This season opening episode, written, produced and directed by Steven Cannell is one of the series best. The mystery is good, there's a lot of humor mixed in and everyone gives a strong performance.
The story opens with Jim having suffered a judgment in court against him in a case where he hit CC Calloway ("High Chapparel" star Leif Erickson) and awarded him $35,000 in damages (why Rockford's insurance company isn't responsible for this is beyond me). Calloway has been working for a long time to try and get Rockford thrown out of the beach community for some time, and now appears to have a chance to do it.
Marriette Hartley (who starred with Garner in a series of popular Poloroid commercials) plays Althea, a court appointed receiver that has to determine if Rockford can pay the $35,000 or if his entire worth should be liquidated--including his business, his trailer and all his personal property.
But with all this going on, Cannell gives us a great little mystery involving buried gold, 1930's rum runners and a lot of old skeletons of Paradise cove. Add Angel Martin and his lust for a big score, and you have one of the best episodes of the 6th season.
Hartley and Garner display a lot of the chemistry that made them work so well in the commercials. Erickson is excellent as the bad guy in this episode and Stuart Margolin is in top form. Another nice character is CC's nephew, who keeps trying to act tough ("I ain't afraid of you") but bolts at the first sign of trouble.
If nothing else, this episode should have proved that there was still a lot of life left in this series.
The story opens with Jim having suffered a judgment in court against him in a case where he hit CC Calloway ("High Chapparel" star Leif Erickson) and awarded him $35,000 in damages (why Rockford's insurance company isn't responsible for this is beyond me). Calloway has been working for a long time to try and get Rockford thrown out of the beach community for some time, and now appears to have a chance to do it.
Marriette Hartley (who starred with Garner in a series of popular Poloroid commercials) plays Althea, a court appointed receiver that has to determine if Rockford can pay the $35,000 or if his entire worth should be liquidated--including his business, his trailer and all his personal property.
But with all this going on, Cannell gives us a great little mystery involving buried gold, 1930's rum runners and a lot of old skeletons of Paradise cove. Add Angel Martin and his lust for a big score, and you have one of the best episodes of the 6th season.
Hartley and Garner display a lot of the chemistry that made them work so well in the commercials. Erickson is excellent as the bad guy in this episode and Stuart Margolin is in top form. Another nice character is CC's nephew, who keeps trying to act tough ("I ain't afraid of you") but bolts at the first sign of trouble.
If nothing else, this episode should have proved that there was still a lot of life left in this series.