- THE NO-CUT CONTRACT
Original Air Date: January 16, 1976
Synopsis. Larry “King” Sturtevant, starting quarterback for the Southern Illinois Warriors—a second-rate team in a third-rate pro football league—knows that team owner Dale Fontaine has ties with the Chicago underworld, so he had Fontaine’s conference room bugged to gain leverage in case he ever needed any. Sturtevant recorded a conversation in which Fontaine sold mob information to federal agents; when he learns that Fontaine planned to replace him with another quarterback, Sturtevant threatens to turn over the tapes unless Fontaine cancels the deal. However, when word of the tapes leaks out, Sturtevant finds himself on the run from both sides of the law. The weaselly Sturtevant, who claims he’d stashed the tapes with a private detective, supplies the mob and the FBI with a name he’d randomly plucked
from the Yellow Pages: Jim Rockford.The fourth of five episodes directed by Lou Antonio, “The No-Cut Contract” features Emmy Award-winning actor and Academy Award-winning director Rob Reiner, the Emmy Award-winning actor and future Academy Award-winning director who was starring on All in the Family (CBS, 1971-1983) at the time he appeared in this episode. Reiner’s father, the legendary writer/director and comic genius Carl Reiner, wrote the screenplay for The Thrill of It All, the 1963 comedy starring Doris Day and James Garner.
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
James Garner
This date in MAVERICK TV history: “Makin’ Tracks,” the last broadcast episode of YOUNG MAVERICK, aired on Jan. 16, 1980. Guest stars include Morgan Fairchild and John Hillerman
6. MAKIN’ TRACKS
Original Airdate: January 16, 1980
Synopsis. An eighty-year-old Indian cardsharp will grant railroad officials right-of-way through his land―provided they can beat him in poker. 
An ill-fated attempt to update the Maverick formula of the late 1950s to TV audiences of the late 1970s, Young Maverick ran for just six weeks during the winter of 1979-1980. By the time “Makin’ Tracks” aired on this date in 1980, CBS had already canceled the series. Guest stars in this episode include Morgan Fairchild, John Hillerman, Victor Jory, and Andrew Robinson.
LEARN MORE about Young Maverick in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West, featuring more than 100 pages of new information about the show that made James Garner a star. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of the third edition will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, shelters, individual, 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. The revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West is available both in softcover and, very soon, as an eBook through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This date in MAVERICK TV History: “The Cactus Switch,” featuring Edgar Buchanan and Fay Spain, aired on Jan. 15, 1961
- THE CATCUS SWITCH
Original Airdate: January 15, 1961
Synopsis. In Green River, Bart runs afoul of a husband-and-wife team of grifters and an escaped killer named Red Daniels. “The Cactus Switch” was the fifth of five episodes featuring Edgar Buchanan, the actor best known to Baby Boomers as Uncle Joe on Petticoat Junction.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West, featuring more than 100 pages of new information about the show that made James Garner a star. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of the third edition will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, shelters, individual, 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. The revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West is available both in softcover and, very soon, as an eBook through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This Date in ROCKFORD FILES History: Dyan Cannon stars in “If the Frame Fits…,” the third of the eight Rockford Files reunion movies produced for CBS, airing Jan. 14, 1996. LEARN MORE in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press
- IF THE FRAME FITS…
Original Air Date: January 14, 1996
Synopsis. Falsely accused of murdering a rival detective, Rockford fights to clear his name despite a staggering circumstantial case against him and increasing animosity from his two longtime nemeses on the Los Angeles Police Department, Commander Alex Diehl and Captain Douglas Chapman. But our hero finds help from friends old and new, including Dennis Becker, former attorney (now bestselling novelist) Beth Davenport, and IRS agent Jess Wilding. While If the Frame Fits… was the third of the new Rockford episodes to have aired on CBS, in many respects it was the first “true” reunion show. Besides James Garner, Stuart Margolin, Joe Santos, and Jack Garner, the show brought back the three remaining members of the original cast: Gretchen Corbett (as Beth Davenport), James Luisi (as Lieutenant Chapman), and Tom Atkins (as Lieutenant Diehl). The movie also acknowledges the passing of Noah Beery Jr. with the help of guest star Dyan Cannon (Heaven Can Wait, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice) as Jess Wilding, an IRS agent who also knew Rocky.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: Cleavon Little and Simon Oakland star in “Sticks and Stones May Break Your Bones, But Waterbury Will Bury You,” airing Jan. 14, 1977. 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
- STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK YOUR BONES, BUT WATERBURY WILL BURY YOU
Original Air Date: January 14, 1977
Synopsis. Waterbury Security Systems, one of the largest detective agencies in the world, has been systematically disenfranchising independent private investigators as part of its plan to reduce the market share of small agencies by 20 percent. Two victims, gumshoes Billy Merrihew (played by Cleavon Little) and Vern St. Cloud (Simon Oakland), hire Rockford to investigate the matter. (Jim would’ve been victimized himself had he not been away on vacation.) Rockford realizes that Waterbury means business when he discovers a third private investigator has been murdered.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: Anthony Zerbe, Arlene Golonka, and Fredd Wayne star in “The Gang at Don’s Drive-In,” airing Jan. 13, 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
- THE GANG AT DON’S DRIVE-IN
Original Air Date: January 13, 1978
Synopsis. Anthony Zerbe stars as Jackson Skowron, a once promising writer whose career has run aground in the twenty years since his only success, the bestselling novel Free Fall to Ecstasy. Jack hires Rockford to help him research his new book on the John C. Fremont High School graduating class of 1962. Unbeknownst to Jim, Jack has discovered that Bob Atcheson, whose powerful family owns the Los Angeles Tribune newspaper, accidentally killed young Nancy Fornechefski, then covered up the homicide with the help of two other classmates. If Jack can prove that Fornechefski was murdered, he’ll have the makings of a guaranteed best seller. But Jack may never live to write that book. Atcheson will resort to anything—including murder—to protect his secret.An Emmy winner for playing a good guy (Lieutenant Trench on Harry O), Anthony Zerbe played a host of colorful villains in films and TV shows, including the gunslinger who bumped off James Garner’s character in “All in the Family,” the famous final episode of Nichols.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: Marge Redmond stars in “The Battle-Ax and the Exploding Cigar,” airing Jan. 12, 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 BATTLE-AX AND THE EXPLODING CIGAR
Original Air Date: January 12, 1979
Synopsis. Down and out after a brutal gambling trip to Las Vegas, Rockford bums a ride back to L.A. from a man named Petrankus in exchange for doing most of the driving. But Jim’s troubles only multiply: the Vegas police arrest Rockford and Petrankus on auto theft charges, then search the car and discover a horde of stolen weapons inside the trunk. The matter worsens in Los Angeles when Rockford discovers that not only has the FBI released Petrankus, apparently no record of Petrankus’ arrest even exists. After he manages to post bail, Rockford sets out to clear himself—and eventually stumbles onto a bizarre government conspiracy to sell defective weapons to third world nations.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 MAVERICK TV history: “Dateline: Sweetwater,” an episode of BRET MAVERICK featuring Ed Nelson and Joshua Bryant, aired on Jan. 12, 1982. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- DATELINE: SWEETWATER
Original Airdate: January 12, 1982
Synopsis. A con artist with a trick neck plays a pivotal role in Maverick’s scheme to thwart a ruthless financial corporation from taking over Sweetwater.
The third of three attempts to revive Maverick in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Bret Maverick (NBC, 1981-1982) saw the Legend of the West settle down in Sweetwater, Arizona after years on the road and “too many dusty trail towns, too few and far between.” James Garner not only reprised the role that originally made him a star, but produced the series for Warner Bros. Television. Guest stars in “Dateline: Sweetwater” include Ed Nelson, who had appeared in the original Maverick, and Joshua Bryant, who played Dennis Becker’s boss in the pilot for The Rockford Files.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West, featuring more than 100 pages of new information about the show that made James Garner a star. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of the third edition 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. The revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West is available both in softcover and, very soon, as an eBook through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This Date in MAVERICK TV History: Bret falls in love in “A Rage for Vengeance,” airing Jan. 12, 1958
- A RAGE FOR VENGEANCE
Original Airdate: January 12, 1958
Synopsis. A mysterious woman named Margaret Ross hires Bret to accompany her as she transports $200,000 from Denver, Colorado to North Span, Montana. Maverick’s curiosity becomes unbridled when he learns that the money is counterfeit.
“A Rage for Vengeance” is one of those rare instances in the series in which Maverick allows himself to fall in love.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West, featuring more than 100 pages of new information about the show that made James Garner a star. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of the third edition will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, shelters, individual, 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. The revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West is available both in softcover and, very soon, as an eBook through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This date in MAVERICK TV history: “Gun-Shy,” the famous episode of MAVERICK that parodied GUNSMOKE, aired for the first time on Jan. 11, 1959
- GUN-SHY
Original Airdate: January 11, 1959
Synopsis. In Elwood, Kansas, Bret’s efforts to track down $500,000 in hidden gold run afoul of the town’s stalwart but dimwitted marshal, Mort Dooley.
The most famous episode of the original Maverick, “Gun-Shy” scored a whopping 49 share in the Nielsen ratings on the night it originally aired. Meaning, of all the TV sets that were in use between 7:30pm and 8:30pm on Sunday, January 11, 1959, one out of every two were tuned in to Maverick.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West, featuring more than 100 pages of new information about the show that made James Garner a star. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of the third edition will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, shelters, individual, 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. The revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West is available both in softcover and, very soon, as an eBook through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.