The role of Jim Rockford in NBC’s Rockford Files pilot redux is cast… and sadly, it’s not Joe Flanigan who got it.
EW‘s Michael Ausiello and TV MoJoe are both reporting that Dermot Mulroney got the lead role, making his TV debut.
Thoughts – good? Bad? Leave your comments….
57 Comments
Bad. I wanted Joe. : (
I would have watched The Rockford Files with Joe Flanigan as Rockford. Without him, I have no interest. Now, I’m not watching this show.
Well that’s one show I won’t be lookin’ at.
Yeah, I would have watched it if Joe had been cast, but not now.
The guy looks too smarmy to be Rockford.
Bad choice, guys, very bad choice.
I didn’t like Rockford enough to watch this now that Joe Flanigan wasn’t picked or even considered
I`ll never watch this show now no interest Joe Flanigan should have gotten it Now it looks like an ordinary boring show
Him? He’s okay but not for this roll, I don’t think he can pull it off. NBC should have cast Joe Flanigan, I would have watched it. I don’t see this guy as Rockford… and I wont.
Was willing to give it a shot with Joe Flanigan, but without him, it holds no real interest.
Wow.. that’s way too bad. Would’ve watched if they would’ve cast Joe Flanigan for the role. Now, it just sounds like another, boring network show. No wonder I don’t watch Network TV anymore. They wouldn’t know dynamic and interesting TV it if came up and bit them in the butt.
Rockford files? Good idea. Very bad choice. Without Joe FLANIGAN? NO INTEREST.
From France,
Aidan
Joe Flanigan WUZ Rockford. I won’t watch the remake.
So not interested now. A new Rockford Files was always an iffy proposition, but without the only actor I could see in the role (Joe Flanigan) I have no hope it will be any good and will not spend time wven looking for it.
Oh well. One less show to watch.
Bummer. I thought they were taking a chance on doing a remake until I heard there was a possibility of Joe Flanigan in the role. Dermot Mulroney is, I’m sure, a fine actor. But Flanigan would have *owned* this iconic role. I have no interest in watching the remake now.
I’m sure that Dermot Mulroney is a good actor, but I just don’t think he has the edginess that is needed to play Jim Rockford. Joe Flanigan had all the elements needed for the Rockford role what a shame they seem to have gone for the “name” rather than the man who could have pulled the remake off. Joe Flanigan had the action factor, charm, charisma, sex appeal, humour, and the edginess to really make the character Jim Rockford.
I’m disappointed. =o(
Sigh….guess I won’t be watching Rockford remake. Joe Flanigan would have made the consumate JR.
What the hell is this?! I didn’t even know they were redoing Rockford… one of my all-time favorite shows! Unless James Garner is involved somehow (playing Rocky, perhaps?) I probably won’t be tuning in….
That’s too bad. Flanigan would have been perfect for that role. I agree that he would have owned it. It’s a rare thing for me to watch network TV, I would have given it a firm chance with Joe Flanigan in the role of Rockford.
No Joe Flanigan? Forget it. As you can see, a lot of people would have watched this show if Teh Flan was cast…but now? Well you just lost yourself a lot of dedicated ex-stargate atlantis viewers.
Who??
Won’t be watching it anyway. Would have if Joe Flanigan had gotten a shot, but oh well, thats they way the cookie crumbles.
Terrible news. Not only does Joe Flanigan have the ability to do this role, he also has the gravitas to carry it off. Plus his amazing ability to add humor into the mix when needed. I’d had high hopes for this remake, but not now.
No Joe, then not interested. Too bad. Hope he finds something better.
WELL THAT SUCKS. I too wanted Joe in the leading role. This series would have had a built in fan base from the get go. Every Stargate fan would have watched it. And that is a WORLD WIDE FANBASE to boot!!!
Would have watched it if Joe Flanigan had gotten the role…have no interest to watch it with this guy in it at all.
How sad. I like Dermot, but do not see him in this role at all. Joe, I can totally picture. Oh well, one less show to watch.
This is unbelievable of NBC! With Joe Flanigan in the lead, they had a guaranteed hit. Now it’s gonna be just another remake on the assembly line of remakes.
I really, really like Dermot Mulroney. In the right role, he’s funny, charming, and sexy. Jim Rockford is not that role.
Dermot doesn’t have the darkness, the likeable asshole-ry, that Rockford had – does NBC not remember that he was an *ex-con*? Or are they going to sanitize that bit? Blech! With a lead *that* miscast – I won’t be tuning in to see how else they deface one of my all-time favorite shows.
I Would have watched if Joe was Jim. However, now that all I have is a dream, I’m picturing James Garner as Rocky, Rachel Luttrell as Lt. Chapman, and David Hewlett in the Mariette Hartley role. Sadly, Jason can’t come play – he’s busy Conan-ing.
That’s disappointing news. I loved the original Rockford Files, and felt that Joe Flanigan had the screen presence to carry the role; and would have made a worthy successor to James Garner.
Joe would have made a fantastic Rockford. He has the presence, the humour, the darkness, the depth, the charm – the everytrhing to make a great Rockford to follow in James Garner’s footsteps. In my opinion, NBC didn’t make the right choice – but who’s going to listen to the fans?
I’m really disappointed. Having followed Joe’s acting for a few years I am sure he would be perfect. After all he matches the “character description” in 100%. It is such a pity the producers didn’t see that. It’s also such a pity that today’s show business is ruled by one stupid decision that follows another. Rockford Files without Joe Flanigan? I’m not going to say what they can do with this show now. No, I consider myself to be civilised. I’m not going to watch it. I couldn’t care less.
Well that’s one show that won’t get my viewership now. Had Joe Flan been in it I would have watched no matter how bad it was.
On the other hand maybe Joe has been saved from a fate worse than death when all the old Rockford fans stream for blood. Remakes very often go south so who knows.
I really hope those of you who are disappointed with this news let NBC know.
I’ll still keep an open mind – David Shore did run a show that cast Hugh Laurie as House, so he’s got some sense to him – but all of the comments to previous posts really convinced me Joe Flanigan would’ve been perfect.
One other thing with Dermot Mulroney is, I thought Rockford this time around was 35-40. Isn’t Mulroney older than that? (I’m too lazy to look)
They’ll still probably make it up to me if they get James Garner as Rocky. But- I’m not holding my breath.
Oh, and also thanks to the Stargate/Joe Flanigan fans who came around to this site and the Rockford threads to show your support. You seem to be a great group of people, and loyal fans that people like Joe F. should be proud to know.
Seriously? *That’s* the guy they went with? Oh well, looks like Rockford will be yet another NBC show that I won’t watch.
Its a rarity these days to find charasmatic actors like some of the great names of years gone by. Joe Flanigan was an exception and the role of Rockford required someone like him. I don’t watch much TV at all these days due to the lack of charasmatic actors who actually bring something unigue to their roles. James Garner would have been a hard act to follow and not many actors could fill his shoes, but I really felt that Joe Flanigan could have pulled it off and infused his own style into the role as well. Dermot Mulroney just doesn’t have what it takes to bring in all the elements that this role required.
Its sad that the casting world seems so shortnighted in their decisions these days. Another show I won’t be watching.
Well, that sucks. Joe Flanigan would have been perfect for that role. He has everything it takes to be the new Rockford and as far as I’m concerned? NBC blew it with that one and I definitely won’t be watching it.
Very bad idea. NBC is not going to increase its ratings this way. I predict this will be the first new show to fail. Joe would have guaranteed that it was successful.
So bad…I would have watched it only with Joe…He would have been perfect!!
Well that’s that. I was willing to watch for Joe Flanigan but now I can’t waste my time. Good job with the casting, not.
Beige is boring! The only way I would have watched this remake would have been if Joe Flanigan had gotten the role. Dermot Mulroney is great if you’re looking for a charming con man or a conventional leading man, but he’s NOT and never will be a Rockford. Joe Flanigan would have been perfect. NBC has shot itself in the foot with this one.
Oh yes, NBC has definitely shot themselves in the foot! They would have made it to be a huge hit with Joe Flanigan. Thy should have checked how Warehouse 13 ratings went up the moment Joe appeared for maybe 5 minutes in one episode. Thanks to Joe it was the most viewed episode in the history of sci-fi (or maybe syfy…for that matter. Looking at the current economy I have to say that people responsible for making casting decisions are simply irresponsible, shortsighted and silly…
Unfortunate. There are very few actors who would have convinced me to try out this remake. Mr. Mulroney isn’t one of them. He is a better choice than some of the young bland ones whose names were floating around, but only because he’s older bland. Remakes are generally problematic anyway, retaining few of the qualities that drew viewers to the original. Flanigan might have been interesting, or one of the other 40 somethings with a little edge and a lot of charm. Then again, NBC isn’t known for great choices.
A very disappointing choice for Rockford. Mulroney is a little too nice in a corn-fed, golly gee kind of way to play this role. Flanigan would have brought an edge to Rockford that would have made the ex-con, slightly seedy PI believable. Ah, well, what’s one more remake down the tubes, anyway?
Won’t make time for this without Joe Flanigan in it :(
Oh so disappointed! Thought it really had a chance if they had cast Joe Flanigan in the role -he would have been perfect -that touch of darkness to go with the charm and humour. Without him in it I really am not interested in watching. Pity – I feel NBC have waste a great opportunity to cash in on a great actor with a very loyal fan base.
Thanks for the lovely comments above in support of Joe Flanigan and his fans, Craig. :-)
I watched Rockford Files with my Dad when I was young , and I love James Garner. But I won’t consider watching the remake without Joe Flanigan as Rockford.
No one can replace James Garner, but Joe would have OWNED that role and filled Garner’s shoes admirably. In addition to all the other qualities previously stated, Joe just plain has the CHARISMA to pull this off. Or he would have.
I like Dermot and have always enjoyed his rolls. Him as Rockford? I can see that, a bit. BUT, I think Joe Flanigan would have made the better Jim. Too bad. We’ll never know now.
Bad choice, NBC. Nothing against Dermot, but Joe Flanigan was the only chioce for the role of Jim Rockford. He has the talent, the charisma, the sly sense of humor and the skills to bring the role to life.
One thing I do know from what I have seen of Flanigan – that Mulroney doesn’t seem to have – is that Jim Rockford is the kind of guy that the women feel is sexy but their men/boyfriends don’t feel threatened by. The guys would be like “I’d hang out with that guy.” I don’t really know a lot of guys who’d want to hang out with Mulroney, but if he’s a good actor, maybe he’ll pull it off. I’m just skeptical. Jim Rockford is a particular kind of character that very few could pull off.
I thought they’d picked someone who is a star over Joe, sorry but I had no idea who he was until I did a google search, realised I had seen him in the wedding movie and no still can’t see him as Rockford over Joe, NBC you’ve made a BIG mistake
So sad. The only actor that would have made me want to watch a remake of Rockford is Joe Flanigan. Mr. Mulroney is a decent actor, but he’s not Jim Rockford.
No Joe Flanigan…no me. He would have been perfect for the role. NBC screwed up again. One less show to watch.
OK. It is made. Honestly we do not know if M. FLANIGAN was intested in the role.When I dicovered SGA it was very late and I bought all the seasons. Yes it is a series “pop corn” without being pejorative. It is not BSG and its depth with its side quite survivor can be a dictator. In SGA every person is a important member of the team. A gentile gestalt. But it is a especially actor’s phenomenal discovery: HEWLETT, HIGGINSON, MC GUILLION ETC. and of course M. FLANIGAN who fought in a role without real depth and who made it what made. GRAND. I would never understand those scripwriters-producers ‘ incredible mortar creating a character who escapes them due to the lack of talent and who is saved by the actor whith so not enough material but so so talent. For it I know that M. FLANIGAN can play everything. Friends of the USA have you news of M. FLANIGAN on screen? Finally…
Sorry for my english,
Aidan from France
No wonder NBC is mired at the bottom of the ratings. Mulroney not only holds no interest for me, but he does not fit the looks or personality of Rockford. Joe Flanigan was tailor made for the role with both the looks and the laconic personality to make the part his own while still paying homage to the original. I won’t be tuning in.
Dermot Mulroney is an excellent actor, but I really don’t see him as Jim Rockford. Joe Flanigan, on the other hand, would have been perfect for the role. He has the ability to play dark and snarky, as well as humorous, which were the hallmarks of the original Rockford.
Now that “Rockford Files” is going to be just another bland remake, I’ll be passing on it and watching something else or reading.
Wow! NBC have really blown this one…no offense to Mr Mulroney – I am sure he is a good actor, but he just doesn’t have the “Rockford factor” that Joe Flanigan has….such a shame…unfortunately, the thought of Mr Mulroney in this role just doesn’t excite me so I will not be tuning in.
muy mala eleccion …yo queria a Joe Flanigan… pues ni modos ..no tengo inetres de verla ahora sin Joe –
Argentina