Ed Robertson is a nationally known author, journalist, historian, and commentator who writes and speaks extensively about pop culture, entertainment, and media. He has written or co-written five books, including two on the career of legendary actor James Garner. "Thirty Years of the Rockford Files" is his behind-the-scenes look at Garner's landmark series, The Rockford Files. Robertson tells the inside story of The Rockford Files, from its original network run on NBC in the '70s, to its return to television on CBS in the '90s, to its ongoing influence on television today. The Rockford Files was the first show to bring humor into the cop show/private eye show genre; Rockford's whimsical sense of humor paved the way for other quirky detective shows like Magnum, p.i., Simon & Simon, Monk and The Closer.

Thirty Years of the Rockford Files: An Inside Look at America's Greatest Detective Series

Ed Robertson
iUniversity Press (2005)
ISBN 0595342442
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (2/07)


This edition of “Thirty Years of the Rockford Files” is an update from the original book that came out over ten years ago.  I did not read the first release, but I can tell you from this edition that nothing is left out from the series.  I was amazed at the thoroughness with which Ed Robertson covered this series and everything surrounding the series.  It is a great guide for fans of the Rockford Files and would be a great addition to anyone buying the series on DVD. 

The book is broken down by seasons and episodes with additional background information on the series, interviews with the actors, and tidbits of information that is not anywhere on the series.  Many of you will remember that each episode begins with a message on Jim Rockford’s answering machine like this one “This is Mrs. Owens with the Association for a Better Malibu.  Thanks for your contributions.  We’ve made great strides, but it would help, dear, if you could move your trailer!”  Remember the famous trailer on the beach where he lived and the Firebird he drove? 

I enjoyed the series in the 70’s and the later Rockford File movies but had no idea that the character was created by Roy Huggins based on James Garner’s enormously successful role as Brett Maverick years earlier.   His specialty was “closed cases” and he embarrassed the police quite frequently throughout the series by solving these impossible cases.  Rockford didn’t care because he had been wrongfully accused of a crime and spent five years in jail before be exonerated.  He was this business for the money and was described in the first chapter:  “he did like money: he charged $200 a day, plus expenses, so he’d hang in there no matter what if he could smell a fat check down the road. “I won’t kill for money, and I won’t marry for it,” he once said. “Other than that, I’m open to just about anything.”  

Many familiar faces guest starred on the Rockford Files over the years like Stephanie Powers, Lindsay Wagner, Ned Beatty and Tom Selleck just to name a few.  Each chapter is full of facts surrounding guest appearances as well as linking them to James Garner’s career.  For example, Suzanne Somers guest starred on The Rockford Files in 1974, three years before she made it big on Three’s Company with John Ritter.  James Garner later joined the cast of 8 Simple Rules following John Ritter’s untimely death in 2003. 

So if you or someone you know is a Rockford Files fan, “Thirty Years of the Rockford Files” is a must have!