This episode was the second to last of the magnificent series the Rockford Files. At this time James Garner was in a phenomenal amount of physical pain from the toll that this show took on him. Garner was also deep into a lawsuit against NBC at this time. This probably explains why he makes really only a cursory appearance in this episode.
The real story revolves around two wanna be hoodlums trying to gain credibility and respect from Jersey Mobsters.
What is interesting is that this was written by David Chase who later went on to create the Sopranos. In this episode if you watch you can see the embryo of the Sopranos. Many themes that would become huge for the Sapranos:
There is an old cranky, self-absorbed mob boss in it. This very similar to uncle Junior.
With the young crooks trying gain cred you can see the beginnings of the Christopher Moltisanti narrative in the early season of the Spranoes. Do not for get that in season 1 Christopher had a partner named Brendan Filone.
There is the younger mob boss who is very temperamental ala Tony.
The Mob boss has a strong wife like Carmela.
The younger mob boss is vying for leadership and control with the old mob boss. Is this not very like the relationship between Tony and Junior?
The younger mob and his wife have son who is spoiled brat. This look a lot like AJ to me.
The older mob boss has daughter who is a good girl who the mob boos wants to keep away from his life. We will see this story later in the Sopranos with Meadow.
The real star of this episode, is not James Garner but, Greg Antonacci who would later figure prominently in the later season of the Sopranos as Butchie.
It is said of all great TV shows. How long did they last? At least one or two season longer than they should have. Maybe that is the case with the Rockford Files as seen through this episode. But it is it interesting that from the flames of the Rockford Files we can see the birth of and very early development of what would later become the Sopranos?
The real story revolves around two wanna be hoodlums trying to gain credibility and respect from Jersey Mobsters.
What is interesting is that this was written by David Chase who later went on to create the Sopranos. In this episode if you watch you can see the embryo of the Sopranos. Many themes that would become huge for the Sapranos:
There is an old cranky, self-absorbed mob boss in it. This very similar to uncle Junior.
With the young crooks trying gain cred you can see the beginnings of the Christopher Moltisanti narrative in the early season of the Spranoes. Do not for get that in season 1 Christopher had a partner named Brendan Filone.
There is the younger mob boss who is very temperamental ala Tony.
The Mob boss has a strong wife like Carmela.
The younger mob boss is vying for leadership and control with the old mob boss. Is this not very like the relationship between Tony and Junior?
The younger mob and his wife have son who is spoiled brat. This look a lot like AJ to me.
The older mob boss has daughter who is a good girl who the mob boos wants to keep away from his life. We will see this story later in the Sopranos with Meadow.
The real star of this episode, is not James Garner but, Greg Antonacci who would later figure prominently in the later season of the Sopranos as Butchie.
It is said of all great TV shows. How long did they last? At least one or two season longer than they should have. Maybe that is the case with the Rockford Files as seen through this episode. But it is it interesting that from the flames of the Rockford Files we can see the birth of and very early development of what would later become the Sopranos?