The WORST Episode of Columbo Review

[@TheWorldofFilara]

My jaw dropped when I saw the thumbnail. THERE'S NO BAD COLUMBO EPISODES! 😤

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

I'm so sorry, but there is one bad episode.

[@thiagof414]

Ok, two minutes in. There is a Muppets thing going on, I'm loving it!

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

Welcome welcome!

[@dsriggs]

This can't be the worst Columbo episode, it's not Murder in Malibu. Columbo did NOT need to say "panties" that many times...

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

My partner mentioned Columbo likes the nightlife and maybe I'll do a follow up to this on the 'lesser Columbo episodes' but I still think this one is the worst. It's so boring and repetitive.

[@seanellio]

Based on a novel called "So Long as You Both Shall Live" by Ed McBain.

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

Yea, I meant to talk more about that. He bought the rights to a bunch of McBain's stories all of which would make bad episodes of Columbo.

[@wendyheatherwood]

Was he just a fan of the novel, wanted to adapt it and couldn't get it done without sticking Columbo in it? That wouldn't excuse it, but might go some way to explaining it.

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

@@wendyheatherwood He bought the rights to a lot of McBain's books and to his credit, this episode actually did great ratings and it might be why we got every episode after it. So even the bad episode is still worth being made to make the subsequent episodes.

[@thiagof414]

I don't know, mate. I think Columbo is killing it on the dancefloor. 🤔

[@thiagof414]

Anyway, loved your take. Thank you!

[@billmozart7288]

The vhs tracking in this is hilarious

[@wendyheatherwood]

So instead of opening with the murder, it opens with the main character as a guest at a social function where a crime happens and one of their many relatives is somehow involved and the main character goes on to take charge of the investigation despite it not being their job, but this time the main character's Columbo? Has someone been feeding midafternoon detective show reruns into a blender? Did anyone inexplicably ask Columbo to sign a book?

[@iallan]

I think murder in malibu is a massive trainwreck. A very hastily made mess.

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

I might have to take a relook myself, you are the second person to mention it.

[@dizzyspinner648]

There were good episodes of "Criminal Minds?"

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

Mandy is good

[@lamkin9188]

When I saw the title I instantly knew this would be the episode you'd be talking about 😂

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

I remember when I first watched this, after loving all the other episodes before it. I really didn't know if I was alone thinking this or not but it turns out, it's just a bad episode haha

[@thiagof414]

Wait, is that Dale Cooper in the shower? 😮

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

Naw he's a much, much worse actor.

[@iallan]

The Ed McBain episodes are very controversial. They are good suspense stories and undercover is funny, but columbo is out of character in this and the other mcbain episodes

[@AithlynC]

You can break with or subvert an established beloved formula or whatever. But, if you do, it better be worth it. I remember watching this when I was probably too young to watch it (but still enjoyed watching normal Columbo) and ending up less than satisfied.

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

I totally agree! It's why this episode is kinda tragic, its boring. I think Columbo can be more, but it's REALLY hard to beat an interesting formula with a rote one.

[@samroe4294]

Hey man, great video! I see a lot of talent on your channel. I am a professional news editor, and I really like what you've done here. My only note (not that you asked for it) is that you may benefit from trimming things down a little bit. Keep up the good work!

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

It's actually cut down a lot, I wanted to really show off how boring this episode is.

[@IFStravinsky]

Happy Birthday, Wanda June.

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

...who the hell is Wanda June?...ehehe...I'll admit, I've only seen the scenes I've used so far, I should watch the whole thing one day.

[@IFStravinsky]

@@MalkKohnTehnt I've never seen the movie, but I have seen the play on stage.

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

That girl in those clips delivers her lines is such a perfect and indescribable way. I find myself saying 'Nobodies mad' just like her as a bit.

[@JosephDowning-s5h]

Terrible. Boring, Terrible Non Columbo episode...Such a drag!

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

It's really bad, it was an effort rewatching it and editing it for this...

[@thiagof414]

I just want to say I'm here for one minute now and I'm loving it!

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

Admittedly, this a strong opening minute from me.

[@thiagof414]

I don't know, mate. I'm seven minutes in I think it's great the lady was skateboarding. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

She was having fun at the time.

[@bazzy75]

I also hate this episode for the reasons you've hilariously pinpointed. This whole episode was a terrible idea. It's like, what if Columbo wasn't Columbo for an episode? Thanks for mentioning all the problematic parts, especially the transphobia.

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

Thank you! I'm not the first to hate this episode but I found a complete lack of it on youtube before sitting down to rewatch and riff it. I was a late comer to Columbo, I watched it in my late 30s so I don't have nostalgia, I think it's just a great show and nearly always cleverly written...and you know Steven Spielberg directed a bunch of episodes so. Really great stuff. Yea the friggin 90s were always making 'psychos' cross dress or trans adjacent and looking at it from now, backwards, it's really funny that it would be scary for a man to menacingly put on lipstick and leave it on...and then he wears a tux? I wanna say that whole bit was a by product of Silence of the Lambs (and Psycho of course) doing gang busters and writers not knowing how to deal...so many bad writers dunno how to deal.

[@bazzy75]

@@MalkKohnTehnt I watched the old ones and then the new ones growing up in the 80s so definitely nostalgic for me. But that doesn't change the fact this episode is a crime. Yes you're right about the transphobia, I learned it's called queer coding when they try to make the evil characters have traits of LGBTQ+ people (usually without saying it outright). Anyway, you're hilarious, keep the good work on the channel.

[@dorianleakey]

You are clearly reversing what you are supposed to be taking from what's on the screen, reversing it.

[@MalkKohnTehnt]

I dunno what this means, thanks for the engagement tho!