"I Can’t Think in This Coat!” | Columbo

Columbo struggles to investigate a crime wearing a new coat bought for him by Mrs. Columbo.
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Clip from Season 5, Episode 5: Columbo matches wits with a nightclub illusionist (Jack Cassidy) suspected of murdering his business associate.
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#Columbo #PeterFalk

[@PackerBronco]

To commit the perfect murder you have to first steal Columbo's raincoat ...

[@violetdesiree601]

Fool the raincoat is but a limiter of his powers thats why 2 coats was to much

[@patmelton43]

"I can't think in this coat." That is priceless. Columbo is brilliant.

[@lewisc215]

No, this is poor writing. Stay wth the first 7 seasons.

[@marijooneill8015]

I can't imagine anyone other than Peter Falk in this role. Falk was great and he made the role his, along with the creators and the writers.

[@lewisc215]

@@marijooneill8015 DUH! Try saying something next time.

[@oleggorky906]

It’s definitely something that you would expect him to say; Columbo is a creature of habit.

[@johnsrabe]

@@lewisc215 How about: Why are you so cranky? Sheesh.

[@fearsomename4517]

Wilson wanted to do everything by the book, but Columbo was always three steps ahead of him. Love this episode.

[@oleggorky906]

In the first episode featuring him he started to think that Columbo was absent minded and lackadaisical and that HE was ahead of HIM, and thus he started to despise him a little. But after Columbo proved his mettle and was gracious to him and didn’t gloat, it looked as if he was a bit in awe of him and he often seemed to try too hard in the great man’s presence and made mistakes because of it.

[@johng4093]

I have to wonder who came up with the Wilson character, they deserve some recognition. Like a subtle but deliberate comedic touch. And the actor was quite good.

[@onemorething123]

I loved this, with the coat. He spent half the episode trying to get rid of the thing before he finally went back to his old trusty raincoat. Peter Falk the actor looked great in that coat, but Columbo the character? Nope. Not him.

[@jamesalley4061]

I loved Peter faulk😢

[@shadowbear66]

@@Byrddog17 the commenter is clearly making the distinction between the real person and the character that that person is playing. In his off screen life Peter Falk does not go around in his Columbo costume. Peter Falk May in fact look very sharp in that new raincoat while it doesn't fit either the style or personality of the character Columbo. It's a very obvious distinction but is apparently beyond your comprehension.

[@davidmarshall5596]

The looks when Wilson said 'lieutenant you forgot your coat' 😁🤣what a superb actor he was & I loved it when wison was in the episodes he added some extra 'gloss' ❤ 😍 thanks again for posting 😀

[@damienpepper2254]

@@shadowbear66 True, also the now famous 'Columbo' coat was actually Peter Falk's to start with. It wasn't provided by the show's costumiers, he provided it himself.

[@shadowbear66]

@@Byrddog17 you just repeated the point that I made that Peter Falk is the actor and Columbo is the character he is playing- that is the exact same thing I said in my comment. No one looks sharp in a raincoat in the summertime? How about on a summer day when it's raining! Your whole comment is nothing more than a bunch of weird gibberish! Let it go already.

[@rosario508]

I wish they had more episodes featuring Sgt. Wilson. He was a great foil/sidekick to the lieutenant.

[@daviniarobbins9298]

Wilson is only asking what the audience is asking. I like that. You aren't kept in the dark. It is explained to the viewers through Columbo to Wilson.

[@EnochPowell-1968]

Wilson was in two episodes but his Christian name was different in both of them!!!!!

[@radicalross7700]

That would make Wilson an audience surrogate of sorts like Watson to Holmes or the Doctor's companions in Doctor Who.

[@michelebartlett3921]

I liked him too

[@GhostDrummer]

Wilson is in a lot of clips on this channel

[@EvilGeniusRANIK]

I love the amazing detail that the person got the idea to smoke a cigarette in the bathroom in order to give a reason why there would be the smell of smoke after burning the paper. And the best part was that none of the characters pointed out the smell. The show respected the audience's intelligence to deduct it themselves.

[@elizabethmahon386]

Great point!! I just noticed that!

[@zk-cs1kb]

equally great note, if the guy who walked down had paid attention, the case would've been much shorter. The cigarette wasn't lit when he came to the door

[@peterpiper831]

Columbo not only left the rain coat behind, but also the bag of greasy chicken.

[@paulgentili1425]

Probably didnt want the chicken lol

[@rudeboyjohn3483]

"You look different somehow." ".....I've had a haircut" Brilliant

[@cylon6]

I love the gag with the coat running through this episode. Columbo without his coat is almost like Samson without his hair, he isn't at full strength. Then it's a punch the air moment when he finally puts his trusty mac back on.

[@davependragon1]

I will tell you what, Peter Falk is a visual comedy genius. His constant fussing with coat is utterly hilarious

[@tonyshennyc]

The scene was so meticulously arranged, visual and non-visual, tension, interruption, intensity, and the humor; let’s not forget about the humor, the stupid coat, the haircut joke; and the coolest magician, the paramedics waiting patiently in the hallway to remove the body, like hundreds of things coming together in there, almost as if you were there witnessing all that. The writing, directing, and acting were simply too good.

[@lewisc215]

Gibberish

[@knighttuttrupriprock9733]

Attention to detail, one of the many things that made this show great.

[@Grissbane]

@@lewisc215 Yes that's what you're speaking

[@StefanReich]

@@lewisc215 And here we see demonstrated the great range of development between individuals of the human species. While some arrive at complex sentence structures, use logic and evoke emotions in order to enlighten or convince , others are still in the stage of uttering single words that have little to no meaning.

[@vapensmoke]

As much as Poirot is loved in the UK, Colombo should've had the same respect in the U.S. Still very underrated character and show

[@piarittersporn]

It's delicious how Columbo tries in vain to forget his new coat somewhere....

[@markemerson8399]

Jack Cassidy was the perfect criminal for Columbo. Fantastic! Everything about this clip is perfect.

[@lisawilliams2013]

Cassidy was one of my favorite recurring villains, also loved Robert Culp!

[@benjack8477]

In my opinion the greatest villain in columbo history

[@trometromme7113]

My vote goes to Robert Gulp. Best villain/actor and best storylines.

[@KenNickels]

He played Becker, a Nazi war criminal. No statute of limitations for Nazi's!

[@Sarmgerra]

I might be mistaken, but this feels like one of the few times where Columbo is shown developing his theory on the murder from the get-go

[@johnkerkalis6310]

Would you like a piece of Chicken. 😂🤣

[@Tim_the_Enchanter]

The new coat is obviously a non-starter. But Sergeant Wilson is fantastic.

[@cheezeygoodnez7801]

It's confirmed. Columbo's power is contained within the coat.

[@bobbodaskank]

Would have been a silly gag if someone else put it on in an episode and made a slightly better observation about something before Columbo got it back

[@nancyschell5382]

Jack Cassidy was such a good villian. He was in at least three Columbo's.

[@rickmays797]

Always a good villain.?... he had a devilish look about him didnt he???

[@johng4093]

​@@rickmays797Definitely. He was born for the part.

[@hotlavatube]

I think he forgot his chicken too.

[@SL-vi4tk]

Jack Cassidy died 10 months later in a terrible house fire. Still so sad.

[@_Meng_Lan]

Particularly sad this was one of his last appearances 😢 .

[@johng4093]

Who knows how many more Columbo villains he might have portrayed...

[@laurasaxon694]

Just started watching this episode today and Columbo actually looks great in that new raincoat. I love how he keeps trying to ditch it.

[@peterpiper831]

Looked more like a detective in the new coat.

[@johng4093]

He looked silly in it IMO.

[@makeluvnotwar4255]

2022 and I still on occasion frequent this show. I love Columbo

[@landonletterman831]

Each one was a lovingly crafted time capsule to the era that it was shot in, and I love it

[@makeluvnotwar4255]

@@landonletterman831 Never thought of it that way....but the accuracy of your comment is awesome😊, it will be on my mind tonight as I watch an episode or two 😊😊

[@landonletterman831]

@@makeluvnotwar4255 even as a child who grew up before cell phones, I _still_ wonder how everyone knew where Columbo was, to call him, at all times. Not like he had a beeper or a pager, but he *did* solve a murder with one, though!

[@makeluvnotwar4255]

@@landonletterman831 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 absolutely

[@pepino735]

I'm in the same wagon ,pal

[@gilamonster2020]

When I was a prosecutor, I had a case where a guy was sitting on a couch during a drug deal gone bad and he gets shot right through the center of the heart. He was able to stand up and run out of the living room and into the kitchen where he dropped dead.

[@roblyndon5267]

There's such great chemistry between Columbo & Sgt Wilson. Columbo uses deference as a psychological trick to ensnare suspects, and Sgt Wilson is always deferring to Columbo. It gets under Columbo's skin subtly, and works really well.

[@meatwad74]

Cops reaction is priceless when columbo says ‘I’ve had a haircut.’

[@bornyesterday21]

Columbo even told his dog .. if someone takes the coat, look the other way .. lol

[@blockmasterscott]

He wasn't happy about getting his coat back ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I laughed out loud really hard!

[@johncritch6812]

I knew it was the blonde guy with the slick hair he always does it.

[@jjr1728]

He's always up to no good

[@patrickjohnson5658]

I loved this episode about the magician who kills his boss and the part about his new raincoat he wanted to get rid of so badly he left it in his car with the window open and instructed his dog to look the other way if somebody tried to rob it.

[@asteverino8569]

Classic Columbo with a Sargent he was patient with. 😂

[@TubenIt83]

Peter Falk and Bob Dishy were so good together in this. Jack Cassidy was always a great villain on Columbo.

[@johnsrabe]

Thank you for naming Dishy! I saw him on Broadway in “Grown Ups” ages ago.

[@zovalentine7305]

Rest in powerful peace Peter Falk 🙏 16 September 1927 ~ 23 June 2011⚘

[@PonkingtonHeights]

God, everybody in this show was just so good at acting. You just don’t see the kind of quality we have in these older shows anymore today. The facial expressions, the voices and the movement, it was like watching someone ACTUALLY trying to solve a puzzle or riddle, not just somebody acting like they are

[@tnwhiskey68]

They really were! It is like they were all stage actors that took their parts so seriously! The way an actor may try to become their character for a big budget movie but they did it for a tv show. Every episode was like a new movie!

[@PonkingtonHeights]

@@tnwhiskey68 I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic in that first part, because the second part sounds more genuine

[@pendragonshall]

That was a VERY well written overall scene. Not just acted but the entire effect of feeling real.. Authentic

[@billiev.9719]

He looks soooo disappointed when Wilson handed him the raincoat lol

[@slayer8actual]

That coat did look a little snug on Columbo. I looked as if it was making it difficult to raise his arm whenever he wanted to rub his forehead as he thought things out. Also, while Columbo did take his coat with him when he left, he forgot his chicken dinner on the chair.

[@Leoncroi]

With the new coat, he's Frank Columbo, Homicide, LAPD. With the old coat, Lt. Columbo.

[@IAmJimRetzer]

With as much attention as they draw to it, you'd think somebody would have noticed that there's no actual mechanism on that door knob.

[@stoneyll]

Loved this show growing up in the 70's. Sad thing is, everyone that appeared on the series are passed away.

[@dalefc9331]

Bob Dishy, who played Sergeant Wilson, is still going strong........

[@stoneyll]

@@dalefc9331.. happy to hear that~!

[@AC3HT]

Columbo always used good, 'common sense' when analyzing a case. IMO, that's what really helped him obtain a valid conclusion to many of his questions. Columbo is one of my all-time, favorite shows on tv. 📺

[@BladeOfLight16]

He combined his common sense with detailed analysis. It's fine to dig into something and test your intuition, but don't ever let the abstract lead you into believing something you can clearly see is nonsense. If something seems nonsensical, investigate it until you uncover the missing piece that makes it sensible or until you find out that it is indeed nonsense.

[@lewisc215]

logic, not common sense.

[@Limrasson]

Yeah, but the logic that being shot in the front means you fall backwards is faulty and then it's ignored when he sets the other scenario. If he was shot in the front but being shot in the front means falling backwards, it means that the body has to be on it's back, no matter where the killer was coming from, because it doesn't matter.

[@goolgepl2112]

I think it's a discredit to Columbo to call it "common sense". It seems he actually uses elaborate setups and psychological warfare that culminates in the criminal slipping up, though he does use common sense to incriminate them through the slip-up, so you're not wrong either

[@WatchingTrainsGoBy-PassingTime]

I really liked the character of Wilson. I would not have minded him showing up a little more.

[@17NateJohnson]

I don’t think it would work as regular duo. But, you’re right, there’s a nice chemistry when he comes in now and then.

[@actioncom2748]

They should have had more Sgt. Wilson in other episodes. First time we saw him, he was by-the-book and a bit of a show-off. This time he has shed some of that is now a more seasoned Detective. It would have been interesting to see him mature more. Maybe even becoming a Columbo in his own right.

[@jjr1728]

True.

[@Likexner]

Nobody can become a Columbo. There is only one.

[@NiceTryLaoChe]

@@Likexner A mini-Columbo. A Columbino.

[@johng4093]

No, IMO he was there for comedic purposes, had zero self awareness or Columbo-like instincts based on understanding human psychology.

[@fasteddie9867]

I think the side story of Columbo's new coat was hilarious

[@ejay1118]

You can't get him a "new" coat! I was beginning to think the coat should get a screen credit as a supporting character!

[@RADIUMGLASS]

Sgt. Wilson was very detailed and thorough, reminds me of a guy who once worked at a company I also worked at. I mean he (the co-worker)created extra work but he was detailed. 🤣

[@karlheinzegger4534]

That's how important the coat was to the show. It felt uncomfortable until Columbo took off that new coat.

[@julianyc422]

"Would you like a piece of chicken?" What a nice man.

[@vladtepes97]

jerome could have opened the door and seen the murderer pointing a weapon at him, and the murderer could have ordered jerome to walk further into the room so he could close the door for privacy while shooting his victim.

[@markbrisec3972]

Oh the legendary episode with the new raincoat.... Brilliant..

[@ChrisMichaelsChicago]

Bob Dishy is a great actor. He's like nearly as prominent in this era as Don Calfa. Both excellent comic relief, but believable. (Between these two cats killed it in Barney Miller as well as several notable performances in Columbo)

[@donarthiazi2443]

HaHa at 0:49 Columbo's reaction! He wasn't at all happy to be working again with Detective Wilson!!

[@johng4093]

And Wilson never seems to realize it, part of what makes their interactions funny.

[@briankleinschmidt3664]

He already knows who did it, he just has to prove it - or elicit a confession. We already knew it was Santini. When they found out the lock had been picked, it was obvious who done it.

[@monkfan72]

Monk always reminded me of Columbo. His not being able to think with a new coat brought it back. 😅

[@misselanys1219]

This is not the first time Columbo's coat had an Emmy quality supporting role. Who remembers the episode with Joyce Van Patton (Negative Reaction) Oh that coat. That coat, that coat. Hahahahaha

[@johng4093]

Yes, the nun at the soup kitchen...it was so funny that even Falk lost his composure for a second but they left it in.

[@misselanys1219]

⁠@@johng4093 that was hilarious. Also the car was emmy worthy. Remember when he goes to the junkyard to investigate the murder and the guy says sorry sir the junkyard is close sed right now and points to the car. LOLOr the scene where he is in the car with Larry Storch at thr DMV testing site? OMG hilarious!

[@Voltaire7]

I love Columbo. I can watch his shows and never tire of Peter Falk’s acting. 👍

[@Lu666Ka600AA]

The one episode where the victim was more despicable than the culprit.

[@WintersWar]

columbo never says a bad word about anyone, when he hears it's wilson on the case, he just says "wilson?" which means he's not happy.

[@qwe1231]

Columbo almost makes me want to watch Peacock.

[@EmmettXIV]

4:30 Columbo and his coat is iconic. This coat however just doesn't quite do it.

[@christopherkraft1327]

I can't think either when the Lieutenant is wearing that new coat!!! 😳

[@Richard_Straker]

Beautiful coat but didn't coordinate with his suit.

[@cthulhluftagn3812]

3:38 The exact momwnt columbo realises this murder is more then it seems

[@chrysostom8987]

Columbo was the very best Police story I ever watched I learned a lot from it .

[@newyorknight]

Oh just one more thing. Gotta love Columbo🤓

[@buffstraw2969]

Columbo: "See, I don't understand how THIS happened." Simple. Brilliant.

[@Notturnoir]

As a kid, this was my favorite episode! What a great sidekick, from the Johnny Cash episode!

[@sahej6939]

Wilson is perfect as Columbo’s helper!

[@madspaniel4271]

A bit of trivia. Sgt John J. Wilson (Episode 'Now you see Him') .......also appeared in "The Greenhouse jungle" as Sgt Frederick Wilson.

[@carlosunknown9973]

This is such a detailed scene it's one of the most exciting scenes of the series

[@danorthsidemang3834]

I am a child of the 70s. I will always love the memories of growing up during that decade. But under no circumstances would I want to say that I am proud of an era where a hairstyle like Wilson's was considered acceptable in public.

[@Heart2HeartBooks]

Not to mention Platform shoes!

[@RayChiTown]

This is one of my favorite episodes, just because of the coat.

[@davsaltego]

Peter Falk also played comedic rolls brilliantly. He showed some of that talent in Columbo episodes; he let it leak through. He was brilliant. Literally - if you know of all of talents outside of acting.

[@RamonaHaygood]

Give him his coat back!! He can't think. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@preving]

Jack Cassidy was amazing

[@fastguned]

I wish they had made more episodes with Wilson - He was good for a few laughs'

[@bevliechty1161]

Love these old shows

[@skullduggery3377]

i love how wilson is so gung ho and really looks up to columbo...lol. he also played a very funny character in 'maude'. didn't care much for that show but this guy's character was great.

[@michaellupu2080]

What a great scene! Those sharp yells at the end crack me up so much

[@immrnoidall]

Some of the best shows out there.

[@WillOneZeroZeroTwoFour]

Sgt Wilson reminds me of Doctor Wilson, sidekick of Doctor House, another genius in his domain.

[@mkassis713]

My favorite Columbo episode

[@TheRealVolk]

Gotta love Wilson. 🐾

[@shanet5604]

Even though they got his first name wrong in the episode…

[@spacemissing]

I have wondered why anyone would wear a raincoat in Los Angeles. Maybe it was Columbo's equivalent of Linus Van Pelt's blanket.

[@TheStevenWhiting]

Sadly Jack Cassidy died shortly after on his sofa apparently. Falling asleep with a lit cigarette or cigar which set the sofa on fire.

[@smartbart80]

He's so tuned to spotting inconsistencies that he can't handle one in his personal life :) brilliant

[@speakfreeley4473]

This episode featured Colombo's pet dog. I don't think Colombo would have minded if his beloved hound pissed on his new coat, or more. Probably made Colombo more inclined to wear it.

[@simonjones7727]

Peter Falk could apparently be difficult with the studio. However, the end result is a TV show that has been enjoyed almost continually for 50 years and has been shown all over the world. It is wonderfully re-watchable, and I guess quite a large part of that is Falk. His performance is very detailed and interesting,

[@davidnicholson6680]

Jack Cassidy's pencil-thin, incredibly long cigarillo is so perfect for him and this character. Only in the 70s.

[@Aivottaja]

That's a pretty neat coat.

[@euclideszoto997]

A new coat, a piece of chicken? No old coat, no chili?

[@NothingMaster]

A piece of greasy chicken 🍗 in a brown paper bag for dinner ?! Absolutely hilarious! 😂😂😂 Mrs. Columbo must have loved the heck out of him. P.S. He really does look awfully awkward in that brain-draining new coat. Now we could be certain that the old coat was at least half the charm. 🧥

[@BladeOfLight16]

He looks quite nice. But he doesn't look like the Columbo we know and love.

[@Rhianalanthula]

I can't remember the whole episode, but from this clip, I assumed Columbo was buying some dinner when he got the call, so he brought it with him.

[@paulwalker1793]

Love columbo

[@4TheRecord]

He didn't forget the coat, he was trying to get rid of it ;)

[@Rich-jy3ps]

I liked the Wilson character. Nice guy, respectful and by the book. And learned on their last case together, to not jump to conclusions, lol

[@CamperIV]

I just watched the whole episode, this was actually a great one, loved this show. RIP Columbo

[@tommargarites2811]

Great stuff, loved this show for years.

[@edward1676]

Same here. Watching now...

[@Likexner]

I still do.

[@billythepigeon7345]

Best sub-plot ever.

[@truthtransistorradio6716]

This is one of the funniest things in this series!

[@johnfinnegan8474]

This was a classic episode of a classic series. Once Jerome informed Santini he knew and had documentary proof he was a former Nazi prison guard, and used it to blackmail him so he wouldn't have to pay him the extra money he was demanding for his magic shows, he knew his life was in danger, which is why he kept his office locked with a lock he thought was unable to be picked with a lockpick when he was in there counting his money. When Columbo examined the lock on the door and found evidence of tampering and lockpicking he knew his prime suspect was going to be an expert in picking locks.

[@mattw8332]

That wink that Columbo gives Santini when the lock on the pair of handcuffs is picked during the performance. 😁

[@gmseed]

I was never a fan of Falk in films, but as Columbo in the 1970s series, he was excellent. You know when someone fits the role perfectly, because you couldn't imagine anyone else doing it. No actor one in their right mind would attempt a new Columbo series. Falk is greatly missed.

[@anthonykobiec8569]

You missed a great one in the “In Laws”. Serpentine Shelly, Serpentine.

[@gmseed]

@@anthonykobiec8569 Hi - I'm a real Columbo fan and have the complete box sets, read Falk's autobio twice; which incidentally is very good and refreshing from the usual autobios. However, I stick by my comment that he was a TV actor and not a film actor. But each to their own.

[@memeishere1]

agreed it woukd have been so great to have more episodes with sgnt wilson and ......the way columbo says .....ive had a hair cut 😆😆😆😆

[@ReasonX3]

I think this is one of a very few moments when you don't ask yourself whether mrs. Columbo is real. I can imagine how many times she would argue with him becuase of his raincoat he always wears. Although, maybe this coat is from his mother or a friend...