Happy Birthday, James Garner!

Today is the 82nd birthday of one of my all-time favorite actors, James Garner.

I've been a Garner fan since discovering MAVERICK and THE ROCKFORD FILES as a teenager. MAVERICK aired in syndicated reruns at the time, while ROCKFORD was in its original primetime run on NBC.

My admiration for Garner increased when I learned how well he treated his fans via my experiences with the James Garner Fan Club. I was able to meet Mr. Garner on two occasions, and he is a class act.

My favorite Garner film is SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHERIFF! (1969), which is a comedy gem. I first saw it in a theater when it was rereleased in the '70s. Now we own the DVD; my kids often show this one to their friends, and they all love it too. If you haven't caught up with this movie yet, add it to your Netflix queue or Amazon wish list...it's rib-tickling fun for all ages.

I also especially like THE THRILL OF IT ALL (1963), THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY (1964), and MURPHY'S ROMANCE (1985). For the most part, however, Garner's greatest work has been on television, including not only his TV series, but high-quality TV-movies such as ONE SPECIAL NIGHT (1999).

At a recent Home Theater forum chat reported by TV Shows on DVD, Warner Home Video execs asked about the DVD future of TV shows from the '50s and '60s said "We are looking at potential future opportunities, in particular, MAVERICK."

Of course, over a year ago it was reported that MAVERICK was headed for the Warner Archive, and we're still waiting. Perhaps the delay has been because Warner has reconsidered turning the show into a regular retail pressed release? That would be far preferable.

Either way, it's been a long wait for one of TV's all-time great shows to reach DVD. It's been 4-1/2 years since a "sampler" DVD was released with three of the show's most famous episodes. The so-so 1978 TV-movie THE NEW MAVERICK has been out on DVD for a couple of years now, but still no MAVERICK.

Meanwhile, as regular readers know, I am rather appalled by the ROCKFORD FILES remake currently in the works, starring Dermot Mulroney and Beau Bridges. ROCKFORD is one of those rare series where the actor, James Garner, is the character and the show.

ROCKFORD creator Stephen J. Cannell remarked in the L.A. Times yesterday that "it's gonna be so hard" for the remake to succeed, because it won't have the show's key ingredient -- James Garner. I'd say that's an understatement. I'd much rather just slip in a DVD of the original series.

Maybe by this time next year we'll also have MAVERICK DVDs to enjoy and I'll be able to erase my tapes recorded from the Encore Westerns Channel. Here's hoping!

Happiest wishes and my great appreciation to Mr. Garner on his birthday!

2012 Update: Coming to DVD: Maverick - Season 1.

2013 Update: Coming to DVD: Maverick - Season 2.

July 20, 2014 Update: Very sad news -- James Garner has died.