Who is Columbophile?
I am a Columbo super-fan, expert and influencer who loves the character of Lieutenant Columbo and the charm brought to the role by Peter Falk.
My first foray into the online Columbo community came when I started the @columbophile account on Twitter in 2011. I was delighted by the positive response, and the enduring love the world still has for the show. The rest has grown from there.
When I’m not watching the show, or adding pics to the Columbophile Instagram page, or adding to this blog, or reading Columbo books, or expanding my collection of Columbo memorabilia, or updating the Columbophile Facebook page, or walking my basset hound, I live a quiet life with my family in Australia.
Relatively few people in Oz are aware of the greatness of the program, which is why social media has been such a revelation in enabling contact with fans across the world. If you’re a fan of Columbo, or of Peter Falk in general, I’d love to hear from you! I hope you enjoy this site, and I’m always happy to receive feedback – as long as you don’t use language that would upset Mrs Columbo. She cries easily, you know…
Contact Columbophile
As well as through the social media links above, you can always leave comments on any page of the blog and I’ll pick them up in due course.
If you’ve got ideas for future articles, or just want to say hello, you can email me directly. I do receive a lot of emails, though, so it can take me a while to get back to folks and some may inadvertently pass me by entirely.
I’ve also been interviewed on radio and for a Podcast talking about Columbo fandom, so if you’d ever like to chat about the show for something similar I’d be all ears.
Legal disclaimer
I don’t own or claim to own the copyright of the imagery and videos featured on this site, which are ultimately the property of NBCUniversal. What videos you see on this site are already in the public domain via the official Columbo YouTube channel, or used by me under Fair Use legislation as part of my on-going efforts to thoroughly critique and analyse the series.
Support Columbophile
I quit the day job in early 2019 to spend more time on a range of creative projects – chiefly my Columbo activities. If you could find it in your heart to support my endeavours via a small donation at my Buy Me a Coffee page (which accepts Paypal payment), I’ll be eternally grateful. It will help fund site upgrades and allow me to access software and apps to help me produce better Columbo content.
Show your support here, you wonderful person you!
Lovable backers to date: Faye (who, as my first pledger, will forever maintain a place in my heart); George S; Jennifer Robinson; Juan; Jan; Anonymous 10-coffee buyer (I love you); Nurn; Krister Wendelborg; Shannon Dizoglio; Ade; Peter Q; Julien Dury; Paul; VL; pking; Claire; Siobhan Marlow; Jane; Carl; Richard Harkness (multiple donator, you lovely chap!); Stripy the Cat; @BoxDaveB; William Madden; Tara B (a wonderful multiple donator); Jennifer Hollady; Mark Harrison; Juan; Cristi; Marie; Sally; Captain Chuck; Booker (multiple donator, you legend!); Sean Quinn; Ed Porben (multiple donator – thanks Ed!); Bryan Edwards; Debra Zyla; VA Investor; Lyn; Sara; Andrew Oliva; Rod Sieger; Trish; David B; Jennifer; MrsD47; Scott Schada; Joyce M; Zara; 1st Housewife & 1st Husband of Hove; William Madden; Donna in Illinois; Jeni; Jim Vanhooler; Martin; Patricia Schott; Peter; @angelynng; Wendy; BlueGinhm; Angela Leverenz (multiple donator – HERO!); George Gaddie; Sara; Debbie; Diane Berl; Erod; Katherine Brown; Nancy; @ClassicVW54; Eric Henderson; Andrew Oliva; David Blane; tmh8; Mónika Cserba; @mylifeasliz64; @colinb66; koalaFlowers; Stephen Carey; Benjamin Henry Timpson; @GentlemanNikki; Lisa Battisti; Sgleason81; Mike Browne; Patty Williams; Simon; Christyne Berzsenyi (outrageously rad multiple donator); Joanna Guthrie; post@gams; James Dick; Gary L Hickey; John Notte; Yann; Marissa Adams; Anthony Marshall; Butch Clown; Bonnie Stoller; Allison Evans; Jennifer Hollady; Virginia; Serè; Jo from London; Eric Rachut (multiple donator – calloo callay!); Ann Stoelzle; Joanna Yu; Knut Berg; Gene; Ellen Fagan (heroic multiple donator); Sarah Owens; Kevin; Theboysinthelab; DastardlyDeano; Tom Lawrence; @poetryqnny; Rick Klein; Anne Shenton; Xavier & Vanessa Langdon; Johann; Sean; Pat Menges; Bruce Paine; Helen Williams; @isnotfollowing; Beverly Walton; Sue Dal Dosso (lovely multiple donator); Bruno Adam; Judith Johnson; Steve R; @thejoshbrandon; Paul Allen (10-coffee donator – woooo!); TVthyme (multiple donator – legend!); Scott Hasselmann; Dan McKay; Steven; Tim Donovan; Kate; tara; LJDNYC; Tony Susnick; Milton; Steve; Matthew Finnerty; Scott; Lisa Lee; @thefactrat; 40 Entrepreneur Drive; @manateacake; @lifelongstuden1; Robert Moodey; Karl Teidemann; daria_h; Johannes Lee; Andy Hadlington; @ricegf; Bunny; Matt Schmitt; Joe; Robert Loglisci; Russell Hanson; RW; Katherine; Trish; Lloyd; Solveig; James Widmar; Dixie Laite; Rob; DorothyFan; @jasonpetri (multiple donator – HUZZAH!); Kellyfans; Melissa Cecchini; Bird51; @katbhandari; Katherine; Shrinkrap; Melanie Rees; Tonya S; Anthony; First name on that? 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Thanks, too, to the many anonymous donators, whom I still love despite not knowing who you are…
Dozens more Columbo gift ideas here
Heya Columbophile, have you considered researching and writing a post dedicated to the murder of Jean-Bernard Wiktorska? It’s perhaps a bit macabre, but I feel like the fact that a real-life murderer copied a Columbo villain’s clever trick (and the police *may* have been initially fooled by this) is worthy of mention.
I’ve actually considered writing a murder mystery myself at one point but I’m a little concerned that the techniques I had in mind are a bit too realistically clever.
In ”Make me a Perfect Murder” what is the name of the beautiful instrumental music playing while ‘she’ runs back from commiting the crime with the recording counting time, please?
Dear Columbophile, I’d like to send you a picture of a beer glass I painted with Columbo, but the email link you provide goes via outlook which doesn’t work with me.
At least I can give you a youtube shorts link with it, hope you like it :
https://youtube.com/shorts/4yxNgYGxje4
Thanks for your website !
Hello, have you ever ranked the 1989-2003 episodes, I haven’t seen them on the ranking page. If not online, does you book include them ranked as you did with all the other episodes?
I’ve been ranking the 89-03 episodes as I review them, so if you have a look at the end of the Murder With Too Many Notes review you’ll see almost the full list of ‘new’ Columbo episodes ranked. Once I’ve reviewed Columbo Likes the Nightlife I’ll slot the new episodes in amongst the classic episodes and have a complete ranking list. The book only focuses on the 1968-78 episodes.
I just began a full Columbo rewatch and am so happy to have found this site before I got too far! My inspiration was the recent release of Poker Face on Peacock, which liberally borrows the inverted mystery structure from Columbo. Also on Peacock are 10 seasons of Columbo, plus the first two TV movies, so I started where I thought I had left off with the DVDs a few years ago, in season 7…but then thought, why not start at the beginning?? So that’s what I’m doing. I’m going to go full Falk and check out the John Cassavette films I’ve never seen. I look forward to using this site as my companion on the journey!
Hi Steve, welcome aboard the Columbo train! Great to hear that Poker Face is serving as an inspiration to get into or get BACK into Columbo 🙌🏼
So happy to have found this site and I am shocked to see how often we agree on thoughts about the episodes. I love that no actor, writer or director is off limits for criticism where it’s due. Of the thousands of vhs tapes, dvds and blu-rays I own this series is in a player more often than all others combined and I still pick up something new and interesting on every visit here. Thank you and all those who comment and add to the content here.
Dear Columbophile,
I think about you and your daughter’s serious illness and hope she will prevail into a healthy adult, and this all will be a painful memory.
Right now, I am watching an episode of Columbo called “Death Hits the Jackpot” with Betsy Palmer who came from a working class town outside Chicago and I hope you might say a kind thing about her when you review this episode.
As a child I was in love with her beauty and sweetness as a panelist on the long lived Garry Moore hosted American quiz show “I’ve Got A Secret” of which I never missed an episode starting as a child with my parents. A fun show and a lovely lady.
Looking for some info from a vague memory: Is there an episode of Columbo where he says something like, “When you don’t know where someone is going, follow them; when you do know where they’re going, go their first and wait”?
I don’t know if he does.
But he certainly seems
to follow that advice by being early to
appointments, and sometimes tailing
suspects, like he does Nora in Requiem
For a Falling Star.
There is a quote like that in the movie The Zero Effect, about trailing people inconspicuously.
Who knows the name of the song that Columbo dances to with the bride in the Season 10 episode No Time to Die?
Hello! Just wanted to mention that today is Peter Falk’s birthday- he would have turned 94. He passed away in 2011- he was an awesome actor, a legendary entertainer and a great American. I first saw him as a teenager in Columbo around 1984- and he was such a versatile, talented, natural actor. He did everything: television, the big screen, theater- he was truly superb. Happy heavenly birthday, Peter Falk! Just one more thing!
Help me!!!!! I am definitely am a Columbophile from France.
I would like to register on your platform but I dunno how to do it? Can you help me please?
See u ASAP for French news about l’inspecteur Columbo !!!!!
Moanie XOXO
Can anybody who is a true Columbo (The worlds greatest detective second to none) tell me what the foam on Columbo’s collars were in A case of Immunity? You can see it when he’s in the kitchen eating. Looks like shaving cream. email me at nightscreamspub@gmail,com. Columbo Rules! I actually wore a suit and a raincoat and carried a cigar as Lt. Columbo at Bradlees where I worked, where we were allowed to dress up for Halloween. If anybody knows, please tell me.
Have you seen this: Carl Stewart was sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison. Merseyside Police
He made it too cheesy for cops.
A British drug dealer was busted after he shared a photo of his hand holding a block of cheese — and police were able to analyze his fingerprints.
I am interested in finding out what two teams played in the game in the Robert Culp GM of the Rockets football team in The Most Crucial Game. I am figuring it is the 49ers and Rams with some cutting and washing of the helmets and knickers of the Rams.
Anyone have any thoughts?
Just an aside. Rescue Magazine, backed by area pet rescues here in central Texas, has mentioned that the Basset hound on Columbo is played by a dog rescued from the Burbank Animal Shelter by trainer Ray Berwick. Mr Berwick was the same man who wrangled the hundreds of birds on Hitchcock’s movie – what else? – The Birds. The dog-actor – whose name was Henry – in his Colombo role was the basis for the character, a Basset dressed in a trenchcoat, in the logo for the “Take a Bite Out of Crime” campaign.
…Henry was of course the name of the canine actor, but the character’s name was simply DOG.
Just wondering will the newer episodes from “Death hits the Jackpot” onwards, be reviewed soon?
Does anyone here know who played the fisherman that found the body in Any Old Port in a Storm? It is uncredited, not on IMDB and no fans sites so far have mentioned it.
I’ve been following your page (and your Instagram account) for a while and it makes me so happy to find such a major Columbo fan! Thank you so much for raising awareness for this treasure of a show. Your site brings me so much joy!
I’m from Europe and just ordered all complete full episodes on disc soon to arrive I at my doorstep a total of 4411 minutes according to the seller. I would like to publish all of them for free viewing on my own website, but I am wondering if that would be legal. Anyone? Thanks and cheers! PhiL
It would be in breach of copyright to do so, so be careful!
That would be a serious
crime. A lady once put a
catalogue of songs for free downloading
on a pirate site, and the FBI fined her
some $200,000. And she had to remove
them as well.
It’s not just copyright infringement. It’s
Grand Theft.
I just did a search to see if such a site as this existed because of my own love for the character. For me, the character of Columbo personifies the advantage of wisdom over knowledge. He has a low key unassuming character, but he’s constantly coming into contact with arrogant self assured criminals who think they’ve committed the perfect murder and who falsely believe they’re superior intellects. Like the episode with the ‘MENSA’ type group of intellectuals. His character highlights the folly of pride in the world. So much more an attractive character than that of Holmes.
Love this site and your IG page!❤️ Where can I find those adorable T-shirts you recently posted?
Ahoy there! Plenty of nice Columbo Ts here: https://www.teepublic.com/en-au/stores/thecolumbophile
There’s a sale on the site at time of posting, although it’s just about to end. They do run pretty regularly, though, so bargains can be had.
Awesome fan-site. Thanks for all your work! To bad europeans as myself can’t watch the episodes on Peecock…. Please add some more fulde episodes here at Columbophiles 😀
Hi from Canada. I am enjoying your blog (more than the newer episodes of Columbo). I also noticed how long they are (2 hours with commercials) but I record them and fast forward through the commercials.
One thing I enjoyed watching was Peter Falk on Inside the Actors Studio. I assume you e seen it but it would be interesting to see a summary of that episode. He spoke about various idiosyncrasies of Columbo.
I log on to Columbophile a lot – love it! – and post regularly. I found it sad, in learning about Peter Falk’s dementia, that in testing his cognizance, doctors asked him if he remembered a police lieutenant named Columbo, and he replied that he hadn’t. I find that so sad, because Columbo is so loved.
I am watching a 1960 episode of The Untouchables entitled “The Underworld Bank”. Third and fourth billed are Peter Falk (the third Columbo) and Thomas Mitchell (the second). I already knew that they were both in George Cukor’s last Hollywood film, A Pocket Full of Miracles (1961), but I did not know they had already appeared together on the small screen. I cannot find any other connection. One wonders if Mitchell had already agreed to appear in the stage version of “Prescription Murder” when they were filming “Miracles”.
I have never heard or read of Falk discussing earlier Columbos. Does anyone know if either Falk or Mitchell appeared with Bert Freed, the first Columbo? I cannot find an instance in IMDB, but I didn’t look very hard. It is interesting that Bert Freed appeared in a different Untouchables episode (#1-23) that was broadcast only three weeks earlier than “The Underworld Bank” (#1-26). He also appeared in a McMillan and Wife episode in 1975, while it was rotating with Columbo in the Mystery Movie wheel. It ran just two weeks after “Forgotten Lady”.