TV series remakes aren’t typically very successful, and NBC’s planned redo of The Rockford Files is facing a really big critic in Tom Selleck. Meanwhile, NBC keeps forging ahead with casting the pilot.
The Rockford Files originally ran on NBC for six seasons back in the 1970s, until star James Garner was so physically exhausted that he had to leave the show. He starred as Jim Rockford, a private detective who didn’t see himself as a hero, and seemed to be looking more for the money than the glory. His costars on the show are Noah Beery Jr. and Joe Santos, while Stuart Margolin, Gretchen Corbett, James Luisi, Tom Atkins, Bop Hopkins, Pat Finley, Isaac Hayes, and one Mr. Tom Selleck play recurring characters.
NBC has tapped movie star Dermot Mulroney, star of My Best Friend’s Wedding and Burn After Reading, for the role of Jim Rockford. In this version, the character is a former cop and also spent some time in prison. Garner’s Rockford had been a Korean war vet who spent time in San Quentin for armed robbery, but was pardoned for the crime he didn’t commit. The character is being described as “slightly crumpled, wry-humored, cynical, world-weary, compassionate when it’s called for, and easily irritated by morons.”
Alan Tudyk, star of Dollhouse, Firefly, and V, will play LAPD Sergeant Dennis Becker who doles out favors to Rockford, making him not a popular person on the police squad. It’ll be interesting to see if Tudyk and Mulroney can pull off the same chemistry as Garner and Joe Santos, who played Becker in the original series. Beau Bridges will play Rocky, Jim Rockford’s father and closest friend. He was a semi-retired truck driver who would have preferred Jim to get more stable employment, and was played by Noah Beery Jr. originally.
All of this is well and good, but Tom Selleck, who played Rockford’s rival Lance White in two episodes back in the 1970s, doesn’t see the remake as a totally positive thing. While he finds Mulroney to be a fine actor, he thinks instead of recasting the role of Rockford, they should just use James Garner again. He makes the point that “when you think of Rockford, you don’t remember ‘that episode about the bank robbery,’ you remember [Garner] making you laugh.”
Selleck notes that, “I’m a little prejudiced because he was really a formative influence on me, even a mentor in so many ways, even though he probably wouldn’t admit to it…” He concludes, “[Mulroney] has an uphill battle, and I wish him well.”
The new version of The Rockford Files is being written by the creator of House, David Shore, who is also a co-executive producer with Steve Carrell. If the pilot becomes a series, it’s bound to pick up viewers for the first few weeks as people tune in just to see it. The question is if those viewers will return week after week.
What do you think? Is Selleck correct? Does Mulroney have an uphill battle ahead of him? Would it have been better if he was going to play a completely new character?
Have both film and television lost all since of creativity? It’s a shame that the bottom line is all that matters now. It used to be a balance between that and originality. Having said all that, I am curious to see how this show will pan out. And I do think that Beau Bridges is an excellent choice for “Rocky.” I’m going to try to view this show as one that is inspired by the original instead of as an exact replica. This way, I may be able to appreciate it.
Rockford as an ex-cop isn’t too bad. Not ideal since Jim basically made his living running scams after the army. It depends on what they do with the character AFTER he became a cop that will count. He MUST have a grifter’s background to complete the character. It will be interesting to see what they do. They ARE taking their time with it,so they are being careful. What’s wrong with Beau Bridges as Rocky ? he’s a brilliant choice. He has the look and can provide the homespun humor, so I disagree with anyone who says other. As to the… Read more »
The first GIANT mistake is making Rockford an ex-cop. Anyone who knows Rockford knows he is NOT a big fan of the LAPD. Half the time, he’s on the run from them. SPENSER was the ex-cop, NOT Rockford . And Beau Bridges as Rocky ? Please ! Oh, and good luck catching anybody in that ’74 Firebird you guys hauled back from Arizona; That was the first year for catalytic converters – those cars are absolute dogs. A Prius could outrun a ’74 Firebird. Back then when he was dodging ’74 Novas, it made sense.
I like Georgina’s idea. I can see the bickering between the siblings driving Rockford crazy. I agree there does not seem to be many risk takers or creative people.
Where was that idiot Selleck when he was asked to play Lance White in the TV movies ? He turned it down, claiming it was ” a step backward”. And he’s got the nerve to make comments like this ? Who cares what Tom Selleck thinks ! I don’t have a problem with a reboot of ROCKFORD and I LOVE the series and own it on DVD. It would be interesting to see how Rockford would operate in today’s world with all this new tech. I do agree, however, that Mulroney should be a long lost nephew with occasional visits… Read more »
Please do not ruin the memory of rockford files. Nobody can ever be Rockford but James Garner Please don’t!!!!!!!!!!!
It won’t work…I remember Rockford and agree with Mr. Selleck…it might work if it were a move forward from the “Rockford Files”…example: A son and a daughter (that Rockford never knew about) who found each other in there pursuit to learn about the father they never knew…they form a team, find their father and start their own detective agency with Garner making guest appearences to assist his kids now and then…just an idea…
Good Grief! What is NBC thinking? Actually thinking obviously hasn’t entered into this lame-brained decision. Rockford Files is a classic. Don’t mess with it!
Do something new, or if that fails, steal something from the BBC. That usually works.
Much as I’d like to, “You can’t go home again.” Didn’t NBC learn anything with the failure of the “KNIGHT RIDER” / Mustang Commercial remake last year? Much as I love Jim Garner, he’s too old to do this show anymore, the original writers and producers are long gone, and times / TV shows have changed. Why can’t NBC just create a NEW program in the mold of these old 70’s shows — car chases, gun fights, clever writing, real acting, etc. (If you said, “Because that costs too much” — when reality shows are so cheap, you’d be close… Read more »
This is doomed without involvement from Cannell. Otherwise it’s doomed because it’s aping a problem that practically the entire TV universe has these days. Mulroney and Tudyk look nearly the same with just different hair coloring. Santos, at the time, was a squat, balding very typical lifer at a police department trying to make it to retirement without Rockford getting him bounced down to street duty. Ya need someone to be able to act and LOOK the part. Look for a late-40-something character actor for Dennis Becker than just another pretty-boy. The TV execs lose me with the bevy of… Read more »
We totally agree that this remake is a bad idea They could do Rockford and have Mulroney be his estranged son and the pilot could be the son as a P.I. who stumbles on who dear ole’ dad really is.
This way no one would be offended by touching a classic, new viewers would enjoy, and older viewers would enjoy the link to the classic. Get it Hollywood?
Please an audience, don’t gamble with them. By the way, I am a writer, if NBC would like to contact me, my email is attached. 😉
I agree with Tom Selleck. If you’re gonna remake the Rockford Files, James Garner is your man. It can be done again, but it needs to be new. There is only one Jim Rockford and that belongs solely to Mr. Garner. Come up with a new script and new title and give that a try. If it’s as good as the Rockford Files, I’ll watch it. But, a new Rockford Files? It doesn’t feel right.
How desperate are the networks anyway? Can’t anyone think “new” anymore? Everything is getting re-done. I adore James Garner and the cast he had, there is absolutely NO ONE that could ever replace, or come close to getting the same thing across. Anymore than they could re-do Tom Sellecks TV smash….come on folks, get out the thinking caps, I just feel that you can come up with something new…..
I doubt this will work. The character of Jim Rockford was the sort of character that James Garner specialized in doing from his early days on Maverick.
And Tudyk, much as I liked him on Firefly is a real show killer. Any project he’s involved in goes down in flames.
If they wanted to do a dramedy about a cynical, world weary PI with a heart of gold, why redo the Rockford Files. They could have invented a new series that wouldn’t have everyone comparing it to the original.
No, this series like all of the other remake shows (e.g. Kojak, Knight Rider) will not work. First of all, most current TV watchers don’t even remeber the Rockford Files. Secondly, the current Hollywood regime just doesn’t get it! They have no creative will power or original thoughts anymore. It is really sad to see after living through the dynamic period of the 50’s -90’s in TV history that Hollywood has sunk to such low depths. Have you seen “Minute to Win It yet?” Ughhhh! Oh well, this will not change until a new social revolution occurs, encouraging a new… Read more »
IF THE UNIT DIDN`T MAKE IT
HOW CAN POOR ROCKFISH, MAKE A COMEBACK