It’s hard to believe that a TV detective who was so disheveled and seemingly absent-minded would become a cultural icon, but that’s exactly what happened with Columbo. This NBC series, which ran from 1971 to 1978, flipped the script on the typical crime procedural. Instead of the whodunit, we were given the “howcatchem“. We, the audience, knew who committed the crime right from the start, it was up to Lieutenant Columbo, portrayed by the brilliant Peter Falk, to piece together the puzzle, often by using his unassuming nature to lower the guard of the often wealthy and arrogant killers he pursued. This concept wasn’t entirely new, it was actually inspired by the 1960s short story “May I Come In?” by Edgar Award winning author, James Yaffe.
The show’s structure was its genius. Each episode began with the crime, usually committed by a well-to-do individual who felt they were above the law. Then in would shuffle Columbo, with his rumpled trench coat, ever-present cigar, and seemingly endless questions. His technique, a sort of ‘just one more thing’ style of questioning, was an exercise in patience and psychological deduction. It wasn’t about the chase, it was about the mental game, and that’s why audiences kept tuning in. Peter Falk wasn’t the only reason the show worked so well, the casting directors regularly snagged some great character actors to play the week’s killer. Robert Culp, for example, was a fantastic recurring nemesis, and Patrick McGoohan was another memorable presence as a criminal genius. Other notable guest stars included Ruth Gordon, and John Cassavetes. The first Columbo movie, titled Prescription: Murder, was actually a TV movie and aired in 1968, three years before the show was picked up for a regular series.
Columbo was actually part of the NBC Mystery Movie series, which was an umbrella show that consisted of three rotating detective series, the other two being McCloud and McMillan & Wife. Each of these series aired on a rotating weekly basis, which was a really unique approach to TV programming at the time and a very clever way for networks to keep the audience interested, rather than getting stale with the standard weekly format. This format gave Columbo a bit more freedom, allowing for longer episode lengths and more self-contained stories, which, in many ways, helped separate it from other detective shows on TV.
The writing consistently used the characters’ hubris against them. They underestimated Columbo because of his appearance and manner, they couldn’t fathom that this man, who seemed so disorganized, was actually a brilliant observer. This was not a show about car chases or gun fights, but one that was a character study in disguise, it was about the battle between the clever criminal and the even cleverer detective who wore a mask of incompetence. The show used the 70s era well, often making the killer’s wealth and privileged position in society a critical part of the story. The procedural elements, of course, were still there but they took a back seat to the psychological maneuvering of the two main players in each episode.
Columbo was a TV show that wasn’t afraid to be different, it stood out in a sea of other shows, and still does. It is a great example of how creativity in writing and casting can overcome the typical tropes. It is a show that continues to be celebrated for its wit, ingenuity, and the singular performance of Peter Falk as the TV detective who was always one step ahead, even if it took him a few minutes to get there.
Columbo aired on NBC.
Years ran: 1971-1978
Number of Episodes: 69
Creators: Richard Levinson and William Link
Cast: Peter Falk, Robert Culp, Patrick McGoohan, Ruth Gordon, and John Cassavetes.
