Usually I think remaking a TV classic is a bad idea, but the news that House producer David Shore is thinking of doing a new version of the great James Garner series The Rockford Files fills me with hope, not cynicism.
Yes, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to match the wily charm that James Garner brought to this wonderful 1974-80 detective show about a stubbornly independent, low-income private eye. But House proves Shore knows how to showcase prickly heroes.
Co-created by Stephen J. Cannell and the great Roy Huggins, the original Rockford Files writing staff included Sopranos creator David Chase. The new Rockford is slated to air on NBC, which gives me some pause — this is the network, after all, that had no idea what a treasure it had in its recent Damian Lewis crime show Life. I’m thinking USA Network, where, y’know, characters are welcome, would be a better home for a fresh Rockford Files.
What do you think? Is remaking The Rockford Files a good idea? Bad? And who would you cast as rugged wise guy Jim Rockford? (My colleague Marc Bernardin just came up with a brilliant idea: ABC, if it cancels Castle, frees up Nathan Fillion to become a potentially-ideal Rockford. That get some casting ideas sparking?)
UPDATE: My colleague at Time Magazine, James Poniewozik, has a few typically astute things to say about a Rockford remake (also check out his exemplary blog via my blogroll).
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NO WAY!! People may copy the Mona Lisa so they can learn a technique. But you will never be able to come up to the standards of a masterpiece. Rockford Files was a masterpiece because of James Garner. Try as you may you will never be able to replace him. Although I wish you could.
Garner fan.
I would love if it were possible to do Rockford justice but I just don’t see it happening. Garner was far too good to top and everyone else would just be a pale knock-off.
a middle aged person like bruce campbell who plays sam ax on burn notice would be perfect as jim rockford. the 90s remake tv movie rockford files were too long with not much substance to the shows, like from the 70s. the acting was there but the writing wasnt. the show needs action, good characters and light humor that the writers and james garner made possible. just my opinion.
Overall, I think it’s a wretched idea. How often do these remakes ever match the quality or fun of the originals? Add to that that it was such a distinctly James Garner role. If it has to be, I do like the suggestions of Fillion (though I think he’s a bit young) and Campbell (though I think he’s a bit too comic), but then I’d be willing to give anything with Fillion or Campbell on screen. What’s really sad is that the networks are so pathetically devoid of original ideas.
Rockford is one of my favorite nostalgia shows and James Garner was sublime in it. The theme song alone is worth the price of admission. But perhaps Bruce Campbell could bring some of that wise but weary charm that Garner had. But did you have to bring up how “Life” got screwed by NBC? Now I’m pissed off just thinking about that again!
I think Damian Lewis would make an excellent Jim Rockford, but who would play Angel?
he’s a perfect CASTLE, so why would he be better inhabiting a former gumshoe’s iconic persona when he’s doing a great job creating one now. Here’s an idea: why not appreciate and write about him in CASTLE and maybe that show can grow some viewers.
As much I love the idea of Nathan Fillion as Rockford, I hope Castle surives!
Bruce Campbell was the first person that popped into head.
Please, no…
Love the Damian Lewis and Bruce Campbell ideas…they’d make great Rockfords. Or how about one of the great character actors who have been around for years…Ray Abruzzo or Philip Casnoff…someone with a bit of a scary side.
Nathan Filion would be fine, but I like Castle. Earlier this year I was thinking that USA should do some TV movies of the Rockford Files with Bruce Campbell as Rockford, James Gammon as Rocky, and Adam Arkin as Angel.
YES Rockford remake and Yes on USA. No no no on Nathan Fillion. Rockford is a masculine everyman. Fillion could be good in a remake of Magnum, but not Rockford. Anyone under 40 would be laughable.
I think Jeffrey Dean Morgan might be able to capture Jim Rockford. Jennifer Esposito gets my vote for Rita.
Obviously no one can replace James Garner. He was the best. So for a Rockford remake to work, the shows producers should try to find somebody who would do a completely new interpretation of the Rockford character. Why not, for example, try making Jim African-American? That way die-hard fans will make fewer unfair comparisons betwen the original and the remake.
My suggestion for an African-American Rockford: Wendell Pierce. He played Bunk, the hard-drinking murder police on The Wire, with perfect sardonic wit. I’d love to see him play a down-on-his-luck, ex-con PI trying to get by with a joke and a few fake business cards.
Wow, I had just thought of Nathan Fillion at the start of this article and there was his name further down. I’d love to see a new Rockford File show.
ix nay with the “if Castle get cancelled” talk. Nathan Fillion would be brilliant, but I agree- Castle is a great show- watch it and leave the past in the past.
I think remaking the show is a bad idea – a show in that style, or even about the son Rockford never had? Fine. But there can be only one “Rockfish”.
Having said that, the one guy who would be perfect is already tied up with another show – David Boreanaz from ‘Bones’. He’d be perfect! He even looks a little like Garner……
Fillion is amazing in Castle and the chemistry, entire cast, etc is all incredibly perfect-there is no way abc will cancel Castle-sorry! It already had 11million viewers in midseason so next season it will definitely become more and more known that it will very soon become one of TV’s most popular shows-if you havent watched it yet -you will be pleasantly surprised!:)
By the way, if you liked Rockford Files you will love watching Castle! Quite similar in a way-but I think Castle has all it all- most likely much better than any remake of RF could be! Castle is the only show I watch on TV these days!
No. When are they going to stop redoing the past? Make something new. James Garner is Rockford.
And why does Roy Huggins get “great” but Stephen Cannell doesn’t? What gives, Ken?
Sure, it can be done. But they have to cast properly with someone who has the subtle charming cynicism of Garner supplemented with a believable police sergeant on par with Santos and a quirky loveable scumbag like Angel.
Then, fill the gaps with character-driven stories and you’ve got a hit. What they probably should do this time around, though, is go international. Take us to the South Pacific, Europe and Africa or Asia two or three times each season so a global audience can be built — think I’m wrong, note how American series are playing big in Europe and the Arab world and you might understand.
Rather than USA or NBC perhaps HBO? Spice it up a bit!
I love Rockford Files and believe it was the best ever detective show, perhaps the best ever TV show, but I realize this time around it will need to be FRESH and make us forget about the old series.
I’d love to write an episode or two – C. William Anderson, aka Travis C. Ward.
I’d love to see Harold Perrineau in a Rockford-esque role. He was so charming and funny in the Unusuals. Really miss that show.
Why can’t you make a season 3 of Life instead of wasting money on a show that will be canceled after one season… If you’re absolutely are gonna waste money one season of this then at least cast Damian Lewis so it gonna be a season I’ll watch…
Why doesn’t NBC just give up..a new Rockford Files is about the dumbest idea since replacing Jane Pauley on the Today Show. No one, repeat in bold print, no one, can come close to James Garner much less replace James Garner. I Bruce Campbell in Burn Notice and NBC blew it with LIFE as we know, but if there is a God in Heaven, leave Rockford alone..they couldn’t and wouldn’t do it justice and as Paul McCartney famously said, “you can’t re-heat the souffle”.
Mention Life and make me cry. Loved that show. But I don’t trust NBC with remaking a classic. Tell them to leave it alone. (But if they insist, I vote yes on Bruce Campbell.)
A horrible idea for one simple reason: let’s get some fresh shows and concepts out there. Rockford Files was and is a fabulous show, but it’s time has come and gone.
What about James Garner as Rockford’s father?
I hate re-treads. The Rockford Files are a classic. The writing, the production values, the acting. Let it be. And yes, Nathan Fillion deserves something better to act in.
I have mixed feelings on this. Then back in the day and as well today, networks have done cross-over shows. Some cross-overs were fresh start shows and some were well going favorites. Look at the new coming NCIS-LA, which is going to be a second tier spin-off, remember JAG, that’s where NCIS came from. And look at CSI, and it did both cross-overs and done spin-off shows. If we had a new lead player, he should be a composte of all the great leads of the past, such as: Jim, Rick, AJ, Richy, Magnum, Jesica, Beretta and a many others. Let this new show bring the older leads to this new show, where those older leads play a role in the show for one to three weeks each, and at times do returns. Old cases from those past shows come back to life, but brought forward into today’s times 2009,10,11. There are many older great stars that can still give us more before they pass-on. We’ll never get new McM&W, McCloud and others, because those lead players are gone from us now. Having a new unknown as a lead player, would allow for not being able to compare him from other shows that he would have been coming from, and that new lead player would be able to co-crime fight with past lead players of past shows. Just A Thought.