Columbo

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Columbo ranks 798 out of the 18,468 shows on TV.com.

The 601 users who count themselves as Columbo fans have written a total of 27 reviews.

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Many criminals made the mistake of underestimating Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide investigator with a crumpled trench-coat and a beat-up car, who certainly acted as an incompetent bumbler.

But he was so polite to every suspect, and he talked so much about his wife (who we never got to see on...  more

Many criminals made the mistake of underestimating Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide investigator with a crumpled trench-coat and a beat-up car, who certainly acted as an incompetent bumbler.

But he was so polite to every suspect, and he talked so much about his wife (who we never got to see on any episode, but who many believe later had her own show, starring Kate Mulgrew, later of Star Trek: Voyager fame) that he lulled even the shrewdest murderer into a false sense of security.

And although the audience had witnessed the murder in the beginning of each episode, it was still a surprise to see what mistakes the killers had made during the seemingly perfect murder.

Peter Falk carried the old trench-coat for 7 seasons of 90 and 120 minute movies on NBC, before the series ended. But over a decade later, Falk agreed to revive the character on ABC for an additional 2 seasons with a subsequent string of TV-movies with the loveable detective once again using his calling-card false good-byes: "Oh, there´s just one more thing..."

(A note on the running time of the episode: During the first 7 seasons, 18 episodes were 120 minutes long, while the other 27 episodes were 90 minutes long. The episodes after that were all 120 minutes long. In the episode guide, I have only marked out the 90 minute-episodes.) less

• Which Episode Is This I Wonder...?

  Hi There, I Was Wondering If Anyone Could Tell Me The Name Of The Episode Where, A Very Well- Known Man Has Apparently Fallen ...more

  Hi There, I Was Wondering If Anyone Could Tell Me The Name Of The Episode Where, A Very Well- Known Man Has Apparently Fallen Down The Stairs And Left The First Addition Of "Alice In Wonderland" On It's Spine. His Reading Glasses Were Supposedly In His Breast Pocket - However, They Were Not Cracked Or Broken At The Time Of The Murder! So, Does Anyone Have A Clue Which Episode This Is And Which Series It Is From? If So Could You Please Reply ASAP!! Thanks! :) less

  TorszGr8 Last online Nov 1, 2009
  2 comments, last one 10 days ago + Add Comment

• How's about a seaon by season episode guide?

  I'm planning on buying a Columbo DVD. Trying to decide which one. A season by season episode guide would help.

  I'm planning on buying a Columbo DVD. Trying to decide which one. A season by season episode guide would help.less

  SharanMcQuack Last online Sep 16, 2009
  2 comments, last one Sep 16, 2009 + Add Comment

• Favorite episode

  What is everyone's favorite episode of all? Or which one sticks out in your mind the most? My favorite is the one with Johnny...more

  What is everyone's favorite episode of all? Or which one sticks out in your mind the most? My favorite is the one with Johnny Cash. It is the only time I can remember that I was sorry Columbo solved the case. I think he was sorry too. Cash was probably the least scary or villainous of the murderers, but I liked it. My second favorite is the woman who intends to kill Columbo's wife in revenge for sending her husband to jail. I loved seeing him eating that jam. I was sure he knew. Doesn't he always? And at the end he calls his wife and is talking to her. He had that exact note in his voice that I've heard from real-life partners who are still in love with each other. Boy can that man act. I don't believe that anyone could take his place.less

  rerich Last online 3 hrs, 34 mins ago
  19 comments, last one Aug 2, 2009 + Add Comment

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  10 Perfect

  They don't make them like this anymore. hide show

  Who would have ever thought from his first appearance that in the era of technicolor and advanced television graphics and special effects the show from the 70's that has lived the longest, and stood the test of time would have been the one about a cigar smoking, worn out rain coat wearing, 1959 Peugot driving police lieutenant named Columbo. These mysteries which originally appeared as part of the ABC Sunday Night Mysteries, with Macmillan and Wife, McCloud and Banacek featured Peter Falk as the bumbling homicide investigator. Atleast he always appeared bumbling and disheveled. Actually he made a career out of luring the bad guy into a false sense of security before lowering the boom on him or her. He would leave the room, always to return with a quick; "one more thing", causing our villain to squirm. Yes this series of mysteries doesnt feature high fashion, or race cars. No special studio effects or nude scenes. But for must watch mysteries that remind you of a cat playing with the mouse, I personally reccommend Columbo to all! They most certainly do not make them like this anymore.

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  McBurgermeister Added Jan 20, 2009 All my reviews
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  10 Perfect

  This is THE Police-Drama. hide show

  I used to watch Colombo when I was kid with my grandmother, and always loved him since then. He's exceptionally smart and wise but pretends to be a distracted, silly-chatter, humble cop ending up being underestimated, a mistake that usually sends his opponents straight to jail. The guy has style, really. Also, I like the constant references to his misterious wife and his first name (both of which never revealed to the public), not to mention his sergeant (Wilson) which always THINKS he can solve the cases in the easiest way except being contradicted at the end by the wisest Lieutenent.

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  Mafia1976 Added Sep 22, 2008 All my reviews
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  10 Perfect

  When I read "The Day Of The Jackal" guess who I recognized? Columbo! hide show

  Yep, it's true. The personality of the bumbling, fumbling detective is right there in that book, written before the tv series. The man even rambles about his wife. He acts like an incompetent boob, but underneath it all, he comes up with ingenius conclusions and runs the show. And that's where they got Columbo.
  
  Great episodes, with perfect casting of Peter Falk in the lead, and a great technique that works over and over again: letting the viewer witness the murder before hand and watching the detective wend his way into solving the case. That's so backwards, that's so--Jeopardy!
  
  One of my all time favorites.

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  cybernaut_ev Added Apr 24, 2008 All my reviews
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  9.8 Superb

  Brilliant hide show

  peter Falk does a excellent job as acting the role of LT Columbo who is a most well mannered bumbeling dectective who at nights can not sleep over the smallest details. the great thing about Columbo is that at the biggining of every show you see the murderer and the crime taking place before columbo arrives. this allows the criminal and columbo to go head to head ittle of wits. i believe this is a brilliant show but some episodes do get repetitive after a while ut there are often brilliant ones as well. IF you like monk than you will love Columbo

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  sdfc87 Added Nov 12, 2007 All my reviews
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  9.4 Superb

  Peter Falk should be declared a national treasure. The quirky-yet-brilliant detective character has long been a staple of fiction, yet Falk managed to singlehandedly re-write the book on how it should be portrayed. Columbo is an archetype for the ages. hide show

  Unkempt, gravel-voiced, seemingly dumb as a bag-o'-rocks, Lieutenant Columbo (I still can't believe we never found out his first name) shuffled his way into our hearts in the 1970's in a series of NBC Mystery Movies. Falk, while not the first actor to play the part, became the definitive Columbo. The show became an unqualified hit due to Falk's genius interpretation of the title role and due to the popular and prominent actors who guest-starred. Another attraction was the unique way the mystery was presented each week: while the audience almost always knew the identity of the murderer from the start, the mystery was how Columbo was going to catch them. So, the audience was invited each week to test their sleuthing skills and find the mistake the murderer made in committing the seemingly perfect crime. Though the quality of the episodes varies, none are less than enjoyable, and many are all-time classics. Consult an episode guide for more information- and enjoy!
  
  Oh, and-sorry to bother you- there's just one more thing...

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  rockin01 Added Jul 27, 2007 All my reviews