I just finished The Rockford Files, Season 4. Great guest stars!

[K]

Hello, Everyone.

Well, I've been zipping through my Rockford Files DVD episodes, since there's not much on TV anyway. I'm really enjoying them! I didn't watch the show as a kid, so it's all new to me. I love the 70s nostalgia fix, too: all the old cars, clothes, etc. I'll be sad when the episodes are done. I just got Season 5, which was just released. After one more season, no more eps.

Things I noticed:

1. he got a newer styled Firebird; it now has the double square headlights instead of the single round ones on each side of the grille

2. the actress Gretchen Corbett is written out sort of. The character of Beth Davenport doesn't appear after this season because there was a contract problem between Universal and Corbett at the time. What a shame. She was great in the show and I'll miss her when I watch Season 5

3. Blooper alert! The used footage of the older Firebird (round headlights) in the episode "Battle of Canoga Park". I guess continuity wasn't a priority.

4. James Coburn directed several episodes. I guess Garner and Coburn were good friends, as Garner took over the voicework for the beef commercials that Coburn did after Coburn's death.

Guest Stars for Season 4:

1. Valerie Curtin
2. Robert Loggia
3. Bibi Besch
4. John Davey
5. Isaac Hayes
6. the actor who played Apollo Creed's trainer in the 'Rocky' films
7. Dionne Warwick
8. Meredith MacRae
9. Priscilla Barnes
10. the actor who played Les Nessman on TV's 'WKRP in Cincinnati'
11. Gerald McRaney
12. Larry Hagman
13. Reb Brown
14. Larry Linville
15. Rita Moreno
16. Rick Springfield
17. the actress who played John Travolta's dance partner in the film 'Saturday Night Fever'
18. Howard Hesseman
19. Pernell Roberts

I highly recommend the set!

[Zemo]

Love the Rockford! I saw them all as a kid. Gotta love Angel.

[K]

^ Ah...they were over my head when I was a kid. LOL! I watched more mindless fare when I was young.

[The Toyroom]

I read that Jim got a new Firebird (whatever the newest model was) every year except for '79..but old stock footage was often used in the chase scenes.

[K]

^ Yes....you're right. I'd read that, too, about a new Firebird each year. I admit that I sort of miss the one with the round headlights. I'm not sure why, exactly.

I just picked up the book "Thirty Years Of The Rockford Files" released in 2005 and it's a great read. They discuss the Firebird and all the behind the scenes stuff like Garner's lawsuit with Universal. And they list every answering machine message that started each episode. Very interesting!

[The Toyroom]

Hmmmm....I might have to check that book out.

[K]

^ It's really great. It's apparently the updated version of the book "This is Jim Rockford..." and the author also includes chapters on the Rockford TV movies that aired after the series ended. It's very comprehensive. It's a paperback book and the pix are black and white, but they're good ones and many are candids. Plus, in each episode's "run down" the author mentions how/why some of the actors were cast. For example,he points out that James Garner met a particular actor on Maverick and has worked with him/her since. It's a really complete book. There are also used copies on Amazon that are a bit cheaper than the list price.