A Brief History of Columbo - A Documentary

In this short Documentary I look at the origin of the unassuming detective who always gets his man, or woman. From the unlikely beginnings to dominating the detective show format by turning it on it’s head.

[@user-sq4jz9up6g]

It's never too late to discover Columbo

[@WorldOfTess2024]

Truth!

[@asullivan4047]

Will rediscover some of his earliest movies.

[@anthonybryant]

Man I used to watch Colombo back in the early 70s with my dad in the living room. When I was a kid, I have watched every single one of Colombo’s episodes, and it never gets boring , I wish I could have met Colombo before he sadly passed away in 2011 😞

[@WatchitforDays]

This video is wonderful and so well organized. I was pleasantly shocked that you mentioned me!?! I don't even know what to say other than Thank you very much 😊 I truly appreciate you!

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you, it was fun, but tough to know what to include and what to leave out. I had to mention you, your reviews are so good and so well researched.

[@kylecruel]

As an amateur Columboalogist, this is a fantastic summary of the show. One of the best shows ever and one which cannot be replicated.

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you, that’s so nice to hear.

[@melenatorr]

Pausing again before I forget: one of my sister's and my favorite moments might be true: Columbo in one episode, I forget which, confesses that when he signed up for the police force, he could tell there many, many people smarter, faster and better than he was. There was only one way for him to succeed and that was just to work harder than anyone. I think, of course, he's smarter than he lets anyone understand; but when he was younger, he may honestly have felt that way. He does know music: in the Johnny Cash episode, he distinguishes between an alto and a s soprano in two different recordings ("Well, I am Italian," he explains when the technician (?) comments on it). And in one of the McGoohan episodes, McGoohan's character bugs Columbo's house and teases Columbo about knowing that ("Barber of Seville"?) is his wife's favorite piece.

[@melenatorr]

In "Dial M for Murder", the John Williams character always struck me as sort of proto-Columbo variation.

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

It certainly seems like he was an inspiration. Especially for the idea of having an older actor play Columbo.

[@meloniedropik3539]

You've outdone yourself on this one. It was informative and entertaining. The work you put into finding the interviews and the clever use of Columbo episode titles were all appreciated by this viewer. Also, you're looking very handsome in this video. (You all stop it. I'm old enough to be his mother or maybe even grandmother!) Thanks for doing such a good job with the Columbo series.

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you so much for your kind comments. I did put a lot of effort into this one and was nervous about how it would be received. I was also self-conscious about how I looked after starring at myself for so long during the edit so your compliment is also very appreciated.

[@BRinMilwaukee]

Wonderful doc! I've been loving Columbo since its original run and this thorough and entertaining, short Documentary nails every important element I remember (and a few I didn't). Put this one in a time capsule with the label "Columbo"

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you, that’s very kind.

[@ilgiusto6885]

Video interessante !!! Thanks to your video I heard Peter Falk's voice speaking in Italian for the first time! In fact, either by watching the episodes on TV or on DVD, his voice was always dubbed, I would have been able to choose the original language on the DVD but it never occurred to me to do so even while watching the episode in which he speaks Italian which you show in your video.

[@palacehaunter5442]

More Columbo is always a good thing.

[@mlongpre100]

90% of the 'evidence' that columbo sums up would be thrown out by any competent defense lawyer

[@CAndrewNelson]

Well done! I enjoyed this immensely. I thought I knew everything about my favorite detective character, but you helped me to learn even more. Watching Peter Falk as Columbo is a master class in acting. He was definitely an inspiration for me to become an actor. Now I'm getting to share the series with my son who has now utterly fascinated with it. Thank you for this video.

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you for watching. So glad you enjoyed it and are educating the next generation of Columbo fans.

[@mjsdecember1990]

If Columbo is speaking to you, you know you've f***** up

[@kevincrock1202]

Great Show thanks a lot Love Columboooooo got all his DVDs and watch ummm all the time !!!

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you for your lovely comment.

[@asteverino8569]

Thanks for this episode. I learned some things, new to me. I also enjoy 'Watch it for Days'.

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@asteverino8569]

@@NothingButMediaNBM You're welcome. I also really like the NBC living color peacock. I remember it well from back in the day.

[@asullivan4047]

Interesting/informative/entertaining. Excellent still-motion photography picture 📷 clips. Enabling viewers to better understand what the orator is describing.😉. If not for the vintage talented guest star s. The Colombo ( TV ) series would have been a flop-!!!😭. An extremely talented versatile actor. However he's my 2nd favorite cab 🚕 driver -!!!😲. Ernest Borgnine " Escape from New York ". Unfortunately the ( N.Y.C. ) cabbies never elected to bestow " honorary " Yellow cab 🚕 driver😭. It's never too late tho -!!!😉. Wishing viewers a safe/healthy/prosperous(2024)🌈🎉💵😉..

[@carolmorrison7725]

So comprehensive and well-prepared

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you, I put a lot of work into that video and it’s nice to hear it was appreciated.

[@glennscott9693]

Good review, I would only add the following contributions: - I would add "Malice of Forethought" as an inverted mystery of old. Based on the Frances Isle 1931 novel, there is 2005 TV movie which I have a copy of. Perhaps you can review it as I contend that the serial murderer was convicted of the only death that was in fact natural and he is innocent. Girlfriend thinks otherwise! IMDB has a 1979 version but I haven't been able to track that one down. -Suzanne Pleshette was also pissed about Falk's actions in the filming of "Dead Weight." On a talk show, she describes how she was looking forward to working with him on a Columbo but he wouldn't show up on set. So they filmed his scenes with a body double. Eventually Falk showed up, wanting to film those scenes but the director said he had already shot those and wouldn't do it. Pleshette seems to agree with the director's call. - Watch it for Days is excellent. I have no idea how she figures that stuff out! Interesting for us Columbo fans though! Regards

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thanks for the tip about Malice of Forethought, I’ll seek that out. I too am astounded by some of the information Watch it for Days manages to track down.

[@charlessperling7031]

@@NothingButMediaNBM In 1945, Alfred Hitchcock toyed with the notion of a radio series called "Once Upon a Midnight." Its pilot episode was an adaptation of Francis Iles's *Malice Aforethought.* Four years before, of course, he adapted Iles's other inverted mystery, *Before the Fact,* for "Suspicion." *Malice Aforethought* was done on television with Hywel Bennett as Dr. Bickleigh.

[@triumphbobberbiker]

The actual Italian surname is, in fact, written ColOmbo, but the way you Americans pronounce the 'u' between two consonants produces roughly the same sound as an Italian 'o'

[@paulaharrisbaca4851]

I fell in love with Peter Falk and bought 4 TV Guides with him on the cover when I was 13.

[@toshibavoodoo]

GREAT 30 Minute overview. Answered some of my questions. I always thought the way Arquet, referred to Peter Fault was devious. Now I know it was, as Fault issue was with Studio and inconvienced coworkers that didn't stand up for him. Simple, but I'm not elegant in my writing.

[@paulaharrisbaca4851]

I named my Siamese cat Columbo as well.

[@jsfbr]

Hitchcock also used the format in his 1972 movie "Frenzy".

[@MrTSHUMWAY]

Very well done sir. Not only did you inspire me to re-watch my entire collection of the show, I wanted your shirt and found a treasure trove of our favorite overcoat wearing detective from TeePublic.

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you, it’s what I hoped people would get out of the video. My t-shirt comes from redbubble.

[@jamesabernethy7896]

I really loved this piece of yours, simply done but great work. Like you, I'm younger than the Columbo Episodes. My grandmother liked them and although I don't feel we watched them together or spoke about them, they were in the background. I really love Columbo, for a while Channel 4 was doing whole afternoons of Columbo on Saturday and Sunday and if it was doing nothing I'd watch as many of them as they could. The 'How Catchem' format still feels unique. It was great seeing the preparations from the killer as they prepared for a battle of wits, there were so many opportunities for Columbo to stumble onto clues so that tension or anticipation began right away. It's still strange to see the pilot where he is much more grumpy, but you can also tell that the murderer is the star. The murderers and in some cases, the victims were given space and time to shine as performers. This added so much depth to them and allowed them to be great foils. Although the character of Columbo added a great deal of consistency to the franchise, the directors could also tell stories in their own way, which adds to the enjoyment. As I said, really enjoyed this video.

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you. The memories of watching these shows is something I don’t talk about during my reviews but definitely forms a big part of my love for the shows I talk about. So nice to hear yours.

[@bobjg1956]

Wonderful work my friend...love Columbo..What an incredibly gifted actor Peter was .......and thanks to you ..his work will live on ...thankyou for this beautiful "tribute".. Very best wishes...Bob in Bristol uk...

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you for your lovely comment.

[@DanDan-fu6sd]

As always, GREAT JOB! Editing those comparison clips must have been difficult. Funny how you are a bit like Columbo. Your delivery is calm cool and collect. Keep it up.

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you very much. Editing is the bit I hate the most so it was particularly challenging. So glad you liked it.

[@nanorider426]

Well, I have the DVD collection and my wife and I have been watching it for the last two months - one episode every other night. Very good review and summery but I think you have forget a important piece of information: There is nearly no blood is the series, and the killing is nearly every time off camera. That is very nice. I think that is why it was a family show. I saw reruns through the 80's (being born in 74) and bought the DVD's after 2000.

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

You’re right, I should have mentioned that they sanitise it for family viewing. It was fairly common in the 70s to do that but you can tell how the TV landscape has changed by the time the show came back and while not gory, was certainly a little more graphic. I’m glad you’ve been enjoying my reviews. Thank you for watching.

[@nanorider426]

@@NothingButMediaNBM My pleasure. I like it more now because of the sanitization. I'm tired of the violence and gore nowadays. Oh, and I subscribed to your channel. ^^

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you. I know what you mean, as you can probably tell from my other reviews, I don’t mind blood and gore but I think it works best sparingly or it gets a bit repetitive.

[@nanorider426]

@@NothingButMediaNBM I hear you. 🙂

[@markwarren250]

Very good job and a great idea

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you. I’m glad people are enjoying it.

[@timbriggs1305]

Terrific.. thanks.

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you for watching.

[@frankshailes3205]

This is an excellently produced video. Gene Barry starred in "The Adventurer", an ITC adventure series, in the early 1970s. It was famously bad, but I quite enjoyed Prescription Murder the two or three times I've seen it. He makes a much better villain than hero!

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you. I think Gene Barry deserves more credit than he gets, perhaps because he’s most known for TV and stage work. He was the perfect foil for Columbo.

[@Educatingben]

That was a very excellent historical account of Columbo. Very enjoyable. Also, how excellent of you to give "Watch it for days" a plug. She is so excellent in her deep dives.. also, I wanted to mention that I read the Columbo companion, and also will start reading shooting Colombo very soon. I wasn't very pleased with the Columbo companion's assessments of many of the episodes. I felt in a lot of ways that he judges that time by today's standards. He also seemed quite harsh in many of his reviews, to the point where there were many times where I actually thought that he hated most episodes. Episodes I love, he hated. Anyway, I am enjoying your Rockford Files reviews very much. Keep up the great work. you are awesome!

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you, Watch it for Days is excellent and she regularly leaves me very kind comments. I think Columbo companion is good to read to get a different perspective, whether I agree with their assessments or not. I can understand why too much negativity is off putting though.

[@Educatingben]

@@NothingButMediaNBM of course I agree with the different points of view but it just seemed like a columbo episode bashing, one after the other. There were lots of references to how he did not appreciate some of the quirks and behavior attributes that Peter Falk and Patrick McGoohan inserted into Columbo later in the series. That's something that I actually loved and totally appreciated. The Columbophile wanted the character to stay completely consistent over the run of the show. It just doesn't seem realistic.

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

I can understand why that would be frustrating. I think sometimes people feel the need to be more negative than necessary or can just be tied to a specific memory of your formative years.

[@Educatingben]

@@NothingButMediaNBM Absolutely.

[@JoseGarcia-oo4mc]

Excellent

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you.

[@koningkryksuiwerbloed6070]

Thank you. Very interesting

[@SunnyDays00]

Great video!

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you. I was very nervous about this one.

[@mpwall4237]

Bravo! I thoroughly enjoyed this documentary. I've been a Columbo fan since my Mom and I watched it together Sunday nights, and you did a great job with presenting a lot of info here. I have to compliment you on the growth I see too. I've been watching your videos from the start and it's easy to see how your technique has improved and your confidence has grown. Agree with @meloniedropik3539, you look great too. Highest marks! I'm repeating what others have already said in prior review comments, please add the "Monk" series to your review list. Would love to see how you approach that one. Thanks again!

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you for your very kind comments. I’m glad you think I’ve improved, as it’s something I find hard to judge myself, especially trying to deal with all the technical aspects as well, which are often challenging to me, being a one man operation. This was a big passion project that I wanted to get right so it’s really lovely to hear this feedback. Monk is a show that’s on my list to review and I will get to it as soon as I can, hopefully I’ll have the first episode done before the end of the year.

[@julieborel3043]

Wonderful video! Thanks very much!

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you. I was nervous about this video.

[@julieborel3043]

@@NothingButMediaNBM You did an excellent job. Interesting, informative, clever, fun. 👍

[@TV-Tony]

Hmm, didn't know Poker Face was an inverted mystery. Will have to check that out. Motive was a Canadian show that was also a great inverted mystery series. Difference was they didn't show the murder until the end of the episode but the viewer still knew who the killer was and the detective would interview 1 or 2 other suspects before honing in on the right killer about halfway through the show, so it combines aspects of an inverted mystery with a whodunit.

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Poker Face is heavily influenced by Columbo in some aspects, including the inverted mystery. I would recommend it. I’ll have to see if I can find Motive as it’s not one I’m familiar with.

[@TV-Tony]

@@NothingButMediaNBM Cool. Looks like it's partially on American DVD and fully on Region 2 DVD. Not sure if it's on streaming. I know it was produced in Canada, so it originally aired there then aired later in the US on ABC, which also aired the later Columbo movies.

[@TV-Tony]

Elsbeth is another good inverted mystery that just premiered on CBS. The character is originally from the show The Good Wife. It also streams on Paramount Plus. I heard it's returning April 4 to CBS. First episode was good. Had to do with a theater director that kills one of his acting students he was sleeping with to avoid losing his job and getting cancelled in the opening scene. Much like Columbo and Poker Face, also has well known guest stars. Stephen Moyer played the killer. I like how Poker Face uses similar credit fonts to Columbo. The wrongfully accused and being on the run aspect is a lot like The Fugitive as well. Liked and subbed.

[@miriammanolov9135]

I just watched most of Columbo's episodes on Tubi. My dad used to watch it in Iraq, but I was more into Matlock and Murder She Wrote. I really enjoyed this show because the criminal was already known, but you got to watch how this laid back man can solve the case. Now, since I watched so many actual crime shows, I tend to cringe at the crime scenes because of potential contamination and removing evidence, then I had to remind myself that these were the 70s/80s and DNA testing was very limited in comparison to today's technology. Still, I watched some of the episodes multiple times because I enjoyed them.

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

It is harder to watch through a modern lens but it’s also important to remember the show isn’t supposed to be taken too seriously. Thank you for your comment.

[@patbannister1]

Loved this and I even learned a thing or two! 🌺🌺🇨🇦

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

Thank you.

[@kevinobrien9626]

NBM, did you read the script for Columbo’s Last Case (“See No Evil ?) online, and do you think it would have made a worthy ender, or is it just as well that it went unmade?

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

I don’t think it’s great but I think it would have made a better finale than the one we got. Although I also think Columbo Likes the Nightlife could have been much better with some minor tweaks.

[@gosnooky]

I want to watch the rest of your Columbo reviews but they're so hard to find - you should organize your videos into playlists. If content is easier to find, you'll get more views.

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

I do have a Columbo playlist on my channel. kzbin.info/aero/PLzf8d3vMNr1NR3lvQ82AfJbsL8N1bsz-_&si=r5MbDJzMpLYD6E8j

[@js1mom]

It's no longer on Sundance tv Tuesday and Wednesday at 1AM!

[@Lazrael32]

Very informitive. Thank you. Have you seen poker face? I don't think it's bad but the actress is doing such a strong columbo impression that it takes me out of the movie. She's more doing a peter falk impression. But you might have more interesting opinions than me.

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

I have watched Poker Face and I can see how it might seem Natasha Lyonne is doing a Peter Falk impression, but strangely it’s actually not too far off how she is in real life. I think there is a hint of Falk in her performance but the rest is just naturally her. Both are native New Yorkers with two Jewish parents too.

[@Lazrael32]

@@NothingButMediaNBM that's fair. I'll give the next one a go and see if it grows on me. thank you.

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

I would give it a chance, my partner wasn’t super invested at first but really got into it as the show went along.

[@jsfbr]

👏👏👏👏👏🇧🇷👏👏👏👏👏

[@torevenheim9607]

Peter Falk Columbo participate in a movie black and white i think can't remember the name

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

If you can remember any more details I might be able to narrow it down.

[@torevenheim9607]

Did a little research and it is 1987 movie Wings of desire by Wim Wenders with Bruno Ganz, Peter Falk plays himself and are recognized as lt. Columbo 😊

[@NothingButMediaNBM]

@@torevenheim9607well done, I’d forgotten about that cameo.

[@paulkenny105]

Your Breathing is very distracting