NBC has dated its Rockford Files reboot. Per Variety, the premiere airs Saturday, Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, right after that night's NFL telecast, with David Boreanaz in the lead.
Quick answer
The new The Rockford Files premieres on NBC on Saturday, Jan. 2 (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) after the NFL game and streams on Peacock the next day. David Boreanaz stars as Jim Rockford in a modern take on the classic detective series.
Why the slot matters
A post-football lead-in is the broadcast network version of a red carpet: it hands a new series the biggest sampling audience NBC can offer in a weekend slot. It also tells you how NBC sees the show, as a mainstream, broad-audience swing rather than a quiet streaming-first experiment.
The hotline hook
Variety's headline leans on a gimmick: Jim Rockford wants you to call him. The marketing is built around the character's famously unglamorous private-eye brand, which is a smart way to sell a remake to people who remember the original and people who do not.
How to watch
Catch the premiere live on NBC, or the next day on Peacock. Check back for where later episodes land once the regular schedule is announced.
Worth a slot?
Reboots live or die on tone. If the new show keeps the original's wry, put-upon hero and updates the cases, it has a shot. We will have a verdict after the pilot.
Frequently asked questions
Q: When does The Rockford Files premiere?
A: Saturday, Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC.
Q: Who plays Jim Rockford?
A: David Boreanaz.
Q: Can I stream it?
A: Yes, on Peacock the day after it airs.
Q: Is it a remake?
A: Yes, a reboot of the classic detective series.
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