A mystery Columbo can't seem to crack

St. Paul Pioneer Press ^ | 05/07/2007 | MARK DAWIDZIAK

[aculeus]

The real mystery is how does he keep that Peugeot 403 functioning.

(aculeus is a Peugeot survivor.)

[Fairview]

We boomers spend money on the big-ticket items—refrigerators, real estate, new cars, boats, grand pianos, art, major pieces of furniture—that kids in their twenties can’t usually afford. Those aren’t the kinds of things you can readily advertise on TV, I guess. Still, they advertise cruises on TV, and those are usually purchased mostly by boomer-age and older people.

[Erasmus]

When I’m asked what I’m spending more money on these days, I answer,

“Depends.”

[Ieatfrijoles]

I've always wondered why they couldn't make one episode that Columbo couldn't solve.

Trying to deprive us closure? What are you some kind of anarchist?

[laotzu]

Columbo knows who did it within thirty seconds..

Thanks. I was waiting for a place to tee-off.

My favorite episode ends with the perp asking when Columbo first suspected him, and is told "about five seconds after I met you".

"Ridiculous!" the perp says, "how can this be true?"

Columbo tells him "when I called you from the scene, and told you the man you had supper with had died of food-poisoning, and asked you to come right over.....you know what you did? You came right over. You didn't ask what kind of poison, you didn't go to a doctor or hospital, you didn't ask any questions at all. You came right over. That's the damndest act of civic responsibility I ever saw!"

I loved that show.

[whd23]

As I understand it, the whole point of the character was that he did not look cool and sharp. He was short, rumpled, friendly, unsophisticated and unimpressive. He rambled, lost track of things and generally made the killers feel quite safe... at first.

Actually, the first time we meet Columbo in "Prescription Murder," he's a well dressed, and intelligent young detective.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I got the original “Presciption Murder” on TiVo and DVD.

Change the setting, characters names and professions, not necessarily actors. The same guy can be a murdering doctor in one episode and a lawyer in another. Who was it, Patrick McGoonan, he musta killed half a dozen people, as a CIA agent, campaign manager, military school commandant...

[Aquinasfan]

I absolutely love Columbo, from the scriptwriting to Peter Falk's humble character. It's television at it's finest. I can't remember a bad episode.

Supposedly, the Columbo character was based on Chesterton's Father Brown character. That may be true, but Columbo is much more.

[Aquinasfan]

To: Caleb1411 They really should title it "Just One More Thing."

Excellent suggestion. I love that line.

[PISANO]

I hope the final episode of Colombo makes it to television!!

That being said, Colombo should at least be the Head of the Homicide Division if not the Chief of Police after 40 years of successful detective work!!

[Aquinasfan]

The one with Leonard Nimoy as a surgeon who deliberately used the wrong stitches, and kiiled the lady that discovered it was the only episode when Columbo actually displays a bit of righteous temper!

I remember that scene well. The only other similar display of righteous anger is in the 1968 made-for-TV movie. It's a great episode. The villian is a psychologist who's a moral relativist.

Columbo is the same morality play told over and over again: pride vs. humility. It's never tiring because the theme is eternal.

[HHFi]

The networks are run by absolute idiots. Who do they think is watching all those old shows on TV Land and the Game Show Channel but younger viewers hungry for decent entertainment? Conan O'Brien is considered a hip icon of younger viewers, and one of his biggest thrills was landing Peter Falk as a guest because he worships "Columbo."

I'm nowhere near retirement age, and my wife and I both love "Columbo." In fact, our wedding anniversary was last week, and one of her gifts to me was a box set of DVDs of the 5th season. We fired up the video projector and watched one on the big screen, and it was GREAT! It's no wonder network TV ratings are going down the toilet.

[Caleb1411]

Maybe Columbo could take a gay, twenty-something young lover. That would certainly appeal to ABC's demographics...

That "special" might even supplant an edition of Desperate Housewives.

[Caleb1411]

Colombo is politically incorrect He smokes cigars, drinks, he’s sexist (he always talks about “The boys back in the lab” ) he drives a car that causes global warming. just one more thing... that’s not a police dog, that’s a policeMANS dog.

I knew there had to be reasons he's such a hit among FReepers.

[Caleb1411]

If we never see this hackneyed show again it’ll be too soon.

Yeah, there's always today's fare to gorge on, shows that feature ersatz men whose life's quest is getting in touch with their feminine sides.

[laotzu]

You remember details very well. That Patrick McGoohan was arrested more than any other is an important, and relevant detail.

'Columbo' was a project, from inception, of McGoohans. Few had as much to do with it as he, none had more. It was McGoohan that brought Peter Falk in. I believe he directed some as well.

[theFIRMbss]

>Columbo is definitely different from today’s cop shows

Don't forget this guy! Might be my favorite show. I miss Banacek!

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Yeah, McGoohan definitely directed some episodes.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

“Murder under glass” with Louis Jordan

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Uh, just one more thing, sir

(At the end of a long, rambling email thread I like to include this picture.)