Rockford Files question - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

shardede · 03-21-2002, 04:28 AM

Someone on Jump the Shark posted this about an episode of Rockford Files:

"Jim and his girlfriend are on a sort of road trip and they stop for a burger and to freshen up. She goes to the washroom and disappears. AND THE ENDING IS SO UNBELIEVABLY TRAGIC. I won't give it away, but I will say that TV writers today don't have the guts (or, in their defense, the permission), to pull that kind of stunt today."

Based on the brief descriptions I've seen in episode guides, I think the episode is called "Sleight of Hand" and was in the first season. With such a compelling description, I would love to know what happened in this episode!?!? Does anyone know? Thanks!!

Tiger32 · 03-27-2002, 12:03 AM

I loved the Rockford Files, and I am a big James Garner fan. But I disagree with the comment made regarding today's TV writers. I just think that the writers for classic shows like the Rockford Files, were simply better writers than many of today's writers. I don't think that guts factor into it at all, because today's writers certainly have a lot more freedom, in terms of language, sexual inuendos etc. But that liberty does not necessarily lead to creativity.

The writers of the Rockford Files were great, and that coupled with James Garner's charming personality was a formula for success!

Beruche · 03-31-2002, 06:22 PM

I like The Rockford files too! I don't usually like this kind of show and when it first came to tv land I thought (Oh no another boring PI show like Mannix) but I really like this one. For some reason I find this show to be funny. Yeah well um this has nothing to do with the question but oh well.lol

BrandonS · 08-04-2003, 08:37 AM

My recollection could be wrong, but if this is the episode I'm thinking of, it turns out that Rockford's lady friend saw something that she wasnt supposed to see at the place that they stopped, so they killed her, and had some woman who looked similar get into Rockford's car and pretend to be sleeping in the back seat so he wouldn't get a good look at her and would think she got back in the car. Then she disappeared when they got home before he could see her face. Rockford based his investigation on the idea that something happened to her after they got home, not knowing that she never got back in his car at the rest stop. I'm not a Rockford expert, so maybe someone else could verify this. I love the show, though. I especially love Angel, Rockford's ne'er do well friend who always has five cons going.

JudgeGarth · 11-04-2004, 01:03 AM

You are correct about what happened in that episode. That same story was used two years earlier in the series 'Jigsaw', also produced by Roy Huggins. It was based on a novel called 'Thin Air'. It was such a good story that Huggins figured since nobody watched 'Jigsaw', he might as well use it again!

03-21-2002, 04:28 AM	#1
shardede Member Forum Cub Join Date: Mar 20, 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 2	Rockford Files question Someone on Jump the Shark posted this about an episode of Rockford Files: "Jim and his girlfriend are on a sort of road trip and they stop for a burger and to freshen up. She goes to the washroom and disappears. AND THE ENDING IS SO UNBELIEVABLY TRAGIC. I won't give it away, but I will say that TV writers today don't have the guts (or, in their defense, the permission), to pull that kind of stunt today." Based on the brief descriptions I've seen in episode guides, I think the episode is called "Sleight of Hand" and was in the first season. With such a compelling description, I would love to know what happened in this episode!?!? Does anyone know? Thanks!!
	Last edited by shardede; 03-21-2002 at 04:29 AM.

03-27-2002, 12:03 AM	#2
Tiger32 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 14, 2002 Posts: 624	I loved the Rockford Files, and I am a big James Garner fan. But I disagree with the comment made regarding today's TV writers. I just think that the writers for classic shows like the Rockford Files, were simply better writers than many of today's writers. I don't think that guts factor into it at all, because today's writers certainly have a lot more freedom, in terms of language, sexual inuendos etc. But that liberty does not necessarily lead to creativity. The writers of the Rockford Files were great, and that coupled with James Garner's charming personality was a formula for success!
	Last edited by Tiger32; 03-27-2002 at 12:05 AM.

03-31-2002, 06:22 PM	#3
Beruche Chicago Senior Member Join Date: Aug 27, 2001 Location: In anti land singing the lala song Posts: 2,613	I like The Rockford files too! I don't usually like this kind of show and when it first came to tv land I thought (Oh no another boring PI show like Mannix) but I really like this one. For some reason I find this show to be funny. Yeah well um this has nothing to do with the question but oh well.lol

08-04-2003, 08:37 AM	#4
BrandonS Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 18, 2002 Posts: 8,824	My recollection could be wrong, but if this is the episode I'm thinking of, it turns out that Rockford's lady friend saw something that she wasnt supposed to see at the place that they stopped, so they killed her, and had some woman who looked similar get into Rockford's car and pretend to be sleeping in the back seat so he wouldn't get a good look at her and would think she got back in the car. Then she disappeared when they got home before he could see her face. Rockford based his investigation on the idea that something happened to her after they got home, not knowing that she never got back in his car at the rest stop. I'm not a Rockford expert, so maybe someone else could verify this. I love the show, though. I especially love Angel, Rockford's ne'er do well friend who always has five cons going.

11-04-2004, 01:03 AM	#5
JudgeGarth Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 07, 2004 Location: Wheaton, IL Posts: 443	You are correct about what happened in that episode. That same story was used two years earlier in the series 'Jigsaw', also produced by Roy Huggins. It was based on a novel called 'Thin Air'. It was such a good story that Huggins figured since nobody watched 'Jigsaw', he might as well use it again!