Although this is Gretchen Corbett's final episode as Beth, she doesn't really play a major role, as she's basically in the beginning and the end representing Rockford. The chemistry between the both of them is still quite impressive, maybe not as much here, but the show will miss her going forward. Regarding the plot of this terrific episode, we find out that Rocky has opened his own truck stop diner, but the place is slow to draw in truckers, and his cook Vince(Ken Lynch), ends up being an old gangster involved with stolen car parts, which are sent across the country. Adding to the intrigue, although probably not totally needed, is Eddie LaSalle(Victor Jory), an old agent who mumbles a lot, eats dog food(what?), and remembers Vince from the old days; it turns out that he's been hunting Vince for many years as he believes Vince was behind the murders of many of LaSalle's partners. LaSalle was slightly annoying, but got better in the latter half, when he works with Rockford to eventually crack the case and finally get Vince arrested. The reason Rockford got into this mess, other than Vince being Rocky's cook, is that a man hired by LaSalle uses a telescope on top of Rockford's trailer, which was put there by Vince's hood I believe; anyway, the man falls off the trailer and pretends he's seriously injured, hence Beth representing Jim. The writing is great, considering the show comes in under just an hour, and I would highly recommend this episode. The scenery is great, the characters are quirky, and we get to see the final appearance of Beth, who shows up in a few 1996 Rockford Files' movies. Let me mention a very clever ending in which all of the older men involved are mentoring younger men in the same profession; Eddie is talking to younger agents, Vince is in jail talking to younger inmates, and Rocky is talking to younger truckers. As Rocky's discussing trucks, Jim pulls up in the Firebird and says "Dad, let's go!" a few times, while Rocky says, "I'm comin' sonny, I'm comin!"; while Rocky basically ignores his son, and keeps talking to the men, the camera shows us Rockford smiling to himself as the episode ends. This is one of my favorites, and has everything except Angel and Dennis, but it doesn't detract at all from an entertaining episode.
Review of The Attractive Nuisance
