"Just one more thing...": Rewatching Columbo

[Angela Channing]

Sadly No Time To Die isn't the last Ed McBain adaptation of the latter episodes and the next one strays even further from the Columbo formula.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Sadly No Time To Die isn't the last Ed McBain adaptation of the latter episodes and the next one strays even further from the Columbo formula.

Oh dear. Thanks for the warning.

I'll gird my loins.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

A Bird In The Hand

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In which Mary Beth Lacey murders Dallas’s Wes Parmalee and Willie Guest.

This episode can probably be best summed up by pointing out it’s written by Jackson Gillis who has turned in far more average and below episodes than he has classics.

That said, while this is Gillis’s final episode, it’s is by no means his worst. In fact it’s one of his better efforts, once it’s accepted that it’s a bit of a skein composed of a number of different threads.

The structuring of the episode leaves something to be desired. There are three deaths, two of which are the intended victims, but the only onscreen death is that of the gardener who was in the right place at the wrong time. It was an impressive one, though. I enjoyed the suspense of knowing the bomb was beneath the Rolls but frankly I didn’t think they’d actually blow up such a grand car onscreen, so I was surprised when they did (it’s possible they substituted a write-off for the actual explosion, but still…). All the same, it never feels right when we don’t see the murderer’s scheme being carried out.

Indeed, the main killer wasn’t even revealed as so until much later in the episode, giving very little time for the audience to enjoy the interactions. Plus it meant a shift in energy, with Columbo pursuing a different killer for the first half of the episode to the one he arrested at the end.

I can’t help wondering if Dolores’s offscreen murders were at the request of Tyne. I seem to remember reading she really disliked any scene involving guns on Cagney & Lacey and only relented when it was absolutely necessary.

Greg Evigan oozes with arrogance and entitlement here - a plus in a Columbo antagonist - but lacked gravitas and intensity. Despite being only a couple of years younger here than Robert Culp was in his first appearance, Evigan has a youthful air and delivers his dialogue with contemporary teen drama rhythms that makes him sound immature and bland. I don’t think the rapport between his character and Columbo was that strong either.

The best part of the episode can be summed up in two words: Tyne Daly. I was looking forward to seeing her. From the name Dolores I was expecting the ballsy brassy Mama Rose type that Tyne does incredibly well. There is some of that in there, and a whole lot more. All hidden beneath the facade of Sue Ellen Ewing, circa 1979. She’s as watchable as ever and her character has an interesting journey.

But attempts to pull the wool over viewers’ eyes this way are never appreciated and the fact is that the episode hides too much and switches up the formula too much to be a Columbo classic.

What is it with Nineties Columbo and car dealerships. This is the third consecutive episode involving them. He has a warmer welcome from the Rolls-Royce salesman here than he did from the Ferrari salesman who tried to prevent him entering the showroom in Death Hits The Jackpot. But I’m sure the Rolls guy quickly regrets it. The scene with Columbo under the car in the showroom is a nice visual, but goes on far too long and the lily is gilded by the people gathering at the window in order to applaud him. I must confess the angry salesman’s little wave towards the crowd made me smile, though.

The Gotcha was fine, with some feasible clues putting Harold at Dolores’s place after she said she last saw him. I especially liked the detail with the hairs from the haircut. However it did all feel a bit convenient, and Dolores got a bit arch once she was outed as the killer.

When all is said and done, I’m glad to have the last Jackson Gillis episode behind me as he’s invariably too quick to dispense with the formula in favour of something more "clever" and can’t seem to grasp the concept that “less is more”.

 

[Angela Channing]

Another great review and I agree with @Mel O'Drama that the best thing about this episode is Tyne Daly and it's a shame that this episode didn't play to this strength. By not revealing the who the murderer was until the end meant we didn't get as many of those great scenes between Columbo and the murderer where he slowing prises little pieces of information from them to assist in his investigation. As a result the episode was never going to be great although it wasn't a bad one.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I agree with @Mel O'Drama that the best thing about this episode is Tyne Daly and it's a shame that this episode didn't play to this strength. By not revealing the who the murderer was until the end meant we didn't get as many of those great scenes between Columbo and the murderer where he slowing prises little pieces of information from them to assist in his investigation.

Yes indeed. It's a wasted opportunity. Tyne is a terrific actress and could have matched Peter Falk really well, but it felt like she was sidelined for much of the episode. And the audience weren't officially in on Dolores's act, so we could only appreciate her part in the cat and mouse game with hindsight. And by then it was too late.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

It’s All In The Game

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When one considers that he nixed his wife taking a role that involved her character kissing another man, it’s interesting that the only Columbo episode written by Peter Falk features a beautiful woman making numerous sexual overtures towards his character. And while I thought that aspect was credibly written (since she was doing it to try and distract him from his investigation), I found Columbo’s response to her advances quite out of character. To me it seems most unthinkable that he’d allow her to drape herself all over him and cover his face in lipstick without a mention of Mrs Columbo. And it's even more unlikely to me that the Columbo I know would turn up at his target's home with flowers in a violin case and arrange dates to dine with them.

That aside, there’s a lot about this episode that works for me. Most importantly, the formula is present. The murder scheme was engaging - I particularly enjoyed the nod to an early episode (I’m thinking Suitable For Framing) with the electric blanket to keep the body warm. The dance of pursuit between Columbo and the killer was enjoyable to watch and there was good onscreen chemistry. There was some decent detection going on and the Gotcha was acceptable enough. The handwritten confession was arguably a bit OTT, but given Lauren was protecting her daughter I bought it. God forbid there’d be a Nineties Columbo episode without a twist. But as twists go, this one was one of the less insulting ones. In fact I quite liked it. On the other hand, I'm not sure how I feel about Columbo letting Lisa get away with her role in the murder. But then, if we're expected to believe Columbo's goo-goo over Lauren it makes some kind of sense.

Casting was great in this episode. Faye Dunaway, naturally, lit up the screen. Claudia Christian gave a really lovely performance as her daughter Lisa. It was great to see Doug Sheehan whose spontaneous and natural performance was a great fit here (as I watched, I thought he’d be a definite contender for the “Actors Who Deserve A Better Career” thread. He’s such a great, watchable actor).

It was also great fun to see the wonderful Shelley Morrison - best known to me as Rosario in Will & Grace - once again playing a maid. Unfortunately, she was part of a gag that went on for far too long: the “On. Off. On. Off. On. Off” bit as Columbo messed with the circuit board and she kept an eye on the fridge light. But she gave it her all, and I loved her look of disgust midway through when it became apparent it was going to go on for a while.

On the subject of filler, I found the diner scenes in this episode very static and dull. I feel the episode could have been that much better were it a little shorter. And just when I thought the episode was over, we had another diner scene to wrap things up.

But, all told, not a bad episode.

 

[Angela Channing]

I was interested to read @Mel O'Drama review of this episode because I have mixed feelings about this one. It had so much potential to be a great episode: it was written by Peter Falk so who would know what makes a great Columbo story that the man himself and it starred an A list Hollywood actress. However, I think the result was a very average episode made more interesting by the presence of Faye Dunnaway.

My main problem with this episode was I just couldn't buy into the flirtatious relationship between Columbo and Faye Dunnaway's character. I could understand her motives to make the lieutenant not see her as a prime suspect but what the hell was Columbo doing getting so close to her? Why wasn't Columbo up on a misconduct charge? Columbo crosses the line on occasions to solve a murder but this was in another league altogether especially as he let one of the murderers off at the request of a suspect he was flirting over the course of the episode.

Although @Mel O'Drama said he liked "the nod to an early episode (I’m thinking Suitable For Framing) with the electric blanket to keep the body warm" I saw it as being a rip off of a great idea in an earlier episode. It was a key part of the murder plan in Suitable For Framing that was copied and recycled here.

On the positive side, it was a good story, some clever clues, Faye Dunnaway was great and the actress who played her daughter was excellent too.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Butterfly In Shades Of Grey

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Firstly, I hold my hands up and admit that the title - arty as it sounds - has gone over my head. I like it, but I can’t work out its relevance to the story. But no matter…

The first act proved very watchable thanks to spending time with both victim and killer and getting a sense of the killer’s motive. There was a fair bit of backstory to absorb and it turns out some of the information given wasn’t directly related to the murder. I’d wondered, for example, if Fielding Chase was somehow involved in the deaths of his stepdaughter’s parents. Would this prove to be his original sin? Well, no.

If memory serves, this episode marks the first time overtly gay characters have appeared. The closest we’ve come before now was the hair stylist in 1976’s Old Fashioned Murder, but that was all very wink-wink. Some progress has been made in the Seventeen and a bit years between these two episodes. Not only is the word “gay” used and the characters in question allowed to have love lives, but the presentation of the characters is less stereotypical than previously seen - certainly in the case of the victim, though we did still get Chase attempting to frame Gerry’s lover by leaving a handkerchief smeared with foundation. Swings and roundabouts.

Columbo seemed a little awkward on realising that Gerry was gay, and when discussing this with anyone. One one level it’s a little surprising, since he so often lets stuff just wash over him. But on reflection it’s in character for him to be slightly uncomfortable with any hint of sexuality (think the nude sunbathing or the artist’s model), and so this is probably his more conservative Italian side coming through.

It’s also worth considering that the victim didn’t have to be gay. There wasn’t any element of the plot that hinged on this and so - while in 1994 terms it might have raised eyebrows - the key gay character wasn’t defined by his sexuality. Along these lines, there’s some noticeable inclusivity in casting with the P.A. played by Ann Noël (now Anika Marinelli) who has a visible disability. It’s refreshing to see this kind of casting and writing which adds a degree of realism to the show.

continued...​

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Butterfly In Shades Of Grey​

continued...


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Molly Hagan’s back after playing a muse-cum-hologram in Murder, Smoke And Shadows five years earlier. It’s nice to see her getting a beefier role here. In every role in which I see her I’m intrigued by how unchanging and ageless she seems to be. She doesn’t look any different here to her appearances in Knots Landing almost a decade earlier. I was a little surprised when she was described as twenty five in the script as she looks older (and indeed, Molly is almost a decade older). But she’s hard to pin down to any one age, which is no doubt a plus when it comes to acting. My view of this is probably also clouded by Molly playing Miss Ellie when she actually was twenty five. I tend to perpetually think of her as an old soul.

As Fielding Chase, William Shatner makes a great foil for Columbo. I don’t think of him as a character actor, but it really feels as though he’s giving that his best shot here with his little pencil moustache and his accent somewhere in the mid-Atlantic as he goes for grand Englishman affectations (impressively he even uses the standard British pronunciation of “harassment” instead of the American/Frank Spencer version).

At times it’s an almost comical performance, and it’s hard to tell if this is intentional. This even extends to the props department. There’s one scene where Chase stands next to a huge framed headshot of himself at the radio station, and it’s clearly a generic picture Shatner on which which someone has drawn a silly pencil moustache with a Sharpie (which makes me wonder if the character’s facial hair was a last minute decision. Or at least a surprise to the crew.

But, do you know what? It all works. He’s a very watchable actor and, as in Fade In To Murder, there’s a great chemistry between Falk and the Shat. What’s more, Chase becomes wonderfully irascible towards and intolerant of Columbo as the episode progresses which for me evokes the spirit of the great Robert Culp (it struck me during the scene in Chase’s home gym that if this were a Seventies episode, Culp would have made a great Chase).

As with other Nineties episodes, the killer is shown to be a complete nasty. There’s one scene in particular where he destroys a political guest on his radio show by having an accomplice call in and expose a past sin that Chase has uncovered, destroying several lives in the process. The scene has Shatner lit from below and he looks particularly sinister. It’s kind of overkill, but again it works for me in this episode where it hasn’t in others and I think it’s because the writing and performances had me invested.

continued...​

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Butterfly In Shades Of Grey​

continued...
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In common with Shat’s earlier episode, Columbo wanders onto the set of a TV series. This time it’s a daytime soap and he’s mistaken for an extra playing a homeless person in an alley (he’s hired and fired in the space of ninety seconds before he finds his badge). It’s daft fun. Not really necessary to the episode, but a nice, lighthearted moment.

As well as the smell of the greasepaint, this episode has technology in common with Shatner’s previous episode (and indeed, a number of classic Columbo episodes).

Firstly, there’s Chase using a combination of telephone answering machine (at his home) and phone extension (at Gerry’s home) to pretend he’s speaking to his victim from miles away when actually… the call is coming from inside the house. Although not exactly the same premise,

A running thread during the episode has Columbo marvelling at Chase’s mobile phone and questioning if he should get one, referencing a common (and quite possibly well-founded) fear that was frequently discussed at the time: that mobile phones cause brain tumours to form. Chase dismisses this out of hand, but then he also trashes the idea of climate change (there is, he tells a grandma from Texas who phones in, an entire chapter in his book devoted to this myth).

Columbo is also impressed by satellite TV which we learn is necessary due to the mountainous surrounds of Chase’s home.

All these things come together for the Gotcha where Columbo goes all out to show that Chase couldn’t have made an emergency phone call from anywhere within a five minute drive from his home as there’s no phone signal. Which, to Columbo, is proof that Chase wasn’t speaking to Gerry from his home. As always, he goes all out to prove his case, including around ten police officers posing as cyclists, one of whom covertly tampers with Chase’s car to strand them in the middle of nowhere. Columbo's also gone to the trouble of trialling a mobile phone himself in order to drive round by himself to prove there's no signal in the valley.

All the same, the Gotcha wasn’t the strongest and despite Victoria’s keys going missing and whatnot, I felt the revelation about the phone signal could have been supported by some other evidence, which could have been something as simple as Columbo discovering that Chase’s answering machine stopped recording once the phone was answered.

continued...​

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Butterfly In Shades Of Grey​

continued...

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Still, the weaker Gotcha wasn’t a deal-breaker for me, since this episode has so many ingredients that make a Columbo episode work.

The locations are just beautiful. Gerry’s leafy Santa Monica home is gorgeous, but the episode’s jewel in the crown is Chase’s stunning property with its panoramic views and extensive grounds, complete with its own funicular tramway up the steep slope (one slight disappointment is that Columbo didn’t become queasy on this as he used to do with almost any form of transport where his feet weren’t on terra firma). The episode is worth watching for this alone. As with other favourite Columbos, it felt very aspirational, and I found myself coveting this incredible property. Apparently it’s since been bought by billionaire Larry Elllison.

In addition to this the outdoor scenes were sunny and picturesque, allowing it to feel expansive and visually appealing.

I also liked the touch of what I think is the Mystery Movie Theme appearing as the theme for Chase’s radio show.

Recent episodes have either dropped the Columbo formula or dropped the ball when it comes to strong writing and consistent characterisation, Butterfly… feels like an incredibly strong episode. There’s very little filler and it’s structured really well. There’s an antagonist with the screen presence to spark during his scenes.

I’d put this one just below the George Hamilton episode as representing the very best of the Specials. Here as there, a returnee has a 100% success rate in being a fun antagonist.

And I dare say this would make a Top Five of post-Seventies episodes.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Oops. I've just seen @Angela Channing's last post on the previous episode, so a delayed reaction from me...

It had so much potential to be a great episode: it was written by Peter Falk so who would know what makes a great Columbo story that the man himself and it starred an A list Hollywood actress. However, I think the result was a very average episode made more interesting by the presence of Faye Dunnaway.

I'd agree. Once the credits had rolled I actually forgot Peter Falk had written this one, so I feel I viewed it fairly objectively, without too much expectation around it. But I think it shows that he's not a professional writer.

And sometimes an actor can have too much clout on a show. With Peter Falk as Executive Producer as well as star and writer who's going to dare suggest that the writing could use a few tweaks.

My main problem with this episode was I just couldn't buy into the flirtatious relationship between Columbo and Faye Dunnaway's character. I could understand her motives to make the lieutenant not see her as a prime suspect but what the hell was Columbo doing getting so close to her? Why wasn't Columbo up on a misconduct charge? Columbo crosses the line on occasions to solve a murder but this was in another league altogether especially as he let one of the murderers off at the request of a suspect he was flirting over the course of the episode.

This is a great point. For me, I've got used to Columbo crossing the line, but my main concern with it was how out of character it was for Columbo. No matter what the end, I just can't see him allowing physical contact to happen when he's so devoted to his wife. It just felt as though it was written more for Peter Falk's benefit than it was Columbo's.

Although @Mel O'Drama said he liked "the nod to an early episode (I’m thinking Suitable For Framing) with the electric blanket to keep the body warm" I saw it as being a rip off of a great idea in an earlier episode. It was a key part of the murder plan in Suitable For Framing that was copied and recycled here.

Ha ha. Well, yes. There's a fine line between homage and rip off, and I can fully understand this is one of those scenes that can be interpreted either way. Perhaps I was a bit generous as I really wanted this to be a better episode than it actually was.

 

[Angela Channing]

Like @Mel O'Drama I didn't get what the connection between the title and the storyline was. I did wonder whether some scenes were lost in the final edit that would have made the connection clearer. Maybe the daughter was the butterfly and she wanted to leave her father to go to a brighter life in New York compared with the shades of grey she was currently living in. That's a bit too cryptic and not really central to the plot. What I only just realised having seen @Mel O'Drama's screenshot was the spelling of "Grey" in the title:

I always thought Americans more commonly spell grey with an "a" and the spelling it with an "e" is more common in the UK.

The other thing I noticed from the other photo the @Mel O'Drama used was that Peter Falk finally threw away his bottle of hair dye and was embracing his grey locks which I think was for the first time because I remember him having brown hair in the Faye Dunnaway episode.

This episode, whatever the title means, is a superior one of the New Columbo episodes, so we are in agreement again. It's seems to be the case that when they stick to the familiar Columbo formula and cast a high profile name as the murderer they are more likely to produce a good episode (Caution: Murder Can Be Hazardous to Your Health, Death Hits The Jackpot, Agenda For Murder, etc) and this is a very good episode and probably my favourite of the 3 William Shatner episodes, including the one he did in the 1970s.

I'm not normally a fan of William Shatner's acting but because he was playing a larger than life radio host, his exaggerated performance style fitted his character. I wasn't sure what the moustache was for though as it looked totally fake and was slightly distracting.

If memory serves, this episode marks the first time overtly gay characters have appeared.

It took them about 40 episodes to realise that there are black people in the world and another 20 to acknowledge the existence of gay people but it was still welcome to see the series reflect more of the diversity that exists in society.

I also liked the touch of what I think is the Mystery Movie Theme appearing as the theme for Chase’s radio show.

Wow, this is a really cool detail that I didn't spot.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I did wonder whether some scenes were lost in the final edit that would have made the connection clearer.

That could be the case.

It made me think of musical titles like Rhapsody In Blue, and also conjured up mental images of a Rorschach test.

What I only just realised having seen @Mel O'Drama's screenshot was the spelling of "Grey" in the title:

I always thought Americans more commonly spell grey with an "a" and the spelling it with an "e" is more common in the UK.

Nice observation, and that's very true now you mention it. Which makes the title even more mysterious.

Perhaps it's a reference to Columbo's changing hair colour!! Speaking of which...

The other thing I noticed from the other photo the @Mel O'Drama used was that Peter Falk finally threw away his bottle of hair dye and was embracing his grey locks which I think was for the first time because I remember him having brown hair in the Faye Dunnaway episode.

Yes and no. He did indeed have his brown hair in the Faye Dunaway episode, but he'd had grey hair for at least a couple of episodes before that one. I forgot to comment about that as I watched as I thought it was a little curious that he'd gone back to the brown.

Perhaps my mind was running away with me, but I found myself wondering if Peter Falk was trying to make himself look younger to impress Faye Dunaway. That would be ironic as I think he looks far better with the grey.

This episode, whatever the title means, is a superior one of the New Columbo episodes, so we are in agreement again. It's seems to be the case that when they stick to the familiar Columbo formula and cast a high profile name as the murderer they are more likely to produce a good episode (Caution: Murder Can Be Hazardous to Your Health, Death Hits The Jackpot, Agenda For Murder, etc) and this is a very good episode and probably my favourite of the 3 William Shatner episodes, including the one he did in the 1970s.

Absolutely agreed on all counts.

I wasn't sure what the moustache was for though as it looked totally fake and was slightly distracting.

I took it as Shatner's concession to a character role, but I'd be interested to know a little more about that choice.

It took them about 40 episodes to realise that there are black people in the world and another 20 to acknowledge the existence of gay people but it was still welcome to see the series reflect more of the diversity that exists in society.

Absolutely. I think that previous form is obliquely referenced in dialogue as well. When Chase tells Columbo that gay men are known for behaving strangely (or words to that effect), Columbo replies that he wouldn't know because he always seems to end up investigating wives killing husbands or husbands killing wives. He could have added the words "white", "rich" and "able bodied" as well, and that sums up the vast majority of the people with whom he's interacted. As you said, it's nice that there are at least some concessions to rectifying this.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Undercover

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The kindest thing to say about Ed McBain’s material on this series is that the format is always going to disappoint because viewers are expected to change storytelling mindsets, which is a huge thing to ask.

And it’s not just the absence of any real Columbo formula. In short, the tone is quite simply wrong for this series.

The deaths are an example of this. Usually in Columbo death has meaning. That’s half the point of the series. The series has always been effective because of its “tell, don’t show” approach to death and its aftermath. Generally our focus is on Columbo as he looks at a body, and this tells us all we need. This episode goes the opposite route, by giving lingering looks at dead bodies, eyes wide open in horror and with holes in necks and chests from knives and bullets. Yet it all feels vacuous, disposable and generic. I really couldn’t bring myself to care.

Columbo going undercover is just ridiculous. Why would he volunteer to do this at his age? And without a mention of the fact that Mrs Columbo isn’t going to like him moving out of his home and into a seedy apartment. None of it makes sense. Which means none of it can be believed. In turn, this simply means we’re watching Peter Falk goofing around with his wife and buddies playing dress-up. The viewers tune in to watch Columbo with his little idiosyncrasies. With him pretending to be someone else, the series loses any remaining appeal.

Incidentally, Columbo’s hair has the brown rinse once again. With such huge gaps between episodes, surely they couldn’t be short out of order?

In short, just a horrible episode that gives the impression that all involved no longer care about the quality of their output just so long as they’re paid. I’m boggling that this crap can follow directly on from an episode that got it so right.

Not even Tyne Daly can save this one.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

One thing of interest that's come out of it. I found this interview with Ed Begley Jr. in which he discusses his Columbo appearances and his relationship with Peter Falk.

 

[Angela Channing]

Undercover

I can't disagree with @Mel O'Drama review of this episode. I think Undercover gets one of my nominations for being the worst Columbo episode ever. It's actually a reasonably entertaining made for TV detective film but it just isn't Columbo. It's a great shame because it has a strong cast with Ed Begley Jr and Tyne Daley, amongst others, it's well acted throughout and some of the comedy works but it just feels like another show altogether with Peter Falk playing another detective. Why couldn't they have written it as a standard Columbo format with a character played by Ed Begley Jr. murdering one played by Tyne Daley?

I thought Tyne Daley was great in her scene playing the heavy drinking ex-prostitute. When I first saw this scene some years ago I remember posting something on another thread in which I commented on the end of the scene when Columbo briefly kisses Ms Daley on the lips which was completely out of character for Columbo and totally out of place for how he was interacting with her character up to that point.

At the time I speculated (and I still believe) that Peter Falk was so taken with how well she played the scene that he spontaneously kissed her in appreciation of her performance and they decided to keep it in even though it was very un-Columbo like. However, as the entire episode was very un-Columbo they could have done anything as the rule book had gone out the window from the beginning.

In short, just a horrible episode

My sentiments exactly.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I think Undercover gets one of my nominations for being the worst Columbo episode ever.

Completely understandable. It would make the list for me as well.

It's actually a reasonably entertaining made for TV detective film

I feel I lost any kind of objectivity around that because it was marketed as a Columbo. The way I feel having watched it is that I wouldn't want to watch it even without Columbo, but that could be sour grapes on my part. Or perhaps it's just not my kind of thing.

Why couldn't they have written it as a standard Columbo format with a character played by Ed Begley Jr. murdering one played by Tyne Daley?

Absolutely. I'm bewildered by them recycling two Ed McBain stories when they have a team of writers and only one or two episodes per year to create at this point. You'd think with so little quantity it would help them produce quality.

I thought Tyne Daley was great in her scene playing the heavy drinking ex-prostitute.

Agreed. She stole the show, and was the only thing that stopped me losing the will to live entirely during the second half of the episode.

When I first saw this scene some years ago I remember posting something on another thread in which I commented on the end of the scene when Columbo briefly kisses Ms Daley on the lips which was completely out of character for Columbo and totally out of place for how he was interacting with her character up to that point.

At the time I speculated (and I still believe) that Peter Falk was so taken with how well she played the scene that he spontaneously kissed her in appreciation of her performance and they decided to keep it in even though it was very un-Columbo like.

I'm not sure if your earlier comments were at the back of my mind sub-consciously, but as I watched it did cross my mind too that this looked like a kiss between two actor friends rather than between the characters.

Considering her character's alcohol dependency and the fact that she seemed a bit tipsy she'd certainly fall into the "vulnerable" category, which makes Columbo's actions seem even more questionable.

However, as the entire episode was very un-Columbo they could have done anything as the rule book had gone out the window from the beginning.

Very true. And I think they gave it their best shot at making an episode that broke all the rules.

 

[Angela Channing]

Absolutely. I'm bewildered by them recycling two Ed McBain stories when they have a team of writers and only one and two episodes per year to create at this point. You'd think with so little quantity it would help them produce quality.

It just doesn't make sense especially as they were still able to write some really good episodes in the proceeding years. I can only guess that they were looking for ways to try something different to attract a wider audience but both the Ed McBain episodes were very poor.

Considering her character's alcohol dependency and the fact that she seemed a bit tipsy she'd certainly fall into the "vulnerable" category, which makes Columbo's actions seem even more questionable.

Columbo has solved some of the trickiest, high profile murders in the history of the LAPD over the course of 3 decades and I used to wonder why he was never promoted and always remained a lieutenant. However, when you think how many times he broke the rules and indulged in behaviours that were ethically or morally questionable, you could argue he was lucky not to be demoted or sacked.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Strange Bedfellows

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As far as format goes, we’re back on track here, with a decent amount of time in the opening act devoted to the murderer and his victim - in this case his brother - before getting into the cat and mouse game with Columbo.

Some of the notes hit evoke earlier episodes. If memory serves, the folding bicycle in the car boot was used by Donald Pleasence in Any Port In A Storm. Even the Gotcha - with Columbo extracting an ironclad confession by threatening to leave his target to a more brutal form of justice - feels like I’ve seen it before, though I can’t remember in which specific episode (it also reminded me of that Knots Landing scene where Sid’s killers were rounded up).

Unoriginal as some of those choices might be, other familiar ingredients are in place to help make this feel like a true Columbo episode. From the high profile killer’s impressively scenic estate (which looked very much like Gary's Knots Landing ranch) to Columbo eating chilli while bantering with the diner owner. There’s also a nicely queasy Columbo introduction clutching a bottle of Pepto Bismol, having had some bad clams the night before.

As Graham McVeigh, George Wendt makes a decent enough killer. I wouldn’t say he fascinates, nor that scenes between he and Peter Falk crackle with energy. But there’s a workmanlike watchability to their scenes, and there are some nice moments of Columbo subtly laying down the gauntlet, delivering veiled warnings to Graham with a grim smile.

Incidentally, do Americans pronounce the name “Graham” as “Gram”? I heard it pronounced that way quite regularly throughout. Along similar lines, do Americans have a different definition of a tiny mouse? Because the one Columbo pulled from the bin was enormous!

More than perhaps any other episode I noticed a lot of continuity goofs. In particular there was the scene in which Columbo visited the restaurant to speak to the hostess, where the boom seemed to be almost permanently in shot no matter which camera was used.

The business with the mob gave some exciting moments, particularly the car chase scene. Rod Steiger's performance added a sense of genuine menace and gave us a sense of McVeigh's world closing in on him. And Columbo’s relationship with the boss gave us the title. Once again, Columbo has gone to extremes to get his man, raising questions of ethics. Though in context it all worked for me and gave a very decent instalment by the standards of these later episodes.