Television viewers of a certain age are likely to have fond memories of The Rockford Files, which aired on NBC from 1974 to 1980 and starred the wonderful James Garner as private detective Jim Rockford. The show was noteworthy for successfully straddling the fine line between comedy and drama and for its anti-hero leading man — instead of a square-jawed, all-American hero, we got a square-jawed, all-American guy who was mostly just trying to get by.
While the show was a classic in the private eye genre and was definitely a product of its time, it had an enduring comic sensibility that worked in large part because of the laid back way in which Garner played the title character — consistently down on his luck and caught eternally between the cops and a hard place, Rockford was a charming underdog we couldn't help but love.
Having fond memories of the show, it was with mixed feelings that I heard the news that NBC (along with Universal Media Studios and Steve Carell's production company, Carousel Television) has tapped House creator and executive producer David Shore to remake the show. In discussing the news in Variety, Shore said he's only just started thinking about an approach. "What makes 'Rockford' timeless is that he's vulnerable, he's flawed. He's used to hustling and getting hustled," Shore said. "Sometimes he's a hero and sometimes he runs away." I've no doubt that Shore gets the show's vibe, but if part of Rockford's charm was its portrayal of the late '70s zeitgeist and the other part was its leading man, any successful rebirth will have to figure out a way to transplant the heart of the show into the Age of Irony — and of course the title role has to be perfectly cast.
Needless to say, reaction on the Internet has ranged from the positive to the negative, and hitting all points in between. The question on everyone's mind, of course, is who will play Jim Rockford? Who on the current scene is big enough to fill James Garner's gumshoes?
Leaving aside the question of updating the show's cultural milieu, let's think about the character of Jim Rockford. He's not exactly a model citizen, although he's pretty damn good at what he does. He's done time in prison (and has the ne'er-do-well ex-con friends to prove it), and he probably owes as much money to creditors as some of his deadbeat clients owe him. He lives in a trailer on the beach in Malibu. Oh, and there's that kick-ass Firebird he drives. Garner was a handsome man in his prime, but was also a regular sort of guy, which meant that he appealed to both male and female viewers, and I think it's essential that the actor who takes up the gauntlet have that same broad appeal and be able to walk the fine line between disreputable and sexy.
Article comments
1 - Diane Kristine
I was a little too young to be a fan of the original and have never been much into cop/detective shows, but I can see David Shore doing well with that type of character. I wonder why a remake rather than doing an original detective series, but that's the way Hollywood works, right?
I don't know Bruce Campbell well enough to say. I'd love to see George Clooney in that kind of role, though he'd never do it at this point in his career. I miss the Clooney on my TV every week.
2 - Bill Sherman
The big question is: how does Bruce look in a checkered sports jacket?
3 - Lisa McKay
Bill, I think the answer to that question is obvious -- Bruce would look like a natural in that sports jacket.
4 - Bliffle
Bruce Campbell? Are you refering to the author of the book "Making Love The Bruce Campbell Way"?
5 - Lisa McKay
Yup, same Bruce Campbell.
6 - Phillip Winn
I was in the "The Rockford Files was classic TV and should be allowed to rest in peace" camp right up until the moment I hit page 2 and saw Bruce Campbell's pictures.
Genius. With Bruce Campbell, it could work. Anybody else? No way.
7 - DW
Bruce Campbell would be a score for this role, I like your thinking!