The Rockford Files

S01E01 The Kirkoff Case 1974-09-13

A wealthy but unlikeable young man hires Jim to solve the mystery of the death of his parents - the crime for which he stands accused.

Pilot note — From the desk: The Rockford Files opens its catalog run with “The Kirkoff Case” (1974-09-13). Character-first crime TV that aged into cool. Garner vs. studio lawsuits are Hollywood lore.

S01E02 The Dark and Bloody Ground 1974-09-20

Beth ropes Jim into proving the innocence of her newest client, a poet who died under mysterious circumstances after crashing a party in Belair.

S01E03 The Countess 1974-09-27

Jim is helping a Countess avoid a blackmailer but is then charged for the blackmailer's murder.

S01E04 Exit Prentiss Carr 1974-10-04

Jim finds the murdered body of Prentiss Carr in his hotel room and after reporting the incident to the police learns it has been classified as suicide

S01E05 Tall Woman in Red Wagon 1974-10-11

Jim is hired by a newspaper woman to find her missing friend, who then insists on tagging along to "help" his investigation. The missing friend had a sordid past, and several of her old friends want to find her just as badly.

S01E06 This Case is Closed (1) 1974-10-18

Jim travels to Newark, and draws the attention of organized crime and the FBI. The FBI is protecting Jim's target because he is a former federal witness. The target is found dead, and Jim's client has some explaining to do.

S01E07 This Case is Closed (2) 1974-10-18

This Case is Closed (2) — Season 1, Episode 7 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1974-10-18. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

S01E08 The Big Ripoff 1974-10-25

The Big Ripoff — Season 1, Episode 8 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1974-10-25. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

S01E09 Find Me If You Can 1974-11-01

Rockford reluctantly takes a unique assignment: a beautiful mystery woman wants him to find her, to see if someone she fears could also track her down. With a check poised to bounce, the ex-con PI needs the retainer to balance his always-challenged checking account. When Rockford checks with a local police department, he worms out a chilling piece of data: she's been dating Denver Mafia capo-regime, hot-tempered Ralph Correll. But the more Barbara Kelbaker strings along Jim Rockford, the more he's charmed into helping the desperate 30 something

S01E10 In Pursuit of Carol Thorne 1974-11-08

Jim tails a woman just released from prison. She was involved in a robbery of a Marine Corps payroll. The mastermind of the crime and his henchman follow her as well. They search for the remaining robber who wound up with the loot.

S01E11 The Dexter Crisis 1974-11-15

The Dexter Crisis — Season 1, Episode 11 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1974-11-15. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

S01E12 Caledonia - It's Worth a Fortune! 1974-12-06

Caledonia - It's Worth a Fortune! — Season 1, Episode 12 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1974-12-06. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

S01E13 Profit and Loss (1) 1974-12-20

Profit and Loss (1) — Season 1, Episode 13 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1974-12-20. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

S01E14 Profit and Loss (2) 1974-12-27

Profit and Loss (2) — Season 1, Episode 14 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1974-12-27. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

S01E15 Aura Lee, Farewell 1975-01-03

Aura Lee, Farewell — Season 1, Episode 15 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1975-01-03. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

S01E16 Sleight of Hand 1975-01-17

Sleight of Hand — Season 1, Episode 16 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1975-01-17. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

S01E17 Counter Gambit 1975-01-24

Counter Gambit — Season 1, Episode 17 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1975-01-24. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Claire — Season 1, Episode 18 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1975-01-31. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Say Goodbye to Jennifer — Season 1, Episode 19 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1975-02-07. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Charlie Harris at Large — Season 1, Episode 20 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1975-02-14. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Four Pound Brick — Season 1, Episode 21 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1975-02-21. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Just by Accident — Season 1, Episode 22 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1975-02-28. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Roundabout — Season 1, Episode 23 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1975-03-07. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Aaron Ironwood School of Success — Season 2, Episode 1 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1975-09-12. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

When Dennis is conned into investing in a hotel for mobsters, Jim impersonates a Texas oil man to get his friend's money back.

After witnessing a mob payoff that is part of a big-rig hijacking scheme, Rockford's father becomes the target of assassins. Working to protect his dad, Rockford learns that the man's life contains secrets that he never imagined.

After witnessing a mob payoff that is part of a big-rig hijacking scheme, Rockford's father becomes the target of assassins. Working to protect his dad, Rockford learns that the man's life contains secrets that he never imagined.

The Deep Blue Sleep — Season 2, Episode 5 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1975-10-10. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

When his car breaks down in a small town Jim leaves $10,000 in a land company's safe. The next morning the money - and the man who locked the money up - are gone. When the man turns up dead the sheriff thinks Rockford did it.

Christine Dusseau, a female private eye, first blindsides Rockford, then joins him in tracking down the murderer in a case the police have dismissed as a suicide.

Resurrection in Black & White — Season 2, Episode 8 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1975-11-07. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Chicken Little is a Little Chicken — Season 2, Episode 9 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1975-11-14. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

2 Into 5.56 Won't Go — Season 2, Episode 10 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1975-11-21. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Rockford takes a dislike to the small town he's visiting when a bogus repair bill is followed by phony criminal charges. Aided by his father and attorney, Rockford takes on the hamlet's corrupt mayor, sheriff and prosecuting attorney.

The Reincarnation of Angie — Season 2, Episode 12 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1975-12-05. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Girl in the Bay City Boys Club — Season 2, Episode 13 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1975-12-19. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

A fellow inmate (Isaac Hayes) from Jim's time in prison is released after serving twenty years, and needs help clearing himself from the crime he was put into prison for.

An egotistical minor league football player who thinks he's every woman's dream drags Jim into his troubles. It's not the women who are trouble, but some hoods who think he has evidence against them the Feds want.

A Portrait of Elizabeth — Season 2, Episode 16 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1976-01-23. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Jim helps one of Beth's clients, who is being swindled out of his business.

In Hazard — Season 2, Episode 18 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1976-02-06. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Italian Bird Fiasco — Season 2, Episode 19 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1976-02-13. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Rocky's friend is killed thinking his Granddaughter was kidnapped leading Jim with the help of Rocky to untangle a crooked real estate deal.

Foul on the First Play — Season 2, Episode 21 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1976-03-12. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

A Bad Deal in the Valley — Season 2, Episode 22 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1976-03-19. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Fourth Man — Season 3, Episode 1 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1976-09-24. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

A psychic claims that Rockford knows more about a disappearance than he admits.

Jim and Rocky find an abandoned young girl that leads to Jim finding and helping her father.

Feeding Frenzy — Season 3, Episode 4 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1976-10-15. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Drought at Indianhead River — Season 3, Episode 5 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1976-11-05. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Coulter City Wildcat — Season 3, Episode 6 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1976-11-12. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Jim is called before the Grand Jury and cannot answer the questions about the kidnapping of a union boss put to him by the prosecutor. As a result, Jim is thrown into jail repeatedly and must avoid murder attempts in order to uncover the reason why people are convinced he has the answers to everyone's questions.

Angel, Jim's former cellmate, is getting married and he asks Jim to be his best man. Later, Jim finds out that the marriage Is just part of Angel's plot to swindle Regina Boyajian's family in a real estate deal by posing as a wealthy Canadian into the beer business. Jim also discovers that the Boyajians too have a secret to hide regarding their property.

Return to the Thirty-Eighth Parallel — Season 3, Episode 9 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1976-12-10. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Piece Work — Season 3, Episode 10 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1976-12-17. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Trouble with Warren — Season 3, Episode 11 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1976-12-24. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

There's One in Every Port — Season 3, Episode 12 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-01-07. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Sticks and Stones May Break Your Bones, But Waterbury Will Bury You — Season 3, Episode 13 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-01-14. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Trees, the Bees and T.T. Flowers (1) — Season 3, Episode 14 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-01-21. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Trees, the Bees and T.T. Flowers (2) — Season 3, Episode 15 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-01-28. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Becker Connection — Season 3, Episode 16 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-02-11. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Just Another Polish Wedding — Season 3, Episode 17 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-02-18. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

New Life, Old Dragons — Season 3, Episode 18 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-02-25. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

An overly enthusiastic police buff simultaneously maligns the reputation of Detective  Becker and jeopardizes Rockford's efforts lo protect the life of the girlfriend of an underworld lawyer.

To Protect and Serve Part II — Season 3, Episode 20 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-03-18. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Crack Back — Season 3, Episode 21 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-03-25. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Dirty Money, Black Light — Season 3, Episode 22 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-04-01. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Jim returns from vacation to discover someone's been using his identity, his trailer and totaled his car. And that's just the beginning of his problems...

Trouble in Chapter 17 — Season 4, Episode 2 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-09-23. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Battle of Canoga Park — Season 4, Episode 3 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-09-30. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Second Chance — Season 4, Episode 4 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-10-14. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Dog and Pony Show — Season 4, Episode 5 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-10-21. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Requiem for a Funny Box — Season 4, Episode 6 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-11-04. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Quickie Nirvana — Season 4, Episode 7 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-11-11. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Irving the Explainer — Season 4, Episode 8 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-11-18. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls — Season 4, Episode 9 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-11-25. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Hotel of Fear — Season 4, Episode 10 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-12-02. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Forced Retirement — Season 4, Episode 11 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-12-09. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Queen of Peru — Season 4, Episode 12 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-12-16. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

A Deadly Maze — Season 4, Episode 13 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1977-12-23. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Attractive Nuisance — Season 4, Episode 14 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1978-01-06. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Gang at Don's Drive-In — Season 4, Episode 15 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1978-01-13. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Paper Palace — Season 4, Episode 16 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1978-01-20. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Dwarf in a Helium Hat — Season 4, Episode 17 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1978-01-27. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

South by Southeast — Season 4, Episode 18 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1978-02-03. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Competitive Edge — Season 4, Episode 19 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1978-02-10. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Prisoner of Rosemont Hall — Season 4, Episode 20 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1978-02-17. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

When a fellow P.I. is killed on the Ventura freeway, Jim and Richie Brockelman team up to find out if it really was an accident.

When a fellow P.I. is killed on the Ventura freeway, Jim and Richie Brockelman team up to find out if it really was an accident.

Heartaches of a Fool — Season 5, Episode 1 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1978-09-22. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Rosendahl and Gilda Stern are Dead — Season 5, Episode 2 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1978-09-29. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Wrongly accused of beating a man to death, Jim discovers the best legal advice he can find is from disbarred lawyer John Cooper.

White on White and Nearly Perfect — Season 5, Episode 4 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1978-10-20. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Kill the Messenger — Season 5, Episode 5 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1978-10-27. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

At a swank party, attended by some of LA's high society and police dept. VIPs, in honor of Angel's brother-in-law, Aaron, being made Chief of Police, a robbery takes place, while Lt. Doug Chapman is in charge of security. Desperate to get back into good graces with his superiors, Chapman swallows his pride and asks Rockford to help him.

A Three-Day Affair with a Thirty-Day Escrow — Season 5, Episode 7 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1978-11-10. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

A Good Clean Bust with Sequel Rights — Season 5, Episode 8 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1978-11-17. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Black Mirror (1) — Season 5, Episode 9 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1978-11-24. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Black Mirror (2) — Season 5, Episode 10 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1978-11-24. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

A Fast Count — Season 5, Episode 11 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1978-12-01. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Local Man Eaten by Newspaper — Season 5, Episode 12 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1978-12-08. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

A fashion model friend of Jim is found dead on the ground below her balcony. The police believe it's suicide, but having gotten a desperate phone call from her, Jim believes it's murder.

The Battle-Ax and the Exploding Cigar — Season 5, Episode 14 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1979-01-12. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Jim finds his guilty conscience being manipulated by a former fiancee, who asks him to find out who is threatening her life.

The Deuce — Season 5, Episode 16 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1979-01-26. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

A Brooklyn gangster, who believes Rockford got him sent to jail, wants revenge

A gang of bikers beat up Jim and assault John Cooper's sister, leading Coop to seek vengeance by returning to a darker period in his past when he was in a biker gang.

A Material Difference — Season 5, Episode 19 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1979-02-24. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Never Send a Boy King to Do a Man's Job (1) — Season 5, Episode 20 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1979-03-03. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Never Send a Boy King to Do a Man's Job (2) — Season 5, Episode 21 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1979-03-03. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

A Different Drummer — Season 5, Episode 22 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1979-04-13. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Paradise Cove — Season 6, Episode 1 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1979-09-28. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Lions, Tigers, Monkeys and Dogs (1) — Season 6, Episode 2 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1979-10-12. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Lions, Tigers, Monkeys and Dogs (2) — Season 6, Episode 3 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1979-10-12. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Only Rock 'n' Roll Will Never Die (1) — Season 6, Episode 4 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1979-10-19. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Only Rock 'n' Roll Will Never Die (2) — Season 6, Episode 5 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1979-10-26. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

Love is the Word — Season 6, Episode 6 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1979-11-09. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The special guest of a P.I. convention dinner is found murdered in the restroom, and Jim unhappily finds himself once more having to team up with flawless Lance White (Tom Selleck), while accident prone Freddie Beamer tags along.

The Hawaiian Headache — Season 6, Episode 8 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1979-11-23. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

No Fault Affair — Season 6, Episode 9 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1979-11-30. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

The Big Cheese — Season 6, Episode 10 of The Rockford Files. Aired 1979-12-07. Full plot synopsis not yet on file; see the show package for context.

This episode features none of the supporting characters and Rockford appears in only a few scenes. The episode is mainly a chance for David Chase to write about New Jersey mobsters. Except this episode isn't anything like "The Sopranos". The biggest problem is that the two protagonists (the "Coupla Guys" in the title) aren't very interesting characters.

S06E12 Deadlock in Parma 1980-01-10

In the series finale, Jim Rockford drives off into a California sunset in his wounded Firebird, after being ensnared in a small-town council battle with big implications. While trout fishing in the mountains, the vacationing PI becomes the emergency proxy for a fellow angler, an environmentalist councilman, felled by appendicitis. But the seemingly-innocuous proposition for a Parma city park, attracts a trailer load of New Jersey mobsters who urge Rockford to keep his vote green, or sleep with the fishes. Meanwhile, this town council in the land of endless propositions, acts to force their temporary member Rockford to go fishing under the moonlight, but not in Parma.

Finale note — From the desk: The guide closes on “Deadlock in Parma” (1980-01-10) — a series bookend worth the package context. Garner vs. studio lawsuits are Hollywood lore.