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The Rockford Files
- 391 statements
- 76 feature instances
- 79 referencing feature instances
| The Rockford Files | type |
TVTItem | |
| The Rockford Files | label |
The Rockford Files | |
| The Rockford Files | page |
TheRockfordFiles | |
| The Rockford Files | comment |
Popular crime/action series, co-created by Roy Huggins (Maverick, The Fugitive) and Stephen J. Cannell, that aired on NBC from 1974 to 1980. James Garner played Jim Rockford, an innocent ex-con working as a private detective in the Los Angeles area. Rockford lived in a trailer parked on the Malibu beach, and drove a gold Pontiac Firebird.In the earlier episodes, Rockford would only take cases that the police were not actively investigating: cases that they had closed in some way that was unsatisfactory to the client, cold cases, or something that the police were not giving any priority to—cases that the police lieutenant antagonist disparagingly referred to as "the Rockford files."Rockford preferred to outwit his opponents, rather than resorting to violence (though he was very good at it when violence was required.) While Rockford had been cleared of the armed robbery that he had been wrongfully accused of, he had also been a Con Man who had never been caught, and on multiple occasions he used his con artist skills to entrap the guilty party.In many ways, the Rockford character was a 20th-century updating of Garner's Bret Maverick character. | |
| The Rockford Files | fetched |
2024-03-18T11:47:41Z | |
| The Rockford Files | parsed |
2024-03-18T11:47:41Z | |
| The Rockford Files | processingComment |
Dropped link to DetectiveDrama: Not a Feature - IGNORE | |
| The Rockford Files | processingComment |
Dropped link to Dramedy: Not a Feature - IGNORE | |
| The Rockford Files | processingComment |
Dropped link to TheCon: Not a Feature - ITEM | |
| The Rockford Files | isPartOf |
DBTropes | |
| The Rockford Files / int_127fc252 | type |
Creator Cameo | |
| The Rockford Files / int_127fc252 | comment |
Creator Cameo: Jackie Cooper, who directed several episodes in the first two seasons, guest-starred in the episodes "Claire" and "The House on Willis Avenue". | |
| The Rockford Files / int_127fc252 | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_127fc252 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_18d15922 | type |
Title Drop | |
| The Rockford Files / int_18d15922 | comment |
Title Drop: "Quickie Nirvana" and "Claire". | |
| The Rockford Files / int_18d15922 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_18d15922 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_19d1c1ae | type |
Always Someone Better | |
| The Rockford Files / int_19d1c1ae | comment |
Always Someone Better: Lance White (Tom Selleck), Rockford's friendly rival private investigator who appears in the episodes "White on White and Nearly Perfect" (season 5) and "Nice Guys Finish Dead" (season 6). | |
| The Rockford Files / int_19d1c1ae | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_19d1c1ae | |
| The Rockford Files / int_24321e44 | type |
Only Sane Man | |
| The Rockford Files / int_24321e44 | comment |
Only Sane Man: In "The Oracle Wore A Cashmere Suit," everyone but Jimnote and Beth Davenport is won over by a famed psychic working with the police on the week's case; Jim thinks the man's a fraud. The man is a fraud, but Jim can't prove anything. | |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_24321e44 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_27a42ebc | type |
Spiritual Successor | |
| The Rockford Files / int_27a42ebc | comment |
Spiritual Successor: To Maverick. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_27a42ebc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_27a42ebc | |
| The Rockford Files / int_2a02e5c9 | type |
Guile Hero | |
| The Rockford Files / int_2a02e5c9 | comment |
Guile Hero: Rockford is one of the purest examples. He often gets by one nothing but his wits, resources and sheer charisma and a bit of good luck. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_2a02e5c9 | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_2a02e5c9 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_2a8a7ea6 | type |
Bury Your Gays | |
| The Rockford Files / int_2a8a7ea6 | comment |
Bury Your Gays: Two episodes ("Requiem for a Funny Box" and "The Empty Frame") feature gay couples. Although they are presented sympathetically, three of the four gay characters end up murdered. | |
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The Rockford Files / int_2a8a7ea6 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_2b2249a8 | type |
You Wouldn't Hit a Guy with Glasses | |
| The Rockford Files / int_2b2249a8 | comment |
You Wouldn't Hit a Guy with Glasses: Implied in "The Kirkoff Case": Rockford puts on glasses and pretends to be an insurance agent; when the disguise fails and he starts getting roughed up, he protests, "Didn't you notice I was wearing glasses?" | |
| The Rockford Files / int_2b2249a8 | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_2b2249a8 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_2d97c18b | type |
Pool Scene | |
| The Rockford Files / int_2d97c18b | comment |
Pool Scene: In "In Hazard", Rockford chases Arnold Bailey (Joseph Campanella) around a swimming pool, using an employee's pool cleaner to knock Bailey into the pool. Despite Bailey's protests that he can't swim, Jim 'waterboards' him to get the answers he needs. A few minutes later, after Marty Jordan and his goon grab Rockford and Bailey, he steps on the goon's foot, sending the car (and everyone in it) into that same pool. | |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_2d97c18b | |
| The Rockford Files / int_2f5790f5 | type |
I Want You to Meet an Old Friend of Mine | |
| The Rockford Files / int_2f5790f5 | comment |
I Want You to Meet an Old Friend of Mine: The series reunites James Garner and Rita Moreno after having appared together before in the film Marlowe, where Garner had also played a private detective (the iconic title character Philip Marlowe) and Moreno's character also had a sordid job (albeit as an exotic dancer rathen than a call girl). | |
| The Rockford Files / int_2f5790f5 | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_2f5790f5 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_2fc21a19 | type |
Distaff Counterpart | |
| The Rockford Files / int_2fc21a19 | comment |
Distaff Counterpart: The title character in the episode "In Pursuit of Carol Thorne" is an ex-con sleuth with an eye out for big scores, much like Rockford himself. | |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_2fc21a19 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_30adeff3 | type |
Defective Detective | |
| The Rockford Files / int_30adeff3 | comment |
Defective Detective: Rockford was an ex-con, with all the associated bad karma it brought. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_30adeff3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_30adeff3 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_372027ea | type |
Stalker Shrine | |
| The Rockford Files / int_372027ea | comment |
Stalker Shrine: One is made for Beth. See the trope page for more details. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_372027ea | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_372027ea | |
| The Rockford Files / int_37a6a66a | type |
Instrumental Theme Tune | |
| The Rockford Files / int_37a6a66a | comment |
Instrumental Theme Tune: One of the funkiest ever, composed by Mike Post. An extended version was released as a single and hit #10 on the Billboard chart in 1975. | |
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The Rockford Files / int_37a6a66a | |
| The Rockford Files / int_38b05ae7 | type |
Poorly Disguised Pilot | |
| The Rockford Files / int_38b05ae7 | comment |
Poorly Disguised Pilot: The episode "Just Another Polish Wedding" was intended to launch a spinoff show starring Louis Gossett Jr. as private eye Marcus "Gabby" Hayes and Isaac Hayes as ex-con Gandolph "Gandy" Fitch. Gabby & Gandy was never picked up, however. The show's penultimate episode, "Just a Coupla Guys", was also intended as one of these. Widely held to be the worst Rockford Files episode by a considerable distance, Jim Rockford's role in the story is fairly peripheral, as it instead revolves around two bumbling doofuses trying to ingratiate their way into the New Jersey mob. The proposed spin-off would have chronicled their on-going attempts to strike it rich by impressing the local mafia don ... but somehow, NBC didn't see series potential in a chronicle of New Jersey mafia life as written by Rockford Files scribe David Chase. (To be fair, no-one could have — at least not if all they had to go by was this laughless, suspenseless, glacially-paced episode. It wasn't until 20 years later that Chase came up with The Sopranos.) | |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_38b05ae7 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_3c0a4666 | type |
Noodle Incident | |
| The Rockford Files / int_3c0a4666 | comment |
Noodle Incident: In "The Aaron Ironwood School of Success", Rockford limps badly all the way through the episode. The real cause was Garner's severe injuries from doing his own stunts. | |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_3c0a4666 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_41d0640b | type |
Hello, Attorney! | |
| The Rockford Files / int_41d0640b | comment |
Hello, Attorney!: Beth Davenport | |
| The Rockford Files / int_41d0640b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_41d0640b | featureConfidence |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_41d0640b | |
| The Rockford Files / int_4781adbb | type |
Jerk with a Heart of Gold | |
| The Rockford Files / int_4781adbb | comment |
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Rockford himself is one in the early episodes. He seems to only be in it for the money, and will require much persuading to work on a dangerous but just case, but once he's on to something, he will make sure that justice is served. In later seasons there is significantly less jerk and more heart of gold. | |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_4781adbb | |
| The Rockford Files / int_4789f57e | type |
Syndication Title | |
| The Rockford Files / int_4789f57e | comment |
Syndication Title: Jim Rockford, Private Investigator | |
| The Rockford Files / int_4789f57e | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_4789f57e | |
| The Rockford Files / int_48ac82d0 | type |
Audit Threat | |
| The Rockford Files / int_48ac82d0 | comment |
Audit Threat: People in official positions often threaten to have Jim Rockford's private investigator's license reviewed to get him to cooperate. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_48ac82d0 | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files / int_48ac82d0 | featureConfidence |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_48ac82d0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_49fb5ccb | type |
Combat Pragmatist | |
| The Rockford Files / int_49fb5ccb | comment |
Combat Pragmatist: Rockford prefers to avoid fighting, but when he fights, he fights dirty. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_49fb5ccb | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_49fb5ccb | |
| The Rockford Files / int_4b7364d | type |
Dead Man Honking | |
| The Rockford Files / int_4b7364d | comment |
Dead Man Honking: In the episode "In Hazard", Rockford finds Fred Metcalf slumped over dead in his car in the garage, leaning on the horn. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_4b7364d | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_4b7364d | |
| The Rockford Files / int_4bdbca25 | type |
Irregular Series | |
| The Rockford Files / int_4bdbca25 | comment |
Irregular Series: Ran from 1974 to 1980 before returning as a series of TV movies in the 90s. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_4bdbca25 | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files / int_4bdbca25 | featureConfidence |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_4bdbca25 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_4df647d9 | type |
Billed Above the Title | |
| The Rockford Files / int_4df647d9 | comment |
Billed Above the Title: 'James Garner in...The Rockford Files'. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_4df647d9 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_4df647d9 | featureConfidence |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_4df647d9 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_5327b609 | type |
Badass Driver | |
| The Rockford Files / int_5327b609 | comment |
Badass Driver: Rockford made a "J-turn" note a turn where the driver starts out in reverse, then turning the wheel sharply while using a brake to lock the front wheels, ending the turn facing 180 degrees from the beginning of the turn but the momentum being in the same original direction so often in the series (usually to make a quick get-away) that it became better-known as the "Rockford turn." | |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_5327b609 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_5466745d | type |
Clear Their Name | |
| The Rockford Files / int_5466745d | comment |
Clear Their Name: A frequent occurrence, often at the request of Beth Davenport. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_5466745d | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files / int_5466745d | featureConfidence |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_5466745d | |
| The Rockford Files / int_56635771 | type |
Recurring Character | |
| The Rockford Files / int_56635771 | comment |
Recurring Character: Angel Martin, Beth Davenport, Lt. Chapman, Officer Billings | |
| The Rockford Files / int_56635771 | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files / int_56635771 | featureConfidence |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_56635771 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_56a65ac7 | type |
PrivateInvestigator | |
| The Rockford Files / int_56a65ac7 | comment |
Private Investigator: Well, duh. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_56a65ac7 | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_56a65ac7 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_5f207a1a | type |
Courtroom Episode | |
| The Rockford Files / int_5f207a1a | comment |
Courtroom Episode: In the episode "So Help Me, God", Rockford is held in contempt of court after tangling with D.A. William Daniels. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_5f207a1a | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_5f207a1a | |
| The Rockford Files / int_681bcd81 | type |
Clumsy Copyright Censorship | |
| The Rockford Files / int_681bcd81 | comment |
Clumsy Copyright Censorship: The company name in "Profit and Loss" was originally named Financial Dynamics, but after filming, due to discovery of a company in Real Life by that name, all mentions of it were redubbed to Fiscal Dynamics. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_681bcd81 | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_681bcd81 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_6ec4232f | type |
Casting Gag | |
| The Rockford Files / int_6ec4232f | comment |
Casting Gag: "The Competitive Edge" features John Fiedler as a mental patient who thinks he is James Bond. The gag? Harold Sakata as fellow patient "John Doe". | |
| The Rockford Files / int_6ec4232f | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_6ec4232f | |
| The Rockford Files / int_703ab38d | type |
Base on Wheels | |
| The Rockford Files / int_703ab38d | comment |
Base on Wheels: Rockford's dilapidated mobile home — which served as both his office and residence — usually remained parked on a Malibu beach, but on a few occasions, when he needed to skip town in a hurry, he hitched his trailer up (with the help of his retired trucker dad) and took home with him. | |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_703ab38d | |
| The Rockford Files / int_7360806f | type |
In-Series Nickname | |
| The Rockford Files / int_7360806f | comment |
In-Series Nickname: Rockford is routinely addressed as "Jimbo" (by Dennis), "Jimmy" (by Rocky and Angel), "Sonny" (by Rocky), and "Jim" (by Beth). And, of course, everyone calls Joseph Rockford "Rocky". | |
| The Rockford Files / int_7360806f | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_7360806f | |
| The Rockford Files / int_77063cd7 | type |
Hooker with a Heart of Gold | |
| The Rockford Files / int_77063cd7 | comment |
Hooker with a Heart of Gold: Rita Capkovic. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_77063cd7 | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_77063cd7 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_7d7c8e54 | type |
Being Watched | |
| The Rockford Files / int_7d7c8e54 | comment |
Being Watched | |
| The Rockford Files / int_7d7c8e54 | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_7d7c8e54 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_808cbaeb | type |
Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking | |
| The Rockford Files / int_808cbaeb | comment |
Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: "Caledonia—It's Worth a Fortune!" ends with Sheriff Prouty arresting Rockford, his client and her friend for "Illegal entry, trespassing, back-talking an officer of the law and...illegal parking!" | |
| The Rockford Files / int_808cbaeb | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_808cbaeb | |
| The Rockford Files / int_8391b1c7 | type |
Artistic License – Law | |
| The Rockford Files / int_8391b1c7 | comment |
Artistic License – Law: The Taxman Takes the Winnings punchline of "Paradise Cove"'s "Shaggy Dog" Story unfortunately misses the part where owning gold bullion had been re-legalized in 1974, the same year the series premiered (after having been illegal since 1933, hence the mistake). | |
| The Rockford Files / int_8391b1c7 | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_8391b1c7 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_89623e9a | type |
The Paragon | |
| The Rockford Files / int_89623e9a | comment |
The Paragon: Lance White (played by Tom Selleck), a briefly recurring character whose Ideal Hero characteristics (he helps people for fun) net him the regard of men and women alike while also rubbing The Cynic James Rockford the wrong way. | |
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The Rockford Files / int_89623e9a | |
| The Rockford Files / int_89dcd4e | type |
Small-Town Tyrant | |
| The Rockford Files / int_89dcd4e | comment |
Small-Town Tyrant: New Pastoria Mayor Karen Sanders in the episode "Pastoria Prime Pick", who, along with the Sheriff, his deputy, the District Attorney and a tow-truck driver, are targeting innocent visitors to town with a shakedown scheme. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_89dcd4e | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_89dcd4e | |
| The Rockford Files / int_8a295a46 | type |
Cool Car | |
| The Rockford Files / int_8a295a46 | comment |
Cool Car: Subverted with Rockford's Firebird Esprit. Yeah, a Firebird should be cool, but his is an ugly brown color (the actual color is called Copper Mist, fairly popular back then), is the base model, and is constantly out-cooled by other cars on the show. (Rockford wouldn't have been able to afford a new car every year, but the studio had a deal with Pontiac requiring them to always use the latest model. However, for the last two seasons James Garner didn’t like the way the '79 Esprit looked, so they continued to use the 1978 model.) | |
| The Rockford Files / int_8a295a46 | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
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1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_8a295a46 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_8bce92b0 | type |
Buzzing the Deck | |
| The Rockford Files / int_8bce92b0 | comment |
Buzzing the Deck: In the episode "Guilt", hitman Brian Tegg chases Rockford and Eric Genther in his low-flying helicopter. He winds up having a fiery crash while trying to fly through a hangar. | |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_8bce92b0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_8c8eebb4 | type |
Future Foil | |
| The Rockford Files / int_8c8eebb4 | comment |
Future Foil: In 1974-1980, Rockford being a struggling P.I. living in a beachside trailer and driving a new Firebird is cool. However, in the TV movies, seeing him about 20 years later still living in the trailer and driving a 15-20-year old Firebird (that was not even the legendary Trans Am as seen in Smokey and the Bandit but rather a lower tier Esprit model) can be a bit sad as if he had made no progress in his life during all those years. To be fair, the trailer is MUCH bigger and better appointed, and the location is pretty unbeatable. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_8c8eebb4 | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_8c8eebb4 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_945c8d7d | type |
War Hero | |
| The Rockford Files / int_945c8d7d | comment |
War Hero: Jim Rockford served during The Korean War and was awarded the Silver Star. The combat experience shows, as he's very calm under pressure and isn't intimidated by guns. He respects them — he's not an idiot — but he's not intimidated by them. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_945c8d7d | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files / int_945c8d7d | featureConfidence |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_945c8d7d | |
| The Rockford Files / int_9919369d | type |
Con Man | |
| The Rockford Files / int_9919369d | comment |
Con Man: Rockford himself, occasionally; Angel Martin, always. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_9919369d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_9919369d | featureConfidence |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_9919369d | |
| The Rockford Files / int_9d12bbc1 | type |
Foreshadowing | |
| The Rockford Files / int_9d12bbc1 | comment |
Foreshadowing: In "The Trouble With Warren", Rockford has to chaperone Beth's cousin Warren, who keeps getting him arrested. So he told Beth: "You know, my next attorney is gonna be foundling, someone with no known living relatives." Then subverted in "The Return of the Black Shadow" when he is going on a date with Coop's sister. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_9d12bbc1 | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_9d12bbc1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_9d12bbc1 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_9dd2af4a | type |
Inspirationally Disadvantaged | |
| The Rockford Files / int_9dd2af4a | comment |
Inspirationally Disadvantaged | |
| The Rockford Files / int_9dd2af4a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_9dd2af4a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_9dd2af4a | |
| The Rockford Files / int_a1b0c1c2 | type |
Revealing Cover-Up | |
| The Rockford Files / int_a1b0c1c2 | comment |
Revealing Cover-Up: In the pilot episode, the villains' attempts to trail and later attack Rockford are what convinces Rockford to stay on with the case. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_a1b0c1c2 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_a1b0c1c2 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_a1b0c1c2 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_a6c69bd | type |
MacGuffin | |
| The Rockford Files / int_a6c69bd | comment |
MacGuffin: Played with in "A Material Difference". The elusive "Formula D" American and Soviet agents have been fighting over throughout the episode? The D stands for "denim". It's an extra sturdy new type of fabric. Angel is not amused that he risked his life for pants. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_a6c69bd | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_a6c69bd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_a6c69bd | |
| The Rockford Files / int_a9f392fd | type |
Pilot Movie | |
| The Rockford Files / int_a9f392fd | comment |
Pilot Movie: "Backlash of the Hunter" | |
| The Rockford Files / int_a9f392fd | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_a9f392fd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_a9f392fd | |
| The Rockford Files / int_aaf19fae | type |
Doesn't Like Guns | |
| The Rockford Files / int_aaf19fae | comment |
Doesn't Like Guns: While he certainly knows how to handle them, Jim almost rarely uses guns and doesn't carry his revolver on a regular basis. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_aaf19fae | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_aaf19fae | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_aaf19fae | |
| The Rockford Files / int_ae3d6438 | type |
Deadpan Snarker | |
| The Rockford Files / int_ae3d6438 | comment |
Deadpan Snarker: Rockford. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_ae3d6438 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_ae3d6438 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_ae3d6438 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_afab5e94 | type |
Reunion Show | |
| The Rockford Files / int_afab5e94 | comment |
Reunion Show: The TV movies "I Still Love L.A." (1994); "A Blessing in Disguise" (1995); "If the Frame Fits...", "Friends and Foul Play", "Punishment and Crime", "Godfather Knows Best" (all 1996); "Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda" (1997); "If It Bleeds...It Leads" (1999). | |
| The Rockford Files / int_afab5e94 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_afab5e94 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_afab5e94 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b1a7cd14 | type |
Tap on the Head | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b1a7cd14 | comment |
Tap on the Head: Rockford, the King of Concussion, got this about Once an Episode. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b1a7cd14 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b1a7cd14 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_b1a7cd14 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b36de8f5 | type |
Statute of Limitations | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b36de8f5 | comment |
Statute of Limitations: Plays an important role in one episode. A friend of Rockford's stole half a million dollars and the statute of limitations is nearly up. However, many criminals know about it and try to steal the soon-to-be clean money. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b36de8f5 | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_b36de8f5 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b39b94da | type |
Born Lucky | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b39b94da | comment |
Born Lucky: Lance White, played in two episodes by Tom Selleck. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b39b94da | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b39b94da | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_b39b94da | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b53077b3 | type |
Take That! | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b53077b3 | comment |
Take That!: Lance White is a parody of the impossibly lucky, flawless protagonists of other detective shows. Each of his two episodes also has a scene that parodies the Extreme Close-Up framing that many cop shows used at the time. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b53077b3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b53077b3 | featureConfidence |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_b53077b3 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b5b3599d | type |
Amoral Attorney | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b5b3599d | comment |
Amoral Attorney: District Attorney Gilbert Univaso in "Pastoria Prime Pick", who's part of a small-town shakedown scheme which involves falsely arresting strangers in town (like Rockford) and hitting them with a host of trumped-up charges. Bay City Deputy District Attorney Burton Kimball in "The Girl In the Bay City Boys Club", who, posing as a victim of a crooked card game, hires Rockford to buy his way into said game. The other players in the game turn out to be mobsters that Kimball is in league with, and they eventually kill him to shut him up. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b5b3599d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_b5b3599d | featureConfidence |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_b5b3599d | |
| The Rockford Files / int_bc3cb7ff | type |
Clear My Name | |
| The Rockford Files / int_bc3cb7ff | comment |
Clear My Name: Featured in many episodes such as “Pastoria Prime Pick.� | |
| The Rockford Files / int_bc3cb7ff | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_bc3cb7ff | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_bc3cb7ff | |
| The Rockford Files / int_bc6c6c90 | type |
Drop-In Character | |
| The Rockford Files / int_bc6c6c90 | comment |
Drop-In Character: Seemingly everybody broke into Rockford's trailer. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_bc6c6c90 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_bc6c6c90 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_bc6c6c90 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_bc74ef27 | type |
Berserk Button | |
| The Rockford Files / int_bc74ef27 | comment |
Berserk Button: He's a pretty relaxed guy overall, but don't threaten someone he cares about, particularly his father or Beth Davenport. A beating will commence. Wanna see Dennis Becker lose it? Just accuse any of his fellow officers of being a 'dirty cop'. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_bc74ef27 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_bc74ef27 | featureConfidence |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_bc74ef27 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_c4976d7c | type |
Vehicular Sabotage | |
| The Rockford Files / int_c4976d7c | comment |
Vehicular Sabotage: This is a very common occurrence on The Rockford Files, where someone seems to cut Jim's brake lines every third episode. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_c4976d7c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_c4976d7c | featureConfidence |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_c4976d7c | |
| The Rockford Files / int_c4d09d24 | type |
Couch Gag | |
| The Rockford Files / int_c4d09d24 | comment |
Couch Gag: The ever-changing messages on Rockford's answering machine in the Title Sequence, which often pertained to Jim's financial problems and other assorted woes. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_c4d09d24 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_c4d09d24 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_c4d09d24 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_c75df49a | type |
Shout-Out | |
| The Rockford Files / int_c75df49a | comment |
Shout-Out: In a couple of episodes, Rockford travels to the fictional Bay City, California (not to be confused with the real Bay City, Michigan), a location that originated in the novels of Raymond Chandler. “You’re not the first P.I. who’s tried to play games with this department�—A Bay City Police sergeant said to Rockford in “The Girl in the Bay City Boys Club.� In the episode "In Hazard", Rockford drives into Cooper's Scrap Metal to try and shake two thugs who are chasing him and Beth. The episode was directed by Jackie Cooper. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_c75df49a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_c75df49a | featureConfidence |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_c75df49a | |
| The Rockford Files / int_ca95473c | type |
Series Continuity Error | |
| The Rockford Files / int_ca95473c | comment |
Series Continuity Error: A significant one in "Just Another Polish Wedding." Rocky remembers Jim's rival PI Marcus Aurelius Hayes (Louis Gossett Jr.) as "Jimmy's parole officer." But since Rockford had his sentence vacated after evidence of his innocence surfaced, he should never have had or needed a parole officer. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_ca95473c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_ca95473c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_ca95473c | |
| The Rockford Files / int_cc1bd54d | type |
Non-Action Guy | |
| The Rockford Files / int_cc1bd54d | comment |
Non-Action Guy: While he can hold his own in a fight when he has to, Jim prefers non-violence as much as possible. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_cc1bd54d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_cc1bd54d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_cc1bd54d | |
| The Rockford Files / int_d33456e7 | type |
Improbable Age | |
| The Rockford Files / int_d33456e7 | comment |
Improbable Age: Dr. Megan Daugherty (played by 28-year-old Kathryn Harrold) was introduced in a 1978 episode as a psychiatrist with a well-established, thriving practice. Normally, a psychiatrist would require about 12 years of post-secondary education, meaning they would graduate around the age of 29 before even being able to start their practice. Then, in the reunion movies, it was repeatedly mentioned (and shown in flashback) that Megan was 15 during the Easter weekend of 1971, at which point she was a high school student who had not yet lost her sight. This would have made her 22 in 1978 — and meant that between '71 and '78 she managed to finish at least two years of high school, then somehow cram 12 years of university into about four, and then establish a busy practice for a couple of years, all while making the adjustment to having unexpectedly gone blind. This utterly ludicrous timeline isn't even a case of multiple writers muddying up continuity; all of Megan's appearances were written by David Chase. Megan makes Rockford's lawyer Beth Davenport look like a comparative slacker, although Beth is still somewhat improbably young for her position. Though Beth's age wasn't explicitly stated, when she first appeared, Beth's portrayer Gretchen Corbett was a youthful-looking 27 years old. 27 is the average age of a freshly-minted law school graduate — but Beth was already a firmly established lawyer with a fancy office at a big, well-respected firm (though not a full partner). In the season four episode "Forced Retirement", Beth said she had been with the firm for SIX years. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_d33456e7 | featureApplicability |
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| The Rockford Files / int_d33456e7 | featureConfidence |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_d33456e7 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_e44a1a70 | type |
Bounty Hunter | |
| The Rockford Files / int_e44a1a70 | comment |
Bounty Hunter | |
| The Rockford Files / int_e44a1a70 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_e44a1a70 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_e44a1a70 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_e9269f72 | type |
It Was Here, I Swear! | |
| The Rockford Files / int_e9269f72 | comment |
It Was Here, I Swear!: A Stalker Shrine to Beth makes a mysterious disappearance. Immediately subverted: she says "I saw them," Lt. Becker says "I'm sure you did," usually a lead-in to a patronizing "you're just stressed" until he points to tiny holes in the walls, saying "They were put up with pins." | |
| The Rockford Files / int_e9269f72 | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_e9269f72 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_e9269f72 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_eb251937 | type |
Dirty Cop | |
| The Rockford Files / int_eb251937 | comment |
Dirty Cop: Lt. Hall in "Feeding Frenzy" first comes across like Lt. Diehl or Lt. Chapman, another cop who wants to bust Rockford on any possible charges. It turns out that he's after the money that Charley Baylock stole and, with the aid of another bad cop, kidnaps Charley's daughter, requesting the stolen money as the ransom. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_eb251937 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_eb251937 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_eb251937 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_eb6da8ef | type |
Crossover | |
| The Rockford Files / int_eb6da8ef | comment |
Crossover: The title character from the short-lived Richie Brockelman, Private Eye appeared in several Rockford episodes. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_eb6da8ef | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_eb6da8ef | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_eb6da8ef | |
| The Rockford Files / int_edeafb2e | type |
Malicious Misnaming | |
| The Rockford Files / int_edeafb2e | comment |
Malicious Misnaming: Gandy always referred to Rockford as "Rockfish". May not be malicious but it did bug Rockford a lot. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_edeafb2e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_edeafb2e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_edeafb2e | |
| The Rockford Files / int_f005bd1c | type |
Friend on the Force | |
| The Rockford Files / int_f005bd1c | comment |
Friend on the Force: Dennis Becker | |
| The Rockford Files / int_f005bd1c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_f005bd1c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_f005bd1c | |
| The Rockford Files / int_f438a31c | type |
Taxman Takes the Winnings | |
| The Rockford Files / int_f438a31c | comment |
Taxman Takes the Winnings: In a close variant, "Paradise Cove" revolved around the discovery of buried gold ingots under Jim's trailer. To Angel's dismay, these are promptly confiscated by the feds on the grounds that it was is illegal to privately own gold bullion. Unfortunately for the show, private gold ownership had actually been legalized five years before the episode aired (the same year the show premiered in fact). | |
| The Rockford Files / int_f438a31c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_f438a31c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_f438a31c | |
| The Rockford Files / int_f5a3e496 | type |
Suspiciously Similar Substitute | |
| The Rockford Files / int_f5a3e496 | comment |
Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Sgt. Tom Garvey, played by David Spielberg, in "Just By Accident", has a very similar relationship with Jim to what he has with his usual police contact, Sgt. Dennis Becker. The Garvey character was retconned from an earlier episode, "Charlie Harris at Large", where, although he's lenient with Rockford, the two characters had just met in this episode, and Rockford isn't on a first-name basis with Garvey, as he is in the other episode. Harry DeNova, played by Richard B. Shull in "The Great Blue Lake Land and Development Company", seems to be filling in for Angel as Rockford's partner in the scam to get his money back. | |
| The Rockford Files / int_f5a3e496 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_f5a3e496 | featureConfidence |
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| The Rockford Files | hasFeature |
The Rockford Files / int_f5a3e496 | |
| The Rockford Files / int_f98356f | type |
Right-Wing Militia Fanatic | |
| The Rockford Files / int_f98356f | comment |
Right-Wing Militia Fanatic: Rockford encounters them in "The Battle of Canoga Park". The lady leading the group is also a real Government Conspiracy John Birch Society type, heard when she calls the talk radio: | |
| The Rockford Files / int_f98356f | featureApplicability |
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The Rockford Files / int_f98356f | |
| The Rockford Files / int_name | type |
ItemName | |
| The Rockford Files / int_name | comment |
||
| The Rockford Files / int_name | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
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| The Rockford Files / int_name | itemName |
The Rockford Files |
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