- THE COMPETITIVE EDGE
Original Air Date: February 10, 1978
Synopsis. Joyce Brauder (played by Neile McQueen) hires Rockford to find her husband Perry (Jim McMullan), an accused embezzler who has jumped bail. After infiltrating an affluent men’s health club directed by Dr. Herb Brinkman (Stephen Elliott), Jim discovers that Brinkman has been running a drug-and-extortion racket—he laces the “vitamin treatments” of his clients with amphetamines financed by exorbitant monthly membership fees. When Rockford suspects that Perry’s disappearance may be linked to his membership in the health club, Brinkman intervenes by drugging our hero and imprisoning him in a mental institution run by Brinkman’s equally heinous brother. While he is incarcerated in the insane asylum, Rockford encounters a Stetson-wearing inmate (played by veteran character actor George Murdock) who thinks he’s Doc Holliday—and that Rockford is Wyatt Earp. In real life, James Garner played Wyatt Earp in two films: Hour of the Gun (1967) and Sunset (1988), while George Murdock played the head of the Boston insurance company that sometimes hired freelance claims investigator Thomas Banacek on Banacek (NBC, 1972-1974).
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.
Ed Robertson
Author ● Journalist ● Radio Host ● Collaborative Writer
David Chase Rockford Files
This date in ROCKFORD FILES history: Hector Elizondo and Pamela Hensley star in “Say Goodbye to Jennifer,” airing Feb. 7, 1975. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press
- SAY GOODBYE TO JENNIFER
Original Air Date: February 7, 1975
Synopsis. Supermodel Jennifer Ryburn (played by Pamela Hensley) allegedly died in a fiery car accident that occurred shortly after the fatal shooting of her boyfriend Ricky Pont, a murder that the police—and the mob—believe she committed. But Jennifer’s photographer and former lover John Micelli (Hector Elizondo) thinks she’s alive and hiding in Seattle, and he wants Jim to find her and to prove her innocence.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.
This date in ROCKFORD FILES history: Joseph Campanella and Frank Campanella star in “In Hazard,” airing Feb. 6, 1976. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press
- IN HAZARD
Original Air Date: February 6, 1976
Synopsis. Joseph Campanella stars as Arnold Bailey, a stockbroker accused of tax fraud. After taking on Bailey as a client, Beth finds herself arrested on contempt-of-court charges, learns that her office has been burglarized, then nearly dies after drinking cyanide-laced coffee. Rockford finds that the attempt on Beth’s life is tied to the partnership between Bailey and another of Beth’s clients in a scheme to skim money from the pension fund of a textile workers union controlled by syndicate leader Marty Jordan (played by Frank Campanella).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.
This date in ROCKFORD FILES history: “South by Southeast” airs on Feb. 3, 1978. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press
- SOUTH BY SOUTHEAST
Original Air Date: February 3, 1978
Synopsis. Government agents who have mistaken Rockford for an operative named Terence Halsey fly the private investigator to Mexico to prevent heiress Christine Van Deerlin from selling 50,000 shares of her father’s aircraft company to Arab countries—a move that could adversely impact both the economic structure and strategic defense of the United States. Without any choice, Rockford meets Christine and discovers that she’s being blackmailed by her fortune-hunting husband John, who threatens to expose the unsavory truth behind her father’s legend unless she carries out the sale. Although Rockford has a chance to walk away once the matter of his identity is straightened out, he decides to stay—even at the risk of his own life—when he learns that Christine’s safety is endangered.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.
This date in ROCKFORD FILES history: Linda Evans stars as “Claire,” airing Jan. 31, 1975. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press
- CLAIRE
Original Air Date: January 31, 1975
Synopsis. Rockford’s former fiance Claire Prescott (played by Linda Evans) asks him to find Charlie Manning, an undercover police detective who used Claire as an informant as part of an important narcotics investigation. When Manning is found dead, Claire becomes the prime suspect.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.
This date in ROCKFORD FILES history: Michael Ansara stars as “Joey Blue Eyes,” airing Jan. 30, 1976. James Luisi also appears in this episode, but not as Lieutenant Chapman. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press
- JOEY BLUE EYES
Original Air Date: January 30, 1976
Synopsis. Michael Ansara stars as Joseph “Joey Blue Eyes” DiMina, a reformed hood who has become a successful restaurateur. Joey finds himself the victim of a conspiracy between his business partner Bert Striker (James Luisi, in a pre-Lieutenant Chapman role) and his attorney Larry Mitchell to force him out of his own business. To make matters worse: Joey borrowed money from loan shark Sweet Tooth London, who has Joey’s daughter Paulette beaten up as a warning in case Joey fails to make payment. An enraged Joey assaults Sweet Tooth and ends up in jail. Although Rockford initially clashes with Joey, Beth (a friend of Paulette’s) implores him to help. When Rockford learns that Striker also has financial problems, he sets up an elaborate con aimed at forcing Striker to pay Joey’s loan with his own money.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.
This date in ROCKFORD FILES history: John Pleshette and Rick Springfield star in “Dwarf in a Helium Hat,” airing Jan. 27, 1978. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press
- DWARF IN A HELIUM HAT
Original Air Date: January 27, 1978
Synopsis. After receiving a strange phone call from a man who tells him “your dog is dead” and that “you and that Lansing girl are next,” Rockford determines that the message was meant for Jay Rockfelt (played by John Pleshette), an irresponsible playboy whose name appears directly above Jim’s in the phone book. Jay’s problems stem from a lavish birthday bash that he threw for Gianni Tedesco, an aspiring actor who also has connections with the mob. Gianni suffered the embarrassment of having to pay the $30,000 tab for his own party—an incident that has made him a laughingstock in Hollywood. Although Rockford doesn’t like Jay, he feels compelled to help him after learning that Gianni has kidnapped Rockfelt’s sister.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.
This date in ROCKFORD FILES history: Mills Watson and Richard Kelton star in “The Deuce,” airing Jan. 26, 1979. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press
- THE DEUCE
Original Air Date: January 26, 1979
Synopsis. Mills Watson guest stars as George Bassett, a chronic drinker accused of vehicular manslaughter. Though the circumstantial case against Bassett is strong, Rockford is the only juror on Bassett’s trial who believes that Bassett is innocent. After receiving a reprieve (the judge ordered a new trial as the result of a hung jury), Bassett hires Rockford to clear him of the murder charges.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.
This date in ROCKFORD FILES history: Mary Frann and M. Emmet Walsh star in “Counter Gambit,” airing Jan. 24, 1975. This episode also marks Stuart Margolin’s first appearance as Angel since the Rockford Files pilot. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press
- COUNTER GAMBIT
Original Air Date: January 24, 1975
Synopsis. Insurance agent Edgar Burch (played by M. Emmet Walsh) hires Rockford to recover a $250,000 pearl necklace that was stolen by Moss Williams (Eddie Fontaine) three years before—shortly after Williams asked Jim to locate the woman who supposedly stashed the pearls. Rockford decides to play both sides of the fence, but instead gets burned. The “stolen” necklace was never stolen. Williams hired Burch to get Rockford to find the pearls so that he can steal them and frame Jim for the theft. With the help of Valerie Thomas, the owner of the pearls (played by Mary Frann), jewel appraiser Manny Tolan (Ford Rainey), and his old stir mate Angel Martin, Rockford sets out to clear himself.“Counter Gambit” marks Stuart Margolin’s first appearance as Angel since the pilot movie. Margolin appeared in twenty-nine episodes, winning two Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actor along the way.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
This date in ROCKFORD FILES history: John Saxon stars in “A Portrait of Elizabeth,” airing Jan. 23, 1976. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press
- A PORTRAIT OF ELIZABETH
Original Air Date: January 23, 1976
Synopsis. John Saxon stars as Dave Delaroux, Beth’s client—and new boyfriend. Delaroux, the controller for the local branch of a national corporation, wants Rockford to determine whether someone in his office has been stealing cashier’s checks. Although Rockford is suspicious—and a little jealous—of Dave, he agrees to look into the matter and finds nothing amiss. Meanwhile, Dave, who along with two men swindled a San Diego bank out of $2 million (using cashier’s checks from his company), not only frames Rockford for that crime, but uses Rockford’s gun to kill his two partners. The real kicker, however, is that Rockford has an alibi he can’t use: Beth, who cannot reveal anything that could incriminate Dave without violating attorney/client confidentiality.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