If It Bleeds, It Leads
Bill Anderson
So, what do people think of this episode?
Peter Georgeu
wrote...
>
> So, what do people think of this episode?
>
>
I have not been a fan of the vast majority of the movies made in recent
years but I have to say that I really appreciated this movie, more so
than most of the other ones. This was a gentler movie and had a lot of
poignancy to it, more suited to the older Rockford.
But I am obviously a bit of a sentimentalist, one of my favourite
episodes being "Say Goodbye to Jennifer" with Hector Elizondo.
Peter
Kevbo
least not kill them self - not what I want to end the series - Marry Beth /
Rita- Find Megan - go fishing - go to jail - buy a truck (like rocky) don't
end it walking off down the beach. Com-on just one more scam, a small con
,one more "dog & pony show"
Please Jimmy Please!
Scripts360
Nobody dies a violent death like that on Rockford. I missed the opening
credits. WHo wrote the show? Good thing I've got a head start on the "NEXT"
one. By hook or crook, it'll be done (I'm shooting for next week) and then a
quick trip to my story editor in L.A. Too dramatic tonight. Jim's heart
didn't seem to be in it. (Neither were his knees) Anyway, They can't all be
diamonds.
Jamie Hoglund
>
> So, what do people think of this episode?
I disliked it.
Maybe because it was the last one, and I kept thinking "This is
the last one, this is really sadd." all through the episode, I kept
thinking "Goodbye Jim", thanks for being here, doing what you do.
Maybe because it seemed kind of like the "Eldorado", where a bunch of
cowboys get together for "one last gunfight" and the
players all know this will be the last time.
Maybe it was the seeming lack of quick humor (probably the main reason I
like the show) Angel sure helped on that though. :-)
(There was probably a lot of humor I never caught because I was
kind of sadd while watching it)
I know nothing about James Garner, didn't even realize he had an
illness, but I sure like his character. He's the kind of guy I'd
probably hate in person though, too charming. Of course it's hard to
remember, it *is* an act, he's probably a boring person, just like the
rest of us. ;-)
He's an actor who becomes several actors in his series. He's pretty damn
good at it. Do you think Hollywood pays him $200.00 / day plus expenses?
Jamie
Teddy Tedford
>
> So, what do people think of this episode?
Now I know why they kept this in the can for two years.
It reminds me of a Kojak movie. Similar made for TV thing that was done
after the show had ended - the movie was so wretched that they didn't
even promote it and similarly the plot made me a bit queasy. Last night
I didn't like the scenes concerning rape and the whole topic makes me
ill. The idea of the news hounds causing trouble was good, but the
whole plot was weak.
In the last scene with the reporter Jim makes a great speech but then
doesn't even tell her off. Classic Jim would have shot her down if she
dared that BS about being his talk being touching.
I wish it were 1980 and we had one more season.
John Haramis
>
the much acclaimed grand jury story from way back when though. Why does Jim
where so much black nowadays? Is he trying to be goth or something? And
what was with that smashed melon sound effect when Hal hit the ground? That
was a pretty big shock!
nikyyta
making up a phoney business card.... It was really more of Movie of Week
about a teacher falsly accused than it was a Rockford Files. Don't get me
wrong, it's a lot better than the Green Bottle book and I was glad to be able
to see it, but I think the Firebird said it all. It is still there, parked
under a carport, but we are never going to see it on the road again. BTW, in
an open carport on the seaside is not a smart place for long term storage of
a classic car.
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WS...@webtv.net
humor. I must say that I was very shocked by the ending, I didn't
expect Ernie to jump. I think that the movie attempted to be a social
statement to the often ill effect that the media has on public
perception and opinion, but it fell short. I hated the way that Jim was
cut off by that reporter, and then he just walked away. The old Jimmy
wouldn't have let her off the hook so easy.
All this being said, I did watch the whole movie, and taped it, and did
somewhat enjoy it. It all comes down to the fact that I am a huge James
Garner fan. So much so that I even enjoy those 10-10-9000, directory
assistance commercials just because it's him :) The movie was a bit of
a disappointment, but at least we got to see it, there's no more
wondering......
ATN082268
I kind of liked it and was actually surprised about the guy jumping in the
end. Not the best T.V movie to be sure but surely not as dreadful as the
critics would have us believe. Perhaps the bashing of the media and the
education system in the movie rubbed some of the critics the wrong way to make
their reviews biased.
-ATN
higgins888
Peter Georgeu wrote in message ...
Certainly a bit of a dissapointment. As "serious" Rockfords go, it was a
decent one. It was great to see Rita again, and Dennis was in top form.
Great to see Beth back, I thought she looked great, and the by-play with
Jim hasn't lost a step. And how about Dhiel coming back? I sure didn't see
that one coming.
It was definitely a serious and timely topic. I would have liked to have
seen a lighter Rockford as the last one. I agree with those who say there
was no sense of closure this time. (Perhaps they didn't know they were
making the "last" one)
And who says it has to be the last episode? Are you listening Ted Turner?
These things would be a perfect fit over on TNT. Never say never again.
Anyway, I like to think of Jimmy still out there, being pestered by Angel,
on one unlikely case after another until retirement, if "broken down P.I.s"
can retire. Say, isn't Anthony Boy due for release again soon? Hmmmmm...
James D Barry
- Pretty good directing gig for "Angel". Although
as a director, he didn't seem interested in trying
to recapture the style and pacing of the old show.
- Cool that they were able to work in the answering
machine outgoing message into the show.
"...I'll get back to you"
- Probably wouldn't be a bad idea for the Angel
character to have his own show that had con games
as a theme. Call it "Scammed by an Angel". Put
it on Sunday night at 9pm on CBS right after the
other "Angel" show... what's that called?
- Hey "wsb99". Good call on the fact that Jimmy
just let the reporter walk away without a fight.
That's exactly what I thought. He would have
given her one of those "Hey, just wait a minute.."
- Hey "wsb99". Since you taped it, could you
check something out? I could've swore that in
the first "Beth" scene, someone actually refers
to her as "Gretchen". Is that true? If not, I
must be losin' it. Anyway, she's still hot huh?
- I just can't rate the IIB,IL episode a '10'
if there's no ISAAC HAYES. Ah, to hear him
say "Rockfish" one more time.
- You know that Rockfish's a bad mutha... Shut yo mouth...
- I can't buy that a teacher as devoted as Hal's
character wouldn't consider the message his
suicide tells kids. Hey, *this* is one way to
deal with a problem. Especially *after* they
found the actual perp? I don't get it.
- Hey "nikyyta". Good call on the lack of
investigative work. A two-hour episode and
they found the real bad guy 5 minutes after
starting to look for him.
- I'm not sure I understand why Jimmy wasn't
cruising around in the Firebird? What's the
pickup truck all about?
- I'm glad they worked in a mention of Rocky
during the closing "beach stroll" scene. He
is by far my favorite supporting character.
You think Rita and Jimmy will hook up now?
They looked pretty chummy there at the end.
---JB
nikyyta
totally unfunny without the truehearted HenryV/Rockford to foil.
I heard "Gretchen" too. Her hair looks way better now, and clearly some of
the profits from her novels are going into plastic surgery.
Hal Linden had to jump. If they would have talked him down it would have
just been too trite. As a high school teacher, I know he was through,
professionally. Even if he got his job back, it would constantly come up in
the classroom. The principal failing to step up for him would have been
particularly depressing, because there is a real us vs. them dynamic on a
high school faculty, and you expect your principal to be on your side.
Besides that high school teachers are all suicidal sometimes even on good
days. I knew he was going to jump, if only to give Rita Moreno a chance to
do those Emmy nomination reaction shots.
In article <7fm8tu$p...@dfw-ixnews8.ix.netcom.com>,
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The Shadow
Scripts360 wrote :
>What do you mean, what do I think of it?
>Nobody dies a violent death like that on Rockford. I missed the opening
>credits. WHo wrote the show?
They wanted to make a statement about the way the press is but it did seem
wrong for it to be in a Rockford Files film. I will give Hal Linden credit
however for doing a very excellent acting job. When his character was down
and out you really could see the pain in his eyes.
>Good thing I've got a head start on the "NEXT"
>one. By hook or crook, it'll be done (I'm shooting for next week) and then
a
>quick trip to my story editor in L.A. Too dramatic tonight.
I hope we do see another Rockford Files film and a script by you will be an
added bonus.
>Jim's heart
>didn't seem to be in it.
I agree with you there. But the one scene where he wanted to tear into the
reporter was the first time I have seen Jimbo that upset.
>They can't all be
>diamonds.
No they can not and I hope that it does not end...come on Jimbo, Angel is
trying to rent out your trailer again and you better come back to turn the
water hose on him.
WSB99
agrees to help Rita and Ernie. If that's the scene you were referring
to, I heard no Gretchen. Maybe it was something that sounded like that.
Bill Anderson
Here's my eval of "If it Bleeds, it Leads". Overall, I liked the movie
but it took much too long for me to get hooked. Until the suicide, it
was pleasant but ploddingly slow. A slightly better Matlock.
Here's my comments according to the time on my VCR -- your times may
vary<s>.
6:42 -- Good to see George Wyner in the credits. Gretchen Corbett is
credited along with Tom Atkins, so we're getting Beth and Diel as well.
Story by Juanita Bartlett and Stephen J. Cannell -- can't go wrong
there.
We're introduced to the owner or the manager of the Sand Castle. They
and Jim know each other. I like this character -- it works for me. The
background hijinks sorta lay there, though.
The Firebird sits under a canopy.
Angel is introduced inside Jim's trailer. How he got into the trailer,
we don't know. Regardless, he's there. He's a pest.
7:00 -- The owner/manager's name is Fritz.
8:32 -- Rita and Ernie (Rita Moreno and Hal Linden) meet Jim at the Sand
Castle party. Dennis appears with a beard. Diel is there as well. Rita
and Ernie are married. Jim and Dennis banter over who introduced Rita to
Ernie. Rita Moreno is trying to be exuberant but it looks a little
forced. Hal Linden appears dapper.
11:01 -- Linden looks like the Westside rapist. A waiter noticed the
resemblance earlier and now Jim and Dennis realize the resemblance based
on a TV news story.
13:42 -- Now I know why Diel made the party -- to advance the plot<g>.
Jim and Dennis talk about the resemblance between Ernie (Landale, we
learn is the last name) and the Westside rapist. Diel joins the
conversation, smoking a cigar and drinking. He's seems more of a jerk
than before.
14:02 -- More Angel, trying to rent Jim's trailer to George Wyner's
character. I'm already tiring of Angel. Not good.
14:23 -- Ernie Landale says "...and it's a blessing in disguise..." A
Blessing In Disguise is the title of the second of the new two hour
Rockfords. Don't know if this means anything, but there you go.
15:04 -- Ernie is going to make a police statement. I like the Hal
Linden character. Rita still seems a bit forced in her exuberance. Angel
slips away.
15:23 -- Ernie and Dennis are in the car together. There's a quick long
shot. I think I recognize Wilshire Boulevard near the Miracle Mile
district in Los Angeles.
18:22 -- Dennis and Ernie talk in the car. The car is similar to the
Westside rapist's car and Ernie is also a school teacher. Ernie
announces the plot for the next few minutes -- "What if it gets out?".
Music comes in to reinforce the obvious.
19:55 -- Rita and Jim talk in the trailer. Rita implies that she was
assaulted or molested. Jim is only around for reaction shots and little
dialogue.
25:18 -- Ernie leaves the car before testifying at the police station.
He ends up back at the trailer. Ernie wants to hire Jim. Money is not
mentioned.
In general, when Ernie is in the scene it seems to work for me.
Otherwise, things are slow. This is not good...
27:34 -- Rita tries to concoct an alibi for Ernie. Pacing too slow for
me. Ernie states that he left the car because he doesn't have an alibi.
28:56 -- Jack Garner appears as Captain McEnroe. The character is
actually advancing the plot -- good to see.
31:26 -- Plot continues. The press knows about the lie detector test.
It's also becoming clear that the Richard Jewell incident at the Atlanta
Olympics was the basis for some of this plot. Nice visual shot of Rita
talking about it being 15 years since she visited the police station --
all the while being shot against an open window looking down across the
street where a street walker is plying her trade.
31:50 -- Gretchen Corbett appears as Beth.
32:50 -- Beth has her arm twisted to come into the police station.
There's some back and forth explaining why, if she's now a writer, she's
coming to the police station. They could have shortened this by saying
"The plot with your divorcee as an attorney didn't work, so I'm back in
the mix. <g>" Beth looks a little funny to me -- like she's put on
weight or something.
35:00 -- There's some good banter between Beth and Jim. Well, the words
are good but it's delivered too slow. Pick up the pace!
44:10 -- Ernie is told by the school administrator that he should take
some time off.
45:33 -- The title of the show "If it Bleeds, it Leads", is mentioned by
someone working in TV news.
46:57 -- Jim interviews a park maintenance person. This character is
pretty annoying to me. Jim finds some evidence that it possibly wasn't
Ernie.
51:04 -- Scene at the trailer mailbox, Angel and a hose is clever.
53:30 -- The school administrator sells out Ernie to the press.
56:23 -- Ernie is spotted in his car by the press. A weak chase ensues.
OJ anybody?
1:02:10 -- Jim takes Ernie to a hotel room. Jim Garner has to walk a bit
and climb a couple of stairs. He's clearly out of breath as he opens the
hotel door. Not good.
1:02:54 -- Ernie mentions a "dark past" and Rita helped him escape it.
He thanks Jim for his help.
1:06:56 -- Rita is trying to order for Ernie at a restaurant. Rita is
bordering on annoying for me...
1:09:48 -- With Ernie, the plot is okay but otherwise it seems sappy and
plodding... Ernie is locked up.
1:15:36 -- Diel is about to blow his stack as he and Jim get into it.
Jim didn't really dig into Diel all that hard.
1:19:20 -- Becker and Jim have a scene together. The pace is too slow...
1:19:54 -- Ernie gets scalded in prison.
1:23:03 -- Rita and Jim see what appears to be the Westside Rapist
coming out his front door. He (the rapist) gets into his car. Rita is
all excited. Jim states "See what he's driving first." Apparently, Jim
didn't check the driveway...
1:24:30 -- Jim and Rita follow this guy to a gas station. Rita gets out
to call Becker.
1:26:56 -- Jim and Rita catch him without much of a struggle at all.
It's not Ernie.
1:33:21-- Ernie is let out of prison. He's scarred in every sense of the
word.
1:34:24 -- Ernie realizes that he's not going to teach his class. Why
Jim is there as a practical matter, I don't know. As a plot device, I
know, but otherwise, why would he be in the meeting?
1:35:11 -- Ernie blows his stack at the school administrator. I buy it.
1:38:02 -- There's a party at Jim's trailer but Ernie is obviously
distant. Dennis shows up. Some sappy dialogue with a bit of humor. Not
enough humor, however.
1:45:02 -- At home, Ernie realizes that the neighbors still shun him.
Good scene. Finally, a scene that's understated! No words were
necessary. My interest perks up.
Up to this point, Rita always seemed to be around to announce what's
going on. Some of that is okay but I've had too much of it already...
1:46:03 -- By himself, Ernie listens to a news report about him and the
inference that there's still something wrong (he's still suspended). He
goes to shave and put on his clothes. Again, understated. Good scene.
1:48:37 -- Angel is back to complete the rental agreement with George
Wyner's character. He's named Mr. Gillespie while Angel is Xavier
DeLaCroix. It's a reasonably cute scene.
1:50:39 -- Jim and Rita have a scene together, talking about Ernie. I
like Rita in this one -- I believe her. Ernie's missing.
1:51:01 -- Jim fires off a good line (talking about the LAPD) -- "To
protect and swerve".
1:51:30 -- Ernie is on top of a building -- the "Barrington Plaza".
1:53:33 -- Ernie jumps and hits the ground near Rita and Jim.
This surprises and hooks me -- I'm used to sappy TV endings.
1:55:18 -- Jim goes on a rant over the airwaves. Jim (the character)
should have been much ruder but Jim (the actor) may not have it in him
to be so loud and rude.
1:56:01 -- Jim and Rita take a walk on the beach, just like the last
episode between Jim and Rita on the old show. They make a reference to
it. The scene works well for me. I like Rita again.
1:57:33 -- Jim and Rita continue on the beach and have some touching
moments. The scene really works, with the exception of Rita saying "I'm
gonna remember that". Again, such things don't need to be announced,
it's clear from the scene...
1:58:03 -- Show ends.
Overall, too slow. The last 30 minutes are good, but to get there is
not worth the effort unless you're a Rockford Phile. Don't be surprised
if the ratings are poor...
James D Barry
Thanks for the summary Bill. Good points for sure.
I've gotta second Bill's call about it being a bit
too slow and Rita's role as overreacting to the
obvious.
>all the while being shot against an open window
>looking down across the
>street where a street walker is plying her trade.
Yeah. They stayed on that shot for a good long
time. OK, OK, we see it, we get it...
>Beth looks a little funny to me -- like she's put on
>weight or something.
She's older. Oops. Rita's supposed to state the
obvious, not me.
>He's clearly out of breath as he opens the
>hotel door. Not good.
That was an uncomfortable feeling for me too.
We don't want him getting old...
>1:19:54 -- Ernie gets scalded in prison.
>1:33:21-- Ernie is let out of prison.
Yes, but he was in super shape for an upper-middle
aged guy who just got the s*** kicked out of him
in a jailhouse ambush. The guys that jumped him
must've missed that day in convict school when
whoop-ass was taught.
>1:46:03 -- By himself, Ernie listens to a news
>report about him and the
>inference that there's still something wrong
>(he's still suspended). He
>goes to shave and put on his clothes. Again,
>understated. Good scene.
Right, but do we ever find out what that something
was? Something from the dark past mentioned
before? Or just legal red-tape?
>1:53:33 -- Ernie jumps and hits the ground near
>Rita and Jim.
Yes. That was a surprise. I remember the commercials
which advertised the show. They showed a portion
of the scene where Ernie is on the roof. So I
start thinking, sure, some guy is going to threaten
suicide and Jim's going to save the day and talk
him down.
Even as he was falling, I was almost convinced he was
going to land on one of those airbags like in the
first Lethal Weapon movie when Mel Gibson handcuffs
himself to the guy and they both jump.
>unless you're a Rockford Phile.
Despite my nit-picking. I'm a phile. Great show.
>Don't be surprised if the ratings are poor...
Poor promotion helps poor ratings.
- Jim
FrogPriest
that what you are referring to?
FrogPriest
I recall one of the first episodes in the series having a friend of Rockford
killed (off-screen) by some thugs beating him to death--and I remember Jim
Rockford walking on the beach reflecting on the death of his friend (his
thoughts were outloud even though he was thinking them). In fact that is part
of the reason like the series to begin with--Rockford got beat up and hurt
unlike the super hero detectives of the time and friends got killed.
The movie lacked the humor or playfulness that the series and "I Still Love LA"
had.)
Kevbo
FrogPriest <frogp...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19990427144809...@ng25.aol.com...
> Kevbo said>Good show - A little different -good people don't die on
Rockford
>
> I recall one of the first episodes in the series having a friend of
Rockford
> killed (off-screen) by some thugs beating him to death--and I remember Jim
Sorry ..you are right ,there was a lot of people killed or beat up . But
they didn't go splat like a ripe melon on the concrete-- way to graphic for
a supposedly lighthearted show even if it does have a dark theme
Lighten up Jimbo & get back to the P.I. work - the clues never use to drop
right into his hands -make us laugh again!!. Maybe the factor is that
Stuart(angel) is Directing. Lets get the old director back & get Angel back
to puting Bugs in salads
Kevbo
Scripts360
for another Rockford Movie. It is in the vein of the original show of which I
am immensely
familiar. Suffice it to say, it'll be fun, funny,
suspenseful, and Full of Rockford Charm and wit.
JMurphy960
Garner were done with the series
Someone
So long, Jimmy! I'll never forget ya!
JMurphy960 wrote in message
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