The Rockford Files

1 9 7 4 - 1 9 7 9  (USA)
125 x 60 minute episodes

"This is Jim Rockford. At the tone leave your name and message. I'll get back to you"

Mistrusted by the police, set up by his own clients and continually beaten up in a most un-macho fashion by anyone who could get a shot off, Jim Rockford was the ultimate good guy Private Eye (working for $200 a day + expenses).

Jim lived a less than glamorous life in a beach side green and white 50-foot caravan (or 'trailer' for our US chums) located at 2354 Pacific Coast Highway in the Paradise Cove Trailer Colony. Rockford's compassion for society's outcasts embroiled him weekly as the underdog in bizarre investigations. While his good heart often caused him to give up his salary, it did earn him the warm friendship of ex-cellmate Angel Martin (Stuart Margolin) and Lieutenant Dennis Becker (Joe Santos).

Jim's firm grasp on reality (unlike so many TV private dicks) was apparent in statements such as "I'm not going in there, I could get killed!" . To this end, our fearless hero never carried a gun and in fact did not even have a permit to carry one!

Unlike most private detectives, Jim did not enjoy a close working relationship with the police department. This was primarily because he was an ex-con. Although he ultimately  received a full pardon, Jim had served 5 years for an armed robbery he didn't commit. The police also disliked Rockford because of his ability to solve cases they had already closed!

"Jim, It's Norma at the market. . . . It bounced. You want us to tear it up, send it back, or put it with the others? "