THE ORACLE WORE A CASHMERE SUIT Original Air Date: October 1, 1976
Synopsis. Self-appointed “police psychic” Roman Clementi (played by Robert Webber) publicly accuses Rockford of withholding evidence that would link the investigator to the disappearance of a record company executive who, along with his girlfriend, vanished two days after Rockford was hired to surveil him. In fact, the grandstanding Clementi planted the rumor to make himself look good—and generate publicity for his upcoming book, Crime and the Third Eye. But the accusation causes Rockford no end of trouble. When he discovers that the record executive stashed away more than $80,000 in cocaine, Rockford becomes the target of a drug-crazed drummer. When the executive is found murdered, Rockford becomes the prime suspect. William Daniels, whom we last saw in “The Italian Bird Fiasco,” was originally cast as oracle Roman Clementi in this episode, but was replaced by Robert Webber after injuring himself during the first day of filming. Daniels returned to Rockford later this season as the ruthless federal prosecutor in “So Help Me God,” the episode for which James Garner won the Emmy for Best Dramatic Actor of the 1976-1977 season.LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details
THE COUNTESS Original Air Date: September 27, 1974
Synopsis. Socialite Deborah Ryder (played by Susan Strasberg) hires Rockford to stop Carl Brego (Dick Gautier), an extortionist who knows that Deborah was once linked to a numbers racket in Chicago. As part of his surveillance, Rockford videotapes a meeting between Deborah and Carl. Then, while pretending to be another blackmailer who wants a piece of the action, he confronts Carl and threatens to turn the tape over to the police unless Carl cuts him in. The ploy backfires, however, when Carl is shot to death—Rockford becomes the prime suspect. Susan Strasberg, daughter of legendary acting coach Lee Strasberg, played the wife of Tony Musante in Toma, the ABC police drama inextricably linked to the creation of The Rockford Files. We’ll see her again in “A Bad Deal in the Valley.” Dick Gautier, aka Hymie the Robot on Get Smart, earned a Tony nomination for his performance as Elvis-like rock ’n’ roll star Conrad Birdie in the original Broadway production of Bye Bye Birdie.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details
GEARJAMMERS! (Part 1) Original Air Date: September 26, 1975
Synopsis. Rocky’s life becomes endangered after he inadvertently witnesses an illegal business transaction between his trucker friend Johnny LoSalvo and LoSalvo’s ruthless boss Hammel, who has plotted to hijack six of his own trucks as part of a master plan to steal an incoming cargo of valuable sable furs. Although Rocky has no idea what’s going on, Hammel wants the old man eliminated simply because Rocky can identify him. Guest stars include Ted Gehring and Scott Brady, both of whom were both originally under consideration for the role of Dennis Becker in the Rockford Files pilot, and Bucklind Beery, the real-life son of series star Noah Beery Jr.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details
THE FOURTH MAN Original Air Date: September 24, 1976
Synopsis. Rockford’s neighbor Lori Jenevein (played by Sharon Gless) becomes the target of a hitman named Timpson Farrell (John McMartin). Lori, an airline flight attendant, recognizes Farrell as a regular passenger on the commuter flight. Farrell fears that Lori will link him to the recent deaths of three witnesses who were scheduled to testify before a Senate committee on organized crime—murders that all took place within the past month in cities serviced by the commuter flight.
Sharon Gless previously appeared in “This Case is Closed,” an episode from the first season that is at the center of one of the most storied chapters in Rockford Files history. Her character in this episode, Lori Jenevein, was named after Rockford sound effects editor Walter Jenevein.
LEARN MORE about “The Fourth Man” and “This Case is Closed” in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details
HEARTACHES OF A FOOL Original Air Date: September 22, 1978 Synopsis. Country-western recording star Charlie Strayhorn is beset with financial and personal problems: production on his new album has been delayed; he has tax troubles; and his marriage is ending. The only thing Charlie has going for him is the popular brand of smoked sausages that bears his name—but even that’s a fraud. Charlie doesn’t realize that his unscrupulous business partner, Clement Chen, has been circumventing the FDA and the Teamsters by producing the sausages in Mexico and arranging for non-union transportation of the product into the United States. Rocky becomes victimized by Chen’s operation after he innocently agrees to pick up a load of the sausages in San Diego. Rocky not only has his truck overturned and destroyed by two men, but loses his drivers license and has his union pension and medical benefits suspended. After Rockford confronts Charlie with the truth about his sausage company, the singer helps the private eye investigate the matter.LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details
THE DARK AND BLOODY GROUND Original Air Date: September 20, 1974 Synopsis. This episode introduces Gretchen Corbett as Rockford’s attorney Beth Davenport, who (as Becker puts it) “collects lost causes like they were rare coins.” Beth’s client Ann Calhoun has been accused of the murder of her husband, poet Kevin Calhoun. Jim would rather pass on the case, since the evidence linking Ann to the crime seems insurmountable (not to mention the fact that Ann has no money), and he becomes less inclined to pursue the matter after two attempts are made on his life. But the case takes an interesting turn after Rockford uncovers a connection between the murder victim and the legal rights to the novel The Dark and Bloody Ground.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details
THE FARNSWORTH STRATAGEM Original Air Date: September 19, 1975 Synopsis. Dennis and Peggy Becker purchase 2½-percent ownership of a posh hotel resort in a deal brokered by Simon Lloyd, a flim-flam artist who doesn’t tell the Beckers that the “hotel” actually houses condominiums, all of which are fully owned. To their embarrassment, the Beckers discover that they not only spent $7,500 (on a lobby!!), they’re also indentured into paying a $700,000 trust deed. Dennis hires Jim to win back their money. Drawing on his vast grifting skills, Rockford concocts an elaborate scheme designed to beat Lloyd at his own game.
In this episode, we learn that Becker’s rank is Investigator, 2nd Grade. Later in the series, he’ll be promoted to Investigator, 3rd Level (in the third-year episode “Piece Work”) and finally to Lieutenant (in the fifth season’s “Kill the Messenger”).
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details
PUNISHMENT AND CRIME Original Air Date: September 18, 1996
Synopsis. Rockford’s renewed romance with old flame Megan Dougherty (Kathryn Harrold, reprising her role from the NBC series) takes a treacherous turn when he learns that her arrogant playboy cousin Patrick (played by a pre-Breaking Bad, pre-Malcolm in the Middle Bryan Cranston) is in over his head with deadly Russian mobsters.
Punishment and Crime received some of the best reviews of the eight CBS Rockford Files movies—and yet it had gathered dust for more than a year before the network finally aired it. Originally completed in May 1995, the film was held back for broadcast because CBS executives thought it was somber, slow, and too much of a character piece—
not exactly the kind of freewheeling fare that most viewers typically come to expect when they tune in to see Jim Rockford. Other guest stars include Tony Award-winning and Emmy Award-winning actor Richard Kiley.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details
In accepting the Emmy for “The Paper Palace,” Moreno thanked James Garner, executive producer Meta Rosenberg, producer Charles Floyd Johnson, and particularly singled out the writer of the episode—Juanita Bartlett—as “a lady who really knows how to write about ladies.”
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details
BEAMER’S LAST CASE Original Air Date: September 16, 1977
Synopsis. Rockford returns from an aborted fishing vacation in the Caribbean to find that someone has wrecked his car, disturbed his home, used his credit card to purchase several expensive detection devices, and even impersonated him. The culprit: Freddie Beamer, a mechanic at Tony’s Body Shop—and a private detective wannabe. Not only must Rockford clean up the mess Freddie made of his own life, he finds himself having to rescue Beamer (played by James Whitmore Jr.) after Freddie stumbles onto a taxicab company owner’s plot to sabotage his own business.
In this episode, writer/director Stephen J. Cannell borrows a concept from the classic Maverick episode “The Saga of Waco Williams” by pairing Rockford with a character, Freddie Beamer, with a penchant for landing in the middle of situations that Rockford would normally avoid. James Whitmore Jr., who plays Beamer, had just finished production of the first season of the World War II drama Baa Baa Black Sheep (NBC, 1976-1978) at the time he filmed this episode. Baa Baa Black Sheep was Cannell’s first series as an executive producer.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details