As has been said in other reviews - Rockford goes country, and he sure does, in this first episode of The 5th Rockford Files series.
Rocky does a haul for a friend - hauling country singer Charlie Strayhorm's 'Hickory smoked sausages, from Cripple Creek, Arkansas.'
Only thing is, Rocky picked them up up in San Diego - manufactured in Sonoma, Mexico, by non-union drivers.'
A big part of this episodes likability is in large part due to Tayler Lachter's 'good ole' boy' performance of country singer 'Charlie Strayhorn,' who is red-hot, on the charts, but, he's turned his financial management over to some very disreputable people.
Charlie Strayhorn's introduction to Jim is in a knock-down brawl on his front lawn, which reminded me of nothing less than two dogs playfully wrestling with each other.
Strayhorn's whooping and hollerin' during this, endears him to Jim, and then Rocky, who he comes to deeply like and feel a kinship for - something he missed out on as a youngster.
Another great performance is Strayhorn's girlfriend, Lynne Marta as his (soon-to-be) wife, Carrie, who - to me, anyway, bears a striking similarity to Sherree North, but, with a country feel.
I wish these two actors had been better exposed, as their appearances here, are terrific.
As Charlie's nefarious financial man, we have the terrific James Shigeta, an actor who's appearance here - even as the bad guy - is very welcome.
Also appearing is Rockford perennial, Joe E. Tata - who's got one of the best names an actor can have.
Many people don't understand how supporting actors are the backbone of the industry, and The Rockford Files was a wonderful showcase for so many years for these wonderful actors.
The writing here, is top-notch, full of wonderful limes.
All-in-all, as we begin the second-to-last season of this terrific show, The Rockford Files is firing beautifully on all cylinders, and this episode wonderfully demonstrates how well-oiled this series had become.