Rockford Files episode template

[wrog]

[file under: Hulu is Evil]

"Jim, I'm in trouble and need help with _____"
"You know it's $200/day + expenses, right?"
haggle-haggle-haggle
"Ok, I'll see what I can do."
drive-drive-drive-drive-drive
hm-I'm-being-followed
drive-drive-drive-drive-drive
car-chase-clever-stunt-to-lose-tail
drive-drive-drive
find lead
drive-drive-drive
drive-drive-drive
get-in-trouble-with-small-town-cops
drive-drive-drive
find another lead that reveals first lead was completely wrong
drive-drive-drive
drive-drive-drive
get-in-somewhat-bigger-trouble-with-small-town-cops
drive-drive-drive
hm-I'm-being-followed
drive-drive-drive-drive-drive
car-chase-clever-stunt-to-lose-tail
drive-drive-drive
get-in-even-bigger-trouble-with-small-town-cops
drive-drive-drive
find yet another lead that reveals the first two leads were completely wrong
drive-drive-drive
drive-drive-drive
hm-I'm-being-followed
drive-drive-drive-drive-drive
more-exciting-car-chase-with-gunfire
get in what would be even bigger trouble involving multi-decade prison sentence except that by now the Real Antagonist has shown up, is shooting at everybody, is obviously insane, and so gets hauled off instead
slow-drive-back-to-the-trailer
client figures out clever way to get out of paying
final scene with Rocky/Beth/Dennis/whoever...
fade-to-black

Granted, it's set in LA.
Still, the '72 Firebird should have gotten at least co-star billing.

Also seems like the '70s California cops were way lax, since I imagine nowadays getting caught at any single one of these stunts would be instant felony reckless driving conviction with multi-year jail time that would pretty much destroy your career at anything, and at the very least guarantee that you'd never be able to buy auto insurance ever again.