- THE BECKER CONNECTION
Original Air Date: February 11, 1977
Synopsis. Shortly after receiving a temporary transfer into the narcotics division, Becker finds himself suspended after someone stole heroin from the police property room and planted it in the spare tire of his car. A desperate Becker hires Rockford to find out who framed him. Rockford and Angel hit the streets and locate a dealer named Willie Hatton who may have information concerning “the Becker connection.” But the matter becomes worse when Rockford finds Hatton dead and discovers evidence linking Becker to the murder.
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
Pamela Hensley
This date in ROCKFORD FILES history: Stephen Elliott, Robert Hogan, John Fiedler, Neile McQueen, and George Murdock star in “The Competitive Edge,” airing Feb. 10, 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 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.
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.