Cranky but likable L.A. PI Jim Rockford pulls no punches (but takes plenty of them). An ex-con sent to the slammer for a crime he didn't commit, Rockford takes on cases others don't want, aided by his tough old man, his lawyer girlfriend and some shady associates from his past.
The best episode of "The Rockford Files" season 5 is "Heartaches of a Fool", rated 8.2/10 from 320 user votes. It was directed by William Wiard and written by Stephen J. Cannell. "Heartaches of a Fool" aired on 9/22/1978 and is rated 0.5 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Rosendahl and Gilda Stern Are Dead".
Jim finds that a country music star, corrupt union boss and Chinese triad all have one thing in common with why Rocky ended in hospital after his rig was forced off the road: sausages.
Director: William Wiard
Writer: Stephen J. Cannell
A doctor's murder has direct connections to the Mob, and Jim comes to the assistance of hooker friend Rita Capcovik (Rita Moreno) when she finds herself entangled in it.
Director: William Wiard
Writer: Juanita Bartlett
Wrongly accused of beating a man to death, Jim discovers the best legal advice he can find is from disbarred lawyer John Cooper.
Director: William Wiard
Writer: David Chase
Handsome, charmed PI Lance White (Tom Selleck) may speak lines that sound like they're from a 1940s B movie, but everyone is so attracted to him they hang on his every word. That is, everyone except Jim.
Director: Stephen J. Cannell
Writer: Stephen J. Cannell
When an already overly stressed Dennis Becker is lumped with the unwelcome task of finding out who murdered Deputy Chief Towne's unfaithful wife, Jim decides to lend a hand in the investigation.
Director: Ivan Dixon
Writer: Juanita Bartlett
At a swank party, attended by some of LA's high society and police dept. VIPs, in honor of Angel's brother-in-law, Aaron, being made Chief of Police, a robbery takes place, while Lt. Doug Chapman is in charge of security. Desperate to get back into good graces with his superiors, Chapman swallows his pride and asks Rockford to help him.
Director: Corey Allen
Writer: Stephen J. Cannell
After being strong-armed by an Arab sheik and his goons, and getting no help from the police, Jim decides to track down the two people who caused his trouble: a soft-voiced gigolo and the sheik's naive daughter.
Director: Ivan Dixon
Writer: David Chase
Jim is forced to babysit Chicago ex-cop, now celebrity, "Frank Falcone," who has a television show and toy line. Falcone isn't easy to babysit, and things get dicey when some old Chicago "friends" of Falcone show up to complicate things.
Director: William Wiard
Writer: Rudolph Borchert
A blind psychologist, who is being terrorized by an unknown stalker, turns to Jim for help.
Director: Arnold Laven
Writer: David Chase
Rockford's investigation of psychologist Megan Dougherty's stalker leads him to one of her patients who may have a split personality - one of which is a paid killer.
Director: Arnold Laven
Writer: David Chase
Jim puts up his dukes and steps forward to help a boxing coach who has been framed with bribery and murder.
Director: Reza Badiyi
Writer: Gordon T. Dawson
Jim could use some saintly guidance when he goes undercover on a scandal rag that is getting confidential medical information on a doctor's famous, and infamous, patients.
Director: Meta Rosenberg
Writer: Juanita Bartlett
A fashion model friend of Jim is found dead on the ground below her balcony. The police believe it's suicide, but having gotten a desperate phone call from her, Jim believes it's murder.
Director: Ivan Dixon
Writer: Rudolph Borchert
Ignorant that he's been driving a hot Cadillac with an illegal stash of guns in the trunk, leads Jim into rubbing shoulders with the FBI and the Company.
Director: Ivan Dixon
Writer: Rogers Turrentine
Jim finds his guilty conscience being manipulated by a former fiancee, who asks him to find out who is threatening her life.
Director: William Wiard
Writer: Juanita Bartlett
Having Jim doing jury duty leads to a mistrial and his being hired to investigate the case of pedestrian hit by a drunk-driver that brought the accused to court.
Director: Bernard McEveety
Writer: Gordon T. Dawson
If having the IRS wanting to do an audit isn't bad enough, a gangster Jim helped put in prison is out on parole and wants a pound of his flesh in revenge.
Director: Corey Allen
Writer: David Chase
A gang of bikers beat up Jim and assault John Cooper's sister, leading Coop to seek vengeance by returning to a darker period in his past when he was in a biker gang.
Director: William Wiard
Writer: Stephen J. Cannell
Jim finds himself being dragged into a complicated situation when Angel's con job as a hit man for hire goes awry.
Director: William Wiard
Writer: Rogers Turrentine
Richie's father has been swindled by a man named Coombs. Jim assembles together a disparate group of con-artists in a complicated scheme using Coombs' anxieties, and even the "Curse" of King Tut, to save Mr. Brockelman from ruin.
Director: William Wiard
Writer: Juanita Bartlett
Conclusion
Director: William Wiard
Writer: Rudolph Borchert
While in hospital after a car accident, Jim stumbles across a black market for vital organs.
Director: Reza Badiyi
Writer: Rudolph Borchert