Columbo

Columbo is definitely the greatest and most legendary TV detective of all time. My Mum passed on her love of this series to me when I was a child and we have been watching it together ever since. As well as the brilliant stories written for this show, I have to say that it's Peter Falk who makes this series so phenomenal. With his dashing good looks and kind, gentle manly voice, he just gets you transfixed as soon as he appears on the screen. I think he was a very underrated actor indeed. It was so sad to hear of Peter's tragic death but he'll live on in my heart forever as he was a wonderful part of my childhood. Anyone who loves a good crime solving series, you can't beat Columbo.

... in that it commands your attention from beginning to end or else you will be missing some vital clue. In the first 15-20 minutes the crime as far as method and motivation is set up. The perp is almost always a well-off person who doesn't want to be less well off because of the threats or actions of the victim. Sometimes it's a husband who just wants rid of his wife without losing any money in the settlement, and other times it's a person with which you can truly sympathize. In each case, the perp knows that they'll at least be one of the suspects, so they come up with a very clever often elaborate plan. The crime is never just a run of the mill street crime/murder.

If it was the result of a street crime, there wouldn't be any need for Lt. Columbo, the most poorly groomed, most annoying, and most clever homicide detective in the history of the world. He's not annoying to anyone but the perp because he's always coming back to ask "just one more thing" pertaining to some detail he's picked up on. Besides gradually driving the murderer crazy with his tangents and questions to the point where they are counting Columbo's in their sleep rather than sheep, he goes off on lengthy amusing tangents (amusing if you are not the suspect) about his home life and his wife, who never actually pops up on the show.

Columbo ran in two parts - In the 1970s as part of the Sunday Night Mystery Movie that rotated with several other crime solving franchises, and in the 1990s. I never cared for the 1990s episodes. They were too Hollywoodized and too glamorized with often some sensational or licentious aspect. Columbo is very much a creature of the 1970s.

If you can dedicate 90 minutes to watching an episode I highly recommend it. But if you are so addicted to your phone that you can't put it down that long, go find some Netflix movie to watch that was made with people of short attention spans in mind.

Everything about the show is dated (set in the 70's). Very few details would survive strict legal analysis. Even the suspects behavior/participation in the investigation would be highly doubtful, but then there's the charm of Peter Falk's character and the Agatha Christie type crime involved.

The "perfect" crime is committed at the very beginning for the audience to see. Then the bumbling detective arrives on the scene to be under-estimated by the brilliant/sophisticated murderer. The murderer, anxious to help Columbo follow the false clues that have been created, slowly work themselves into a corner as the detective pokes holes in the perfect crime, and that's when Columbo lowers the boom.

Some cases are a bit more logical than others, some solutions are more viable, but the real point is if you enjoy the charms of Lt. Columbo and the process he uses to solve the case, then you'll enjoy watching these shows. I rec 1971 to 1978 episodes.

"Columbo" is simply the best detective series ever! Peter Falk as Columbo is wonderful and I absolutely love him. Although the formula is pretty much the same for all the episodes, I never get enough of that cat-and-mouse game that Columbo is playing with his "victims". There are delightful elements of surprise in each episode, that also add up to the puzzle that Columbo himself is. Falk's acting is splendid, his mannerisms are unmistakable, he is so intelligent, natural and subtle. Falk's talent for comedy is a treasure. There is great humor in Columbo's antics, the script is smart and ingenious, and the guest stars, especially the villains, are always a treat.

Besides, Columbo is a very intriguing character. We never really get to know who he is. Yes, there is mystery around Columbo, and catching a glimpse of the man behind the smoke screen is one of those things that have kept audiences watching for decades. He is indeed a fascinating character. "Columbo" will never get old, it's pure entertainment of the best kind. Splendid work!

Seasons 1-7 are the best and remain unmatched by anything else on television, including Columbo later seasons. It's not only the charm of the 70's and 80's that make it fascinating, but it's mainly the quality of the scripts in the early years of "Columbo".

The late Peter Falk helped create one of the greatest ever TV characters in Columbo. However, credit too must go to the scriptwriters & all concerned in the production. Falk's seemingly dithering, fumbling & slightly absent-minded detective masking a razor-sharp brain was the real charm of the character. Add to this the humour that was introduced into some of the very well-written stories, all made for a great show. My favourite humorous moment of all was when he entered a mission for down-and-outs in Los Angeles to interview a witness. In the mission run by nuns he was attended by actress Joyce Van Patten. Seeing his shabby raincoat she naturally wanted to find him a new one, thinking he was down on his luck. After a small protest the sister dismissed it & said, "All are welcome here!.". Endearingly embarrassed as only Columbo as acted by Falk could be, he informed her he was in fact a police detective. The sister then thought, naturally, that he had gone undercover, dressed accordingly & praised his scruffy appearance. "How clever of you!" she concluded. Absolutely priceless scriptwriting!!!. There were many other great comedy asides, usually involving his poorly paid job, but this one I mention was really brilliant. Thank god, despite Peter Falk's death we still have so many great Columbo's to enjoy.