We're slowly losing them - our television heros
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fun-niji — 11 years ago(August 24, 2014 09:27 AM)
R.I.P. To James Garner and everyone who've passed away.
Just saw this list and although I wasn't around in the 70s, I recognise and have seen some of the shows of some of the actors and actresses on this lists. Just last year I was checking up on Bob Hoskins and Mickey Rooney and thinking of Shirley Temple.
Wow.. -
ThePowerToArouseCuriosity — 11 years ago(July 21, 2014 01:10 AM)
What bothers me the most is reading his autobiography and getting to the part where he closes with how he wants to be remembered - the answer "with a smile".
I read that and thought, yes he's getting older and won't be around forever. I'd better get busy and write to him to thank him for the show that I really enjoyed, The Rockford Files. I couldn't find a way to reach him and then a month later he's gone.
For the last two months I've been immersing myself in Rockford Files shows and thinking, "He's still alive, I'm not watching this show and thinking about the man who WAS, but the man who IS".
Damn. so I wasted no time writing to Richard Anderson (Oscar Goldman) and Lindsay Wagner. Maybe not as exceptional acting, who can say but I hate losing these fine actors from the 70's. It makes me feel we're moving forward away from that era where all we'll have left are memories and no living actors. And the actors of today are well just not comparable.
IMDB - where I can relive my TV shows from the 70's and find new messages posted just hours ago.
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Diamond97 — 11 years ago(July 21, 2014 08:25 AM)
I miss those great shows of the 70s and 80s:
Rockford Files
The Love Boat
The Jeffersons
Sanford and Son
Three's Company
Laverne and Shirley
Happy Days
One Day At A Time
All in The Family
Good Times
Fantasy Island
Charlie's Angels
Hart to Hart
Vegas
Alice
Cagney and Lacey
Hill Street Blues
St. Elsewhere
LA Law
Mama's Family
The Carol Burnett Show
Trapper John M.D.
Starsky and Hutch
Baretta
Police Woman
Get Christie Love
The Cosby Show
227
The Incredible Hulk
Who's The Boss
Mork and Mindy
Too Close For Comfort
Fall Guy
The Dukes of Hazard
Dallas
Dynasty
Falcon Crest
Knots Landing
Magnum PI
Miami Vice
Hotel
Barnaby Jones
Scarecrow and Ms. King
The Golden Girls
The Facts of Life
Different Strokes
What's Happening
The Six Million Dollar Man
The Fall Guy
The Greatest American Hero
Amen
Wonder Woman
The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Mysteries
Gimme a Break
Friday the 13th: The Series
Tales From the Darkside
A Different World
Remington Steele -
vestdennis — 11 years ago(July 21, 2014 10:23 AM)
I was in high school when The Rockford Files was on prime time. It was my favorite TV show period back then (Sanford & Son my favorite TV comedy). I also loved The Streets of San Francisco & Barnaby Jones but Rockford was way ahead of the rest!
James Garner was so real, so believable as Jim Rockford (and anyone else he played). His handsome good looks, Oklahoma accent & easy-going manner & sense of humor were his trademarks. I have every season on DVD b/c today so much on TV isn't worth watching. -
Boricanator — 11 years ago(July 21, 2014 10:43 AM)
Today we've got 300 channels of reality crap where young people are given free alcohol and locked in a house with cameras all over it, and we watch the drama unfold. You tell me if we've progressed or regressed.
I understand how you feel. I hate these reality TV shows more than you. However, I think you are being unfair to todays TV. We've had great shows with cutting edge writing, acting and directing. Here are a few.
Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Walking Dead, the Goodwife, House of Cards and several others. This cutting edge TV has been a relief for those of us tired of the same repetitive things in movies.
So, let's enjoy the wonderful things both eras have to offer. -
ThePowerToArouseCuriosity — 11 years ago(July 21, 2014 07:46 PM)
The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad are the exception to today's television. I'm referring more to the reality crap such as Kardashians, Big Brother, Jersey Shore, scripted talk shows like Springer. It's utter crap.
Nor do I think you coiuld really watch TWD/Breaking Bad with your children after supper.
IMDB - where I can relive my TV shows from the 70's and find new messages posted just hours ago.
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ceiag — 11 years ago(July 21, 2014 11:58 AM)
Like you, I always planned to let Jim know how much he meant to me, but didn't. I think he would have been politely unimpressed.
I have been a fan since the early Maverick days, when I was too young to know why he impressed me so much. I have Rockford on disc, but I will have to leave watching it for a while.
RIP and condolences to Lois & Gigi & Kimberley
xxx -
Captain_Augustus_McCrae — 11 years ago(July 22, 2014 03:54 PM)
As a toddler I watched him on Maverick, and I was a fan from the word, "go". Films and TV shows were always improved by his performance. At the top of the Cool Guy List there are three names- Steve McQueen, James Coburn and James Garner. No one today comes close.
So long, Slick.
"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae -
w22nuschler — 11 years ago(July 22, 2014 06:28 PM)
I always enjoyed James Garner. I have seen quite a few interviews over the years and really was interested in the man himself. I did not always agree with him, but I still respected the guy because he seemed to be honest. I always loved Tom Selleck and I know he had a lot of respect for Jim and he took h2000is advice to not break his contract and do his hit tv series Magnum PI.
My favorite roll he did will differ from most. I loved him in Support Your Local Gunfighter and Support Your Local Sheriff. I also loved him in The Great Escape.
I never liked him as much on Rockford or Maverick and I'm not really sure why. -
svengali64 — 11 years ago(July 22, 2014 07:27 PM)
Great thread guys. I think the TV companies tried harder back then. A lot of these shows from the 70s and 80s are now dated of course, but they still entertain. I am no prude, but there isn't a lot of shows that everyone in the family can watch together nowadays. Can you imagine the Waltons being commissioned now? Maybe I am just getting old, but I miss Kojak, Columbo, The Streets of San Francisco, Magnum, Miami Vice, anything from Gerry Anderson, Airwolf, Alias Smith and Jones-god l could go on and on. Getting back to James Garner, he struck me as a very classy guy. The Great Escape and 36 Hours are my favourites and The Rockford Files from his television work. Another one of childhood heroes has gone and I send my heartfelt sympathies to his family. RIP Jim.
