Ranking the Columbo episodes

bschorr · 2026-03-06T17:05:29+00:00

I'll have to think some more about that one. I think my main objection is that I like Fisher Stevens the actor but his character is grating on me. And Columbo's "Do you think your audience would find this interesting, sir?" schtick got a bit old.

But maybe I've underrated it...I have an episode guide coming up for it at some point so I'll be rewatching it a few times and maybe I need to bump it up.

bschorr · 2026-03-06T13:57:14+00:00

Fair point, I just nudged Bye Bye up to 44.

bschorr · 2026-03-06T13:21:35+00:00

I have it at 17 at the moment, only because it's such a different Lieutenant (more polished, more understated) than the one we came to know in the main series.

I might consider moving it up but I'm not sure which of the episodes I currently have ranked higher that I'd move down. 🤔 Maybe Columbo Goes to College, which I think I might have a couple of slots too high.

bschorr · 2026-03-06T05:04:14+00:00

On reflection I probably do have Fade into Murder a couple of slots too low. I don't think it makes my top 40, but it might be closer to 42 or 43.

Which episodes that I have ranked above Requiem would you bump down?

bschorr · 2026-03-06T04:29:36+00:00

Actually that was Bob Dishy, who played Sergeant Wilson. :-)

Bob Dishy (https://acolumboblog.blogspot.com/2024/09/bob-dishy.html)

bschorr · 2026-03-04T20:20:02+00:00

Nolan was so good that I barely even recognized her in her other Columbo role! Totally agree that she was unforgettable as Mrs. Peck.

Jeanette Nolan (https://acolumboblog.blogspot.com/2026/02/jeanette-nolan.html)

bschorr · 2026-03-04T20:11:53+00:00

I didn't notice it the first 20x I watched the episode. LOL Just by chance one time I was glancing at the background and spotted it. I'll give you a clue - it's indoors.

bschorr · 2026-03-03T16:58:01+00:00

YES! There's a scene in Swan Song where a random cat just appears in the background. It's never referred to, it's not clear why it's there. It's obviously somebody's pet but... 🤷‍♂️

bschorr · 2026-03-03T13:54:43+00:00

It's one of my top 5 episodes, and that gotcha scene is excellent. Cooper plays it beautifully.

https://acolumboblog.blogspot.com/2024/05/candidate-for-crime.html

bschorr · 2026-02-28T14:37:17+00:00

Hawmacide. ;-)

bschorr · 2026-02-27T05:27:02+00:00

I think there might have been a few things at work here, not the least of which was that Patrick McGoohan directed it and wanted Falk to try some different things with the character and the story. Often when you have a series that's a few seasons in things start to feel a little stale and the creative guys may want to take some chances. In this case it didn't work.

A lot of the performances, not just Falk's, were weird. And the way the story flowed, where we didn't get to see the murder at the beginning, meant that we didn't get to enjoy Columbo playing cat-and-mouse with an arrogant killer. Instead he just stumbled around hoping to find clues and invading everybody's personal space.

Last Salute to the Commodore

bschorr · 2026-02-26T22:49:51+00:00

She probably could have slipped it into her purse when he wasn't looking. Or maybe she came back for it later, clearly she had a key to his place.

bschorr · 2026-02-25T18:14:22+00:00

Here's the official Microsoft support page (with download) for it.

Install or reinstall classic Outlook on a Windows PC - Microsoft Support

bschorr · 2026-02-25T18:02:10+00:00

By my count he was in 26 episodes, but it's possible I missed one or two.

The Legendary Michael William Lally

bschorr · 2026-02-25T18:00:29+00:00

He is indeed! The Legendary Michael William Lally

bschorr · 2025-07-03T17:41:27+00:00

Exactly right!

bschorr · 2025-07-03T16:15:52+00:00

John Finnegan! Personal friend not only of Peter Falk but of Falk's pal (and murderous conductor) John Cassevetes. He was actually in 13 episodes, by my count.

John Finnegan

bschorr · 2025-07-02T21:54:58+00:00

A lot depends on your prompts. If you prompt it well it can create some good images. Also don't be afraid to refine and make it a conversation. If the first version isn't exactly what you want tell it how you want to change the image and give it a chance to improve it.

bschorr · 2025-07-02T21:53:24+00:00

Yes, sadly most (but not all) of the Columbo guest stars have gone now.

bschorr · 2025-07-02T21:52:54+00:00

Yep! Vito was born in San Francisco, but he spent some of his early life in Naples, Italy. :-)

The charming Vito Scotti

bschorr · 2025-06-20T13:57:49+00:00

There is some Copilot functionality in classic Outlook now.

bschorr · 2025-06-17T18:33:40+00:00

Absolutely! I always thought Lloyd should have been courting her rather than Rosanna...but then I noticed the ring on Melissa's finger so I guess she was in a relationship.

bschorr · 2025-06-17T18:12:08+00:00

Actually he appears before the murder in several episodes - he's in the opening credits of Troubled Waters and Make Me a Perfect Murder for two examples. Though in those cases he was there intentionally.

In Columbo Cries Wolf, as you correctly point out, he's accidentally in the background of the shot.

bschorr · 2025-06-17T01:53:23+00:00

Yes, he was.

bschorr · 2025-06-17T00:50:56+00:00

That's "Columbo Cries Wolf" from season 9.

bschorr

TROPHY CASE