The Rockford Files Backlash of the Hunter (1974–1980) watch online HD

Robert Donley portrayed Joseph "Rocky" Rockford only in the pilot. Noah Beery Jr. would pick up the role for the duration of the series.

Originally shown as a 2-hour movie pilot, it was not part of the original numbering of the series. Later it was added on as episode '0', and it was also later shown in 2 parts; both as a repeat, and in syndication.

Rockford's Yellow Pages ad for The Rockford Agency is seen at the beginning of this episode, Jim's address is given as 2354 Ocean Blvd., Los Angeles - an address which does not correspond to either of the 2 addresses used for Rockford, who was located at 29 Cove Road, Malibu after the first year. Additionally, Rockford's telephone number is conspicuously absent from the advertisement.

Bill Quinn, who plays the drunk who gets murdered, also appears in 2 other episodes as a judge; The Rockford Files: Pastoria Prime Pick (1975), and The Rockford Files: The Dog and Pony Show (1977). He's also Bob Newhart's father-in-law.

The entrance to Mrs. Elias's house is a beautiful colonial-style mansion located in the Hollywood Hills (since torn down). Yet all the interiors - and the back yard exteriors, are of one of Hollywood's most iconic homes: the sleek, angular, modernist-style Stahl House, also in the Hills. As Jim goes out back to talk with Mrs. Elias, it's hard to miss the incredible panoramic views (of both Nita Talbot and the house). This property has been used in countless adverts and films.

When Jim has Jerry Grimes strung up in the bathroom of the Mayfair Music Hall, and goes through his wallet, he finds an operator's license, which gives his birthday as 'March 25, 1943.' William Smith, who plays Jerry, was born on March 24, 1933 - a decade and a day difference.

This is the first episode in which James Garner's brother, Jack Garner would appear as an extra.

The Mayfair Music Hall (where Jim goes when he's being followed by Jerry), was a building in Santa Monica, which served multiple entertainment purposes through its life. The theatre was damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake and demolished in 2010.

When Jim's following Jerry (right after the scene at the Mayfair Music Hall), another notable Los Angeles nightspot is used; Gazzari's On The Strip (9039 Sunset Boulevard). This building was also heavily damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, and was torn down, as well.

While Rockford's voice message plays during the opening introduction, a closeup of his phone shows his number as 555-2368. Rockford has the same phone number as The Twilight Zone: Night Call (1964) where a wheelchair-bound elderly woman receives mysterious calls in the wee hours of the morning. Although her phone number is displayed with exchange letters to represent the Klondike exchange, KL-5-2368, both letters represent 5 on the dial.

William Smith, and Nita Talbot both guest-starred in the Mr. Lucky (1959) episode, 'The Gladiators".

When Jim goes into the Mayfair, the marquee says the performers that week were Martyn Green and Gene Bell. Mr Green was a noted English performer who in addition to his screen work, specialised in Gilbert & Sullivan operetta. Mr Bell was an actor as well as a very well regarded tap dancer.

The message left on Jim's answering machine at the beginning of the pilot was lifted from the sixth season "The Hawaiian Headache" and added for syndication purposes. This marks the only time a message is repeated as it was added during the edits that turned the originally 90-minute episode into 2-parts for syndication. The recorded voice was the uncredited voice of Luis Delgado, in character as Officer Billings, who was not seen on screen as Billings in this episode and references the Lt. Chapman, a character that does not debut until the third season.

Michael Lerner appears in both this episode and the 1st season 2-parter, The Rockford Files: Profit and Loss, Part 1: Profit (1974) & The Rockford Files: Profit and Loss, Part 2: Loss (1974). In both cases, he plays someone who could help Rockford, but, instead, he reports Rockford's investigating back to the party Jim's looking into.