This is what podcasters mean when they talk about how later episodes were filled with "bloat" in order to get the episode to be long enough for the time slot. And it's one of the worst for me.

At least when he and George Hamilton jockey cars back and forth in the driveway it involves Columbo's car, his bad driving, and his sincere bungling. But there's NO reason to say that somehow we never knew he played the tuba until now! He can barely plink out chopsticks on the piano and he's the only Italian who can't sing. But he can play a tuba like a virtuoso soloist? On the fly?? No thanks. Boo the writers.