planktonrules

"This Case is Closed" is a double-length episode of "The Rockford Files" and it's often shown in two parts in syndication. Because of this, it does feel a bit padded...especially in the syndicated version where there's almost 10 minutes of recap before part two actually begins!

Rockford is hired by Warner Jameson (Joseph Cotten) to find out about his future son-in-law. Jameson thinks the guy is a phony and the trail takes Rockford to Newark, New Jersey. However, it turns out that the person is a federal witness and the government doesn't take too kindly to his investigation. Plus, they won't tell him anything about the guy.

Later, after being nearly killed by some hoods and threatened by Federal agents, Jim has had about enough. Strangely, at this point Jameson fires him...though the folks trying to beat Rockford's head in don't know about this or perhaps they don't care. What's next? See the show...and find out yourself.

Joseph Cotten is really interesting in this one. He's imperious and nasty...and he dominates the show when he's there. This isn't surprising, as Cotten was a heck of an actor.

Additionally, the story is interesting and non-stop. Well worth seeing and one of the best, though I must deduct a point for the story being drug out a bit much in order to fit the double-length episode.

A scientist working for a big food company has learned that they are selling products that can be toxic. The company apparently knows about it and considers it all an 'acceptable risk'. The lady then goes to Leverage to get them to help them stop these evil scum.

Leverage's plan is to get to the computers and get incriminating evidence about the dangers posed by the company's frozen foods. However, the place has VERY tight security and so they get into the place in a very unconventional way...they put on a magic show for a big company meeting! But even then...once they're inside getting to the files is amazingly difficult.

This is a decent episode but not one of the best. Some of it is you don't hate the food company as much as other targets of Leverage's wrath. Still, it is enjoyable and worth your time.

Back around the time this episode was made, Nancy Grace had a TV program on CNN which was, frankly, a complete embarrassment to watch. She would essentially take a minor news story and blow it up...and she did her darnedest to get viewers to hate someone...whether they deserved it or not. Sometimes, she even went after 'little people'...people who weren't newsworthy. She was shrill, nasty and would do just about anything for ratings. Thank goodness, the program eventually ran its course...but obviously some people associated with "Leverage" knew about her, couldn't stand her, and wanted to make her the target of the show.

The show begins with Monica Hunter doing an attack piece on TV. However, the guy she destroyed was innocent and hadn't done anything...and soon he tried to kill himself. His daughter, not surprisingly, hates Monica and wants her brought down once and for all. However, unlike the usual episode, this one is run by Sophie, as she really, really dislikes Monica and her style of 'journalism'.

This is a wonderful episode and seeing Monica getting hers is great. My only complaint is tiny...and that is that there is no way you can break in and escape from a US military base THIS easily. But suspend disbelief...because it's a hilarious episode by the end.