# And the new Jim Rockford is... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 3, 2010, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099 "2010-03-03T06:42:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/1 "2010-03-03T06:42:26Z")
It was announced sometime last year that NBC was working on a remake of _The Rockford Files_, and it’s been mentioned here once or twice. The original was great, and I’ve been watching the reruns again lately. In the wrong hands, this news would worry me slightly; trampling on the memory of a classic and all. The remake is being produced by David Shore, though, and if anyone has a chance at understanding and recapturing what made the original work, he looks like the right guy. Which still left the question of casting. The lead role needs a resourceful, but reluctant hero. When it’s 2:00 a.m., you’ve been arrested, and you’ve got one phone call, it’s his number you want in your pocket. Who could even dream of following in the footsteps of James Garner? Well, it’s…[Dermot Mulroney](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000551/)Comments? Suggestions for the other roles? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/2 "2010-03-03T07:59:01Z")
Could work. But I would have picked David Boreanaz. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/3 "2010-03-03T08:15:38Z")
I don’t like it. Jim Rockford wasn’t a pretty boy yuppie. He was a World Weary, beaten by life experience idealist hidden by cynicism. Kiefer is about the right age and look. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/4 "2010-03-03T08:19:24Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > I don’t like it. Jim Rockford wasn’t a pretty boy yuppie. He was a World Weary, beaten by life experience idealist hidden by cynicism. > > Kiefer is about the right age and look. But can you buy Kiefer in a role where MILLIONS WILL NOT DIE? ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/5 "2010-03-03T14:37:16Z")
Don’t know this actor, but he [sure has the look nailed](http://ewwatchingtv.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/rockford-files_l.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/6 "2010-03-03T14:39:31Z")
Wow. There really are no original ideas in Hollywood anymore. Soon all TV shows and movies will just be remakes/“updates.” Sad. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/7 "2010-03-03T15:17:51Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > He was a World Weary, beaten by life experience idealist hidden by cynicism. That’s not totally true. Left to his own devices, Jim was content with his life, even happy. My cite is the image of him at the end of the opening credits…with a smile on his face, his dad in the background. That’s not to say he wasn’t cynical and world-weary as well. With at all the bozos he had to deal with, that was unavoidable. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/8 "2010-03-03T15:20:48Z")
George Clooney could pull it off easily, but he won’t return to TV, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/9 "2010-03-03T15:26:24Z")
Der … mot … Mul … roney? I think I just lost the will to live. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/10 "2010-03-03T15:26:52Z")
While I’ve liked what I’ve seen from the guy, I’m having a hard time picturing him punching anybody. (This could be because I’ve only seen him in chick flicks.) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/11 "2010-03-03T15:34:16Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > Don’t know this actor, but he [sure has the look nailed](http://ewwatchingtv.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/rockford-files_l.jpg). ??? Agree with your edit. I’ll be amazed if that isn’t him. And here’s another person who first thought of George Clooney when the part came up. ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/12 "2010-03-03T15:45:56Z")
Who’s playing Angel? ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/13 "2010-03-03T15:48:36Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > While I’ve liked what I’ve seen from the guy, I’m having a hard time picturing him punching anybody. Generally speaking, Jim was more on the receiving end when it came to punches. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/14 "2010-03-03T15:51:14Z")
[Luis Guzman](http://l.yimg.com/l/tv/us/img/site/99/65/0000039965_20070522135915.jpg) would be a great Angel. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/15 "2010-03-03T16:06:21Z")
Honestly I don’t think anyone could actually pull it off, but I can see Mathew Perry in the part. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/16 "2010-03-03T16:39:49Z")
I think Sam Rockwell would make a good Angel. I’ve been wondering of what else needs to change to bring the show 35 years into the future. How does a cynical, wisecracking PI keep himself in tacos and fishing line in the computer age? Jim always struck me as a little old fashioned. The new Jim will have to have a cell phone, but I can’t picture him hacking into the DMV database to run a license plate. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/17 "2010-03-03T17:31:21Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > I don’t like it. Jim Rockford wasn’t a pretty boy yuppie. He was a World Weary, beaten by life experience idealist hidden by cynicism. > > Kiefer is about the right age and look. Didn’t Rockfish do some prison time? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/18 "2010-03-03T17:54:26Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > Didn’t Rockfish do some prison time? Yes. He was convicted wrongfully and eventually pardoned after (IIRC) 3 years in the joint. It’s where he met Angel (also IIRC) and Isaac Hayes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/19 "2010-03-03T17:57:15Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Der … mot … > > Mul … roney? > > I think I just lost the will to live. My response was, “Oh, shit.” Not feeling it, man. Course, those are big shoes to fill - James Garner has an extremely high level of charisma. Dermot Mulroney is…not bad-looking. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099/20 "2010-03-03T18:08:23Z")
Well, I don’t know who Dermot is, but I’m withholding judgment until I see the show. Man, it had better not suck or I’ll be greatly disappointed. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-new-jim-rockford-is/531099.md?page=2)