Rockford Files - The Complete Second Season
The Rockford Files DVDs

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"The best detective series ever," according to TV Guide, the second Rockford Files set begins at the beginning. That's because the double-length pilot ("Backlash of the Hunter") appears as an extra. In this episode, Jim Rockford (James Garner) explains to guest star Lindsay Wagner, "I only handle criminal cases that are closed." The first Rockford file also introduces his errant father, Rocky (Robert Donley, who'll soon be replaced by Noah Beery Jr.), detective buddy Dennis (Joe Santos, The Sopranos), and squirrelly pal Angel (Emmy winner Stuart Margolin) with whom he did time at San Quentin (before being granted a full pardon). Season two highlights include the two-part "Gearjammers," in which Rockford discovers his dad's secret life, "Chicken Little Is a Little Chicken," in which Rockford helps Angel fake his death, and "The Hammer of C Block," with Isaac "Shaft" Hayes as a former cellmate who just can't get his name straight—he thinks it's "Rockfish." (The Oscar-winning Hayes also contributes an original number called "Gandy's Theme.") Even when the episodes are less memorable, Garner's easygoing Oklahoma charm and potent chemistry with his co-stars, including lawyer/ex-girlfriend girlfriend Beth (Gretchen Corbett), makes each one worth watching. Like most Stephen J. Cannell programs (Baretta, 21 Jump Street, etc.), The Rockford Files never had any difficulty attracting famous (and soon-to-be-famous) guests. The second year claims such notables as Linda Evans ("The Farnsworth Stratagem"), Stefanie Powers ("The Real Easy Red Dog"), Blair Brown ("The Girl in the Bay City Boys Club"), Rob Reiner ("The No-Cut Contract"), and Louis Gossett Jr. ("Foul on the First Play'). The only other bonus feature is a short, if informative interview with Cannell, who reveals that the character of Joseph "Rocky" Rockford was modeled after his own father. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Season 2

Ep.#	Airdate	Title
201	1975-09-12	“The Aaron Ironwood School of Success”
202	1975-09-19	“The Farnsworth Strategm”
203	1975-09-26	“Gearjammers” — Part 1
204	1975-10-03	“Gearjammers” — Part 2
205	1975-10-10	“The Deep Blue Sleep”
206	1975-10-17	“The Great Blue Lake Land and Development Company”
207	1975-10-31	“The Real Easy Red Dog”
208	1975-11-07	“Resurrection in Black and White”
209	1975-11-14	“Chicken Little is a Little Chicken”
210	1975-11-21	“2 Into 5.56 Won’t Go”
211	1975-11-28	“Pastoria Prime Pick”
212	1975-12-05	“The Reincarnation of Angie”
213	1975-12-19	“The Girl in the Bay City Boy’s Club”
214	1976-01-09	“The Hammer of C Block”
215	1976-01-16	“The No-Cut Contract”
216	1976-01-23	“A Portrait of Elizabeth”
217	1976-01-30	“Joey Blue Eyes”
218	1976-02-06	“In Hazard”
219	1976-02-13	“The Italian Bird Fiasco”
220	1976-02-20	“Where’s Houston?”
221	1976-03-12	“Foul on the First Play”
222	1976-03-19	“A Bad Deal in the Valley”