The History and Influence of Columbo - The Quirky Detective Who Won Our Hearts

Just one more thing.
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[@JeghedderThomas]

Columbo is lovable because he is a warm, friendly and polite guy. He's also enormously intelligent, stubborn and with a strong sense of justice, furthermore he's smart enough to pretend not to be smart, he plays the fool effortlessly - even though it may cover some genuine quirky traits. He's always polite, he's rarely judgemental, which is odd for a man in his job. He treats even the murderes with kind respect and understanding. He is by far my favorite movie/TV sleuth. You presented him well.

[@tartfuel]

I agreed all the way up to the "non-judgemental" part. He's totally judging everyone connected to the murder. If he wasn't he wouldn't be playing dumb. He very quickly susses out who did it, and then uses the dumb act to lull the murderer into overconfidence - which invariably leads to the killer making a mistake. He is the consummate detective.

[@joshimations894]

He’s an American 2nd doctor from doctor who

[@daviniarobbins9298]

And a lot of murderers call him out on it and tell him to drop the act. Some only realise it too late.

[@joelmarksbury4376]

I would say that the writers, producers and Peter Faulk never wanted to reveal how "smart" Columbo really was. I think they wanted that part to be a mystery to the audience, maybe something open to interpretation. There are many scenes where Columbo irritates the murderer by bumbling and fumbling around, talking about things completely unrelated or pulling papers out of his coat like his phone bill. The thing is, we as the audience are never sure if this is Columbo putting on an act or if this really is how he always behaves. So, I wouldn't say Columbo is intelligent as much as he is dedicated and observant. (Spoiler here) In the episode with Nimoy, we see the murderer is very intelligent and almost always one step ahead of Columbo. It gets to the point where we see Columbo have a rare outburst of anger and contempt towards the murderer. During the entire episode, Columbo just can't find that proof he needs because Nimoy's character outsmarts him the whole way. Nevertheless, Columbo continues to do everything he can to find proof. He never gives up. He has to work harder than the murderers and its that dedication that may seem like intelligence, but maybe its just Columbo out working his opponent.

[@Kawamura2]

@@joelmarksbury4376 I have to disagree. Columbo IS intelligent, and while some of the bumbling is his personality, he exaggerates it to lull the suspects into a false sense of ease, which is usually their downfall. There is the occasional suspect that outsmarts him for a while, but usually not so much. The way you can tell is at the end, the bumbling idiot act drops, the dopey eyes turn razor sharp, and he snaps his trap around them. Heck, you can see a little of that razor sharpness in his eyes occasionally throughout. It is mostly an act, as I said, an exaggeration of his character's personality. You are supposed to know he is intelligent, and know he is playing the suspect for a fool, that is the whole point of his character, which is why he is one of my favorite detectives. Peter Faulk was genius in that role.

[@elizabethsullivan1894]

Ah, Columbo. In my family, if we came back into the room or called back to ask another question, Dad would always answer with "Yes, Columbo." It became such a habit that one night, a customer turned around and came in the hotel sliding door to ask a follow up question, and I automatically responded with, "Yes, Columbo?" Fortunately, they thought it was very funny!

[@stefanfilipovits21]

Lol. I'd think that was hilarious.

[@HenshinFanatic]

Concur, that's hilarious.

[@nanamiharuka3269]

My family also loves to adopt catch phrases from shows and movies, people don’t really get me until they meet my parents lol

[@cooltrainervaultboy-39]

I'm going to have to use that now.

[@daviniarobbins9298]

Or "You don't have to be Columbo to work that out."

[@schumerus6786]

I especially like when Colombo catches the murderer and the murderer congratulates him and asks if he wants to join for a drink or something. No needless running, no further protest, the murderer sees that it’s over

[@JoeCoolMaveric]

"No needless running, no further protest, the murderer sees that it’s over" Well, except for that British couple in season 2 where the husband had a mental breakdown and started quoting the play he was just in and the wife started pleading and bawling like a baby.

[@GuiltyGal]

WOAH. This is actually ducking underrated. I had low expectations bc of the views but ur rly proved me wrong

[@toelintetch635]

I came to Columbo pretty late only watching it for the first time two years ago but I absolutely fell in love with Columbo and now he's up there with my all time favourites like Poirot, Sherlock Holmes and Nero Wolfe

[@roilresj413]

"Being chased by Columbo is like being nibbled to death by a duck" HELP

[@Daemonworks]

... Yeah. That one got me. And it's so very apt.

[@user-zh4vo1kw1z]

I can understand why Pratchett.... Found inspiration in that sentence.

[@KougajiCalling]

I lost it at that one...

[@AuroDHikoshi]

Couldn't sum it any better than his own words... cause that's how it is.

[@drfrankensteinscreations]

🤣

[@stefanfilipovits21]

I know a guy who was a limo driver in the 80's and had Falk as a customer. One day they were in an accident and the limo had to be towed. Falk called for another limo and made sure the first limo driver came with him and was dropped off at home. From everything I've seen, heard, and read he sounds like a genuinely good guy. Also, and I know this is a weird flex but I saw Falk's grave and his headstone is genuinely charming and sweet.

[@lemonnomel9416]

Now I’m not saying you’re wrong or doubting you but how does a tombstone become sweet

[@stefanfilipovits21]

@@lemonnomel9416 because it’s a cute joke about him and his wife.

[@lemonnomel9416]

@@stefanfilipovits21 oh. Duh. That is rather cute

[@stefanfilipovits21]

@@lemonnomel9416 it was actually kind of weird. I feel like half the graves in that cemetery were celebrities with jokes on their headstones. It was like the haunted mansion tbh. Jack Lemmon, Jackie Collins, Falk, Hugh Hefner, Merv Griffin, and Billy Wilder all had jokey headstones.

[@MissCaraMint]

@@stefanfilipovits21 I mean I expected nothing less of Jack Lemmon at least.

[@joelikespotatoes8321]

My favorite part about Columbo is he acts dumber then he is to catch his suspect. I LOVE it when the villian falls not because they're weak but because of their ego.

[@notthechosenjuan2413]

Which is why I love Dr. Mayfield who was able to figure out that Columbo is clever and just laugh at his face finally breaking Columbo's act where the good detective for a very rare time was actually serious in front of his suspect.

[@0Fallacy]

Interesting lesson if we were to all drop our ego

[@RIO-..]

Love this Show!! Watching it right now, literally..!

[@teejaye6226]

Very informative, well done!....will have to check out your X-Files video

[@beamily1829]

With "How-Catch-Ems", I still get that sense of mystery but it's almost like the mystery is centered around trying to figure out the detective's thought process, rather than finding the murderer. Because in these stories, the detective basically knows who did it immediately, the detective and the audience still start each episode on the same page. The puzzle is just figuring out how to trap the killer. Instead of clues, you're looking for evidence. With Columbo, I really enjoyed trying to keep up with Columbo's mind; why he was asking each question and what information he got from the suspect (as it was usually left unspoken). And spotting the "smoking gun"/guilty knowledge that was gonna give the murderer away was often just as satisfying as any "who-done-it" epiphany.

[@rogermorris9696]

I have to say Reqiuiem For a Falling Star, where Columbo shows heart because the killer did not know she had done it due to dementia and had a short time to live, so let her live her final days in peace.

[@tonk82]

Fantastic episode.

[@40GamesAG]

Saw that episode a few weeks ago, absolutely broke my heart. Janet Leigh was fantastic in that episode too.

[@tonk82]

Just in case... wasn't the episode called "Forgotten Lady" with Janet Leigh? I think Requiem for a falling star was a different one.

[@shinyagumon7015]

Especially tragic when you think about what happened to Peter Falk.

[@kaylee4video]

Oh, yeah, that's an episode from season 5 called "Forgotten Lady" and it still breaks my heart every time. It's so tragic in every way. :(

[@drskelebone]

Will you be doing "let's watch this bonkers episode of Columbo" videos like the Murder She Wrote/Goosebumps/etc. series? I would totally be down for that, because although I've seen a few episodes, I don't know I could do the full watch-through myself. Thanks for making great videos! XD

[@somebodycooliguess1597]

I recommended the one with the undertaker a while back and it was hearted so... 😁 maybe

[@stefanfilipovits21]

I would LOVE that

[@SECONDQUEST]

Yeah please do!

[@FattyBrent]

A full watch through really is amazing though. My wife and I watched through the original run about 5 years ago. No regrets!

[@lazyhomebody1356]

I know them all by heart but I'm sure Roses would surprise me!

[@jonaspride827]

Watched this video - then hunted it down and watched the series, and I ate it up in about a week and change. LOVE the series

[@NoahSprague]

Im actually impressed how quickly i got into the show, most of the time tv shows are pretty mundane to me in the first few and normally i get bored and forget about them. But columbo is incredibly engaging that you just can't watch one episode

[@Dominic-Noble]

This is a wonderful tribute to the show and character :)

[@victoriashevlin8587]

Thanks for the community post, friend. For some reason yt refuses to send me any notifications for Roses...

[@DriscolDevil]

@@victoriashevlin8587 I agree, youtube has really gone down hill in that way. *walks away* Oh wait, there's just one thing, how did you find this video?

[@SkatKat]

Thank you, Dom, for leading us here! I'm so glad I stumbled upon Columbo last year, it's a great show, and this was indeed a lovely tribute to it.

[@terraspent]

there are numerous reasons that i adore peter faulke and his remarkable performance. a lot of happy memories, watching tv with my grandfolks at the weekend back in the eighties :)

[@terraspent]

when i stop to think about it there is always just one more thing :P

[@joeloffing2113]

I think you really nailed one of the key strengths of Columbo: being able to savor the Hero/Villain interplay. It's so much fun to watch and it really gives all the guest stars a lot of room to live in their characters and deliver strong performances. I'm a huge fan of the episodes with Patrick McGoohan, one of my favorite on-screen baddies, who clearly loved working on this show and kept coming back.

[@torridd]

Favorite episode is A Friend in Deed in which Columbo really sticks it to the Deputy Commissioner, his boss. Like you mentioned, it's very satisfying for Columbo to not only catch these well-to-dos but to see their faces when the jig is proverbially up.

[@Argyle117]

I genuinely loved Columbo, it’s a damn shame Peter endured dementia and even forgot Columbo close to his passing. If there’s one gripe I had with the show was the time when they had to reuse actors due to budget constraints. So you had one actor who plays like three different killers.

[@burnsmr6725]

My 3 favorite detective shows: 1. Columbo 2. Monk 3. Murder She Wrote

[@SirAsdf]

Shout out to that time they made a Mrs. Columbo spin off and they disowned it in the show by having Columbo say that "Someone was going around pretending to be his wife". Ouch

[@staceymeans134]

They could salvage it into canon by making her his sister-in-law.

[@jamiebraswell5520]

Too funny. Personally, I am not a big fan of Kate Mulgrew to start with. Something about her rubs me the wrong way.

[@MissCaraMint]

@@staceymeans134 I mean he is Italian in the show right. They have huge families so that could work. Maybe a cousin?

[@a.rosesrbleu9580]

She was not believable in the role, but in the episodes I saw, she was still married to Columbo and they had a daughter, but he was never in the show seemingly "on a case"...never mentioned divorce on the episodes I watched which were included on my Columbo dvd set...

[@alicepetyablackburn1498]

@@jamiebraswell5520 if I’m correct, she refused to let her daughter(s) see Peter Falk while he was dying from dementia. A law was passed in his name that involves visitation or custody for the infirm.

[@decnet100]

My grandma had a genius way of turning Columbo into a whodunnit - she'd just miss the first five minutes of each episode.

[@vercoda9997]

Bit hard to play, seeing as Columbo would always stalk The Murderer, talking to ancillary characters as well, of course, but it was Always the murderer that he talked to the most, while the episode would show the murderer trying to cover their tracks, glare at Columbo’s back, etc etc. how she missed all that........

[@mirabletest]

@@vercoda9997 have you tried being old?

[@3dmaster205]

@@mirabletest Not that old, clearly.

[@decnet100]

@@vercoda9997 I admit, she was usually done with the whodunnit part by the middle of the episode :) But I think it really made it more enjoyable for her, and she'd always watch that show that way! Admittedly, come to think of it - she very much disliked the sight of people getting "murdered"; maybe she just made do with skipping those "unwatchable" parts... Usually, when us grandkids were over, she asked us to watch the first five minutes while she was doing some chore in the next room, not spoiler her on the murderer, but get her up to speed on who the characters were.

[@KidRisky]

@@decnet100 And if not a whodunnit, she at least made it a howdunnit.

[@jonothanthrace1530]

One favorite recurring motif in Columbo is the use of technologies that were new and/or obscure at the time as part of the investigation or trap, such as answering machines, portable tape recorders, and fax machines.

[@mesmarriott127]

Columbo is a smashing detective series. Absolutely seminal. Peter Falk was brilliant.

[@garmadonthesensei59]

This is an amazing video essay! Thank you for your points on OCD, totally agree. My fav episode is “Forgotten Lady” starring Janet Leigh. The ending is heartbreaking 😢

[@johnbaustian5180]

Columbo describes himself in a later episode (not sure which one, sorry), saying that when he went through the police academy, he knew that he wasn't the smartest one of the bunch, but if he worked harder than everyone else, he would succeed.

[@pronkb000]

It's the episode with the murder at the club for geniuses.

[@shaggyaxe]

Whenever I watch that episode, I think it would be cool to have a prequel series. Where he's just starting out, and honing his skills.

[@B1_66ER]

It is The Bye-Bye Sky High I.Q. Murder Case. That is my favourite Columbo scene.

[@daviniarobbins9298]

The Bye Bye Sky High IQ Murder Case, season 6 episode 3 broadcasted in 1977 I think.

[@nancyking]

@@B1_66ER It's one of my favorite episodes.

[@BrisLS1]

Can you imagine having to actually sit down at a certain time on a Sunday night, and not get up for any reason, to get to see this? I bet so many people missed so many episodes. We are so fortunate to have it streamed on so many platforms. I think I have seen them all.

[@ArielCarmona]

Columbo is a masterpiece of Television. It is so hard to pick a favorite episode because they are all so high quality.

[@boshb2569]

Just one more thing... seriously Great video. Thanks!

[@kevinedie4119]

One of my Favourite Collumbos is the one where the story is set up like a murder mystery and the plot keeps going as proving Collumbo isn't a murder mystery story. The victim shows up and it was all a publicity stunt but wait... the real murder is committed and Columbo can't accuse him again, can he...?

[@Matrim42]

Columbo makes me genuinely happy. Thank you for doing this.

[@Pharaoh025]

I'm 35, meaning a was a kid when I watched Columbo, and kids my age wouldn't get why I liked it so much. I can't tell you how emotional I got at the idea that I wasn't alone... Thank you for this.

[@darbanville13]

I'm the same age and watched it with my mom. I picked up the autobiography awhile back if you haven't read it I'd highly recommend it.

[@YoshMaster]

Same here I’m 36. I have fond memories of watching it with my dad! In the last few years I’ve watched a lot of episodes with my younger gf who didn’t know about the show at all. I hope to watch them with my kids one day. This kind of show is still great even when it’s old as it doesn’t need extravagant effects and big budget for the story to be captivating!

[@solveigelisabethhenne1739]

I`m the same age as you, watched it when I was little. :)

[@victoriashevlin8587]

Im 35. When I was a child, we had 2 television stations. I agree up watching Columbo, Murder She Wrote, Dial M for Murder, Matlock, mash, a-team.

[@SharmClucas]

In my 40's. This and other murder mysteries were things our whole family enjoyed together, including my younger brothers. You're definitely not alone.

[@DreameGirl6000]

I ADORE Columbo as a character and a show, and it's one of my favorite shows to watch for comfort. I'm so glad you covered this!

[@toshibavoodoo]

Awesome show!!

[@halthammerzeit]

Spielberg said Colombo's script was the best he ever directed.

[@tcatlette4842]

Others may have mentioned it, but the original tagline for Monk was "The Defective Detective" until OCD sufferers and mental health advocates complained. Columbo's personal theme was "This Old Man." He hums, whistles, and sings it, and even tries to play it on the piano. Really enjoyed your video. Love me some Columbo!

[@GrizzyLatrizzy]

The Johnny Cash episode is one of my faves. Colombo at the end saying he wasn't afraid of him, because anybody who sings like that can't be all bad.

[@stellertonybeller1972]

the one with Donald Pleasance is good also with Columbo and him drinking wine at the end

[@oreox1000]

@@stellertonybeller1972 the guy that killed his brother and was being blackmailed by his assistant?

[@stellertonybeller1972]

@@oreox1000 Any Old Port in a Storm i think it was called

[@chrishulse3381]

I always found that interesting, since the Johnny Cash character might be the worst of all murderers in the show

[@sarahshroom]

one of my dad's fave moments too! it's a good one.

[@thefanofeverything5039]

My favorite episode was when Columbo tricked a cop that was trying to frame someone for murder because they already had a criminal record. Columbo tells him he’s headed towards the suspect’s apartment and the cop beats him there to stash stuff related to the murder. When Columbo shows up the cop pretends to find it saying, “see he must have done it we found it in his house” only for the criminal to tell him, “this isn’t my house!” I was laughing so hard at the fact the cop played himself because Columbo rented a fake apartment and gave the cop the wrong address just so he would be caught with evidence to the murder. Columbo is probably my favorite show from what I call “old timey”. I watch stuff like love boat, fantasy island, married with children, happy days, deputy dog, murder she wrote, in the heat of the night, and Alf. Columbo has been my favorite since I saw the first episode.

[@MissCaraMint]

Oh yeah. I remember that one. We got a double murder too.

[@mediumjohnsilver]

Absolutely. That episode, “A Friend In Need” is my favorite, too. Columbo had to play it really cagey because the murderer was his boss.

[@thefanofeverything5039]

@@mediumjohnsilver Thank you I had forgotten about that. A lot of reasons it's my favorite episode.

[@mamadouaziza2536]

I think that episode is from the last season of the original block of Columbo. If I remember correctly, the policeman had a wealthy wife, he murdered her by drowning her in the bath tub and staged a fake robbery of his house.. Another good episode is when a real estate developer buries a body in cement and starts to build a high rise on top of the body...

[@thefanofeverything5039]

@@mamadouaziza2536 yup. I’ve seen every episode and loved how none of the plots were really recycled. However, I like the original block a bit more because the later seasons were still cool but I feel like they kinda stretched how Columbo figured out the mystery. Also the original did a better job of taking you step by step through what tipped him off and they showed more so you could see the clues before Columbo did.

[@robertboden2744]

Colombo is onea my favorite detective shows

[@randomusernameCallin]

Columbo does have a good amount of plot structor to many of the bond movies.

[@SuperAntz85]

One thing I find so interesting and so few mention is with Columbo you see the evolution of police work and forensics. Fingerprints weren’t really a thing in the first few, computers, answering machines… all sorts of things introduced as the series progresses Also his love of magic, not sure if the character always had it or accumulated it but I still love him for it :)

[@marymoor935]

The other two best characters in Columbo were his car and his dog, I so wanted a Basset hound as a kid.

[@mesmarriott127]

Yes, me too!

[@arricammarques1955]

His wife never appeared on camera?

[@djquinn11]

@@arricammarques1955 : Never.

[@deeznoots6241]

@@arricammarques1955 never, thats the entire joke of his constant referral to his wife, she never appears on the screen even once despite clearly being important in Columbo’s life

[@Otokichi786]

"Columbo" made Peugeot cars cool. (He drove a 1959 Peugeot 403 Covertible.) kzbin.info/www/bejne/mn3ZpqCqgsaMm6c

[@LorenHelgeson]

What I love about the show is how very early on, you see something clicks and it's obvious Columbo knows exactly who the killer is, and the rest of the episode is both him trying to expose the criminal, usually through their own hubris, and the audience left to figure out "Well, we know who it is. But how does HE know?"

[@ELMERJFUDD1]

"BANACHEK" was also one of the sunday mystery movies. there were actually 4.

[@strain42]

I've been rewatching Columbo and wanted to come back to this episode. One of my favorite episodes is the one with Leonard Nimoy because it's one of the few instances where Columbo gets genuinely short-tempered with a killer, and it makes perfect sense because that's an episode where he's not just trying to solve a murder, but prevent another one.

[@metsiemetsie6262]

The one thing I always liked about Columbo is that, very often, he would learn about the killer's expertise and then use what he learned against the killer. For example, in one episode, he trapped Robert Culp, who had used subliminal cuts to get his victim to where he would kill him, by using his own subliminal cut.

[@PikachaoArt]

The Leonard nimoy episode is still my absolute favorite episode, seeing Colombo get mad for, like, the only time is so jarring and cool and how the bad guy gets caught right at the end is incredible

[@chrisdell5679]

It's on Sundance right now!!

[@TheNameisPlissken1981]

A Stitch in Crime. He loses his temper confronting Robert Conrad, too, in Exercise in Fatality! You are right, it's awesome!

[@stevesharp401]

This is interesting.....my favourite also.....did these two actors have a dislike for each other?.....

[@Tedfufu]

@@stevesharp401 In a Stitch in Crime? Columbo got angry because Nimoy's character laughed at him and Columbo knew he was running out of time to stop a murder from happening. It's one thing for a person to try to obfuscate a murder but it's another to rub it in that he's going to kill someone.

[@milocatz451]

This episode was the first time I'd ever seen Nimoy without all the Vulcan getup :) It was kind of a shock for twelve year old me lmao

[@haphazardlark1502]

I never in my life had a shred of interest or curiosity for columbo, I just knew it existed. Now I’m rearranging my day so I can watch some of it immediately. Thanks as always for what you do here. Your enthusiasm is infectious and the love for the subjects always shines through.

[@kingbeauregard]

I'm glad you mentioned the snobbiness of the murderers Columbo brings down. At least in the original run, the murderers all have two central traits. One is that they are all professionals of some kind that should give them an edge over any but the most skillful detectives: they're chessmasters, psychologists, stage magicians, computer techs, military tacticians, etc. And the other thing is the snobbiness, or perhaps more precisely, they feel they are above the law for whatever reason. So the fact that a very common, humble detective shows them that they are neither too smart nor too important to avoid a reckoning is always satisfying. And the fact that Columbo pursues them without ego is part of the appeal too. They aren't matching wits with a man; they're matching wits with a servant of justice. They can't escape through bullying, flattery, or sympathetic behavior, because Columbo isn't just a man; he is the eyes and hands of justice.

[@toshibavoodoo]

Love Columbo. THANK YOU

[@raynightshade8317]

YES! ive been hoping you would do a Columbo episode for quite a while. My Dad always jokes that Columbo annoys the criminal into admitting it is them

[@richmcgee434]

There was at least one 1970s era TV guide review of the show that expressed the exact same opinion. Not everyone found Falk's character portrayal charming even back then.

[@lazyhomebody1356]

"Alright I'll go to jail! Just please please get this man away from me!"

[@karlkarlos3545]

"annoys the criminal into admitting it is them" Ah yes, the famous scene in A few good Men.

[@drudle]

"Being chased by Columbo is like being nibbled to death by a duck." Nibbled to Death By Ducks is one of my favorite mysteries I read back in middle school!

[@lazyhomebody1356]

I loved it too

[@BogeyTheBear]

5:50 Poirot was described in-canon as a man who was fastidious when it comes to cleanliness and symmetry. Bear in mind that the breakthrough presented in _Mysterious Affair at Styles_ was a direct result of Poirot's obsessive desire to straighten up objects in a room-- and this was no late-career tweak: _Styles_ was Agatha Christie's first book, after all.

[@fobwatchful]

I also love Columbo, but I love Monk as well.

[@kingbeauregard]

About Monk: knowing his backstory, I get why he's so troubled; if he didn't have so many things happen to him, he probably would have turned out as Columbo (brilliant detective, loving wife, no ambitions other than to do what is right). Monk's father left without any warning when Monk was just a boy; his mother and brother both fell completely apart, and Monk had to keep them going, on top of keeping himself going, on top of dealing with being an unusual (and therefore bullied) young kid. With a life so out of control, I can see him taking solace in being able to still control the small things. And he actually got better when he met Trudy and built a life with her, but when she was killed - and killed just for knowing him (at least that's what he assumed for a long time) - that just destroyed whatever sense there was in his world.

[@FettManTAG]

A Whodunnit is a puzzle, while a Howcatchem is a game of chess. Both can be equally fascinating to watch.

[@mirjanbouma]

Excellent way of saying it!

[@darlagoddesshate]

Fantastic description! Different types fo tension there!

[@mazengwe28]

Cat & mouse is a better description. But to me, showing a killer at the beginning ruins the repeat factor.

[@FettManTAG]

@@mazengwe28 I see the set up as two people, in this case Columbo and the murderer, each making calculated moves trying to get the upper hand against the other. It's a mind game where a mistake or wrong move on either side could be devastating. I see it this way because they are both essentially on equal footing at the beginning and it is only through their manipulation of each other that one is able to come out on top.While I admit cat & mouse is a fitting description, I am curious what makes it better?

[@mazengwe28]

@@FettManTAG Well I guess I never looked at it that way because the bad guy already played his part. He is just answering enough questions to not give himself away. Cat & mouse is more the the cat is after theouse hutbjas to go through a maze or obstacles to catch the mouse. Now if the murderer was a serial killer, then maybe I would think of it more as a chess match. But I do see your point of view though, especially the way you explained it.

[@seanabbins5481]

There's something very comforting about watching Columbo. Even though it's predictable and every episode has a similar plot, it is fun and relaxing.

[@wire_hall_medic8470]

I think it's because you're on the same side. In whodunnits, you're trying to figure out who . . . done it. You want the same thing as the detective, but you're not a team or anything. But in Columbo, you and Columbo are the only two people in the world who know who the murderer is. Even if other people are on his side, you are the only two that know for a fact who did it.

[@oslafoirausuebutuoy5457]

It is very comforting, yes. I rewatch the show every few years for that reason. I think it's a mix of things. The character feels very human, very decent, very warm, down to earth and humble (in sharp contrast to most of the murderers of the show), but he is at the same time always extremely calm and confident that sooner or later he will catch the murderer. He is never scared and he is never thrown off. The few times he seems nervous you know it is an act and he has something up his sleeve. It is basically watching a likeable person, the type of person you would feel comfortable and safe around, that is so good at what he does that you don't need to worry about whether or not he will succeed. Even when the murderers seem truly evil you can relax every time Columbo is in the scene. You know he will win, no matter how smart or ruthless the murderers are. And even though the plots are somewhat similar and the structure is always the same, you never know what specific trick he is going to use or what details he is going to pick up on. So it is a familiar and comforting structure with enough variation to make every new episode interesting. And the time period, music and settings gives it a certain nostalgic feeling that is very cozy. Also the fact that there is practically no violence in the show. There is at least one murder in every episode of course, but besides that it's just Columbo talking to people. He doesn't carry a gun and he never fights anyone.

[@thedayhopeworldbroketheint7669]

I think the slow tempo of the show and lack of crazy plot twists and explosive discoveries is what makes this show so relaxing to watch ;)

[@TraineeHero]

There was a cool Columbo episode that managed to be a whodunnit and a howcatchem, starring Martin Landau. It starts out normally for a Columbo, you're shown the murder, and then it's revealed that the killer is a twin and you don't know which one actually did the deed. There's also a great recurring gag with a tv and some parody soap operas.

[@shelby8364]

love that one so much

[@TheNameisPlissken1981]

Double Shock! It was written by the great Stephen Bochco (LA Law, Hill St. Blues, NYPD Blue).

[@davidpumpkinsjr.5108]

Monk creator Andy Breckman cited Columbo as a direct inspiration for Monk, so much so that he wanted to cast Peter Falk as Monk's father. The only reason they didn't get Falk was he was too expensive.

[@larry2447]

"Any Old Port in a Storm." Absolute empathy for Donald Pleasence's Adrian Carsini.

[@jesssoucy4976]

Given all of Jessica Fletcher's relatives I'm surprised they never introduced "cousin Columbo" even as a throw away line

[@AHBelt]

Reading this reminded me, I was watching one of the Hallmark mystery movies and the main character ( a caterer or a matchmaker or something) had the last name Dove, and then later they said she changed it from the Italian 'Columbo", and I noticed she said "...just one more thing..." a lot.

[@gameb9oy]

I would totally accept it as canon

[@tonk82]

The best detective on TV, imho. The series had some of the best written and acted episodes on TV. Some of my top episodes: -The one with Leonard Nimoy as a surgeon. One of those times where the villain was 100% awful and Columbo snapped at him. -Two of the Jack Cassidy's episodes: the first one (murder by the book), and the one where he is a magician. -The Donald Pleasance one... absolute class. -Etude in Black, Forgotten Lady and Double Exposure, too.

[@hingeslevers]

Yes yes yes! 100% agree.

[@SullyWoodley]

all the jack cassidy episodes are fantastic, he always played a great villain. i also love the episode with columbo visiting the UK (i forget the title, i think it was season 2)

[@tonk82]

@@SullyWoodley That episode was fun, watching Columbo around london. But i must admit, that i didn't care too much for the plot and the ending was a bit weak.

[@hds66nl29]

My favorite episode is "any old port in a storm". The dynamic between Donald Pleasence and Peter Falk is just great.

[@LeoandLamb]

PushingUpRoses has done a video on Columbo? My prayers have been answered!!!!🤩

[@chance3771]

One of the best things about Columbo and its howcatchem style of writing is that it makes the stories very re-watchable and spoiler-proof.

[@Babbleplay]

Being kinda shabby/slobbish was Columbo's vice.

[@Hussam_B]

I never realized that Columbo had Father Brown origins, but I can totally see it.

[@teacherbecca526]

One of the most memorable episodes for me was the one with Janet Leigh when Columbo didn’t actually get the killer. It was pretty heartbreaking but good

[@OtterlyInsane]

I love Columbo. As a side note, doesn’t he mention someone pretending to be his wife solving murders in one of the episodes?

[@richmcgee434]

Yeah, it's in one of the late-80s revival episodes. They also made it very clear there's been no divorce and the two were happily married. Total erasure of the "Mrs. Columbo" debacle.

[@DasKame]

Untill the "Rest in peace Misses Columbo" Episode, i totally thought he invented his wife to get the Murder to talk

[@verdatum]

Right. I spent awhile thinking she was supposed to be fake. Of course then we get Kate Mulgrew in the Mrs. Columbo spinoff which got rebranded as 'Kate Loves a Mystery' It never worked as well, even if Kate was a great actress.

[@FattyBrent]

@@DasKame I was listening to an interview with Falk and he was asked if the character invented his wife. He said that he always believed Columbo's wife was real but that he wasn't sure how many relatives he actually had being that there was always a neice or cousin that just hapened to have some experience relevant to the case.

[@elizabethsullivan1894]

@@richmcgee434 Do you know what episode? My dad and I have been debating it for weeks.

[@jacobinman7054]

Watched this a couple weeks ago, and now I watch Columbo. Well played.

[@davesteller6301]

One other way Columbo and Sherlock Holmes are opposites, especially the BBC (Benedict Cumberbatch) version, is Sherlock is very arrogant and proud and loves to Brag about how smart he is. Whereas Columbo wants you to think he's a complete idiot. That's how he gets you in his trap.

[@TommyCrosby]

Columbo was a masterpiece of character and would never have been so great without the great Peter Falk. The best part is that despite the long time the show ran, the character always stayed perfectly the same: same quirks, same coat, same car and even the same wife to speak about. It's unusual to see a character that doesn't evolve in some way and yet be a good thing.

[@misfire33]

Well, he did get a bit more wacky and exaggerated past, like, season four. Less subtle about the confused detective charade, and weirder in his interactions with witnesses and the like.

[@alyzu4755]

I've been listening to the audiobook of "As You Wish", which is about the making of "The Princess Bride". Fred Savage talks about how lovely Peter Falk was, how they would stay put between filming and just chat. Fed Savage said he forgot when the cameras were rolling, and that it just felt like a conversation with his grandpa. 🥰

[@SaviorGabriel]

Fred Savage was truly blessed.

[@HoneyballLP]

Aww I had such a crush on him.

[@DasKame]

how dosen't? 😏

[@robertstott8243]

So it wasn’t just me?!

[@DreameGirl6000]

Oh my god, same!

[@johntomkinson2959]

You, both of my sisters, and apparently Fiona Apple lol

[@matthewkoch6937]

So apparently did Kitty Forman. "You just want to give him a bath!"

[@BrettWhitmarsh]

Would love your take on Matlock

[@edwardallan197]

Great video! Thanks for the deep context timeline for howcatchems! A well told story, credit where due, and homage to Falk.

[@chocobubblegumgirfan]

The episode “Any Old Port in a Storm” is one of my absolute favorites. Donald Pleasance has just the right amount of unhinged for my taste. Also I truly appreciate all of your mystery related content, as it reminds me of evenings spent watching various series with my mom. I look forward to what you cover next. Keep up the good work.

[@philsurtees]

Totally! Who can forget him in the restaurant thundering *_"AN EXCITING MEAL HAS BEEN RUINED BY THIS LIQUID FILTH!”_* He was a bit unhinged, you're right. I liked the way the assistant basically used the situation to blackmail him into a relationship. She'd obviously fancied him for a while. It was completely unnecessary to the plot, but to me those type of things give a story that little something extra...

[@bobb4you]

This was also Peter Falk's favourite episode. He very much liked Donald Pleasance, and I think it shows in the performance.

[@missalycious]

@@philsurtees To this day, I will not leave wine in the car, no matter the weather... I don't want to end up with LIQUID FILTH!

[@ZekeAxel]

I am still waiting on that remake with Mark Ruffalo.

[@lazyhomebody1356]

That would be excellent

[@zachreddy]

Oh dang Ruffalo would be perfect

[@neverdoubt11]

That's a really nice casting idea

[@12jswilson]

No...

[@KathrynHenny]

I have literally never thought about watching this show before this video. And now I simply must.

[@KathrynHenny]

Season 2 Episode 1 Etude in Black

[@JonathonSwinney2814]

Wait..... didn't Peter Falk also play Grandpa in The Princess Bride??

[@jesternario]

The episode where he catches his own commissioner comes to mind as memorable.

[@BobbyWanKenobi]

My favourite has to be the one with Johnny Cash, he really nailed the role, and the ending was even a bit sad.

[@garystewart2355]

If Columbo caught me I wouldn't even be that mad. He's just so damned charming.

[@glittery_cucumber]

To chime in on the book recommendation: Peter Falk's biography "Just one more thing" which talks a lot about his experiences surrounding Columbo. It appears the lines between actor and character were very blurred!

[@incredibleflameboy]

The sad part is that I read that in his older years he had dementia and didn't believe that it was him playing the character. I love Colombo and was sad to hear that Falk lost his memory of it

[@MissCaraMint]

I think he put a lot of himself in Columbo. He would have to have done to have that kind of enthusiasm for him after so many years.

[@richdorak1547]

Well done. Brilliant analysis. Entertaining, too. Thx.

[@preciousgem9127]

The fact that Columbo and Murder she wrote never had a crossover is a crime against humanity.

[@kimnoulton9114]

My absolute favourite scene in Columbo (can't remember the episode name) is when he is talking to this artsy woman about art, and how good his wife is at painting. He then reveals his wife actually does paint by numbers. I was on the floor laughing! The ridiculousness of it and how you know he knows he is taking the piss out of these artsy people, gets me every time.

[@_Moe]

When he mistakes the air ventilation for a piece of artwork I scream laughed!

[@WorldOfTess2024]

Every episode you saw Columbo prove himself the better of all the bad guys, but he did it with such self-effacing gentle humor. Love that show!

[@RevolverLink]

Yeah, one of the simpler aspects of Columbo that I've always taken pleasure in is the working class hero (Columbo) vs. arrogant rich jerk (most of the murderers) dynamic. Makes it feel just that much more satisfying to see Columbo pull one over on the killers that think they have him beat.

[@lazyhomebody1356]

They are suave while he has a childlike honesty

[@papusman]

Yes! In a lot of murder mysteries, they try to make the murderer sort of sympathetic. I love that even if Columbo has some empathy for these killers, we as viewers can delight in these wealthy assholes getting their comeuppance.

[@jamiesmusic]

It's a kind of social satire on the poor vs the rich

[@MissCaraMint]

Especially when they are so full of themselves, and superior, and sure that Colombo can't possibly catch THEM. Mwahahaha.

[@HighPriestFuneral]

@@papusman Though there are the rare cases where we are given enough about them to sympathize with their plight and why they felt they needed to act. I recently saw By Dawn's Early Light, the murderer in that episode comes off as honorable, respectable, legitimately caring for his charges, and terrified of a future without his school. It's reprehensible what he did, but his reasons are so well laid out. Unlike most of the murderers he doesn't try to mislead Columbo, he obviously doesn't help him, but he is always incredibly cordial and stoic. In the end its his innately honest nature that gives him out. I've seen nearly four seasons of the show by now, but that one really stayed with me, despite all of the other brilliant characters thus far.

[@cathybrown8334]

I retired and as my Good By. I bought myself the Colombo series.

[@terobb0]

This is one of my favorite series, thank you for this video. Some of my favorite episodes: Any Old Port in a Storm; By Dawn’s Early Light; A Case of Immunity; A Matter of Honor; Now You See Him; The Bye-Bye Sky High I.Q. Murder Case; Try and Catch Me; How to Dial a Murder. I hope you will cover this series as you have Murder She Wrote.

[@doncarlodivargas5497]

What make Colombo special is the whole package, the realism is probably at zero, but the charm is on 11, excellent actors, excellent camera work, excellent music, how the typical 70'ties atmosphere is so great, and also the lower speed with more time to elaborate on the plot and the characters makes the Colombo a gem

[@laladoopsy]

The episode with Johnny Cash being the killer was fricking excellent and he was so damn good.

[@aditierneu9651]

Swan Song

[@w00dyblack]

Yes ! and caught him because he had his guitar flown on a seperate flight - when normally he never lets the guitar leave his side

[@pirbird14]

I heard he shot a man in Reno just to watch him die. Columbo caught up with him though?

[@MissCaraMint]

@@w00dyblack I would have too that's the thing. It's something any musician would do. Totally a giveaway.

[@captainufo4587]

I feel that there are a couple of episodes that warrant a "that time Columbo went off the rails" review. Like "Mind Over Mayhem" that unironically features a robot build and programmed by an 8 years old kid.

[@lazyhomebody1356]

I liked it! Columbo is SOoooooo much smarter than the average bear, they were having him meet another genius

[@brendayawn6463]

The one where he goes to London, "Dagger of the Mind," is off the rails too.

[@mazengwe28]

Oh yeah, when Columbo doesn't like the victim. Those are always good. Like the arrogant body builder. Columbo was nice for a while, then he got fed up with him.

[@tripleb221]

The most off the rails one is based on an 87th precinct novel by Ed McBain where Columbo solves the mystery of his nephew’s kidnapped bride from their wedding reception. It’s a terrible Columbo movie but a pretty good Ed McBain.

[@MissCaraMint]

Oh yeah. That was fun.

[@stickperson286]

Somebody that isn't me, draw Columbo catching a pokémon

[@suzannepottsshorts]

"Forgotten Lady" had the most heartbreaking yet heartwarming ending ever.

[@Tigerfire75]

Columbo's wife is a relation of Jessica Fletcher. Maybe it isn't cannon but with as many relatives as she has it could be true.

[@sutarikun]

Now that Peter Falk is in the mix on your videos... Have you ever watched the multi detective spoof Murder By Death? I feel like it might be on the silly side for you (I know that's saying a lot, but it goes a little crazy at times) but I think you would probably get a good few laughs from it.

[@kerriethompson2073]

I just said that in my comment! Such an underrated movie!

[@richmcgee434]

She loved Clue. She'll love Murder By Death if she somehow hasn't seen it already - which seems really unlikely.

[@montyr2083]

"Just One More Thing" is such a lovely book. It's like having a chat with Peter Falk, and who doesn't want that? (Other than wealthy murderers)

[@darganx]

You're right.. I've read it and it's like he's reading you a story, like in The Princess Bride 😁 he should have done an audiobook!

[@menkomonty]

I loved Columbo as a kid. Have you ever seen Jonathon Creek? It's a British mystery show where a prop maker for a magic show is brought in to solve mysteries that nobody can solve. It's a great show as the focus isn't on who the suspect is or their motivation but how they pulled off impossible acts like a body going missing in a locked room, how a dead body appears out of nowhere or how someone can be in two places at once along with other fanciful and mystical mysteries.

[@TheMrlittletooth]

If she divorces Columbo. How in the world would she be Mrs. Columbo?

[@pronstorestiffi]

I still have nightmares about that one time Columbo went Hulk mode and sent Spock flying straight to a place where no one had boldly gone before.