Shark Bytes

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Even though I grew up in the 70's I never watched TV back then, so I didn't really know much about the show. I first started actually watching it around '96 or '97 on cable. Loved it immediately. I wholeheartedly agree that it was the best show ever made & that it holds up to this day. The only things that clue you into the era are the cars & clothing styles. Recently I've begun watching it again on the RTN Network. I'm noticing that some of the later shows around '78 were a little thin in the plot. In particular, the 2nd episode involving the blind psychologist Jim was dating. One of the few really boring episodes. I also agree that there was a little too much Angel & I actually found Rocky to be somewhat annoying too, but so did Jim so I guess it's OK. Best. Show. Ever.

In regard to Grant's post (Mar 21, 2008)...not to be anal, but I was thinking it was a 7-iron instead of a 9-iron. That 7-iron would've done more damage than the 9-iron...besides, we don't want Rockford to underclub and come up short of the green, do we?

By the way, I think the guy who played the "heavy" on that episode was the great Mills Watson, of "Sheriff Lobo" fame. They just don't make character actors like that anymore.

I remember the episode as well where Rockford was at the military installation and he told the commander something to the extent of, "You know what the great thing about being a civilian is? You outrank all these generals, admirals, lieutenant colonels...." The way Garner delivered it was just the epitome of cool...my goodness, was he just simply incredible as Rockford!

I agree with most here...one of the few shows to have truly never jumped!

I haven't noticed a mention of the best hour of TV I ever watched. Irving the Explainer. It made fun of the show itself.

I watch 2 or eps a week on Dvd every friday night. The greatest! Even the recurring actors are terrific. My favorite was the episode where the house was home invaded and the art stolen, and Lt.Chapman was in trouble and NEEDED Jim, and was begging him for his help. Chapman was classic, as was Angel. Angel was used sparingly which was great. A couple of major Angel centered episodes, but mostly, small hits. One of the greatest tv characters ever was Angel Martin. How could you not love Rockford!

This show blows all the rest, before or since, into the weeds. Absolutely the finest television viewing available...sad to say I haven't seen anything near as good in 30 years, and I watched these shows when I was about 11 or 12 years old. They still hold up as outstanding. When I view the type of programming that's in vogue today (junk like Survivor, American Idol, The Appentice, Big Brother, etc.), it really pains my soul to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that a show this good, with actors this good and writing this good will never come this way again...it's completely saddening that no one at any of these networks can come up with anything half as good.

Rockford is the best. Anyone notice that sometimes you see a patio-like deck abutting the trailer, other times it doesn't appear. The Beth Davenport character was such a cute and smart little hottie, I don't know how Rockford could focus on his work with her around. The strangest episode was an early one where the girl disappears, and is killed by the mob. It's truly a sad episode, with Rockford walking on the beach flashing back, and Rocky attempting to cheer him up.

Great show. My only quibble was its many contributions to the "Same Actor, Different Character" canon. The most ridiculous instance of this was the guy who played a sadistic killer in two episodes and a mob boss in another episode - and then played Jim's buddy from prison! And what was the deal with LJ? He never got more than a few seconds of air time or more than one line (usually "Let's go fishing, Jim" or "Your pipes are fixed, Jim")on the show - if he appeared at all!

Rockford always delivered with perfect timing. I somewhat consider him to be the "regular guy" precursor to Indiana Jones - the relucant hero who can take care of himself when he has to.

How about the time he is being chased by a couple of gunmen in their cars. He pulls into a drive through and when they ask to take his order has asks them to call the cops. Brilliant.

"Can I take your order sir?"

"Call the cops and tell them there's a green Monte Carlo chasing me down Imperial Highway."

"Are you serious?"

"Dead serious - and as long as you're at it, give me a couple of tacos to go."

Only Rockford could be THAT oool !!!!

Never jumped. Almost perfect all the time. The fourth season episode with Larry Linville testing Rockford's reaction to frustration was gold! And Rob Reiner's clueless football star was hilarity. I will admit that it came close once or twice. In fact season two was pretty terrible.And the Selleck episode sucked. I loved Magnum, but he wasn't much good on Rockford. It bounced back quickly though, and stayed strong. 35 years later it's still better than most of the new stuff. You've got to love a guy who's car is nicer than his house. Especially when that guy keeps his gun in the cookie jar and a photo of his dad on his desk.

So many good times with this show. Man, was Beth cute!

I remember an unusual episode where for the first 25 minutes Rockford is at the Federal Building trying to do some simple thing and the system is hilariously against him at every step. I think Neva Patterdon was in it.

No one delivered lines with the reserved confidence as Jimmy:

antagonist: "I got a black belt in karate, Mr."

Rockford, looking down at the golf club in his hand: "I got a black belt in 9-iron."
---
scared punk: "I ain't scared o' you, Mr."

Rockford, with a half smile: "Sure you are."
---
Rockford: "I'll put a hitch in your git-a-long"

Along with the angst-ridden "Harry O", "The Rockford Files" was the best detective series that debuted in 1974. By providing a protagonist who was more of a eccentric curveball than the standard "straight arrow" hero was a brilliant comic touch that appealed to my sense of the absurd. There were so many episodes that made me laugh and it was pioneering to depict a P.I. who wound up losing or getting skewered at the stories' epilogues.

The assortment of back-up characters and somewhat goofy guests stars also provided significantly to the series' magnetism. It was a shame that "Rockford" ended prematurely at only ten episodes worth of a sixth year, but unfortunately James Garner's health suffered so much to the point where he was simply unable to continue the enormous workload.

Trivia: Rockford's first name was to be Tom, but was changed when Garner took the lead role.

Did this show JTS? No.

Yeah, I remember the Zerbe ep. He played a pop psychologist who wrote a book with some goofy title (I think it was something like "Free Fall to Ecstasy") that everyone kept getting wrong. For some reason I can't recall, he ends up on someone's hit list and gets Rockford, an old friend, to protect him. Of course he drives Jim totally bats. I don't recall the full details, but do remember it as being very funny, and very typical of Rockford Files style. This really was a great show.

Never Jumped. While the earlier eps are the freshest, later seasons have lots of winners too (Lance White, anyone?) A drop from A+ to A doesn't equal a shark jump.

The TV movies are maybe a B/B+, due partly to their slower pace, but they're still entertaining. Their only really serious flaw: too much Angel. I love the character, but overexposure to this particular bottom-feeder turns a lovably annoying occasional sidekick/menace into a teeth-grindingly annoying jerk who won't go away -- and he's in every single one of the TV movies.