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NBC to remake Rockford Files

"This is Jim Rockford. At the tone leave your name and message, I'll get back to you." Yeah -35 years later!

jr“This is Jim Rockford. At the tone leave your name and message, I’ll get back to you.”

But who’d’a thunk he’d be getting back to us more than 35 years later?

NBC is to remake The Rockford Files, the 1970s private detective series that starred James Garner and put writer-producer Stephen J. Cannell on the map.

Rockford was an ex-con private eye who lived in a trailer in Malibu (and usually worked as hard to get his clients to pay up as he did on solving cases), in an era that had a number of enigmatic crimebusters (we’re looking at you Kojak, Barnaby Jones, Baretta, Colombo).

The new version will be crafted by House writer, David Shore.

“It’s one of the shows that made me want to become a writer,” Shore said. “I had no interest in adapting any old stuff, but this was the one exception.”

He says he intends to stick with the basic foundation of a private eye in L.A. just trying to make a living.

“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.”

It will take an awful lot to fill the shoes of James Garner (and I want a decent theme!). Any suggestions guys?

Source: Variety

17 Responses

  1. This might work with the right person playing Rockford Nathan Fillion is a good idea but as said he is tied up with Castle, Bruce Campbeel (Sam Axe in Burn Notice) would be a good choice as well, please not Steve Carell though.

    If you read the HeraldSun online it actually does say Carell is playing him:

    ****”Steve Carell is to flick through the re-opened Rockford Files, taking on the role of Jim Rockford made famous by James Garner in the 1974 hit TV series.

    Garner was an ex-con private eye who lived in a caravan and worked as hard to get his clients to pay as he did on solving cases.

    The series ran from 1974 to 1980.”****

    So either thay are really wrong or he is.

  2. To answer my own ponder, I found this online:

    “The idea for the remake came from Carousel Television, Steve Carell’s production company, which inquired about the rights to the Universal TV property. Since House is also produced by Universal, executives felt Shore was the man for the job.”

    So when the HeraldSun says: “The 1974-80 Rockford Files TV drama starring James Garner will be remade with comedian Steve Carell.”

    I guess that is what they mean.

  3. Maybe they will use Michael Weston who played the PI Lucas Douglas that House hired in Season 5 and was in 3 or so Episodes, as they were talking of giving him a Spin-Off Series at one point.

    For some reason on Page 33 of today’s Herald Sun it says Steve Carell is going to be in it, however I wonder if that is a misprint because Stephen J. Cannell was a Creator of the original show … be funny if Nathan Fillion ended up playing Rockford seeing in Castle he plays poker with Stephen J. Cannell (Castle would have to axed though I guess and to be honest I think Fillion would be good in the role).

  4. gee guys i think david was aiming for a bit of levity with this thread, not the doom, gloom.read it again and maybe even answer his question?….just a thought

  5. What about that guy from ‘Life’? The red head. I can’t remember his name which doesn’t mean he wasn’t good and didn’t leave an impression just means my memory is bad.

  6. I’m a huge ,huge fan of 70’s cop/detective shows but one of the main attractions is the era they were made in. A naughties version just won’t be the same but i’ll check it out anyway.

  7. Rockford was great show – make by great casting and storylines.
    If House wriet David Shore sticks true, it has a chance – just get the cast right to start with.

  8. I loved this show as a kid when it was re-run in the 1980s. A remake won’t recapture that old ’70’s magic, but if it’s done right, this could be a great show.

    But who will they get to fill Garner’s shoes?

  9. wow!!! george clooney or would he be too smarmy? gotta be someone around the 40-50 mark with a left of centre sense of humour.

    My partner and I played this game a few years back when we cast a bewitched movie before that horrible remake.

    We had Heather locklear as samantha, jim carrey as darrin, Bette midler as endora, Angela lansbury as Aunt Clara and denham elliot as Maurice. of course no ne could afford all of those actors…..but I digress

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