Columbo: Difference between revisions

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Viewers who missed the first fifteen minutes could pick out the murderer pretty quickly anyway; it was usually either Robert Culp, Jack Cassidy or [[The Prisoner|Patrick McGoohan]] (a close friend of Falk's, who also directed an episode). Barring that, it was the wealthy and/or brilliant character being the most smug about it. Notable one-offs included Richard Kiley, Robert Conrad, Ruth Gordon, Janet Leigh and Leonard Nimoy... oh, and the first ''Mystery Movie'' episode ("Murder by the Book") was directed by some random ''wunderkind'' named [[Steven Spielberg|Spielberg]].

Albeit deliberately structured more on the formal "drawing-room mystery" (think [[~~Agatha Christie (Creator)|~~Agatha Christie]]) than anything like a realistic police procedural, the show was generally an exception to [[Conviction By Contradiction]]: while an Encyclopedia Brown-style clue may first trigger Columbo's suspicions, the ''real'' chase is his attempts to get enough evidence for an arrest, often by exasperating/panicking the perp themselves into saying or doing something incriminating.

Albeit deliberately structured more on the formal "drawing-room mystery" (think [[Agatha Christie]]) than anything like a realistic police procedural, the show was generally an exception to [[Conviction by Contradiction]]: while an Encyclopedia Brown-style clue may first trigger Columbo's suspicions, the ''real'' chase is his attempts to get enough evidence for an arrest, often by exasperating/panicking the perp themselves into saying or doing something incriminating.

Columbo was the master of [[Perp Sweating]] (i.e. shredding the Constitution, albeit totally under the [[Rule of Cool]] at all times). Though he generally settles on his horse from the outset, he never lets on, instead worming his way into their confidence via fawning adulation, begging their assistance as he "solves" the case. Usually he forces them to weave a huge web of lies until he can finally [[Pull the Thread]] -- justified because he's always right. (Interestingly, while the Lieutenant is clearly over-the-top, he's arguably using a more true-to-life interview technique than the angry, confrontational interviews common in straight police dramas; flattery and interest in the other person's concerns are a more effective way of obtaining information.)

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Columbo's last appearance was in the 2003 TV movie ''Columbo Loves the Nightlife''. A "finale" TV movie was planned and written, but [[Executive Meddling|ABC refused to insure it due to Falk's age and subsequent declining mental health]], and Falk died in 2011 with the last script still in limbo.

''Columbo'' was also the primary inspiration for the British [[Locked Room Mystery]] series ''[[~~Jonathan Creek (TV)|~~Jonathan Creek]]''.

''Columbo'' was also the primary inspiration for the British [[Locked Room Mystery]] series ''[[Jonathan Creek]]''.

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=== ''Columbo'' provides examples of: ===

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* [[Canon Dis Continuity]]: Let us all just be very clear on this: ''[[Mrs. Columbo]]'' was ''not'' Mrs. Columbo.

* [[Catch Phrase]]: "Just one more thing..." before he asks the question that gives the offender away.

* [[Conviction By Contradiction]]

* [[Conviction by Contradiction]]

* [[Cool Uncle]]: Columbo is this to Andy, his nephew from "No Time to Die".

* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Columbo could be one from time to time. For example, in "The Bye-Bye Sky High IQ Murder Case," when asking witnesses about the perpetrator's build, one said he was heavy, another claimed he seemed average, and a third claimed he was light and possibly even a woman. Columbo's reaction to this was a deadpan, "Well that clears that up."

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* [[Defeating the Undefeatable]]: Luis Montoya from ''A Matter Of Honor'' most certainly counts. He was one of the top celebrities and most influential people in Mexico, so the local police were practically afraid to investigate the crime once it became suspected, and Columbo was in a foreign country. While Columbo had challenged a few big time people over his career, his job could have ended and he'd have been in severe trouble if not for {{spoiler|showing everyone that Montoya was not a great man, was in fact a coward and had killed his friend to try and hide that fact, causing Montoya to surrender.}}

** This came very close in ''A Case Of Immunity'' where Hassan Salah was a foreign national with diplomatic immunity, and could have had Columbo fired. Of course, {{spoiler|Columbo didn't have to take any big risks to catch the guy... after all, Columbo was on good terms with the king of that particular foreign nation and merely got the guy to spill a confession while the king listened. In this case, the suspect wasn't undefeatable, just hard to touch.}}

* [[Directed By Cast Member]]: Peter Falk directed "Blueprint for Murder".

* [[Directed by Cast Member]]: Peter Falk directed "Blueprint for Murder".

* [[A Dog Named "Dog"]]: Quite literally here

* [[Doesn't Like Guns]]: And is a notoriously bad shot. He appears to get other cops to take his shooting qualifications ("Forgotten Lady"). He'll carry a gun when the situation absolutely calls for it, but even then...

** He seemed to have no problem brandishing one on a man in "Undercover" though... but the guy did try to shoot him.

* [[Dolled-Up Installment]]: ''No Time to Die'' is an adaptation on the [[~~Eighty Seventh~~ Precinct]] novel ''So Long As You Both Shall Live'', with Columbo taking the place of multiple 87th Precinct cops (in the novel Bert Kling's new wife Augusta is kidnapped on the day they're married, in this adaptation it's Columbo's nephew's wife who's taken).

* [[Dolled-Up Installment]]: ''No Time to Die'' is an adaptation on the [[87th Precinct]] novel ''So Long As You Both Shall Live'', with Columbo taking the place of multiple 87th Precinct cops (in the novel Bert Kling's new wife Augusta is kidnapped on the day they're married, in this adaptation it's Columbo's nephew's wife who's taken).

** ''Undercover'' is also an [[~~Eighty Seventh~~ Precinct]] adaptation, of the novel ''Jigsaw''. Unlike the above, this version includes one of the characters from the 87th (Arthur Brown, who's also one of the cops investigating in the book).

** ''Undercover'' is also an [[87th Precinct]] adaptation, of the novel ''Jigsaw''. Unlike the above, this version includes one of the characters from the 87th (Arthur Brown, who's also one of the cops investigating in the book).

* [[Precious Puppies]]: Dog is a sly subversion.

* [[Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep"]]: He once joked that his first name was "Lieutenant".

* [[Exasperated Perp]]: One of the great pleasures of the format is watching a smug perp kindly encouraging Columbo.

* [[Executive Meddling]]: An in universe example happens in ''Make Me A Perfect Murder''. Kate Freestone, a network assistant executive with high goals, dictates and practically directs a film that the network wants and guarantees it'll be a success. When she is told she can't have her boyfriend's hob after his promotion (as he doesn't feel she's qualified), she kills him to get the job. Afterwards, her plan to bring a former pill junkie and former star out of retirement for a TV special falls apart, and the film the network ordered is a massive bomb when it finally airs. As the head of the network told her, she "doesn't make decisions", she "makes guesses". Being arrested by Columbo didn't matter as her career was pretty much over with at this point.

* [[Expy]]: Abigail Mitchell, the murder mystery writer, to [[~~Agatha Christie (Creator)|~~Agatha Christie]]- who was mentioned by name in the episode in question.

* [[Expy]]: Abigail Mitchell, the murder mystery writer, to [[Agatha Christie]]- who was mentioned by name in the episode in question.

* [[Eye Scream]]: The magnificent stare of Columbo, where one of his eyes constantly looks into the opposite direction, has yet to be forgotten. Yeah, Peter Falk's really got a false eye, though...

* [[Fake Nationality]]: Lt. Columbo is Italian-American, as was made a point of numerous times. Peter Falk is of Russian and Polish descent. Likewise, whereas Falk was Jewish, it was often hinted that Columbo was Catholic (at the very least, his own nephew's wedding was a traditional church-type wedding).

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* ''[[Forbidden Planet]]'': ''Forbidden's'' Robbie the Robot makes a cameo in one episode, as does Robbie's co-star Leslie Neilsen.

* [[The Ghost]]: Mrs. Columbo. We know she ''exists'', but his descriptions of her vary immensely. He's pretty much always describing her to the perp though, so it's unlikely he'd give them an actual description.

* [[Go-Karting ~~With~~ Bowser]]: Even when Columbo knows who committed the murder, or at least is highly suspicious of them, he still makes small talk with them about things like their job and interests. Oftentimes this is to pay attention to subtle things they say or noticeable tells that can unintentionally incriminate them. In some episodes, however, Columbo seems to genuinely like some of his suspects, and regrets having some of them arrested before he reminds himself that it was the right thing to do.

* [[Go-Karting with Bowser]]: Even when Columbo knows who committed the murder, or at least is highly suspicious of them, he still makes small talk with them about things like their job and interests. Oftentimes this is to pay attention to subtle things they say or noticeable tells that can unintentionally incriminate them. In some episodes, however, Columbo seems to genuinely like some of his suspects, and regrets having some of them arrested before he reminds himself that it was the right thing to do.

* [[Gosh Dang It to Heck]]: Throughout the majority of Columbo films, "hell" and "damn" are the extent of the swearing. Later films of the 80s and 90s eventually saw occasional use of the word "bitch" here and there. But the only REAL subversions are likely "Undercover" and "A Trace of Murder" where characters say the word "bullshit". "Undercover" is uncensored on the DVD release, though "A Trace of Murder" has the censoring in place.

* [[GPS Evidence]]: there are quite a number of cases of this. Examples:

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* ''[[Mad Magazine]]''

** ''Clodumbo''. In the 90s they made him part of ''The ABC Misery Movie'' along with ''B.L. Strikeout'' and ''Giddyup Olive''.

** In Mad's parody of ''[[Star Trek Voyager]]'' (starring ''[[Mrs. Columbo]]'' star Kate Mulgrew) Columbo can be seen in the background on one of the ship's monitors saying, "Take my wife, please!"

** In Mad's parody of ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' (starring ''[[Mrs. Columbo]]'' star Kate Mulgrew) Columbo can be seen in the background on one of the ship's monitors saying, "Take my wife, please!"

* [[Military Moonshiner]]: The head of a military academy incriminated himself when he went on a crusade to track down what boys were making alcoholic apple cider (hanging the bottle outside in wee hours to help it ferment), but Columbo is able to show that the only way he could have been aware of it was if he was in the exact location the fatal sabotage of the school's cannon was taking place.

* [[Missed Moment of Awesome]]: "Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo" involved the ex-wife of a man Columbo had arrested years before, plotting to kill Columbo's wife because her husband died in prison and she blamed Columbo. It's too bad that the case in question was never one that had been filmed as an episode, leaving us to merely guess at the exact details.

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** While the previous example was a minor one, "No Time to Die" completely went against grain of the series. It abandoned the usual murder plot and told a story of a kidnapping that played like a psychological thriller. {{spoiler|Columbo's nephew, Andy, is married to a model. Immediately after the ceremony, Andy's new wife is kidnapped. Columbo has to work with much of the LAPD police force to find Andy's wife before an insane medical student can rape and kill her. The story takes place over the course of a single night.}}

** "Undercover" plays with this a bit by mixing in the usual Columbo murder mystery with a hunt for pieces of a photograph leading to the location of money stolen from a bank heist years before.

*** Both "No Time to Die" and "Undercover" were based on [[~~Eighty Seventh~~ Precinct]] novels.

*** Both "No Time to Die" and "Undercover" were based on [[87th Precinct]] novels.

** "Double Shock" also plays with this; {{spoiler|Martin Landau plays twins, one of whom is the murderer.}}

* [[Perp Sweating]]: This was usually done in a psychological manner by Columbo. While it was rare to see a normal interrogation, they did occasionally show them, the most notable example being "Murder of a Rock Star".

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* [[Showy Invincible Hero]]: Does the bad guy have a chance? No way. The fun is seeing Columbo make them squirm.

* [[Smug Snake]]: Many of the killers. Roddy McDowell was a good example. Another, played by Leonard Nimoy, was so smug that Columbo had one of his few moments of anger with him.

* [[Spanner in ~~The~~ Works]]: Arguably.

* [[Spanner in the Works]]: Arguably.

* [[Split Personality]]: Ward Fowler, the killer from ''Fade In To Murder'' seems to be suffering from this- {{spoiler|he keeps slipping into the persona of Detective Lucerne, his TV role, to help Columbo, and practically hands Columbo evidence to hang himself}}

* [[Squick]]: In-universe, Columbo found the sight of an operation and most autopsies to be unbearable to watch... though his mood would fluctuate on this depending on the situation. Most attempts to show him such things freaked him out quite bad at even the suggestion he witness, though at the end of ''A Stitch In Crime'', his nerves harden up and he watches the surgery intensely.

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* [[Third-Act Stupidity]]: Plays around with it.

* [[Throw It In]]: "Just one more thing..." In addition, many of Peter Falk's absent-minded moments were ad-libbed. He figured that if they were all scripted, it would be harder for his fellow cast members to react genuinely. So, in the middle of scenes with the suspect, Falk would unexpectedly start fumbling around for his shopping list or pretend to forget what he was talking about. The standard perp expression that seems to say "What is with this guy?" is thus usually very real.

* [[Too Clever By Half]]: If the criminal in "Etude in Black" didn't come back for his flower pin, or just not wear it at all after retrieving it from the crime scene, he probably would never have been caught.

* [[Too Clever by Half]]: If the criminal in "Etude in Black" didn't come back for his flower pin, or just not wear it at all after retrieving it from the crime scene, he probably would never have been caught.

** This is actually pretty common. A lot of these killers would have gotten away free if they'd just kept things simple, but many had to take it an extra step further by trying to set up a scene or frame someone, which caused them to make mistakes. ''A Stitch In Crime'' is a perfect example- if the killer had simply killed the nurse in the parking lot no doubt he'd have been free, but the plot to make it look like a killing over drugs complicated the situation, caused far too many problems and led to his capture.

* [[Too Dumb to Live]]: Whenever the victim isn't an [[Asshole Victim]], they're usually this. Though occasionally the two are combined.

* [[Trans Atlantic Equivalent]]

** ''[[~~Jonathan Creek (TV)|~~Jonathan Creek]]'' was originally pitched as "A British Columbo", although it gradually evolved away from this.

** ''[[Jonathan Creek]]'' was originally pitched as "A British Columbo", although it gradually evolved away from this.

** Furuhata Ninzaburo is often called a "Japanese Columbo".

** Columbo could be considered the American version of French Alfred Fichet.