The Rockford Files facts
- Thread starter hittman
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Lol. Stupid AI video. Talking about the old Maverick TV show they showed Maverick from Top Gun.
Rockford files was epic. I always thought it was funny they always found out he was an ex con, but never realized he had a Silver Star.
They are coming out with a reboot.
https://people.com/david-boreanaz-c...accepting-rockford-files-reboot-role-11906348
Rockford files was epic. I always thought it was funny they always found out he was an ex con, but never realized he had a Silver Star.
They are coming out with a reboot.
https://people.com/david-boreanaz-c...accepting-rockford-files-reboot-role-11906348
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One of my very favorite shows of all time! In the early 90's I recorded every episode in order onto VHS tapes. In the late 90's I bought a "professionally" done VHS tape of the entire show out of Canada. All it was was someone filming a TV showing the show LOL I then bought licensed DVD's of all seasons.
The clip above said Rockford drove a Trans Am. It was a usually debadged Esprit. Another bit of trivia is that Pontiac never offered that gold color on any of its Firebirds.
The clip above said Rockford drove a Trans Am. It was a usually debadged Esprit. Another bit of trivia is that Pontiac never offered that gold color on any of its Firebirds.
That's where I stopped watching it. AI just can't get anything really right.
For hardcore The Rockford Files fans, this book is a good read. It's been so long ago I can't remember when I bought it.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0938817361
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0938817361
The car was actually a debadged Formula, rebadged as an Esprit with the dual scooped Formula hood replaced by the flat Esprit hood. The formula was the next model below the Trans Am, while the Esprit was the next model above the base model. The producers wanted the Formula for the 400 ci engine and crisp handling but, needed a lower end vehicle as TV private eyes were usually portrayed as borderline poverty. The gold color was custom and chosen by Garner. This particular color was never offered by Pontiac. Although, no gold color was offered for '75 & '76, all other years offered some shade of gold.
They used both. The formulas were used for the scenes that needed the suspension or whatever. The cars he just drove around in were Esprits. You'd occasionally see the Esprit badge in scenes. In the OP video you can see Esprit on the C pillar at the 24:50 mark.
I stand corrected on the Esprits! They were formulas badged to look like Esprits.
The Firebirds used in Rockford Files were on-screen badged as "Esprit" trim, the next level trim after the base model. However, in reality, the cars were Formulas, one trim below the top-of-the-line Trans Am, using the same engines but having a different exterior design, notably having a twin-scoop hood.
For use in the series, they were replaced with Esprit's scoopless hood. However, two giveaways were the dual exhausts and rear anti-roll bar that were used on Formula but not on Esprit.
https://therockfordfiles.fandom.com/wiki/Pontiac_Firebird
The Firebirds used in Rockford Files were on-screen badged as "Esprit" trim, the next level trim after the base model. However, in reality, the cars were Formulas, one trim below the top-of-the-line Trans Am, using the same engines but having a different exterior design, notably having a twin-scoop hood.
For use in the series, they were replaced with Esprit's scoopless hood. However, two giveaways were the dual exhausts and rear anti-roll bar that were used on Formula but not on Esprit.
https://therockfordfiles.fandom.com/wiki/Pontiac_Firebird
I saw something the other day about them resurrecting The Rockford Files. Rockford Files Reboot
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This was before they realized that a car could be the star of the show. In my opinion Rockford files paved the way for Smokey and the Bandit, and Dukes of Hazard.
Interestingly Rockford and Hawaii 5-0 existed in the same universe but there was never a crossover.
Tom Selleck played a PI on Rockford and it paved the way for Magnum PI.
Interestingly Rockford and Hawaii 5-0 existed in the same universe but there was never a crossover.
Tom Selleck played a PI on Rockford and it paved the way for Magnum PI.
I wondered about Magnum PI? I never watched Rockford Files, but do remember Magnum PI.
I think Crossover's are a more modern thing on TV shows, aren't they? Although I do remember Happy Days and the Lavern and Shirly show having a few crossovers. Maybe it was those two shows... But I know the three Chicago shows have quite a few crossovers these days.
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Magnum was a direct descendant of the original Hawaii 5-0. Occasionally he would mention McGarret at 5-0.
Then with the reboot of Hawaii 5-0 they blew the continuity.
The first crossover I remember was Magnum and Simon and Simon.
Remember JAG? It spun off into the NCIS shows. Sometimes the spinoffs are better than the original. Sometimes they jump the shark and you end up with Joanie Loves Chachi.
Then with the reboot of Hawaii 5-0 they blew the continuity.
The first crossover I remember was Magnum and Simon and Simon.
Remember JAG? It spun off into the NCIS shows. Sometimes the spinoffs are better than the original. Sometimes they jump the shark and you end up with Joanie Loves Chachi.
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Partially true. Some Formulas did have the Pontiac 400. Many came with a Pontiac 350. Some Formulas were even factory 2-bbl carbs. And even base Firebirds had the anti-roll bar. They were just 5/8" bars where the WS6 package Trans Am and some later Formulas had a 3/4" bar. It would take a heck of a good eye to see 1/8" difference on camera. And if you watch through the years, the car changes with the body changes. 2 headlight car, then a 4-headlight car. Flat rear window, then the wraparound rear window. Different wheels. Different taillights. But all cool cars. From a guy who has owned 89 Firebirds.
I do remember JAG. I was in Bulgaria and it was the only show on my tv in English. (subtitled, not dubbed.) great show.Magnum was a direct descendant of the original Hawaii 5-0. Occasionally he would mention McGarret at 5-0.
Then with the reboot of Hawaii 5-0 they blew the continuity.
The first crossover I remember was Magnum and Simon and Simon.
Remember JAG? It spun off into the NCIS shows. Sometimes the spinoffs are better than the original. Sometimes they jump the shark and you end up with Joanie Loves Chachi.
I never saw the Joanie loves Chachi show.
Wasn’t Chachi the same actor as Charles in Charge?
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Yes Scott Bayo, it was a spinoff of Happy Days. You didn’t miss much.
Star43
Hunter
My wife and I love the Rockford Files. We watch it on Get TV. It seems Get TV is basically the only channel we watch if we watch TV at all. We don't watch anything new on television now. Rockford was a classic. John Wayne said that James Garner was the finest actor he ever met. The AI video that was first shown was very good & I liked how they mentioned the other shows like Monk and Psych. Those 2 shows are also playing on Get TV right now....It should be mentioned that Tom Selleck and Magnum PI was a takeover type show from good old "Lance" the PI that played a couple of times on Rockford. Those shows with Garner and a young Selleck were classic.
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Star43
Hunter
James Garner was a great driver. We love watching his fast backup scenes.
Gopher
Blackhawk
Like the red Torino in Starsky and Hutch?
Here's some TRF trivia for you. Be careful ;)
Who was the guest star in Season 1 Episode 1 of The Rockford Files?
Who was the guest star in Season 1 Episode 1 of The Rockford Files?
Star43
Hunter
I remember Lindsay Wagner (my first daughter's name is Lindsay) and William Smith from that old TV western show and later always played bad guys, and I remember Billy Mumy (Will Robinson) from Lost in Space...
Loved the show. I grew up in So Cal, spent many a day fishing off the pier at Paradise Cove- Jim’s trailer was parked in the lot there. Wish we had cell phones back then, I would have had some cool pictures. Back then the restaurant was called “the Sand Castle” if I remember correctly.
Got married shortly after the show ended, my wife had a 76 Camaro, mildly built. It was painted medium saddle metallic . She got in an accident and had to have the whole car repainted. We added all the Z28 flares, vents, spoiler, and hood scoop- just not the graphics. I got pretty good at doing those J-turns. Also the parking brake u-turns at speed. Yep, the good old days…
My FIL was the head of electrical at 20th Century Fox. Met lots of celebs, my wife spent a lot of her youth on the set of M.A.S.H. Fall Guy, Love Boat, etc… we got quite a bit of memorabilia too, but most is gone by now. We do still have a set of dishes from the Commissary…we use them as our “good dishes”.
Got married shortly after the show ended, my wife had a 76 Camaro, mildly built. It was painted medium saddle metallic . She got in an accident and had to have the whole car repainted. We added all the Z28 flares, vents, spoiler, and hood scoop- just not the graphics. I got pretty good at doing those J-turns. Also the parking brake u-turns at speed. Yep, the good old days…
My FIL was the head of electrical at 20th Century Fox. Met lots of celebs, my wife spent a lot of her youth on the set of M.A.S.H. Fall Guy, Love Boat, etc… we got quite a bit of memorabilia too, but most is gone by now. We do still have a set of dishes from the Commissary…we use them as our “good dishes”.
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Yaworski
Hawkeye
My brother in law was a JAG, he said that JAG was about as realistic as Wonder Woman.
Star43
Hunter
Randy, My wife just looked at the picture of your dishes. She really likes them. If we ever go to visit you, Make sure you serve us on those same dishes....
