When I was a youngster, back in the thrilling 70's, my parents… well, my mom… was totally into TV shows. Not so much to call her a couch potato, but if there was a western or police drama on, she'd be there. Being that I had respect for my parents (something that has gone the way of the Dodo in today's youth), I'd usually kick back and watch some of the shows with her. The scary shows were my favorites, followed by the crime dramas. Hardly a week went by when we weren't sitting down to catch an episode of "Mannix", "Hawaii 5-0" or "The Rockford Files."

That is what has made this recent wave of TV on DVD so much fun for me. Not only do I get to catch the newer shows without the benefit of commercials, but I also re-live a little of my youth by watching the releases of older shows. Universal has been doing there part with the release of several of my favorites, most recently the aforementioned "The Rockford Files." The 1st season hit store shelves a few months ago and now they are following it up with the 2nd season. At this rate, it should only take them two or three years to release all nine seasons.

Jim Rockford was an unusual kind of detective. Unlike most of the other TV detectives on the air at the time, he made sure he solved his cases pretty much by any means necessary. Even if it meant bending the rules a bit. Being that he was an ex-con, wrongfully accused for the crime he did the time for, he had no problems playing the tough guy when he had to. But where you got to see the tough guy's softer side was in the way he would take care of his father (Noah Beery, Jr.), the two sharing a great rapport.

This 2nd season of "The Rockford Files" includes 21 episodes, and truth be told, there's not a bad episode amongst the bunch. Surprisingly, the set even includes a couple of special features, the best being the original Pilot episode, "Backlash of the Hunter." This episode guest-starred Lindsay Wagner ("The Bionic Woman"), William Smith and Billy Mumy. Most interesting however was the casting of Robert Donley as Rockford's father, who was replaced in the series by Beery. You'll also find an interview with the show's creator, Stephen J. Cannell.

Everything about this set is an improvement over the 1st season, from the packaging to the single-sided discs (the earlier set used double-sided discs, which I abhor).

Episodes:
The Aaron Ironwood School of Success
The Farnsworth Strategem
Gearjammers, Part 1
Gearjammers, Part 2
The Deep Blue Sleep
The Great Blue Lake Land and Development Company
The Real Easy Red Dog
Resurrection in Black & White
Chicken Little is a Little Chicken
2 Into 5.56 Won’t Go
Pastoria Prime Pick
The Reincarnation of Angie
The Girl in the Bay City Boys Club
The Hammer of C Block
The No-Cut Contract
A Portrait of Elizabeth
Joey Blue Eyes
In Hazard
The Italian Bird Fiasco
Where's Houston
Foul on the First Play
A Bad Deal in the Valley

Starring: James Garner
Extras: Stephen J. Cannell Reflects on the Second Season, Original Series Pilot
Specifications: Full Frame, Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Studio: Universal
Release Date: 6/13/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give The Rockford Files: Season 2 a B.