From TVShowsOnDVD website:

The Rockford Files spent six seasons on the air (not counting the
eight post-series telefilms which reunited the majority of the cast),
and on DVD we're getting close to the end. This morning Universal has
announced the January 15th release of The Rockford Files - Season 5.
This package will have 20 episodes (two of them double-length: "Black
Mirror" and "Never Send a Boy King to Do a Man's Job") running 1045
minutes. Cost is $39.98 SRP for this 5-disc set (all single-sided).
Video and audio is as originally shown: full-frame with English mono.
There are also English subtitles present, but no word yet on any
extras. Stay tuned and we'll update you with cover art and anything
else we get from the studio, just as soon as we can!

What about "The Man Who Saw Alligators"? Please don't include it at
syndication length.

The two double length episodes: Both of these were originally shown over
two weeks, right?

Sounds like they are holding off the rest of Season 5 to release Season 6.

Gee. Wouldn't want to release this in time for Christmas orders or anything.

Adam H. Kerman chinet.com> wrote:

Never mind. I checked the list. Both were initially shown in two-hour
time slots. And according to the list, Season 5 had 20 episodes,
counting the two hour episodes as one episode each.

So are we getting the original Alligators?

"Adam H. Kerman" chinet.com> wrote:

syndication length.

Don't be so hell bent on getting the original uncut "Alligators", Kerm. I
have the original "Alligators" on videotape from way back and it is in such
bad need of a good edit that the edited syndicated version is actually
better, in my humble view. This is the only "Rockford" ep where I think the
edit is actually better than the original. A reasonably edited version,
that is, not a super chop job like TV Land used to do.

The original has alot of filler and bloat which is not at all central to the
storyline or even understanding the characters better.

I never thought I'd be saying a syndicated edit is actually better than the
original, but it is in the case of "Alligators". I think that you, and
others, would agree with me on this, if you were to view the original.

Pravda yyy.com> wrote:

Perhaps, but I'd still like to see it. At syndication length, the story
makes too little sense.

Oh well. Maybe the script needed a rewrite.

"Adam H. Kerman" chinet.com> wrote:

makes too little sense.

And as you know, there are big differences within various syndicated
versions, based on the amount of editing. The network currently known as
"Spike" (can't even remember their previous name) edited "Rockford"
brutally. As they do with all of their shows. A&E runs were much less
brutal in their editing. if I recall. Watch a lightly edited syndicated
version and it will make more sense.

One of the scenes in the original edited out for syndication involves a
meeting between Anthony Boy's very Italian mother, his brother, and Manette.
In the meeting, Manette basically persuades the mother to agree to have her
son Anthony whacked for the good of everybody and to help give up his
location for that purpose. Lots of melodrama and Italian stuff . . . so bad
you'll laugh.

I do like this episode overall, though. Actually, like it quite a bit.
Just needs a good edit, but maybe they were just trying to cover two weeks
with it.

Pravda yyy.com> wrote:

On Nov 16, 11:53�pm, "Adam H. Kerman" chinet.com> wrote:

"Adam H. Kerman" chinet.com> wrote:

Yes, this was one of those fantastic Rockford endings. An ending which
wraps up the story beautifully (and ironically) and also sends a tingle up
your spine at the same time.

Pravda yyy.com> wrote:

After all, we all have a friend like Angel, who knows too many of our
secrets and opens his big mouth at the perfect time to embarass us.