Columbo is a landmark American crime drama television series that revolutionized the genre by popularizing the “inverted detective story” (howcatchem) format. Running for over 35 years (1968–2003), the show starred Peter Falk as a brilliant, disheveled LAPD homicide detective whose unkempt appearance and polite, rambling demeanor hidden a razor-sharp mind.
Overview and Key Elements
- Format: The audience almost always knows who committed the murder at the beginning of the episode. The suspense lies in how Lieutenant Columbo unravels the culprit’s “perfect” alibi.
- Signature Traits: The Peugeot 403 car, a shabby beige raincoat, a cigar, frequent mentions of an unseen wife, and the catchphrase “Just one more thing”.
- The “Howcatchem”: Columbo rarely appears in the first act, allowing the killer to showcase their arrogance and meticulous planning before he systematically dismantle their world.
- Class Conflict: The show frequently pits Columbo (a blue-collar, unassuming figure) against affluent, privileged suspects.
- Creator/Legacy: Created by Richard Levinson and William Link, inspired by Crime and Punishment and Father Brown, the character first appeared on TV in 1960 and on stage in 1962, but Peter Falk made it his own in 1968.
Comprehensive Historic Timeline (1960–2014)
Era 1: Pre-Falk & Pilots (1960–1971)
- 1960: Columbo appears in “Enough Rope,” an episode of The Chevy Mystery Show (based on the story “Dear Corpus Delicti”). Bert Freed played the lieutenant.
- 1962: Stage play Prescription: Murder debuts. Thomas Mitchell plays Columbo.
- 1968 (Feb 20): Prescription: Murder (Pilot 1) airs on NBC, featuring Peter Falk for the first time.
- 1971 (Mar 1): Ransom for a Dead Man (Pilot 2) airs. Its success leads to a series order.
Era 2: The NBC Classic Era (1971–1978)
- 1971–1972 (Season 1): Columbo becomes a “wheel” program in The NBC Mystery Movie. Notable episode: “Murder by the Book” (directed by Steven Spielberg).
- 1972 (Sep 17): Season 2 premieres, establishing the show as a top-rated Sunday night anchor.
- 1973: Peter Falk wins his first Golden Globe for the role.
- 1974: Season 3. “Any Old Port in a Storm” introduces Columbo’s penchant for humming “This Old Man”.
- 1975: Season 4/5. “Forgotten Lady” (with Janet Leigh) and “Case of Immunity”.
- 1976: Peter Falk wins Emmys (1972, 1975, 1976).
- 1978 (May): Final NBC episode airs (Season 7) before Falk leaves the role due to scheduling.
Era 3: The ABC Revival Era (1989–2003)
- 1989 (Feb): Columbo returns on ABC under The ABC Mystery Movie with “Columbo Goes to the Guillotine”.
- 1990: Season 9/10 begins. Falk wins his 4th Primetime Emmy (1990).
- 1991–2002: The show airs irregularly as “Specials” rather than a strict series.
- 2003 (Jan 30): Last episode, “Columbo Likes the Nightlife,” airs, completing 69 total episodes.
Post-Series & Legacy
- 2007: Peter Falk pitches “Columbo’s Last Case” to ABC; it is rejected.
- 2011 (June 23): Peter Falk dies at age 83.
- 2014: A statue of Lieutenant Columbo and his dog is unveiled in Budapest, Hungary.
Major Episodes and Guest Stars
- Jack Cassidy: Played killers in 3 episodes (best known as Riley Greenleaf in “Publish or Perish”).
- Robert Culp: Played killers in 3 episodes (“Death Lends a Hand,” “The Most Crucial Game,” “Double Exposure”).
- Patrick McGoohan: Acted in 4 episodes (3 as killer) and directed 5, including “By Dawn’s Early Light”.
- William Shatner: Starred in “Fade In to Murder” (1976) and “Butterfly in Shades of Gray” (1994).
- Johnny Cash: Starred in “Swan Song” (1974).
Where to Watch & Review Sites
- IMDb Episode List: All Columbo Episodes
- Columbophile Blog: Detailed reviews and history Columbophile Blog
- Wikipedia List: List of Columbo episodes
Columbo Overview and Detailed Timeline by Era and Year
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