Saturday 27 February 2010

GOOD LUCK, JIM

[14.40 - French Time] The remake of The Rockford Files has its star: Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend's Wedding) will be Jim Rockford in the pilot for the NBC 2010 version of the iconic TV series.

The original Rockford Files, aired on NBC from 1974 to 1980, starred the great James Garner as private investigator Jim Rockford. Wrongfully jailed but pardoned, Rockford lived in a mobile home - which doubled as his office - on a Malibu beach. The ultimate anti-hero was a creation of Roy Huggins and Stephen J. Cannell and the memorable theme of the show (preceded by a message on Rockford's answering machine) was composed by Mike Post and Pete Carpenter. James Garner came back as the character in the nineties for some TV movies for CBS.

This pilot is from Universal Media Studios and Steve Carell's Carousel Productions and it is written by House creator David Shore, who is exec producing with Steve Carell. The choice of Mulroney comes the week NBC announced they would wait a few months for their remake of British cult series Prime Suspect because of the difficulties to find the perfect actress for the role.

Meanwhile, NBC Universal considers giving the Law & Order international treatment (Law & Order: UK, Paris Section Criminelle, etc...) to classic "brands" of its library like Columbo and Murder She Wrote. For a British remake of Columbo your humble servant's favourite is Peter Davison (because of The Last Detective).

Now which US net will dare to try a Mannix remake? Anyone? Anyone?

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ifa3e60e2b52e2281f6d8dbccb8fc9261

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2010/02/no-st-tennison.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2010/02/working-titles-tv-series.html

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