Columbo (1971)

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1. 

   Joculator

   One of the few detective series I really enjoy. 13 years 1 month ago
2. 

   Siskoid

   Season 1: The DVD includes the two TV pilots (Columbo started life in a play, the showed up in a 1968 one-off television mystery movie, with a second effort in 1971 that led to a ± monthly series of tele-films running for a number of years), in which the detective made famous by Peter Falk is a lot edgier. It's slightly weird to see this younger Columbo aggressively lay into suspects, though his modus operandi is pretty much the same. If you've never seen Columbo (is that even possible? let's say it is), every instalment starts with us seeing the "perfect murder", followed by Columbo quickly figuring out who did it, then bugging (and finally tricking) that person until he or she makes a mistake so their guilt can be proven. It's not a whodunit, nor a whydonit. It's a howtoproveit. Anyway, these first 9 episodes still stand up, not only because the character is so engaging, but because the murders are shot with a lot of flair, often embracing the murderer's style and point of view. You won't just find recognizable stars in the cast (Suzanne Pleshette, Don Ameche, Leslie Nielsen, Roddy McDowall) but behind the camera as well (one of them was directed by a young Steven Spielberg!).
   
   Season 2: (1972-73) featuring 8 more TV movies with the frumpy sleuth. It's pretty much just like Season 1 except that Columbo goes up against a different host of rich a-holes who commit murder and think they can get away with it. Columbo is really classist, y'know? He couldn't be any more blue collar, and he never solves murders committed by anyone even remotely close to his income bracket. I've got the entire series in a boxed set, so I'm waiting for the day he has to solve a murder committed by someone who isn't filthy rich or filthy famous. Not sure it'll ever happen. Hm. Notable guest-stars include Leonard Nimoy, John Cassavetes, Dean Stockwell, Martin Landau, Dabney Coleman, Honor Blackman, Julie Newmar, and Pat Morita in a tiny role as the "house boy"! 10 months ago

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