Undoubtedly one of the best ever character creations, both from a writing and a performing standpoint. Every episode is thoroughly watchable no matter how often you've seen them.
Great backstory on my favourite tv detective..I never miss a chance to watch Columbo and I agree with everyone here..Peter Falk was the only actor who could have pulled off this role so perfectly.
Not just any detective, in my book he was THE detective. I was always amazed by the finesse of his character and how the bad guy would ultimately be led away without handcuffs. It was like a clear checkmate to the villain. "Ya got me lieutenant."
Columbo has been part of my life since I was a child - as a family we'd watch each episode together totally enthralled by Peter Falk's character and acting. I don't any other detective series even comes close to the Columbo format and watching reruns is like visiting an old friend. I plan to be in Los Angeles in a couple of weeks and I will definitely be visiting Peter Falk's grave to say "goodbye" to him in person. Love you Peter - long live Columbo! 🥰🕵♀
Ross Martin, who starred as Dale Kingston in the episode 'Suitable For Framing' (one of my favorites) had been an acting coach for Peter Falk at the beginning of Falk's career. Both actors were previously in the cast of the movie 'The Great Race'. Thank you for this excellent video.
Columbo and Jim Rockford both worked in the same area in LA, investigating the same kinds of crimes, yet they never crossed paths. A missed opportunity for an epic crossover.
My parents had a deli on 91st and 2nd Ave in NYCin the late 60’s. PF came in one day and had their house special hot roast beef sandwich. They roasted a fresh big roast beef every day!
That was awesome. I feel like it should have referenced the German Wings of Desire film, where Falk plays himself as an actor and former angel who decided to become human. I think the part his actor is playing is Columbo, and he walks past some kids who say, 'Is that Columbo?' 'No, I don't think so, not in that shabby coat'
Excellent summary of the series. SO HAPPY you referred to 'Any Port In A Storm" - perhaps my favourite episode, followed closely by 'The Conspirators'.
Interesting to hear his first name was Frank. As Falk himself had always insisted when asked that his first name was Lieutenant. He was quite insistant on this.
I believe.the show we love these days. Vera may be a copy cat of. Columbo. Loved him as i grew up. Always ready for his another thing. And trenchcoat and cigar that never seemed to be lit. A great actor.
It was one of the few TV shows I could watch with my mother. She adored Columbo, for his homely appearance and dishevelled appearance. There was a kind of Socialist charm about him. My mother loved the way he would stick it to the the wealthy and or well-connected. She liked the fact he was unarmed and solved cases by guile and intelligence. In Australia we had a real life top homicide detective 🕵️ who was homely and wore a coat like Columbo’s, and who now has his own TV show featuring his own real live cases (with a 99 % success rate). Most real police actually dislike cop shows but Columbo was a real favourite with police management in Australia, such was the quality of the writing.
It was never really revealed or discussed, but his character would seem to be a displaced New York City detective in Los Angeles, thus the suit-tie-trench coat look. This would also apply to Hawaii Five-0, whereas McGarrett was hired or dispatched from a big city in the states to root out corruption in our 50th state, thus the suit and tie look for his entire force. This is a fish-out-of -water scenario - always wondered as I grew up watching these great shows.
Here's another interesting fact. In one of the early seasons there was an episode where Columbo was shown speaking fluent Italian to a relative of a murder victim. But in an another episode a few seasons later a man tried to talk to him in Italian and Columbo told the man that he didn't speak the language. That contradiction always bugged me.
Peter Falk was a cigarette smoker, he disliked cigars and although occasionally he lights a cigar or makes a lot of smoke from a cigar for visual effect mostly he is seen with an unlit cigar for that reason.
The spin off series, Mrs. Columbo/Kate Loves A Mystery starred Kate Mulgrew, perhaps best known as Capt. Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager. She was only about 23 back then.
I recently got hold of both seasons of the show, but I haven't got around to watching any episodes yet. Have you seen it? From reading about the show it sounds like a complete mess! 😊
I remember seeing a few but it just didn’t have the appeal of the main series. It could’ve been better. Btw, thanks for citing Fred L. Worth’s Super Trivia Encyclopedia. That’s one handy volume. It had a Volume II & Mr. Worth also wrote World War II Super Facts.
Very nice work, well narrated although a bit pedestrian in style. I have the first 3 seasons in my library. It would have been nice to hear a little about composers Billy Goldenberg and Dick DeBenedictis, who were so spot on with their scores. The Hungarian tie-in with Columbo perhaps blew my mind more than anything else. A statue in Budapest? Good grief.
While mentioning Jack Cassidy in just 3 episodes, I would think you did disservice by not mentioning Robert Culp (appeared in 4 episodes, being the culprit in 3 of them) and Patrick McGoohan (appeared in 4 episodes, directed 3 of them).
That was good. I bought the DVD set one Prime Day. Many actors best known for playing good guys were the murderers Columbo caught. Years after The NBC Mystery Movie ended, Falk did new episodes for ABC.
In the episode, Now You See Him, with Jack Cassidy, Mrs. Columbo gets him a new raincoat (a blue one), but he doesn't like it and keeps trying to "lose" it. Same thing happened on Matlock, but it was a new suit, a brown one, but he couldn't get used to it and started itching right there in the courtroom. I don't remember the name of the episode, though.
I'm a huge fan of Columbo, and would recommend anything from it's original 1970's run. There's a second batch of episodes that were done between 88, and 2003, of which there are a couple that I like, and are quite good, but there's a few that I'll automatically pass on. And there's 2 that I haven't seen at all. Probably a good idea to read some reviews on the second batch.
Saw Jack on Match Game the other day. I'm, also, watching David Cassidy: Man Under Cover. I was surprised at how twin-like their smiles were when David got older.
The eye this why didn't you put that as something many didn't know, I only found out HD had a glass eye till several years after his death and my parents too, and others we had no idea he had any eye issues
There was a Japanese version starring Masaaki Sakai who also played Monkey in the popular 1970s series "Monkey Magic". I haven't been able to find any clips of this show unfortunately!
well I know many times he would have an 🥚🥚 egg in his pocket to eat when he got hungry also he never had pancil or pen or money 💰 that was most of the time always looking to get free food in one of his beginning programs he would go to the lady s house and start to make breakfast for him and the lady he was very funny I'm still watching it but by hug or by hug he got his men and weman.
It would have ruined the show if he had a side kick. Columbo said he never had children to a Psychopath. Supposedly he was concerned about protecting his children. When the show started up, I wrote him and asked for his autograph. I got back a photo of Columbo with his signature.
sameone comets that no one can do columbo and you are epselutely wright about that one but he was on Jonny Carson one time and he did columbo quite well.
Undoubtedly one of the best ever character creations, both from a writing and a performing standpoint. Every episode is thoroughly watchable no matter how often you've seen them.
You are absolutely spot on
I’m watched a couple episodes of Columbo earlier today 🧥!
This is my favorite show of all time❤❤
Always loved Columbo. Only Peter Falk could have played that character that well. Thanks for this video.
Thanks, he was a legend
Columbo was part of my childhood. I have all the episodes and binge-watch at least once a year.
The greatest detective ever.
I saw this TV show when I was about 10 years old. I feel very excited.
This man has given me so much joy over the years. I love Columbo and Peter Falk is very special to me.
I agree, I'm on season 5 so far in the years binge.
love the guy...can watch all episodes again and again
Love Columbo still watch old episodes absolute magic
Columbo was the best and I loved the fact he used the same actors in several episodes.
Great backstory on my favourite tv detective..I never miss a chance to watch Columbo and I agree with everyone here..Peter Falk was the only actor who could have pulled off this role so perfectly.
Colombo was one of the best shows ever made. I still record and watch a couple episodes every week.
I still watch them too, on season 5 of this year's binge watching session
I do exactly the same thing
Columbo is one of my favorite shows. Well written, directed and acted.
I can watch these week in week out, must have seen them hundreds of times, and I am still watching.
Not just any detective, in my book he was THE detective. I was always amazed by the finesse of his character and how the bad guy would ultimately be led away without handcuffs. It was like a clear checkmate to the villain. "Ya got me lieutenant."
Still watch Columbo to this day, he is such an iconic character. As soon as you hear just one more thing, you smile as you know they're done.
Columbo has been part of my life since I was a child - as a family we'd watch each episode together totally enthralled by Peter Falk's character and acting. I don't any other detective series even comes close to the Columbo format and watching reruns is like visiting an old friend. I plan to be in Los Angeles in a couple of weeks and I will definitely be visiting Peter Falk's grave to say "goodbye" to him in person. Love you Peter - long live Columbo! 🥰🕵♀
Peter Falk was perfect as Columbo, I cannot think of anyone else who could have captured the character so well.
I agree 100%
Any suggestions-???🤔
One word…Genius. ❤
Today I found Columbo on Prime Video and I enjoy every episode! He was a good guy.
Great Character. Great actor. Great story writing. Always enjoyable.
Ross Martin, who starred as Dale Kingston in the episode 'Suitable For Framing' (one of my favorites) had been an acting coach for Peter Falk at the beginning of Falk's career. Both actors were previously in the cast of the movie 'The Great Race'. Thank you for this excellent video.
One of the best. As a gent and a character actor that perfectly fit the narrative and the writers' vision.
I love Columbo since childhood... Thanks for this vid. I keep watching the show every now and then - probably seen it a 100 times already...
Very entertaining! Cheers!!
Love this show ❤ always watch the reruns.
I love my Columbo
I don't think anyone else could of played columbo as good as Peter falk
Any suggestions-???🤔
Could have
@@saralang9677 You could have been less lame.
@@Me-qp8vz you could have had better grammar
@@Me-qp8vz I'm not "lame" at all, thank you. I'm able bodied.
Sunday is binge watch Columbo. I love how he acts dumb but is clever as... Brilliant programme ❤
One of my favourites, watch them all every few years
I adored Peter Falk such an amazingly talented actor ❤
Columbo and Jim Rockford both worked in the same area in LA, investigating the same kinds of crimes, yet they never crossed paths. A missed opportunity for an epic crossover.
Loved this show
See him as a taxi driver in the famous movie, it’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad world. Excellent appearance in that movie.
Delightful! Just the right length, well researched and amusing.
Great narration, too. Well done, sir!
his raincoat is now in the Smithsonian museum
*You Lose CrediBility with CrediBLe PeoPLe, due to your AvaTar!!!!*
Does it come alive at night? lol
next to the Cosby sweater
My parents had a deli on 91st and 2nd Ave in NYCin the late 60’s. PF came in one day and had their house special hot roast beef sandwich. They roasted a fresh big roast beef every day!
That was awesome. I feel like it should have referenced the German Wings of Desire film, where Falk plays himself as an actor and former angel who decided to become human. I think the part his actor is playing is Columbo, and he walks past some kids who say, 'Is that Columbo?' 'No, I don't think so, not in that shabby coat'
ua-cam.com/video/u7s-H4EqP4I/v-deo.html
Watching it right now!!
Love this Great show!
Excellent summary of the series.
SO HAPPY you referred to 'Any Port In A Storm" - perhaps my favourite episode, followed closely by 'The Conspirators'.
Thank you
Thank You for this trivia!
Just glad Bing Crosby was such a keen golfer! 😅
Bing Crosby died at a golf course in Spain, LA Moraleja, just outside of base housing in Madrid.
I LOVE COLUMBO HE NEVER USED A GUN, JUST HIS SMARTS AND WITS. RESTINPEACE PETER FALK YOU ARE MISSEDBY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. ❤❤♥️💙💙💙💜💜💜💗💗💗💯💯💯💯💯
Enjoyed this, thx. I was always pleased to see Columbo get a new cigar as a gift in any episode, his old one always seemed so worn out. Haha. Cheers.
Interesting to hear his first name was Frank. As Falk himself had always insisted when asked that his first name was Lieutenant. He was quite insistant on this.
Can I just say your twenty things are fantastic!!!
I watched every show with my grandmother. It was a ritual.
I'm glad the fella chose golf ⛳️ instead ⛳️🍻✨️😊
So sad that towards the end of his life, he had forgotten he was one of the most iconic characters on tv.
His method of investigation is the one that really works. No heavy stuff, no guns, just intelligence.
Peter Falk was a perfect choice!!
Fortunately, Mrs. Columbo sank like a ship.
Excellent video...think I read somewhere Columbo was meant to be scheduled weekly but Falk vetoed it on account of quality issues..
Well research into it, thanks for the great video 👍
My pleasure!
I got my wife off the soaps by taping this...I watch with her when she is in her TV room...His unmistakable voice and cadence bring you in.
I believe.the show we love these days. Vera may be a copy cat of. Columbo. Loved him as i grew up. Always ready for his another thing. And trenchcoat and cigar that never seemed to be lit. A great actor.
Just 1 more thing Lt. Columbo never carried a weapon
He probably did but never needed to display it.
@@jamesschwartz3837 He did say in 1 episode that he hasn't carried a (gun) in years
And he never finished a cigar.
@@johnmore4155 You're missing the point. he smoked cigars that the point
@@jackdorsey4850just a fact. He also never investigated anyone who wasn't wealthy.
There were some really big name cameo's in his show. A few star trek ones too.
Anyone catch a very young Ashton Kutcher?
@@missjoshemmett No. He was never on any episode of Columbo.
Phenomenal video. Thanks
Glad you liked it!
Love Columbo. He never carried a gun and he was so smart and a great actor. He had something sexy and classy
It was one of the few TV shows I could watch with my mother. She adored Columbo, for his homely appearance and dishevelled appearance. There was a kind of Socialist charm about him. My mother loved the way he would stick it to the the wealthy and or well-connected. She liked the fact he was unarmed and solved cases by guile and intelligence.
In Australia we had a real life top homicide detective 🕵️ who was homely and wore a coat like Columbo’s, and who now has his own TV show featuring his own real live cases (with a 99 % success rate).
Most real police actually dislike cop shows but Columbo was a real favourite with police management in Australia, such was the quality of the writing.
Columbo was not the only detective that Peter Falk portrayed. He was also Sam Diamond in the 1976 film Murder by Death.
And Lou Peckinpaugh in Neil Simon's "The Cheap Detective."
"Murder By Death" was also a Neil Simon comedy.
Brilliant. Have been watching re-runs in the UK.
Always an easy watch
Don't think anything in that that I didn't know as a big fan. However, always enjoy a well put together and well researched entertainment.
Thanks
@@rockywatchesmoviesDawn's early light was a good one. He asked the captain in the barracks for a fresh pair of socks
It was never really revealed or discussed, but his character would seem to be a displaced New York City detective in Los Angeles, thus the suit-tie-trench coat look. This would also apply to Hawaii Five-0, whereas McGarrett was hired or dispatched from a big city in the states to root out corruption in our 50th state, thus the suit and tie look for his entire force. This is a fish-out-of -water scenario - always wondered as I grew up watching these great shows.
Here's another interesting fact. In one of the early seasons there was an episode where Columbo was shown speaking fluent Italian to a relative of a murder victim. But in an another episode a few seasons later a man tried to talk to him in Italian and Columbo told the man that he didn't speak the language. That contradiction always bugged me.
Peter Falk was a cigarette smoker, he disliked cigars and although occasionally he lights a cigar or makes a lot of smoke from a cigar for visual effect mostly he is seen with an unlit cigar for that reason.
He is perfect for the rile
Definitely!
The spin off series, Mrs. Columbo/Kate Loves A Mystery starred Kate Mulgrew, perhaps best known as Capt. Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek: Voyager. She was only about 23 back then.
I recently got hold of both seasons of the show, but I haven't got around to watching any episodes yet. Have you seen it? From reading about the show it sounds like a complete mess! 😊
I remember seeing a few but it just didn’t have the appeal of the main series. It could’ve been better.
Btw, thanks for citing Fred L. Worth’s Super Trivia Encyclopedia. That’s one handy volume. It had a Volume II & Mr. Worth also wrote World War II Super Facts.
I will NEVER tire ftom watching
Colombo 👍💖👏
🙏👍💐🔍👐💖👐🔍💐👍🙏
🔍............Peter.Falk............🔍
🙏👍💐🔍👐💖👐🔍💐👍🙏
Cigarettes
Very nice work, well narrated although a bit pedestrian in style. I have the first 3 seasons in my library. It would have been nice to hear a little about composers Billy Goldenberg and Dick DeBenedictis, who were so spot on with their scores.
The Hungarian tie-in with Columbo perhaps blew my mind more than anything else. A statue in Budapest? Good grief.
I think Columbo had a gun but his gun was like his wife you never got to see it on the show
I grew up watching Columbo
You can watch every episode online
I am on season 3 at the moment, rewatching all of them.
2nd favorite columbo show..1st is the lottery show
From memory, Columbo had 3 Peugeot identical cars but none survived.
Good list tho'. A real blast from the past for me, starting my career in the 60s
While mentioning Jack Cassidy in just 3 episodes, I would think you did disservice by not mentioning Robert Culp (appeared in 4 episodes, being the culprit in 3 of them) and Patrick McGoohan (appeared in 4 episodes, directed 3 of them).
If you haven't seen it watch him on Frank Sinatra's roast.
That was good. I bought the DVD set one Prime Day. Many actors best known for playing good guys were the murderers Columbo caught. Years after The NBC Mystery Movie ended, Falk did new episodes for ABC.
If I remember correctly, an article on the show said that all the big actors of the day were begging to be a villain on Colombo!
I would have no hesitation saying that Columbo is third smartest detective ever after Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poiret.
In the episode, Now You See Him, with Jack Cassidy, Mrs. Columbo gets him a new raincoat (a blue one), but he doesn't like it and keeps trying to "lose" it.
Same thing happened on Matlock, but it was a new suit, a brown one, but he couldn't get used to it and started itching right there in the courtroom. I don't remember the name of the episode, though.
Now you see it is one of my favourite episodes
Iove that show !!! incI the pooch !!!
I knew all that stuff.
Favorite Columbo meal: Chili
He does love a bowl of chili
Just no clams!!
I'm a huge fan of Columbo, and would recommend anything from it's original 1970's run. There's a second batch of episodes that were done between 88, and 2003, of which there are a couple that I like, and are quite good, but there's a few that I'll automatically pass on. And there's 2 that I haven't seen at all. Probably a good idea to read some reviews on the second batch.
Jack Cassidy was David Cassidy's dad 👍
Saw Jack on Match Game the other day. I'm, also, watching David Cassidy: Man Under Cover. I was surprised at how twin-like their smiles were when David got older.
Lee J Cobb had survived at least one previous heart attack when the series started and he died in 1976, the year before Crosby passed away.
I always had a feeling his first name was Frank.
The eye this why didn't you put that as something many didn't know, I only found out HD had a glass eye till several years after his death and my parents too, and others we had no idea he had any eye issues
I think the bbysitter was for "Dog".
Jack Cassidy was in 3 episodes as was Robert Culp
The Johnny Cash one was one of the best
@@RobAttridge That was the one that got me into Columbo. Swan Song.
Don’t forget Val Avery ,great character actor
There was a Japanese version starring Masaaki Sakai who also played Monkey in the popular 1970s series "Monkey Magic". I haven't been able to find any clips of this show unfortunately!
Pocket full of miracles, Murder by death....
Oh, How brilliant! Frank Colombo? Look at the meaning of 'to be frank,....
well I know many times he would have an 🥚🥚 egg in his pocket to eat when he got hungry also he never had pancil or pen or money 💰 that was most of the time always looking to get free food in one of his beginning programs he would go to the lady s house and start to make breakfast for him and the lady he was very funny I'm still watching it but by hug or by hug he got his men and weman.
Columbo was based (albeit loosely) on Crime And Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. A good book if anybody is interested in reading it.
I believe another episode starring Robert Conrad suggested Columbo did have children.
Make ya tell on ya self.😅😅😅😅😅
It would have ruined the show if he had a side kick.
Columbo said he never had children to a Psychopath. Supposedly he was concerned about protecting his children.
When the show started up, I wrote him and asked for his autograph. I got back a photo of Columbo with his signature.
Frank, Frank is his first Name of Columbo. (Phillipp?)
2:35: He didn't just have a Master's, his master's degree was from Cornell.....
I saw the Peugeot parked in a backstage lot at Universal Studios in Hollywood while on the tram tour years ago.
For those of you who haven't seen it. Check out the movie Made 2001. The scenes with Vince Vaughn and Peter Falk are truley hilarious.
sameone comets that no one can do columbo and you are epselutely wright about that one but he was on Jonny Carson one time and he did columbo quite well.