User reviews

Against his better judgement, Jim Rockford is hired to babysit an ex-cop named Frank Falcone while he's in Los Angeles for a toy convention. See Frank's life has a cop has been dramatized into a movie and is now a hit TV show (one Rocky loves, especially whenever the lead actor says: "Freeze, turkey!). And yes, it is quite a lot like the story of the actual TV show "Toma" which turned into "Berreta" The toy company is planning a role out of a huge line of toys with the Frank Falcone name and they just can't afford any negative publicity at this point. Thus that's why they hire Jim Rockford. But Falcone's past makes this anything but a babysitting assignment in a very watchable episode that mixes both comedy and action.

This is not the greatest Rockford, but it is fun. It's also a great one for "Rockford" insiders, who know the show's origins began with another 1973-74 show called "Toma" that Cannell wrote and produced. It was about the exploits of a Newark, NJ supercop named David Toma, who had an outsized ego.

Clearly Cannell is satirizing the enormous ego of the real David Toma. When the star of "Toma," the late Tony Mustante wanted out of that show after just one season, David Toma insisted taking over the role playing himself. His only acting experience was as an undercover cop and showing up on the TV show in non-speaking roles each week. The network and Universal declined such a generous request.Instead, they completely retooled the show with Robert Blake as "Baretta." Gone were the straightforward family life with hot wife Susan Strasberg and nice kids. Blake replaced all that with shtick. We got a "deese" and "dose" single guy who lived in a fleabag hotel with a pet cockatoo and an old drunk for a best friend.

Toma later he went on to become an anti-drug counselor. Some of his crying, screaming rants are on You Tube.

This was one of those OK episodes, where it wasn't that great nor that bad, but a fun ride along the way. Solid actor Hector Elizondo plays Frank Falcone, who has a line of toys named after him, plus a TV show to boot, which Rocky is a big fan of. Jim is hired to basically be Frank's bodyguard, as his "new" client sometimes gets involved in troubling situations and Rockford tries his best to avoid them. I can't be 100% certain of the contract placed on Falcone's life, but the hoods believe Rockford is now linked to him and both are in danger; I believe the contract is coming from bad dudes in Chicago, but that's as much as I can recall. There are a few cool scenes for which I'll remember this episode for, such as Jim finding a fish head in his soup, made especially for him by his dad for "flavor"; another real fine moment is when Jim is fishing, he notices 2 goons with knives ready to attack him, then soon after he jumps into the pacific ocean for his escape(not sure if that was a stunt man or not, as I know James Garner did most of his own stunts, but by 1978 he had major knee problems); lastly, I was pleasantly surprised to see the famous J-turn with the Firebird later in the show, as Jim and Frank escape this big, ugly sedan. The final scene ends on a happy tone, as Jim says "freeze, turkey" to Falcone, then he turns quickly to Rockford with his finger pointed like a gun with a smile on his face. As I said above, this is more of a lighter fare variety, as most of the scenes revolving around Rockford and Falcone is almost like good cop, bad cop with some entertainment along for the ride. Not among my favorites, but certainly not the worst of the bunch.

Great, funny episode that holds up after more than 32 years. While this episode delivers the usual Rockford action of car chases and humor, this episode stands out for what was not usual fare. If you are looking for Angel, forget it, he doesn't appear. Jim was often left without payment, but in this episode, he is handed a bunch of $100 bills. The overall- TV show within a TV show was well written and funny. Another theme that nothing lasts forever hangs over every scene. This episode also featured solar powered kids toys. I think I noticed an early limp in Jim which, perhaps foreshadowed Jims subsequent knee problems which led to the early demise of this terrific show.

A contact through an insurance company that employs Jim Rockford gets him a job babysitting a celebrity cop played by Hector Elizondo. And does this guy need babysitting. He can't let go of the job no matter what the circumstances. His manner would get him punched out for general principles and in fact Elizondo and James Garner do get into a bar brawl during which time Elizondo gets away from Garner and assaults an ex-partner from Chicago.

Everybody caters to Elizondo including Joe Santos and Noah Beery, Jr. who's just thrilled to death to be having a celebrity in his home. But there are some real people out to get him and by proximity Rockford himself.

The role Elizondo plays is clearly based on David Toma who did have a couple TV series based on him. Elizondo is some loose cannon out there.

Not as good as some Rockford episodes, but better than most television.

This episode from season 5,lacks good action and an intelligent plot...most Rockford Files episodes are pretty good for the most part. But the "freeze,turkey" episode is an overcooked turkey of an episode. It's almost embarrassing to watch that's how bad it is.....I highly recommend buying season 5 as well as the other seasons,but this episode is extremely cheesy....this definitely one the worst and most embarrassing Rockford Files episodes ever made.....The beginning of this episode is painful...to see Rocky play such a fool,....made me lose respect for him. This season of 1978-79 had many good episodes in the same great Rockford Files mode like "The Empty Frame" and an excellent two-part "The Black Mirror" ....however "A Good Clean Bust With Sequel Rights" (freeze,turkey) made Rockford Files officially 'jump the shark' in 1978. Rockford Files canceled in 1980 from James Garner's knees being ravaged with pain and injury....as well as being exhausted. But this episode didn't help.

I love Rockford but this episode is poor. The plot makes no sense and even the fights and the car chase look lazy. Even the guest star is lack-lustre.