The Columbo Podcast

The fourteenth episode of Columbo was titled The Most Dangerous Match and was the seventh episode of the show’s second season. When a legendary chess grandmaster is seriously injured Columbo must outwit a sharp-minded killer to piece together the vital evidence. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider whether the case has been made effectively, following the twists and turns of the investigation.     The Most Dangerous Match sees Columbo thrust into the midst of a rivalry between Laurence Harvey‘s Emmett Clayton and Jack Kruschen‘s charming Tomlin Dudek, chess grandmasters facing a career-defining showdown. Each of these actors was Oscar nominated – Harvey in 1960 for Room at the Top and Kruschen the following year for his role opposite Jack Lemmon in The Apartment.   In a particularly tight episode the only supporting roles of note were played by Lloyd Bochner as Tomlin’s ‘coach’ Mazoor Berozski and former popstar Heidi Brühl as Linda Robinson, Clayton’s ex-fiancée turned advisor to Tomlin. The episode did see returns from Columbo’s dog and his vet, played by Michael Fox and there was an engaging, if brief, turn from Oscar Beregi Jr. as an exasperated restaurateur.   The episode was designed to revolve around Harvey’s performance as Clayton, but ultimately the plotting and script were deserving of the greatest scrutiny. Writer Jackson Gillis was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for his work on Suitable for Framing in Season 1 and for an Edgar Allan Poe Award for his work on Requiem for a Falling Star, but The Most Dangerous Match was to receive no such recognition and perhaps we should not be surprised at that.   The episode was directed by Edward M. Abroms in his second and final outing at the Columbo helm. His career as a director saw him behind the camera on 31 different shows over a period of 9 years, but it was as an editor he had his greatest success, picking up an Oscar nomination and winning two Primetime Emmys in that capacity – including one for Season 1’s Death Lends a Hand in 1972. Fascinatingly, both of his directorial roles on Columbo received Primetime Emmy nominations, an accolade not extended to any of his work on the other 30 shows!   During this episode we asked listeners a couple of questions. Firstly, what is the story behind Lovejoy’s Antiques. Could the books have their origin in this episode of Columbo? Also, who portrayed the taxi driver hired to collect Tomlin Dudek and where might we recognise him from? If you have thoughts on those issues or any other aspects of The Most Dangerous Match then please feel free to comment below, or find us on Twitter at @columbopodcast.   The Columbo Podcast is widely available – on iTunes, Stitcher, tunein, Pocket Casts or pretty much wherever you choose to receive and manage your podcasts. If you enjoy the show it would be greatly appreciated if you consider leaving ratings and reviews...

The thirteenth episode of Columbo was titled A Stitch in Crime and was the sixth episode of the show’s second season. A brilliant doctor is forced to improvise when a suspicious nurse begins to investigate his behaviour and Columbo goes head-to-head with the killer. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at a popular guest star on what is a well-regarded episode.     In A Stitch in Crime Columbo is forced to face off with Star Trek legend Leonard Nimoy. Nimoy is known around the world for his iconic role as Mr Spock across the Original Series, Animated Series, Next Generation and Deep Space Nine shows, together with the first six Star Trek movies and both of JJ Abrams’ rebooted movies – Star Trek in 2009 and Star Trek Into Darkness in 2012. Outwith the Star Trek universe Nimoy has had a diverse and celebrated career in acting, but also direction and latterly in photography.   Nimoy’s calculating Dr Mayfield calmly murders the returning Anne Francis‘ Nurse Sharon Martin and former Dallas actor Jared Martin‘s ex-drug addict Harry Alexander (not to mention attempting to murder Dr Hideman, played charismatically by The Waltons‘ Will Geer). Indeed, Nita Talbot‘s Marcia Dalton is the only principal character who escapes Mayfield’s ire for the duration of the episode -though she is cruelly manipulated into guiding the police down the wrong track.   There was a welcome return to a more tight-knit principal cast in this episode and the show was better for it. The Columbo-Mayfield dynamic was allowed to take centre stage and that was a wise decision, allowing two strong actors to wring every ounce of drama from the script.   During this episode we asked listeners a couple of questions. Firstly, was the operating room (or any other part of the hospital set) used for a medical-themed show, or was it bespoke for Columbo? Also, do you think Columbo lost his temper with Mayfield, or was it a strategic move? If you have thoughts on those issues or any other aspects of A Stitch in Crime then please feel free to comment below, or find us on Twitter at @columbopodcast.   The Columbo Podcast is widely available – on iTunes, Stitcher, tunein, Pocket Casts or pretty much wherever you choose to receive and manage your podcasts. If you enjoy the show it would be greatly appreciated if you consider leaving ratings and reviews on these sites – particularly iTunes – as that can make a big difference to growing the podcast’s audience.   A Stitch in Crime was released in 1973. It is 74 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Netflix in the United States and is available on DVD in other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all eleven seasons released by Universal.   Tweet

The twelfth episode of Columbo was titled Requiem for a Falling Star and was the fifth episode of the show’s second season. Columbo returns to the world of showbusiness and to Hollywood, looking to solve an apparent case of mistaken identity. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at the show’s return to a familiar setting and a very unusual twist.     In Requiem for a Falling Star Columbo returned to more familiar territory than in the previous episode, but remained in the company of actors, principally Anne Baxter‘s murderous leading lady, Nora Chandler. Her unsuspecting victim Jean Davis was skillfully portrayed by Pippa Scott, making the most of a brief opportunity to shine.   Key supporting players in the drama were Mel Ferrer‘s scheming Jerry Parks; Kevin McCarthy as studio executive-cum-close personal friend of Ms Chandler, Frank Simmons; and Frank Converse as Mr Fallon, a frustrated bigwig, keen to move the studio into the second half of the twentieth century against much resistance from Nora.   There was also a cameo from celebrated costume designer Edith Head, playing herself – complete with an array of Academy Awards and a new tie for Columbo!   During this episode we asked listeners if they had any insight into tyre deflation on a car of the type Jean Davis drove and for a list of your top ten architects. If you have thoughts on that issue or any other aspect of Requiem for a Falling Star then please feel free to comment below, or find us on Twitter at @columbopodcast.   The Columbo Podcast is widely available – on iTunes, Stitcher, tunein, Pocket Casts, Spreaker or pretty much wherever you choose to receive and manage your podcasts. If you enjoy the show it would be greatly appreciated if you consider leaving ratings and reviews on these sites – particularly iTunes – as that can make a big difference to growing the podcast’s audience.   Requiem for a Falling Star was released in 1973. It is 74 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Netflix in the United States and is available on DVD in other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all eleven seasons released by Universal.   Tweet

The eleventh episode of Columbo was titled Dagger of the Mind and was the fourth episode of the show’s second season. Columbo travels to London and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation involving Shakespearean actors, butlers and cockney handymen. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider the highs and lows of a controversial episode.     In a unique episode, compared to what had come before, Columbo was removed from his comfort zone and placed in London to learn from Bernard Fox‘s Detective Chief Superintendent Durk and the team at Scotland Yard. Although there was a limited amount of actual filming in the UK, the whole story unfolded across the Atlantic as Columbo failed to resist involving himself in a foreign investigation.   For the first time in Columbo so far we had multiple killers in Dagger of the Mind, as Honor Blackman and Richard Basehart‘s husband-and-wife team accounted for one fatality each. Their victims, John Williams‘ Sir Roger Haversham and Wilfrid Hyde-White‘s outstanding Tanner, play their parts but meet with tragic ends.   One of the more debated characters in this episode is Arthur Malet‘s Joe Fenwick, a particularly stereotypical portrayal of a cockney handyman. This exaggerated caricature grated with many viewers, though the character had an important role to play in the unfolding of Columbo’s investigation.   During this episode we asked listeners if they could remember how the episode was originally promoted on NBC. If you have thoughts on that issue or any other aspect of Dagger of the Mind then please feel free to comment below, or find us on Twitter at @columbopodcast.   The Columbo Podcast is widely available – on iTunes, Stitcher, tunein, Pocket Casts, Spreaker or pretty much wherever you choose to receive and manage your podcasts. If you enjoy the show it would be greatly appreciated if you consider leaving ratings and reviews on these sites – particularly iTunes – as that can make a big difference to growing the podcast’s audience.   Dagger of the Mind was released in 1972. It is 98 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Netflix in the United States and is available on DVD in other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all eleven seasons released by Universal.   Tweet

The tenth episode of Columbo was titled The Most Crucial Game and was the third episode of the show’s second season. The owner of a professional football franchise is killed by a frustrated employee and Columbo once more has to prove that a seeming accident was murder. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at the motivations and machinations of the episode.     There were echoes of Season One’s Lady in Waiting, Short Fuse, Blueprint for Murder and the Season Two opener Ètude in Black in this episode, as a significant portion of Columbo’s task was to establish that there had been a murder committed at all. The lieutenant only has one suspect in mind and it is the returning Robert Culp who faces that suspicion, in his role as Paul Hanlon – a trusted aide of Dean Stockwell‘s victim, Eric Wagner.   Supporting roles in The Most Crucial Game were played by Dean Jagger as Private Investigator Walter Cunnell, James Gregory as LA Rockets Head Coach Rizzo, Valerie Harper as the mysterious Eve Babcock (or Miss Ricoji!) and Susan Howard in a brief appearance as the widowed Shirley Wagner.   Cameos by members of the 1972 LA Lakers (including Pat Riley but, sadly, not Wilt Chamberlain) and the crowd attending Super Bowl I (though the game footage was not from the Super Bowl) added to the episode’s authenticity and charm.   During this episode we asked listeners if they could identify the actor playing Miss Babcock’s client. If you have thoughts on that issue or any other aspect of The Most Crucial Game then please feel free to comment below, or find us on Twitter at @columbopodcast.   The Columbo Podcast is widely available – on iTunes, Stitcher, tunein, Pocket Casts, Spreaker or pretty much wherever you choose to receive and manage your podcasts. If you enjoy the show it would be greatly appreciated if you consider leaving ratings and reviews on these sites – particularly iTunes – as that can make a big difference to growing the podcast’s audience.   The Most Crucial Game was released in 1972. It is 74 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Netflix in the United States and is available on DVD in other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all eleven seasons released by Universal.   Tweet

The ninth episode of Columbo was titled The Greenhouse Jungle and was the second episode of the show’s second season. A scheme to extract funds from a family Trust is turned on its head as an uncle double-crosses his nephew. Columbo has a little help for once as he tries to solve the case. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at the highs and lows of the episode, including a return visit from one of Season One’s guest stars.     The dynamic of the Season Two opener, Ètude in Black, which focused on Columbo’s exchanges with the killer, was not repeated in The Greenhouse Jungle. There was a small amount of sparring between Columbo and Jarvis Goodland (the returning Ray Milland in a bigger role than he played in Season One’s Death Lends a Hand), but there was also focus on exchanges between Columbo and Sergeant Wilson; Jarvis and his nephew Tony; Jarvis and his nephew’s wife, Cathy; as well as Gloria West’s conversations with Cathy and Jarvis.   Sergeant Wilson was introduced as a partner for Columbo and his by-the-book style, combined with a lack of detective’s instinct, were played skilfully by Bob Dishy – perhaps better known to modern audiences for his roles in Law & Order and 2004’s Along Came Polly. Wilson’s naïvety was a boon to Milland’s killer, allowing suspicion to be cast on Sandra Smith‘s matter-of-fact Cathy Goodland – an unfaithful wife with few regrets and abundant self-belief. The work of these three actors – together with Star Trek veteran Arlene Martel as Gloria – were among the episode’s highlights.   Also featuring were William Smith – a man of many talents and many interests – as Ken Nichols; and Bradford Dillman as the ill-fated Tony Goodland. Directed by Boris Sagal in the first of his two stints behind the Columbo camera, The Greenhouse Jungle delivered an innovative twist on the typical Columbo approach.   During this episode we asked listeners for their thoughts on a number of issues, including pistol handling and which of William Smith’s achievements they’d most like on their CV. If you have thoughts on those issues or any other aspect of The Greenhouse Jungle then please feel free to comment below, or find us on Twitter at @columbopodcast.   The Columbo Podcast is widely available – on iTunes, Stitcher, tunein, Pocket Casts, Spreaker or pretty much wherever you choose to receive and manage your podcasts. If you enjoy the show it would be greatly appreciated if you consider leaving ratings and reviews on these sites – particularly iTunes – as that can make a big difference to growing the podcast’s audience.  

The eighth episode of Columbo was titled Ètude in Black and was the opening episode of the show’s second season. A popular musician murders his mistress to conceal their affair, intending that her death be considered a suicide. Columbo is charged with disproving that assertion and identifying the killer. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at Columbo’s approach to the investigation and the appearance of a new regular character.     Although season 2 opened with a larger supporting cast than most of the previous year’s episodes, there were only a few roles of any depth. John Cassavetes was most prominent as Alex Benedict, conductor and killer. His sparring with Columbo was reminiscent of episodes 1 and 7 of Season 1, with the chemistry between Falk and Cassavetes essential to the success of the episode.   Also featuring were the exceptional Blythe Danner as Benedict’s put-upon wife, Janice Benedict; Myrna Loy as her affluent and influential mother; and James Olson as the emotional Paul Rifkin. The victim, Jenifer Welles, was portrayed – albeit briefly – by Emmy-nominated Anjanette Comer. There was also a brief appearance from future Oscar nominee Pat Morita, who would rise to fame, firstly in the 1970’s as Arnold in Happy Days and then in the 1980’s as Mr Miyagi in the original series of Karate Kid movies.   Although Nicholas Colasanto is credited as directing this episode, Cassavetes and Falk, friends off-screen, are often considered responsible for much of the directorial work in Ètude in Black.   During this episode we asked listeners to let us know if they could identify scenes that were adapted in the truncated version of Ètude in Black. If you have thoughts on that or any other parts of the episode then please feel free to comment below, or find us on Twitter at @columbopodcast.   The Columbo Podcast is widely available – on iTunes, Stitcher, tunein, Pocket Casts, Spreaker or pretty much wherever you choose to receive and manage your podcasts. If you enjoy the show it would be greatly appreciated if you consider leaving ratings and reviews on these sites – particularly iTunes – as that can make a big difference to growing the podcast’s audience.   Ètude in Black was released in 1972. It is 98 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Netflix in the United States and is available on DVD in other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all eleven seasons released by Universal.  

The seventh episode of Columbo was titled Blueprint for Murder and was the final episode of the show’s first season. Columbo is tasked with finding a body before it is permanently hidden and the chance lost. In this podcast Gerry and Iain look at the battle of wits between Columbo and the killer, before reflecting on Season One as a whole.     This episode had a tighter cast than the other shows in the season, with Peter Falk and Patrick O’Neal (as killer Elliot Markham) dominating screen time. Supporting turns from Janis Paige and Pamela Austin as the current and former Mrs Williamsons offered contrast and intrigue, while Forrest Tucker shone as their husband, the billionaire Texan victim Bo Williamson.   The show marked Falk’s directorial debut, with Steven Bochco again credited with the teleplay. Although he would have an uncredited hand in direction of one further episode, Falk would never venture behind the camera again as the director of note.   We asked listeners to let us know their favourite moments from season 1 of Columbo and whether they think each killer was likely to be convicted of the crimes they committed. If you have thoughts on these or any other parts of this season then please feel free to comment here, or find us on Twitter at @columbopodcast.   The Columbo Podcast is widely available – on iTunes, Stitcher, tunein, Pocket Casts or pretty much wherever you choose to receive and manage your podcasts. If you enjoy the show it would be greatly appreciated if you consider leaving ratings and reviews on these sites – particularly iTunes – as that can make a big difference to growing the podcast’s audience.   Blueprint for Murder was released in 1972. It is 75 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Netflix in the United States and is available on DVD in other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all eleven seasons released by Universal.   Tweet

The sixth episode of Columbo was titled Short Fuse and delivered an explosive twist to the typical methods used by killers on the show so far. This episode saw Columbo try to establish whether two victims were the unfortunate casualties of a car accident, or if something more sinister had occurred. In the podcast Gerry and Iain look at the dramatic events of Short Fuse and the issues raised by Columbo’s investigation.     There were five major cast members in this episode, but it was Roddy McDowall‘s Roger Stanford that dominated proceedings. McDowall’s career began, at the age of 10, in 1938 and by the time he appeared in Short Fuse he had been working consistently for over 30 years, long since having transitioned from child star to professional performer. McDowall is perhaps best known for his role as Cornelius in the original set of Planet of the Apes movies and by the time he appeared in Columbo had already been in two of these. As well as being nominated for a Golden Globe in 1964, McDowall won a Primetime Emmy in 1961 and has had a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame since 1960.   Alongside McDowall’s energetic, ever-present Stanford there were supporting roles for Anne Francis as troubled secretary Valerie Bishop; James Gregory and Lawrence Cook as the victims – Stanford’s uncle David Buckner and his chauffuer-cum-P.I. Quincy; William Windom as Stanford Chemicals’ straight-laced vice chairman Everett Logan; and a great performance from Ida Lupino (noted in the New Yorker as one of the “great directors of the time” for her work in forties and fifties cinema) as Stanford’s Aunt Dori.   There were a few trivia questions in this week’s episode, so if anyone knows what the cablecar featured in Short Fuse serves in real life or has an idea what was meant by “better than the Borgia” then please feel free to comment here, or find us on Twitter at @columbopodcast.   The Columbo Podcast is widely available – on iTunes, Stitcher, tunein, Pocket Casts or pretty much wherever you choose to receive and manage your podcasts. If you enjoy the show it would be greatly appreciated if you consider leaving ratings and reviews on these sites – particularly iTunes – as that can make a big difference to growing the podcast’s audience.   Short Fuse was released in 1972. It is 75 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Netflix in the United States and is available on DVD in other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all eleven seasons released by Universal.   Tweet

The fifth episode of Columbo was titled Lady in Waiting and marked the first time a female killer featured on the show. This episode saw Columbo try to overturn a coroner’s inquiry verdict of accidental death. In the podcast Gerry and Iain look at the methods and motives of Lady in Waiting and try to ascertain whether justice can be done.     This episode returned to a smaller core cast than had been used in recent episodes, with only Leslie Nielsen‘s straight-shooting Peter Hamilton, Susan Clark‘s enigmatic killer Beth Chadwick and Jessie Landis‘ overbearing Mrs Chadwick playing key roles, along with Richard Anderson (best known for his subsequent performances in The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman) as our victim, Bryce Chadwick.   Nielsen is, of course, now the best known of these actors. At the time Lady in Waiting was produced he was already proving a prolific performer, with multiple television roles to his name, but it was to be almost ten years later that his international profile took shape, first with Airplane! and then with the Police Squad series and the subsequent Naked Gun movies. This appearance came twenty years into what became a sixty-year acting career and offers only occasional hints of the deadpan comedy Nielsen would come to be known for.   There was no trivia question again this week, but if anyone would like to discuss anything covered in the podcast or related to Lady in Waiting then please feel free to comment here, or find us on Twitter at @columbopodcast.   The Columbo Podcast is available on iTunes, Stitcher, tunein, Pocket Casts or pretty much wherever you choose to get your podcasts from. If you enjoy the show then please do consider leaving ratings and reviews on these sites as that can help the podcast a lot.   Lady in Waiting was released in 1971. It is 75 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Netflix in the United States and is available on DVD in other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all eleven seasons released by Universal.   Tweet

The fourth episode of Columbo was titled Suitable for Framing and brought viewers back to the direct conflict between Lieutenant Columbo and a killer that had been seen in the first two episodes of the season. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider the strengths and weaknesses of Suitable for Framing and whether returning to the earlier approach was a successful decision.     This episode followed Dead Weight by using a bigger cast than had been seen in the two opening episodes of the season. Even at this stage of the show’s run there are a number of celebrated actors taking roles, with Academy Award winner Kim Hunter and future Academy Award winner Don Ameche playing pivotal parts in this episode as Edna Matthews – the ex-wife and surprise beneficiary of the murder victim – and Frank Simpson – the Matthews family lawyer – respectively.   The perpetrator in Suitable for Framing, Dale Kingston, is portrayed by Ross Martin – famous by this point for his work on The Wild Wild West – and his accomplice Tracy O’Connor was played by Rosanna Huffman. Their victim, the art collector Rudy Matthews, was an uncredited role for veteran Robert Shayne.   This was a much larger cast than even the previous episode, with Joan Shawlee‘s Mitilda, an art gallery owner, Vic Tayback‘s Sam Franklin, an artist exhibiting at that gallery, Mary Wickes‘ landlady and Curt Conway‘s eager-to-please servant Evans amongst the most noticeable supporting turns. Director Hy Averback was at the helm here for the first of his two Columbo episodes.   There was no trivia question this week, but if anyone would like to discuss anything covered in the podcast or related to Suitable for Framing then please feel free to comment here, or find us on Twitter at @columbopodcast.   The Columbo Podcast is available on iTunes, Stitcher, tunein, Pocket Casts or pretty much wherever you choose to get your podcasts from. If you enjoy the show then please do consider leaving ratings and reviews on these sites as that can help the podcast a lot.   Suitable for Framing was released in 1971. It is 76 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Netflix in the United States and is available on DVD in other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all eleven seasons released by Universal.   Tweet

The third episode of Columbo was titled Dead Weight and focused on not just a murder investigation, but on the relationship between the killer and a witness to his crime. In this podcast Gerry and Iain consider the highs and lows of Dead Weight and how it compares to the two earlier episodes.     There was a slightly expanded cast for this episode, compared with the compact groups from Murder by the Book and Death Lends a Hand. Eddie Albert‘s military-hero-turned-killer Major General Martin Hollister is the driving force in Dead Weight, but the arc of the story is really the journey of Helen Stewart, played by Suzanne Pleshette.   Supporting these key characters are four more, each with their own role to play. John Kerr‘s Colonel Roger Dutton is our unfortunate victim and Kate Reid plays Mrs Walters, the carping mother of Helen Stewart. Minor roles are also played by Val Avery (as Harry Barnes) and by Timothy Carey as café owner Bert.   There was no trivia question this week, but if anyone is able to provide clarity on the military ranks we discussed or would simply like to discuss anything covered in the podcast or related to Dead Weight then please feel free to comment here, or find us on Twitter at @columbopodcast.   The Columbo Podcast is available on iTunes, Stitcher, tunein, Pocket Casts or pretty much wherever you choose to get your podcasts from. If you enjoy the show then please do consider leaving ratings and reviews on these sites as those help the podcast a great deal.   Dead Weight was released in 1971. It is 76 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Netflix in the United States and is available on DVD in other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all eleven seasons released by Universal.   Tweet

After a strong opening episode Columbo returned with a new case in Death Lends a Hand. This was the second of Season 1’s seven episodes and pitted Columbo against a private detective in a twist on the traditional relationship between killer and investigator. In this show Gerry and Iain look at the key components and moments of Death Lends a Hand.     Columbo shared centre stage in this episode with Robert Culp‘s Investigator Brimmer (first name unknown!). There was a similarly tight group of critical participants this time as there had been in Murder by the Book: Pat Crowley as the unfortunate Lenore Kennicut; Ray Milland as her widower, Arthur Kennicut and Brett Halsey as golf pro Ken Archer.   Though he doesn’t have the silver screen resumé of episode 1’s director, Steven Spielberg, Bernard Kowalski was nonetheless a prolific contributor to both Columbo and to television of the era more generally. Creators Richard Levinson and William Link were the writers of this episode – the only time in the show’s run that they are credited in this way.   During the podcast Iain promised a little more information on The Ray Milland Show. This was a sitcom which originally went by the title Meet Mr. McNutley and ran for two years on CBS. The Internet Archive has some footage from the original radio simulcast of the show’s first season, which is worth a look if you have an interest in Milland and his work.   In this episode Gerry and Iain posed a new challenge to listeners – does anybody know how many times Robert Culp made a Columbo appearance? If you think you do then please, as ever, use the comments below, or contact us on Twitter where we’re still @columbopodcast.   Death Lends a Hand was released in 1971. It is 76 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Netflix in the United States and is available on DVD in other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all eleven seasons released by Universal.   Tweet

Murder by the Book was the first installment of Columbo’s inaugural season and (if we set the pilots aside for now) introduced audiences to Peter Falk in what was to become an iconic role. In this episode Gerry and Iain take a look at not only the plot, but also the characters, actors and others involved in the creation of Murder by the Book.     Besides Falk’s Columbo there were four more key characters in this story: Jack Cassidy as the scheming Ken Franklin; Martin Milner as Franklin’s former partner and first victim Jim Ferris; the tragic Barbara Colby as Lily La Sanka, a shopkeeper and admirer of Franklin; and Rosemary Forsyth as Joanna Ferris, the wife and ultimately widow of Jim.   This episode is notable for a number of reasons, not least because it was directed by a young Steven Spielberg and written by Steven Bochco, two men who went on to have great success in their fields, the former having won multiple Oscars and the latter ten Emmy Awards.   In this episode Gerry and Iain posed a challenge to listeners – can anyone identify the two Columbo murderers portrayed by actors born in Hamilton, Scotland. If you think you can then please use the comments below, or contact us on twitter where we’re @columbopodcast.   Murder by the Book was released in 1971. It is 76 minutes long and originally aired on the NBC network. It can be viewed on Netflix in the United States and is available on DVD in other countries, including a comprehensive box set of all eleven seasons released by Universal.   Tweet