lions, Tigers, Monkeys and Dogs: Part 2 and Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Will Never Die: Part 1
Jim Rockford (James Garner) is in it deep this week as the two-parters continue. Lions, Tigers, Monkeys and Dogs: Part 2 originally aired on October 12, 1979 in conjunction with part 1, both of which were written by Juanita Bartlett. The phone message this time around is from a lady friend who can’t make…
The Rockford Files (1979) – Paradise Cove and Lions, Tigers, Monkeys and Dogs: Part 1
The sixth and final season of the adventures of private investigator Jim Rockford (James Garner) get underway this week, with this pair of episodes. Up first is Paradise Cove, written by Cannell, this one aired 28 September, 1979. The phone message to start the season off came from an environmental group telling Jim that…
The Rockford Files (1979) – A Material Difference and Never Send a Boy King to Do a Man’s Job Part 1
The first episode up on this installment, may in fact be one of my favorite episodes. Written by Rogers Turrentine, A Material Difference aired on 24 February, 1979. The phone message was a good indicator of how much I would enjoy this episode, apparently Jim (James Garner) gave a 200 page deposition, but it has…
The Rockford Files (1979) – The Man Who Saw The Alligators and The Return of the Black Shadow
Private investigator Jim Rockford (James Garner) finds himself in all manner of trouble this week. First up is The Man Who Saw the Alligators, written by David Chase, and originally airing as an extended episode on 10 February, 1979, you can catch glimpses of Chase’s Sopranos in this episode, as a gangster on parole,…
The Rockford Files (1979) – With the French Heel Back, Can the Nehru Jacket be Far Behind? and The Battle-Ax and the Exploding Cigar
Private investigator Jim Rockford has his hands full again with this week’s dual installment. First up is With the French Heel Back, Can the Nehru Jacket be Far Behind? which aired 5 January, 1979 and was written by Rudolph Borchert. The phone gag this time around features a phone call from Coop (Bo Hopkins) about…
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 (1978) – The Gang at Don’s Drive-In and The Paper Palace
Jim (James Garner) meets up with an old friend, with a problem, in the first episode this week, The Gang at Don’s Drive-In. It was written by James Crocker and aired 13 January, 1978. The phone gag features a call from someone who just went through 12 years of therapy, and will happily tell Jim what he…
The Mind Reels 