Just a Coupla Guys

Unless I missed it or made a mistake, Jim Bailey (actor, singer, famous female impersonator) did not appear in this episode. I looked and looked again-could not find him. Apparently, he was playing the part of himself in this episode. An internet search did not help.

I also agree with the consensus of this being one of the worst of The Rockford Files, and, I'm not going to g to repay what's already been said - about this being a script by David Chase, and yes, you do see the embers of what would become The Sopranos, ex.

I know that Mr garner was in a lot of pain, as well as the lawsuit over the series, and, it left the people (left) in charge with very little to do.

I mean, if Rockford, of The ROCKFORD Files isn't available, what can you do - and on such short notice.

If you aren't familiar with how TV shows are made, the scripts are planned in advance, and the cast goes through it (a 'read-through') on,y shortly before filming, and on network shows at this time, this was usually only a couple of weeks before airing.

So, again - what could've been done - another Lance White? Richie Brockleman (although, I can't recall if his series had aired - and died - by this time)? Though, I would've liked another Marcus Hayes (this time, with Gandy working with him...)

Personally, I think a show focusing on Angel, Dennis, and, Rocky, stuck in the midst of it would've been not just preferable, but, would've been very good (I know Stuart Margolin didn't want to be tied to doing a network series, so, if it had been filmed - and was (undoubtedly) funny, and popular, the NBC brass would've wanted to do just that.

So, I think it's without argument that David Chase is a talented writer, and, they must've asked him to build up an already-written episode which cantered on Jim, but, to re-focus on others, and, since he'd already used the characters of Mickey and Eugeme, whales could he really do?

There also the financial issue, because letting the two actors be the major thrust of the episode meant the pay would've been a lot less, than, if it had been the regular supporting cast (one aside about the actor who plays Mickey: if he looks 'familiar'

OK, so, so far, I think I've done a quite fair job at explaining what I think happened.

I think - gibes these circumstances - Chase could've really buffed up the episode a LOT more, because, in essence, this was HIS moment to put HIS writing abilities on display, and, true - the germs of The Sopranos is here, but, Mickey and Eugene are still such...noodniks.

One other thing - in regard to the 'religion' in this, and, in particular to some person ('yortsnave') who wrote how he(?)'s happy they showed 'evangelical' Christians a positive light.

There Buddhists, b'hais, Mormons, different 'flavours' of Judaism,as there are of Christianity. There's voodoo, there's Mormonism, and the Muslims, and on, and on.

In the past two, decades, what was once a good, fair place - for all, has become a place where it's 'freedom!' But, just as long as YOU believe what I do.

The religious right co-opted the Republican Party of the U.S., and a country - which was once a 'meting pot,' became a country of specific groups - all out to 'get their' religion to be 'the' religion.'

They made the region in this episode what they did, because - the U.S. was at this time, STILL a melting pot, and not a bunch of lunatics all trying to have everyone believe as they do... even though this is a country of FREEDOM of RELIGION (as well as NON religion).

In counter to 'yortsnave,' I'll say this; how'd you feel, if they'd shown., Lutherans/Orthodox Jews p/Buddhists (let's say Shinto, to be specific), or ANY other religion.

Would you've been so quick to say such nonsense, or is it because they mentioned YOUR brand of religion? See I don't think your religion is 'the' religion, any more would anyone not of (your) like mind, and, honestly, it's because of people who think like you do, who don't eve. Realise how similar you are to radical Muslims. They're JUST as fervent, and, though this is not the place for a political debate, I'd be just as offended if ANYONE - a so- called 'do-gooder' - showed up and tried to 'casually' (wink-wink) shove THEIR religion down my children's, or families throat - in a place which has NOTHING to do with YOUR beliefs.

Most of the major wars in the era since the Dark Ages have fought over religion. Ones beliefs - in a democracy - are theirs, and theirs ALONE - between their belief and themselves. PERIOD.

Most people - most sane people, who understand this, and still mourn what these SAME idiots who bemoan what 'this country's become,' are the very ones who ARE a BIG cause of the problem.

It WAS a melting pot. Now, anyone who doesn't believe like you is 'wrong.'

Guess what? I think exactly the same. Difference is, I know enough tokens MY beliefs JUST that.

I agree with many reviewers that say this was not a favorite episode (okay, some were more disparaging than that). I agreed with one reviewer who said that those Coupla Guys were not prime series material either.

However, because of the script (and a decent enough stable of actors) I found myself enjoying this one. Granted, I would have wanted Rockford to be a more busy participant than he was. Most of the cast, though, proved themselves to be up to the quality of the script.

No, this was not my favorite Rockford episode. Not even close. At the same time, I found myself feeling pretty darn good about the whole thing by the time the credits rolled.

For a 6th season episode, it wasn't as weak as I'd expected.

Thanks to the script, primarily.

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?

I'm in the minority. I like this episode. Yeah, it's a disappointment when you tune in to see Jim Garner, and he gets about ten minutes of screen time. But good writing is good writing, and David Chase is a good writer. I also laughed out loud 4-5 times while watching this episode. I remember seeing it when it originally aired, in prime time on NBC. I've watched it a half dozen times since and remember much of the dialogue word for word. Love Gilbert Green! It's easy to look back now and say the show was running out of steam, but I've been watching season 6 on dvd for the first time in ages, and the quality remained consistently high. There were plans in place to finish the season, which would have meant ten more episodes. Then things bet fuzzy. Garner is exhausted from filming the show and fighting with Universal over money. He checks into a hospital. The shows goes on an unexpected hiatus. Universal sued him for breech of contract. NBC quickly announces Garner will star in a reboot of 'Maverick' and 'Rockford' just falls by the wayside, never going back into production. Summing up: Mickey & Eugene are idiots but the writing is smart and the pacing is swift. Endings are never pretty.