Once upon a time in television, comedy was comedy, drama was drama, and that was that. Heroes were supposed to act in a certain way. Genres such as private eye shows were held to be sacred.
The Rockford Files (NBC, 1974-1980) changed all of that, leaving its mark on 1970s television while also influencing two generations of TV writers, TV shows, and TV heroes.
Fueled by innovative writing and the star power of James Garner, The Rockford Files...