Columbo - General Discussion

[Milburn Stone]

3 hours ago, PsychoKlown said:

You know when Colombo says that he needs your expertise in solving the murder that you’re in his crosshairs.

If only the villain replied, "Hey, I'm just glad I don't have your job," he'd probably get off scot-free.

[Guest]

3 hours ago, Milburn Stone said:

If only the villain replied, "Hey, I'm just glad I don't have your job," he'd probably get off scot-free.

Yep. So true. 

[seacliffsal]

I think Columbo's best skill was getting people (murderers...) to think they were much smarter than he was which would lead them to trying to misdirect him (because they were, you know, much smarter...).  I have tried to apply that in my own life (especially students)-let people underestimate me and they usually revealed more than they should have.

[chessiegal]

Conrad was such good casting for "An Exercise in Fatality". The script said he was 53. Conrad was 39 when the show was filmed, and a very fine fit 39-year-old at that. Hmmm, let's see how much shirtless Conrad we can get in the episode. Why yes, quite a lot. /sigh

[stcroix]

On 6/20/2022 at 6:56 PM, chessiegal said:

Conrad was such good casting for "An Exercise in Fatality". The script said he was 53. Conrad was 39 when the show was filmed, and a very fine fit 39-year-old at that. Hmmm, let's see how much shirtless Conrad we can get in the episode. Why yes, quite a lot. /sigh

I just watched this one tonight on Peacock.  I love Robert Conrad! I'm actually surprised he was 39 but I guess that's sun damage because the rest of him was totally fit 😍 I noticed he kind of bounced on his toes a lot when walking barefoot and that made him appear maybe an inch taller than Columbo.  Probably wished he was a really tall man because with those looks and say Rock Hudson's height--- wowza! 

I loved Collin Wilcox who played the victims wife.  She is so quirky in her acting.  Sitting on the side table by Columbo instead of a chair, eating a messy sandwich while talking to him.  Things most people wouldn't do when trying to act normal, but she pulled it off perfectly. I looked her up and she played the accuser in To Kill a Mockinbird and she did it to perfection! What a great show Columbo was and still is. 

I got Amazon gift cards for Christmas a few years back and spent every one on all the Columbos to make sure whenever I wanted I could watch my favorite detective.  😊

[Guest]

3 hours ago, stcroix said:

I loved Collin Wilcox who played the victims wife.  She is so quirky in her acting.  Sitting on the side table by Columbo instead of a chair, eating a messy sandwich while talking to him.  Things most people wouldn't do when trying to act normal, but she pulled it off perfectly. I looked her up and she played the accuser in To Kill a Mockinbird and she did it to perfection! What a great show Columbo was and still is.

I’d say that anything she was in was good.  I saw her once in an airport way back when I was in college.  My plane to Philadelphia was very late so I was wandering around the Indianapolis airport trying to eat up time. I was in one of those Hudson airport stores looking for a magazine and she was there waiting in the cashier line. 

I stopped, looked at her and thought “I know you”.  She must have known I recognized her because she smiled and nodded her head.  I smiled back but didn’t say anything.   She was so low key that I was too.  I might also add that she was stunningly beautiful in person. 

So that’s my brush with Colombo stars.  And I also saw Forrest Tucker sleeping in a lounge chair backstage before a performance of ShowBoat. 
 

3 hours ago, stcroix said:

I got Amazon gift cards for Christmas a few years back and spent every one on all the Columbos to make sure whenever I wanted I could watch my favorite detective.  😊

Money well spent. I think. 

[Milburn Stone]

Was Season 5 just not very good? We're watching all the seasons in order on Peacock, and that's where we're up to. The first 3 episodes have been weak. Maybe the remaining 3 will be better? Or maybe the show finds its footing again in Season 6?

[seacliffsal]

I don't remember what season(s) many of the episodes were in (though I do know the difference betwwen original recipe Columbo and New Coke recipe Columbo).  I find the episodes that tried to be too "edgy" to be less interesting than others (sex therapist, Fay Dunaway's flirting, etc.).

[Milburn Stone]

On 7/23/2022 at 2:52 PM, seacliffsal said:

I find the episodes that tried to be too "edgy" to be less interesting than others

I know. Just give me your generic arrogant devilishly clever rich guy murderer and I'm a happy camper.

[LakeGal]

On 7/23/2022 at 3:43 PM, Milburn Stone said:

Was Season 5 just not very good? We're watching all the seasons in order on Peacock, and that's where we're up to. The first 3 episodes have been weak. Maybe the remaining 3 will be better? Or maybe the show finds its footing again in Season 6?

I enjoyed Forgotten Lady which was the first movie of season five.  I like the Janet Leigh one.  It had a different ending than most.  But I did not find the second and third episodes of season 5 that interesting either.  

[Milburn Stone]

55 minutes ago, LakeGal said:

I enjoyed Forgotten Lady which was the first movie of season five. 

I did kind of like that one. To me the most interesting part was the casting of John Payne. I thought he was very good, and unlike Leigh (who was in some very minor musicals), Payne was actually in some major ones. There were moments I sensed he was modeling his characterization in the episode on the older Fred Astaire. (Who would have been perfect casting also. Big age difference between him and Leigh, yes. But no bigger than between him and some of his actual leading ladies!)

Edited July 25, 2022 by Milburn Stone

[Milburn Stone]

Another Season 5 episode we liked pretty well: the one with Jack Cassidy as the magician. But he's always good. I'd go so far as to say the episode would have sucked with anybody else. (Although Falk seemed more energized than in some other S5 eps, which helped.)

[illdoc]

Has anyone noticed that a lot of the "old" (ie 70s) Columbos could be made today with very little changes? That's because they don't rely on "massive computer hacking/searching" or even major forensics or other "high tech" stuff. Granted, the magician one (mentioned above) is an exception---relying on a war criminal and the typewriter (note: I had a typewriter like that, where I could easily change the ribbon from multi-use to single use). Take for instance the one with the political candidate---his major problem was that there was no way to call the police within a reasonable time (payphone too far and the phone at the murder scene would have been a toll call). That would have to be dealt with (and was in the 90s Shatner one---cell phone dead zone).

[Milburn Stone]

1 hour ago, illdoc said:

Granted, the magician one (mentioned above) is an exception---relying on a war criminal and the typewriter (note: I had a typewriter like that, where I could easily change the ribbon from multi-use to single use).

They kind of dealt with that cleverly I thought. IBM Selectrics were fairly uncommon back then (where I worked, the secretaries had them, but nobody else did), and the script drove home that rarity by having Columbo initially be unfamiliar with the concept of the devices. This made it believable that the magician would also have been unfamiliar with them, hence overlooking the ribbon cartridge when he overlooked little else.

[peacheslatour]

3 hours ago, Milburn Stone said:

They kind of dealt with that cleverly I thought. IBM Selectrics were fairly uncommon back then (where I worked, the secretaries had them, but nobody else did), and the script drove home that rarity by having Columbo initially be unfamiliar with the concept of the devices. This made it believable that the magician would also have been unfamiliar with them, hence overlooking the ribbon cartridge when he overlooked little else.

The show was cutting edge for showing new technology for the time.

[alvajon]

On 8/8/2022 at 11:53 AM, peacheslatour said:

The show was cutting edge for showing new technology for the time.

I forget which episode, but was somewhat amused when Colombo was so facinated by the new-fangled gadget called a “fax” machine, until the secretary explained it was a “facsimile” machine, and how it worked.  

[illdoc]

9 hours ago, alvajon said:

I forget which episode, but was somewhat amused when Colombo was so facinated by the new-fangled gadget called a “fax” machine, until the secretary explained it was a “facsimile” machine, and how it worked.

Probably the one with Robert Culp as the head of an investigative firm. That one had a tour including a computer room (with the computer taking up the entire room).

[meowmommy]

Then there was the episode where Oskar Werner was supposed to be a technology genius with a house full of fancy hidden video cameras.  Nowadays, of course, any bozo can stash a nannycam anywhere.

I think the closest Columbo ever got to forensics was the case that was built on a dental impression in a tiny block of cheese.  Otherwise the good lieutenant seemingly worked strictly on instinct.

[illdoc]

2 hours ago, meowmommy said:

think the closest Columbo ever got to forensics was the case that was built on a dental impression in a tiny block of cheese.

And.....that was one of the "modern" (90s) ones!!!

[Milburn Stone]

On 8/11/2022 at 10:56 AM, meowmommy said:

... the good lieutenant seemingly worked strictly on instinct.

Tip for murderers being investigated by Columbo: Don't offer to be "helpful."

[Guest]

On 8/10/2022 at 11:40 PM, alvajon said:

I forget which episode, but was somewhat amused when Colombo was so facinated by the new-fangled gadget called a “fax” machine, until the secretary explained it was a “facsimile” machine, and how it worked.  

That was the episode where Patrick McGoohan played a lawyer tight with a candidate for Vice President.  The murder happened on a rainy evening and the distraught secretary of the deceased man was demonstrating a fax machine showing how the deceased faxed his wife papers in Hawaii 

[peacheslatour]

41 minutes ago, PsychoKlown said:

That was the episode where Patrick McGoohan played a lawyer tight with a candidate for Vice President.  The murder happened on a rainy evening and the distraught secretary of the deceased man was demonstrating a fax machine showing how the deceased faxed his wife papers in Hawaii 

I know I'm a dinosaur but I love fax machines.

[Guest]

34 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

I know I'm a dinosaur but I love fax machines.

They get the job done with minimal fuss.  Sort of the convenience of an email that’s already printed out. 

[seacliffsal]

Last night on COZI they showed the Great Santini episode in which Sgt. Wilson shows Columbo how the IBM Selectric typewriter worked (no carriage! one use cartridge ribbon!).  I loved those when they came out-so much faster than regular typewriters (the keys didn't get stuck!).  And, the sound was really comforting to me (yes, I know, I'm weird...).  I do like how Columbo wants information on the latest technology and then figures out how it enters the picture and traps the murderer with it (computers are so comparatively boring...).

[possibilities]

I LOOOOOOOVED the IBM Selectric. It was indeed a revelation for anyone who used a keyboard in those days.

[illdoc]

Just saw "The Complete Columbo" (seasons 1-7(?) plus all the (1990s) movies) for $50 at Target.

[chessiegal]

I was watching a Johnny Carson that aired on September 13, 1974. Johnny announced Lawrence Welk, and out walks Peter Falk in full Columbo attire. He said he was "next door" filming the newest episode. When he described it, I knew exactly what episode it was - the Season 4 premiere "An Exercise in Fatality" with my tv boyfriend Robert Conrad. That episode aired on September 15, 1974. I have a hard time believing Falk was finishing filming that episode, considering what goes into putting a show together, but it was a nice plug for the show.

[Milburn Stone]

Last night saw the (IMHO) Worst. Episode. Ever. (At least from the original series.) The one where Robert Vaughan stands to inherit a boat-building business from his father-in-law. 

What the hell?

Wilfrid Hyde White was amusing, though.

[Fool to cry]

On 10/11/2022 at 3:18 PM, Milburn Stone said:

Last night saw the (IMHO) Worst. Episode. Ever. (At least from the original series.) The one where Robert Vaughan stands to inherit a boat-building business from his father-in-law. 

What the hell?

Wilfrid Hyde White was amusing, though.

A notorious episode among the fandom. It's a weird one.

Thing I like most about the 90s Columbo especially after seeing the Lindsay Crouse one is that a lot of them feel like a 90s cable/direct to video erotic thriller that Columbo just happens to show up in the middle of! I get a kick out of that.

[peacheslatour]

16 hours ago, Fool to cry said:

A notorious episode among the fandom. It's a weird one.

Thing I like most about the 90s Columbo especially after seeing the Lindsay Crouse one is that a lot of them feel like a 90s cable/direct to video erotic thriller that Columbo just happens to show up in the middle of! I get a kick out of that.

What I like about it is that Falk keeps sitting on Vaughn's lap every chance he gets. And Mr Vaughn does not look to happy about it at all. And I loved that Columbo recruited that diver to come back at nine at night to do a deep dive and it's his first day diving. And he does it!

[alvajon]

5 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

What I like about it is that Falk keeps sitting on Vaughn's lap every chance he gets. And Mr Vaughn does not look to happy about it at all. And I loved that Columbo recruited that diver to come back at nine at night to do a deep dive and it's his first day diving. And he does it!

One of my favorite episodes.  Yes, Vaughn was so annoyed with Colombo--made me laugh out loud each time Colombo got too close.  

[Milburn Stone]

13 hours ago, alvajon said:

One of my favorite episodes.  Yes, Vaughn was so annoyed with Colombo--made me laugh out loud each time Colombo got too close.  

Despite my loathing for the episode, I did love all those moments. It was clever, too, because Vaughan treating Columbo like a bad smell only served to magnify to the nth power your sureness that he was the villain.

[SnarkShark]

On 8/21/2022 at 11:44 AM, peacheslatour said:

I know I'm a dinosaur but I love fax machines.

Early fax machines sucked.  Special (very fragile) paper that got stuck, tore easily, etc. Bad traction on the intake too.

Late fax machines, essentially laser printer/copy machine combinations, were great.

[Egg McMuffin]

They should have done a “Columbo Vs. Jessica Fletcher” movie where they each compete to solve a murder. But the twist at the end is that one of them is the guilty party.

[peacheslatour]

Sundance is having a 48 hour Columbo marathon on this Sat. and Sun.!

[chessiegal]

6 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

Sundance is having a 48 hour Columbo marathon on this Sat. and Sun.!

Are you watching NCIS like I am? 😉

I might make an effort to watch the episode with Ross Martin all the way through. I hate seeing Artemis be a killer. 🤣

[Guest]

3 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

Sundance is having a 48 hour Columbo marathon on this Sat. and Sun.!

Thank you for the heads up.  I will be watching.  I have all the episodes on dvd but when there’s a marathon I have to have it on. 

[seacliffsal]

COZI t.v. is running a 10 episode marathon on January 1st starting at 11:00.  I will definitely have it on (at least in the background).

[Prevailing Wind]

I still laugh out loud when Columbo tells McGoohan that joke about the flasher. "You call that a lining?!"

[NoReally]

19 hours ago, Prevailing Wind said:

I still laugh out loud when Columbo tells McGoohan that joke about the flasher. "You call that a lining?!"

Me, too. Although not as much as McGoohan did. I think he overacted just a tad.

[dttruman]

For what it's worth, there is a Columbo Marathon on the Sundance channel and they are showing my favorite one right now, Troubled Waters

[Guest]

28 minutes ago, dttruman said:

For what it's worth, there is a Columbo Marathon on the Sundance channel and they are showing my favorite one right now, Troubled Waters

One of my top faves.  

[SnarkShark]

Recommendation to Columbo fans to watch Natasha Lyonne's "Poker Face".  To be clear her character is NOTHING like Columbo.  Not her situation, her methods, her personality, etc.  Maybe her accent.  But Rian Johnson clearly injected some of Columbo's DNA into the show.  It's the same "HowDidTheyGetCaught" format.   The font used in the titles was definitely cribbed from those NBC Mystery Wheel shows.   And in Episode 1, in a Casino scene, one of the Slot Machines plays "This Old Man".  The pacing is like Columbo too (which I know has frustrated some younger viewers, but which the people posting HERE will probably appreciate).  

[possibilities]

She's sloppy and underestimated like Columbo, too. And she solves things using her observations and reasoning... mostly.

[peacheslatour]

Check out You Tube for the series of videos of kids acting out scenes from Columbo, Monk and a bunch of other great shows. Cozi 10 for 10. It's their 10th anniversary.

[shapeshifter]

I was just browsing my Over The Air offerings and was reminded there are 2 Columbo episodes/movies on COZI TV on Saturday evenings, including tonight's first, "It's All in the Game," which OnTVTonight concisely and hilariously describes as:

• "Faye Dunaway plays a sophisticate who charms the raincoat off Lt. Columbo as he tries to pin her lover's murder on her."

[debraran]

I randomly caught the one with Johnny Cash on Saturday. He talked of doing Columbo and LHOP and how it was fun but he was out of his element. I thought he did pretty well and of course could sing a lot. I remember looking up one song, I Saw the Light, and he only did that version live or on the show although you can see it on youtube.

I also had to laugh at Columbo's love when watching a Bill Maher podcast with someone and they were going on about Columbo episodes and what stars were on (memories not the best in 60's) I think the segue was things now vs then in quality but he still had the love. ; )

[shapeshifter]

1 hour ago, debraran said:

I randomly caught the one with Johnny Cash on Saturday. He talked of doing Columbo and LHOP and how it was fun but he was out of his element. I thought he did pretty well and of course could sing a lot. I remember looking up one song, I Saw the Light, and he only did that version live or on the show although you can see it on youtube.

I also had to laugh at Columbo's love when watching a Bill Maher podcast with someone and they were going on about Columbo episodes and what stars were on (memories not the best in 60's) I think the segue was things now vs then in quality but he still had the love. ; )

I saw the Johnny Cash episode not long ago. I didn’t have a TV in my home during the years Columbo originally aired, and really only started watching recently because I’m somewhat transfixed by a new show streaming on Peacock starring Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face, which is partly in homage to Columbo, specifically:

• Up to the first third of each episode shows the murder being committed
• A wealth of famous and talented guest stars
• She often smokes a cigar
• She often says: “Just one more thing”
• Believe it or not, her voice

[debraran]

I will have to check that out. I hadn't heard of it.

 

[peacheslatour]

3 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

I saw the Johnny Cash episode not long ago. I didn’t have a TV in my home during the years Columbo originally aired, and really only started watching recently because I’m somewhat transfixed by a new show streaming on Peacock starring Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face, which is partly in homage to Columbo, specifically:

• Up to the first third of each episode shows the murder being committed
• A wealth of famous and talented guest stars
• She often smokes a cigar
• She often says: “Just one more thing”
• Believe it or not, her voice

In one episode they had This Old Man playing in the backround.