Columbo

NBC (ended 2003)
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Show Summary

  • Ended
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, theres 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.)moreless

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  • Peter Falk, a.k.a. Columbo, Dies at 83

    A spokesperson for the family of Peter Falk has confirmed the actor passed away Thursday night in his sleep. Falk was 83, and had been suffering from Alzheimer's Disease in recent years. Falk, a hugely gifted actor, will forever be… more

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  • They don't make them like this anymore.

    10
    "Perfect"
    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.moreless

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    4 0
  • This is THE Police-Drama.

    10
    "Perfect"
    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.moreless

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    4 0
  • Brilliant

    9.8
    "Superb"
    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 Columbomoreless

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  • a showed that was brilliant and started it all

    8.0
    "Great"
    columbo was awsome show i was born in the 90s and show came out years ago i grew up watching the reruns of the show and liked it . it was such a great show the way he would ask questions and then figure things out . this show was hit and got other shows to be made like this like shaft, and monk and even others that have come out in todays time. such a brilliant show and the plots and the stories and each mystry for columbo to solve . i think this show got things started in this catagory .moreless

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

    10
    "Perfect"
    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.moreless

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Categories

Drama, Suspense

Themes

Cerebral, Characters With Hidden Agendas, Corruption, Cultural Phenomenon, Dramedy