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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mel O&#039;Drama" data-source="post: 277037" data-attributes="member: 23">Double Shock <img src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNDdmMTdkZDQtNzg3NC00MjYyLTllNDAtZjc3YzA4MDg5YzI1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDM1MzYzMzc@._V1_.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="width: 517px" /><img src="https://i2.wp.com/columbophile.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/shock-1.jpg?fit=800%2C534&ssl=1" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="width: 591px" />Considering the widely known idea of the Columbo formula, I’m pleasantly surprised at the frequency with which episodes add their own spin. Double Shock is yet another example of this. While it doesn’t stray from showing us the killer, the fact that Martin Landau is playing identical twins means that there’s a genuine whodunnit mystery for the audience as we can’t be sure which of the two we actually saw do the nasty deed: the old blender in the bathtub routine, which certainly shows a flair for the dramatic. Landau is great as gregarious TV cook Dexter and grey banker Norman. His voice and body language are different enough to tell them apart, but he also throws in a scene in which one brother imitates the other, casting further doubt on what we’ve seen. The back of his hair looked very wet in a number of scenes. The first time I thought he was meant to have just got out of the shower or taken exercise, but as the episode progressed I found myself wondering if he was finding the studio lights a bit too hot.There are some very familiar faces in the supporting cast. Peyton Place’s Tim O’Connor is Michael Hathaway, the corrupt family lawyer who blackmails the twins into offering him a lucrative continued position with them in exchange for him getting rid of a will which leaves everything to Clifford’s young fiance, only for them to frame him for her murder. Catwoman Julie Newmar is the almost bride of Uncle Clifford who becomes the second victim when it emerges she’s due to inherit the bulk of Clifford’s estate. I did question why the need to murder her if she’s not interested in the money and was willing to hand over her paperwork relating to the inheritance. Why not kill Hathaway instead? But I suppose it was an either/or, and this was the route with more dramatic flair which seems to be the twins’ forte. Newmar is as game as ever, and there are some terrific lighthearted moments, from Columbo's initial observation to someone that he'd noticed she was a "healthy" girl to  her bending double exercising while Columbo watching appreciatively as they talk. There's also Dabney Coleman as Detective Murray, whose persistent and violent gum chewing irritated the hell out of me. The comedy in this episode is perhaps as broad as it’s got, but it worked really well. A highlight of the episode is the legendary scene where Columbo is called up to help Dexter on camera in front of the audience. Columbo’s awkwardness and inability to speak properly is thoroughly endearing, Martin Landau plays off Peter Falk wonderfully and the entire scene feels spontaneous, natural and warm. It’s a lovely little interlude. [MEDIA=youtube]tgtkNtfvwaE[/MEDIA] continued...</blockquote>

Verification: Who played JR Ewing?