Billed as a celebratory special to mark the series’ 25th anniversary, ‘A Trace of Murder’ saw the Lieutenant rise Phoenix-like from the ashes of the ‘Strange Bedfellows’ debacle of two years earlier. Something to get excited about, or yet another disappointment? Let’s see…
Starring man mountain George Wendt as an unlikely double killer and Oscar-winning actor Rod Steiger as a menacing mob boss, ‘Strange Bedfellows’ burst onto screens on May 8, 1995. A sure-fire winner or another also-ran? Let’s find out…
Airing on May 2, 1994, ‘Undercover’ was the second of the series’ two dreaded Ed McBain 87th Precinct novel adaptations. Can it manage to insert Columbo into the world of serious police procedurals without enraging viewers? Let’s see…
Hollywood goddess Faye Dunaway became the most famous Columbo guest star ever when she popped us as Lauren Staton in 1993’s ‘It’s All in the Game’. Is this Peter Falk-penned vehicle worthy of such a stellar leading lady? Let’s take a look…
After an eight-month rest to recover from the trauma of ‘No Time to Die’, Columbo burst back onto screens in November 1992 investigating a triple homicide in ‘A Bird in the Hand..’ Worth the wait, or one to forget? Let’s see…
First airing on December 15, 1991, and starring the irrepressible Rip Torn, is ‘Death Hits the Jackpot’ a winning lottery ticket of an episode, or a rubbishy $5 scratch card? Let’s tune in and find out…
A funeral took place on March 31, 1990, one to which we were all invited: Mrs Columbo’s! Yes folks, this time it’s personal as the widow of one of the Lieutenant’s previous arrests is out for revenge against the detective and his wife. Let’s see how successful her attempt is…
With the passing of another year, here I chronicle the Columbo stars and contributors we said ‘bon voyage’ to in 2018. May they live long in the memory…
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