Follow Zap2it:
'Rockford Files': Tom Selleck says Dermot Mulroney 'has an uphill battle'
Tom Selleck thinks an update of "The Rockford Files" without James Garner may as well be called "The Henderson Files."Before he became a television icon in his own right on "Magnum, P.I.," Emmy winner Selleck played too-slick rival Lance White to Garner's Rockford in two episodes of the classic 1970s private-eye series. NBC is remaking "Rockford" with Dermot Mulroney in the title role, and while Selleck wishes him well, he feels a Garner-less "Rockford" just might not be "Rockford."
"They ought to cast Jim Garner," Selleck tells Zap2it. "I'm a little prejudiced because he was really a formative influence on me, even a mentor in so many ways, even though he probably wouldn't admit to it if he was aware of it.
"Dermot Mulroney seems like a fine actor in the work I've seen him do, and this has nothing to do with him -- but when you think of 'Rockford,' you don't remember 'that episode about the bank robbery,' you remember [Garner] making you laugh."
Set to play the late novelist Robert B. Parker's small-town lawman again in the new CBS movie "Jesse Stone: No Remorse" Sunday, May 9, Selleck adds that he knows plans are afoot for a "Magnum" update.
"I know they say, 'Well, there's a whole new audience,' and that's true. There are a bunch of people, I guess, who don't know who I am and don't know who Jim Garner is ... but ['Rockford Files'] was Garner. For those who remember it, [Mulroney] has an uphill battle, and I wish him well."
Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.
Related:
Dermot Mulroney is the new 'Rockford'
Alan Tudyk joins 'The Rockford Files'
Photo credit: Getty Images
Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz
Zap2it Elite Sheet Must Reads from the Web's In-Crowd
Our Partners
I agree with Tom. And just as Jim Garner will always be Rockford, Tom Selleck will forever be Magnum. If they do a remake without Tom, I won't be watching.
Sadly, I understand James Garner is not ambulatory. Not sure how Tom Selleck would expect to cast him in that condition.
Selleck is absolutely right. As a Garner fan, I appreciate his comments. Let's hope this remake is short-lived.
I could live with a Rockford update without James Garner - not well, but I could.
But the very idea of ever casting someone else to play Thomas Magnum is heresy.
What a dumb, dumb, dumb idea.
Maybe he'll prove us wrong, but I also have to agree with Tom on this one.
Thanks though for letting us know about the new Jesse Stone movie in May. Now that, I'll look forward to.
Tom's right. I could only watch Rockford Files with James Garner in it. I really hate how they trash these iconic shows.
James Garner had that twinkle in his eye and a sly way of letting the viewer in on the joke.
If I watch the new show it will only be to say, "He's no James Garner."
I hope they never try to remake Jesse Stone: Thin Ice. Even if they manage to find someone better than Tom Selleck, (psssh good luck!) that tv movie is timeless.
This "whole new audience" should just buy or rent Rockford on DVD and watch it. My husband and I love this show. He was so anxious for it to be released and has every season available on DVD. The great thing about James Garner is that he did all his own driving, fight scenes and other stunts. I wonder if Dermot Mulroney will do that.
Garner was awesome. NO WAY anyone could replace him in that role. The two Lance White episodes with Garner and Selleck were classic!