Quickie Nirvana, etc.
j.r._johnson
know a lot of people here list this as one of their very favorite
episodes. I thought it was alright, but nothing great. However, it
DID include an actor whom I wish TRF had used more than this one
time. I'm talking about Quinn Redecker.
For those who don't remember him, he played the role of Gordon
Bouchers in this episode. He also played in one of the Three
Stooges movies (I believe it was the Hercules movie). I know he was
also in a lot of other TV shows at one time or another. I also
remember him from the soap opera Days Of Our Lives, which I actually
watched some of back in the mid-70's. If I remember correctly, he
played Alex Marshall in that soap, who was a smooth talking,
charismatic (somewhat like Gordon Bouchers) person who was the
biggest lying, deceiver on the planet. I'm trying to recall another
character on Rockford that he would have been like, but no one comes
to mind at this late hour. I wished he would have had a much bigger
part in Quickie Nirvana, and I wish he had been brought back in
other episodes as a bad guy.
I know that the "MO" for a detective series back in the 70's was for
the bad guy to do something and the PI to take the whole show to
track him down and catch him. In thinking of Quinn Redecker I
thought that he would have made a great bad guy who would appear as
a semi-regular in that Jim could stop or foil Redecker's plans, but
that he could never catch Redecker. He would be like an
arch-nemesis to Jim, in much the same way that someone like the
Joker was to Batman. Now, here's a question for the group. Does
anyone think that a device like this would have worked back then for
something like TRF? Would it be believable to have it to where the
star of the show never could quite put one certain crook away? What
do you think? Good idea or bad idea? Believable or not? Would it
help the series or detract from the star's character?
Johnny
Someone
> Would it be believable to have it to where the star of the show never
> could quite put one certain crook away?
Maybe, but only of it were played as a comedic device. And even
then, I have grave doubts. Otherwise, all you'd have would be
"Rockford's Wofat," or "Rockford's Moriarty." I think it would have
been completely out of character in TRF.
Of course, there was one thing that Rockford kept trying to get
but almost always failed -- his fee!
Tony DeAngelo
<J.R. Johnson> wrote in message
news:p6bhlu8sd20i12dus...@4ax.com...
> know a lot of people here list this as one of their very favorite
> episodes. I thought it was alright, but nothing great. However, it
> DID include an actor whom I wish TRF had used more than this one
> time. I'm talking about Quinn Redecker.
I fully agree that Redecker could have been used more, and fully disagree
that Quickie Nirvana was "nothing great".
>
> For those who don't remember him, he played the role of Gordon
> Bouchers in this episode. He also played in one of the Three
> Stooges movies (I believe it was the Hercules movie). I know he was
> also in a lot of other TV shows at one time or another. I also
> remember him from the soap opera Days Of Our Lives, which I actually
> watched some of back in the mid-70's. If I remember correctly, he
> played Alex Marshall in that soap, who was a smooth talking,
> charismatic (somewhat like Gordon Bouchers) person who was the
> biggest lying, deceiver on the planet. I'm trying to recall another
> character on Rockford that he would have been like, but no one comes
> to mind at this late hour.
He has a touch of the Roland Clementi, no?
I wished he would have had a much bigger
> part in Quickie Nirvana, and I wish he had been brought back in
> other episodes as a bad guy.
>
> I know that the "MO" for a detective series back in the 70's was for
> the bad guy to do something and the PI to take the whole show to
> track him down and catch him. In thinking of Quinn Redecker I
> thought that he would have made a great bad guy who would appear as
> a semi-regular in that Jim could stop or foil Redecker's plans, but
> that he could never catch Redecker.
Sort of like the today's real-life smooth criminals (think Martha Stewart,
ha ha).
He would be like an
> arch-nemesis to Jim, in much the same way that someone like the
> Joker was to Batman. Now, here's a question for the group. Does
> anyone think that a device like this would have worked back then for
> something like TRF? Would it be believable to have it to where the
> star of the show never could quite put one certain crook away? What
> do you think? Good idea or bad idea? Believable or not? Would it
> help the series or detract from the star's character?
>
> Johnny
I think it could have worked, but the danger is in making Jim look
incompetent. It's important, given Rockford's personality (anti-hero,
"afraid" of guns, etc.) that his actions are in direct contradiction to his
stated goals. That's what makes him so endearing. In a world "where the
price of everything ends in 99 cents" Jim undersells and overdelivers.
Unlike Mannix or the movie version of Bond, Jim is clearly fallible. Thus,
the episodes which can satify least are the ones in which he is duped.
Still, I think this idea works, if done properly. He couldn't be a thug
like "Manett" or Electric Larry. He'd have to be semi-legit and Jim would
have to best him nearly every time their paths cross, if only in a little
way.
BTW, to custom make your own phone message I suggest "The Great Blue Lake
Land and Development Company".
Remember Murray Johnson? There are plently of John and Johnnies,no wait!
How about "Gianni"!
Adam H. Kerman
>Last week sometime TV Land showed the episode "Quickie Nirvana". I
>know a lot of people here list this as one of their very favorite
>episodes. I thought it was alright, but nothing great. . . .
A dissenting opinion!
I know why I liked it and why it's a favorite of a number of other folks
in this newsgroup. We've discussed it often enough.
Can you elaborate?
j.r._johnson
I KNEW that would be an unpopular statement, but I just really
didn't enjoy that episode as much as other ones. Since there are a
lot of the fourth season's shows that I've watched years ago, but
just can't remember, I've been looking forward to seeing episodes
like "Quickie Nirvana", "Hotel Of Fear", "The Queen Of Peru",
"Irving The Explainer", etc.
I don't know that I can really put my finger on any one thing about
it, but to me it was no more than average. I actually like the plot
for "The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls" better than
"Quickie Nirvana". I know everyone has their own opinion, but this
episode didn't really have a lot of the stuff I like the best in TRF
episodes. There was no big con by Jim, there wasn't the antics of
Angel, there really wasn't that much in the way of humor. Perhaps
the best part was Jim's remark to Sky after Borchers hit her that
"that was the sound of one hand clapping".
Maybe I should ask you and everyone else that really likes this
episode what you like about it more than most other episodes. I
might can gain a greater appreciation for it that way.
Johnny
j.r._johnson
<som...@somewhere.org> wrote:
><J.R. Johnson> wrote in message news:p6bhlu8sd20i12dus...@4ax.com...
>
>> Would it be believable to have it to where the star of the show never
>> could quite put one certain crook away?
>
>Maybe, but only of it were played as a comedic device. And even
>then, I have grave doubts. Otherwise, all you'd have would be
>"Rockford's Wofat," or "Rockford's Moriarty." I think it would have
>been completely out of character in TRF.
Yes, I can see your point. Although, in real life there were cases
with the organized crime type of people where no one would tell on
the other one, and a conviction was never made. Even in some of the
Rockford episodes there were situations where the Feds had been
trying to pin crimes on certain criminals and couldn't really get a
conviction or that one big break that would allow them to arrest a
criminal. Still, it really would have changed a lot about the show
and maybe turned it into more of a soap opera. It was just
something I had thought about. Thanks for the input.
>Of course, there was one thing that Rockford kept trying to get
>but almost always failed -- his fee!
I know what you mean. But, it seems like in the fourth season of
shows, Jim was actually doing some collecting on some of his cases
for a change. I thought THAT was interesting.
Johnny
JosephLoya
There are "sad" but interesting characters, like Jay Rockfelt.
Sky was just sad --- she was completely comprehendable in the first second and
a half of seeing her.
Adam H. Kerman
That's exactly why I liked it. I thought it was an effective portrait of a
popular phenomenon of the '70's, done without treating the character of Sky in
a condescending manner. Dated? Not really. People are always looking for the
next feel-good fad to get sucked in by. It's easier than dealing with life's
mundane problems.
Rockford was quite sympathetic to Sky. After all, he's never fit in, either;
always a maverick. But he's functional; she's not.
CardsFan
news:ulkuoie...@corp.supernews.com...
Well, I really liked the conversation Jim had at the door with the girl at
the Krishna place that ended with her asking, "You know who you remind me
of?" and Jim immediately replies, "Your father."
AJM
Charles
"CardsFan" <Al...@nospam.Purdue.edu> wrote in message
news:aje39q$pug$1...@mozo.cc.purdue.edu...
There were some other great moments in this episode.
I was floored when Sky recognized the name of Mac, after telling Jim
earlier it was a hard name to remember because it was so unusual.
Talk about not being functional. Sky even forgot to deliver the package of
cash and did not even think that the way she was to deliver the package was
unusual.
The one hand clapping, in my opinion is one of the top lines in the whole
series. Too bad TVLand cut out the part where she asked "What is the sound
of one hand clapping?" You needed to have seen the episode earlier to
understand what Jim's comment was all about when he said "That is the sound
of one hand clapping" after Gordon slapped her.
Jim closing the shutter doors when Sky was explaining to Rocky
Rolfing -Priceless.(after he thought she was talking about Golfing.
Not only eating the hamburger, but making sure she took it with her and
falling all over herself, whem Jim said lets go.
Jim saying the fish was just acting dead..
TVLand also cut out the last scene where Sky (Hester) said "Mr., You look
like a sinner, Do you know Jesus?'
It is hard to say what is your favorite episode, but this one ranks up there
with me. I wish, especially, for this episode, that TVLand had not edited so
much out.
Charles
Doug Berlin
<J.R. Johnson> wrote in message
> Maybe I should ask you and everyone else that really likes this
> episode what you like about it more than most other episodes. I
> might can gain a greater appreciation for it that way.
To each his/her own, but what I really like about this episode is the
ending, when Jim sees Sky handing out pamphlets (what's her new name,
Esther?). Jim is sincerely (convincingly) happy to see her and wants to
know if she can grab a cup of coffee with him. It succinctly illustrates
why Jim Rockford is such a great, lovable character (he doesn't really have
much reason to be so happy to see Sky, much less get a cup of coffee with
her). It is also so poignantly sad about the kind of character Sky is.
-Doug Berlin
j.r._johnson
wrote:
As I said once before, it's not that I hate this episode. It's quite the
opposite. I liked it. I just didn't like it as much as a lot of people do,
and I was curious as to what I might be missing.
As far as what makes TRF so great, Jim is not only a very bright, intelligent,
think-quick-on-your-feet kind of guy, but Jim is very compassionate. I think
that's the one thing that down through everything else, keeps people watching.
I'll be the first to admit that the thing that on first thought draws me to
most of James Garner's characters is his sense of humor. He is downright
hilarious at times. I was watching "Dwarf In The Helium Hat" today, and that
little scene with Lt. Chapman in the squad room was terrific. Jim had
everyone laughing with his comebacks when it was plainly Chapman who was
*trying* to make fun of Jim on Chapman's "home turf". But, after Chapman left
the room, Jim made up for all of it by giving his little "We'll be right back
after these commercial breaks." speech. You somehow knew Jim would get the
last word in over Chapman.
But, the thing about this episode and it is evident in others including
"Quickie Nirvana" is his compassion for man or beast. Jim was the one who was
willing to save the dog regardless of what happened and as we found out at the
end, regardless of him having to pay the medical bill for the care of someone
else's dog. Both Carol and Romanoff realized that too. I don't believe Sky
recognized that in Jim, and that just showed how messed up she really was.
It's this type of ending just as in "The Battle-Ax and the Exploding Cigar"
that really get to me (emotionally, I suppose). I guess I am the romantic
kind who likes the "happily-ever-after" themes. This is one of the things that
turned me off on "Quickie Nirvana". At the end Jim IS glad to see Sky again.
It's a personal and emotional thing. But, Sky was still hiding behind her new
facade and was as cold and impersonal as ever. That was okay for Jim because
deep down, he knew Sky and really shouldn't have expected anything else. I
know life is not pefect and these things DO happen in real life. But, I just
like it more when they DO come together as in "The Dwarf In The Helium Hat" or
"The Battle-Ax and the Exploding Cigar".
Johnny
SNJ261
>Maybe I should ask you and everyone else that really likes this
>episode what you like about it more than most other episodes. I
>might can gain a greater appreciation for it that way.
I think there's lots of funny moments in this episode.
1. When Sky first comes into the trailer and tells Jim she got rolfed last
night. Jim at first thinks its something sexual and has a funny look on his
face.
2. Jim at the ashram. Take a look at Jim's face when the girl asks him to
please keep his voice down, even though he's not talking loud at all. Then he
pulls a con on her about having a whole load of organic veggies.
3. Jim, Sky and Chapman at the lawyers office. Jim's funny line about the
tired old debate over which is worse, pot or alcohol.
4. Jim and Sky over Rocky's house is a funny scene.
There's others that I think other posters have mentioned in this thread. This
definitely is in my top 10 favorite episodes.
bcnmason
"SNJ261" <snj...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020901085914...@mb-mn.aol.com...
> Johnny wrote:
>
>
> >Maybe I should ask you and everyone else that really likes this
> >episode what you like about it more than most other episodes. I
> >might can gain a greater appreciation for it that way.
>
> I think there's lots of funny moments in this episode.
>
> 1. When Sky first comes into the trailer and tells Jim she got rolfed
last
> night. Jim at first thinks its something sexual and has a funny look on
his
> face.
What I thought was even funnier was Rocky's misunderstanding of "rolfing".
Rocky: Sonny, I was talking with Sky here, and she tells me she has a
friend who is a professional golfer. You know how you were thinking of
picking up your game, well.....maybe you ought to speak with him.
Jim: Dad,..she didn't say golfing,.....she meant rolfing.
Rocky: (Completely puzzled) What's that?
Then when Sky starts explaining the whole technique to Rocky, Jim picks
himself up, walks into the kitchen and closes the shutters. His facial
expressions alone stole that scene.
Brian
Mark LoPresti
<< Johnny wrote:
>Maybe I should ask you and everyone else that really >likes this episode what
you like about it more than >most other episodes. I might can gain a greater
>appreciation for it that way.
I think there's lots of funny moments in this episode.
1. When Sky first comes into the trailer and tells Jim she got rolfed last
night. Jim at first thinks its something sexual and has a funny look on his
face.
2. Jim at the ashram. Take a look at Jim's face when the girl asks him to
please keep his voice down, even though he's not talking loud at all. Then he
pulls a con on her about having a whole load of organic veggies.
3. Jim, Sky and Chapman at the lawyers office. Jim's funny line about the
tired old debate over which is worse, pot or alcohol.
4. Jim and Sky over Rocky's house is a funny scene.>>
I really love this one. From the opening moments with Sky emerging from the
pyramid to Jim's funny reactions to being mired in the whole hippy-trippy
experience. And it also contains my single-favorite Rockford moment ... "That's
the sound of one hand clapping!" Top 10 episode, indeed.
Mark LoPresti, Buffalo NY
______________________
"That's one of the tragedies of this life - that the men who are most in need
of a beating up are always enormous."
- Rudy Vallee in "The Palm
Beach Story"
RNeill22
>From: snj...@aol.com (SNJ261)
>I think there's lots of funny moments in this episode.
Isn't there a line in this episode in which Sky tells the bad guys something
like: "You'll be squashed in the Karmic Backlash." Whatever show that line is
from (it might have been Fernwood Tonight, too) it made me laugh and I've been
looking for a way to casually work it into conversation for over 20 years.