LA Times: Why Jim Harbaugh jumped at chance to live ‘The Rockford Files’ RV beach life
There was a short MLive article a couple weeks ago from the NFL Owners' Meeting about Harbaugh discussing him choosing to live in an RV for a couple months while the rest of his family gets ready for the move to LA. We discussed it here.
Well, Sam Farmer (LA Times sports columnist) decided to do a pretty long article on it, with a number of interviews and more details on why, exactly, Jim decided to undertake yet another off-the-wall life experience.
The article is as much about James Garner (one of Jim Harbaugh's idols) as it is Harbaugh, but Garner being a cool, righteous dude helps explain why young (and now old) Jim was so taken by the Rockford Files and the LA beach lifestyle.
Harbaugh loved the humility of Rockford — and Garner in real life — and said that falls in line with what his own dad taught him.
“Rockford wasn’t trying to impress anybody,” the coach said. “I think we all go wrong when we try to make that leap to, `Today I’ve got to impress somebody.’ Because then you’re not yourself anymore. You don’t have a lot of practice at that.
Best TV theme song.
I can totally see Jim Harbaugh seeing himself in Jim Rockford.
I recognize that it is a harmonica taking over the lead melody for the second verse, but what instrument is that in the first verse? Some early synthesizer.
It was a Minimoog synthesizer.
Mike Post arranged "Classical Gas" for Mason Williams. Rockford Files as the same feel to me. Hit #10 on the charts. Possibly best TV theme song ever just above, F Troop, Andy Griffith Show, Gary Shandling Show (here's the part where we whistle", FLINTSTONES, Addams Family.
Years ago, we had a local guitar player would entertain the bar for the entire evening just playing TV theme songs.
You forgot the Beverly Hillbillies song.
You're welcome...
Sopranos has to be in the top 5.
Here's the theme for F Troop--with the lyrics. I don't remember it having lyrics! So much exposition here, though at least one stanza doesn't age well at all.
April 10th, 2024 at 12:56 PM ^
The best TV theme song is another Mike Post -- the theme for Hill Street Blues. They actually play that one on the Yacht Rock channel on SiriusXM.
Lost in Space too!
Mike Post and Pete Carpenter were downright ubiquitous in the '70s and '80s.
Best TV theme song
Cheers
April 10th, 2024 at 12:18 AM ^
Barney Miller has to be in that conversation, just for the opening bass line.
Sanford and Son would like a word as well.
Come on, got to be the Jeffersons....
When it is quiet and I start thinking of a song in my head 7 out of 10 times it is the theme to Sanford and Son. I believe Quincy Jones wrote it. (The other songs for me are Iron Man 10%, some classical song I don't know the name of and then a bunch of random stuff.)
You're all so very wrong. The greatest theme song is for Mission Impossible--the show, not those dumb Tom Cruise films. You're welcome.
Here's the Mission Impossible theme being played by a full orchestra. Again, nothing tops that.
I also agree the Barney Miller is in this conversation. Great song! I also didn't remember that they apparently recorded a different version every season.
Airwolf, Knightrider, Greatest American Hero, hell, even the cartoon MASK.
I'd nominate M*A*S*H or Star Trek: TNG personally. Theme songs are definitely less emphasized and iconic in modern TV, even though the overall product on the small screen is vastly improved.
I am getting so into this. Here's maybe my second favorite--the theme song to the '60s TV show Batman.
The Munsters theme song -- the awesome surf guitar doesn't fit the theme of the show which is mostly just about ripping off The Addams Family. Whatever. It's a classic.
Another great one: The Courtship of Eddie's Father.
God, I used to love that show when I was a little kid. Why? What was it even about? I don't remember anything else about it other than that I loved it.
April 10th, 2024 at 10:48 AM ^
Good suggestions all. I'd add Hill Street Blues and The Prisoner.
Yep, agreed. It's on flash drive I use in my car.
Keep Harbaugh weird
Yep, Peak Harbaugh
He may no longer be ours, but it's good to know he's still out there.
"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners."
Better question- why wouldn’t he?
"This is Jim Harbaugh, leave your name and message after the tone."
Hi, this is Marv from the NCAA. I've been looking through your receipts--did you really buy a burger at the Brown Jug?
*followed immediately by Ben Herbert dropping an entire squat rack onto the answering machine*
How about this: "This is Tuck from Staee. You know that statue of Paul Bunyan that looks so good in maize and blue. Well we lost it."
April 10th, 2024 at 10:50 AM ^
A Tuck phone conversation could never make it on network TV.
April 10th, 2024 at 12:27 PM ^
Approved for late night cable only
I’d expect nothing less
Jim Rockford used to get in many fights in that trailer.
According to Greg Roman the decision to take the Chargers job was after they realized they could live in a RV by the beach.
“Here’s the story,” Roman said. “Jim and I started talking, and I said, ‘You take that Chargers job, man, and I found this RV place right on the beach.’ He goes, ‘Really? Jim Rockford. You’re Jim Rockford. I want to be Jim Rockford. We’re doing this thing.’”
When Harbaugh pulled up stakes and headed for his new house, he gave Roman a stack of Rockford DVDs for film study.
Because even Jim Harbaugh can't afford a beach front house in California.
Not so much fights as either getting punched in the stomach or knocked out. He wasn't exactly a skilled fighter. That's what made the show different. On the show, he sustained so many major concussions that if he were a real person, he would have been permanently incapable of concentrated thought by the end of the first season.
But in real life, the actor did his own stunts, and messed up his back so badly that it ultimately led to the show ending after six seasons, when it was still successful.
These days, it might take Harbaugh's current salary to afford living in a trailer at a California beach. That was some nice real estate, even then, for $200 a day plus expenses.
Yeah, he's the TV version of Jake Gittes from Chinatown who also constantly got his ass kicked.
Taking a frequent beating is a job requirement for your classic hard-boiled shamus. Phillip Marlowe was always getting wailed on.
Jim will be out there practicing his J-turns.
By the by, Rosendahl and Gilda Stern are Dead is a killer episode title.
One of my dad’s favorite shows. He would say “I’m going to watch Rockford get his ass kicked again”.
Great show! I too loved the idea of living in an RV on the beach...though I did, uh, outgrow that desire. I'm also a way bigger fan of Columbo because it's the best. The Best!
Funny my wife and I have watched both Rockford and Columbo over the last few years. Great TV. Today's TV has better production value and acting but the writing is just awful.
Any other recommendations like those two shows?
April 10th, 2024 at 10:45 AM ^
I own all the episodes of Columbo on DVD. It's perfect marathoning. I also love the original Mission Impossible TV show.
Still a weird guy. But he’ll always be OUR weird guy.