- FOUL ON THE FIRST PLAY
Original Air Date: Mar. 12, 1976
Synopsis. Rockford learns that his conniving parole officer Marcus Hayes (played by Louis Gossett Jr.) has become a private investigator (after he was fired by the Parole Board). Marcus was hired by NBA Commissioner Bob Tremayne to find out which of the three prospective bidders of the Santa Monica expansion franchise has been using pressure tactics to influence the Commissioner’s decision on who will get the new team. To get a lead on the case, Marcus tricks Rockford into acting as a decoy—but when Jim catches on, he forces Hayes to surrender half of his $10,000 fee. When Tremayne is found dead on the night before the announcement of the final decision—and one of the bidders implicates Marcus—Rockford must clear Hayes of the charges.The cagey Marcus Hayes was tailored specifically for Emmy and Oscar winner Louis Gossett Jr. (Roots, An Officer and a Gentleman), who had previously co-starred with James Garner in the 1971 Western satire Skin Game.
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
Louis Gossett Jr.
This date in ROCKFORD FILES history: Louis Gossett Jr. and Isaac Hayes star in “Just Another Polish Wedding,” airing Feb. 18, 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
- JUST ANOTHER POLISH WEDDING
Original Air Date: February 18, 1977
Synopsis. Needing a new line of work, Gandolf Fitch decides to become a private investigator and offers his services to Rockford. Jim declines Gandy’s offer, proposing instead that Gandy team up with parole officer-turned-private investigator Marcus Hayes. While Marcus and Gandy work out the details of their unlikely partnership, Rockford travels to San Diego, where he tries to locate a missing heir on behalf of the Probate Department. When Gandy mentions the case to Marcus, the opportunistic Hayes also decides to find the heir—so that he can ace Rockford out of the finder’s fee. This episode served as the pilot for Gabby & Gandy, a proposed spin-off series featuring Marcus Hayes (Louis Gossett Jr.) and Gandy Fitch (Isaac Hayes). (Gandy calls Marcus “Gabby” throughout the episode because the fast-talking Hayes speaks at a rate of 75 miles per hour.) Despite the promising chemistry between Gossett and Hayes, NBC passed on the series. Isaac Hayes, however, returned to Rockford for one more guest appearance, the fourth-season episode “Second Chance.”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.